The art of French cooking is given much prestige in a country of French fries and hamburgers.  When one is used to this American fare, it is easy to marvel over the sophistication and refinement of French cooking and recipes.  This fascination is what draws people to French restaurants when they are in the mood for a fancy French meal.  Yet, French food is not that difficult to prepare if you start with the basics.  Finding French recipes and cooking them is just like anything else—it gets easier the more you do it!

Making A Meal

In France, a very specific course list is decided on and plays a major role in determining the French recipes used when cooking.  Typically, a French meal includes an entrée, main course, cheese, and dessert.  These courses are matched so that the meal is not too heavy.  For example, a meat entrée and meat main course should never be served together.

Another step you can take before cooking French recipes is ensuring that you have all the ingredients typically used in French cuisine.  There are several ingredients that are essential when preparing any French dish, and they are a staple on any French kitchen.  Such items include: olive oil, vinegar, nutmeg, hot mustard, garlic, onions, flour, sugar, basil, sorrel, parsley, coriander, and sage.  Having these ingredients on hand will make cooking your French recipe a lot easier.

A Simply Sensational Dessert

With French cooking, it is best to pick a recipe that is fairly basic when first starting out.  If this is the case, there is not any recipe more basic than that for Mousse au Chocolat, or Chocolate Mousse.  To prepare this recipe, you will need: 3 tablespoons orange liquor, 4 eggs, 2 tablespoons sour cream, 1 ounce unsalted butter, 1.5 ounces sugar, and 8 ounces of plain, bitter chocolate.

First, separate the egg yolks from the egg whites.  Whisk together the yolks and the sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth and clear.  Next, cut the butter and chocolate into small pieces and place them in a saucepan.  Add the orange liquor and 2 spoonfuls of water.  Over low heat, melt the mixture until it is smooth, making sure that it does not stick to the pan.

Pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and blend well.  Add the sour cream and continue to stir.  Next, beat the egg whites until frothy using an electric mixer, allowing them to become “hard.”  Gradually add the egg whites to the chocolate mixture, whisking to blend.  Pour the final result into small dishes and refrigerate for three hours until serving.

Acquiring Expertise

French cooking might seem difficult, but in reality, it is easy to make many French recipes.  If you start with something basic, you will be able to expand your range of recipes until you are an expert at preparing French cuisine!

Tags: French cuisine, French recipes

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