In My Kitchen: May 2024

The time is just flying by now, where has April gone? We had some unusually warm days in Paris, followed by some cold days again.. let's take a peek into my kitchen for the last month.

We start with some lovely sparkling wine that we had for G's 100 days of life celebration (a traditional Chinese milestone), attended by our loved ones online. 

I made the rice paper rolls (at the back) for my mum's group, what an incredible spread we had for that brunch! We are a hodge podge group of expat mums who live in the local area, and I'm so glad they adopted me into their group. It takes a village to raise a child and most of us are far from our families, so we are lucky to have each other.

At home, S and I continue with our lunches of either salad or soup (reduces the mental load of thinking about what to eat). Here is a roast cauliflower salad with avocado and feta, and a smattering of candied oranges left over from hot cross buns

On an extremely hot day, I found this at my local supermarket! I joked with S that it was made with koala milk ;)

Another week, another meal prep. This doesn't look so pretty but the whack it in the oven RecipeTinEats recipe for ratatouille is a winner. Simple and the flavours are excellent - I've made it 3 times now, and each time it's been a hit! 

A beautiful raspberry tart to celebrate the spring 

One day I went to a pastry class and we made these choux à la crème (vanilla cream puffs) which turned out pretty well! I wasn't sure if it was the best idea to go with a baby, and at times it was challenging (he was in the carrier) but he was a good sport and we had a great time at the class. 

The unexpected surprise was that the pastry class was near a Latino supermarket. So I finally got the right flour to make our own corn tortillas again, and the right Mexican salsa. Back to tortilla Thursdays for us! 

Spring is upon us and the asparagus is incredible in France (expensive... but like no asparagus I've ever tasted)

My mother in law came to visit us for a week and on her last day she bought these treats from our local fancy patisserie Cyril Lignac - the two at the back are tarte citron (lemon tarts) - look at that delicate piping! 

The gorgeous one at the front is a seasonal special called Pistachio, even comes with a fancy description: crackling shell of white chocolate, smooth biscuit of pistachio and almond, vanilla cream with orange blossom essence, crisp praline and pistachio cream.  

30 years living in Australia and never made Anzac biccies. First Anzac day in France - had to give it a go. No golden syrup here but I replaced it with honey, seemed to work out great, and they are still crispy now a week later! I'm the only Australian mum in the mums group but they still went down a treat with cups of strong tea. 

An assortment of exceptional macarons from Patisserie Pinaud Pascal

My new favourite afternoon snack - of course in France the chips are flavoured with goat cheese!

A simple sourdough focaccia topped with cherry tomatoes for another brunch with the mums group

The curveball this month is this glorious cherry blossom tree. One Saturday, the three of us headed out to Parc de Sceaux, just outside Paris, where there is a big cherry blossom garden of over 150 trees. Understandably it was very crowded but we found a picturesque spot to picnic by the water. 

It was particularly nostalgic for me because a year ago we were in New York and I went to visit the blossoms in Central Park. I didn't know then that I was actually pregnant with G, and now a year later he is here! How much one's life can change in the space of one year! As time passes, I feel more and more gratitude for the life that we have and all the wonderful time that we are spending together watching him grow. 

I am sending this to Sherry of Sherry's Pickings who hosts the monthly In My Kitchen series - thanks Sherry and have a great month dear IMK friends!