A Different Dinner Roll For the Table


Updated 05/17/12 4:49 PM · Posted by · 4 comments

Pain d'Epi Bread

If you've never had a pain d'epi, this pull-apart baguette is intended to mimic the appearance of the flower of the wheat stalk, or "epi" in French. Each little ear of wheat can be easily pulled apart, which makes this bread shape ideal to pass around the table at dinner parties or picnics. If you don't have time to create a sourdough bread starter, this overnight dough is the next best thing. Read more

Get to Know the 5 French Mother Sauces


Updated 03/06/12 2:15 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

French Mother Sauces

Ever heard of the five French mother sauces? Originally classified by Antonin Carême in the 19th century and later updated by Auguste Escoffier in the 20th century, the sauces include béchamel, velouté, espagnole, hollandaise, and tomato. Most other sauces find their origins in these five types, hence the term "mother." Here's a brief rundown on the ingredients of each sauce, plus common Read more

Pretend You're in Paris With a French-Themed Fete


Updated 02/21/12 4:05 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Midnight in Paris Oscars Party

Did you get lost in Woody Allen's latest film, Midnight in Paris? Did you find yourself wanting to go back in time with Owen Wilson and experience the Golden Age that was Paris in the '20s? Well, for now at least, you can create your own Parisian Golden Age Oscars party in the comfort of your living room. Dim the lights and light a bunch of candles to cast a romantic energy throughout the room, Read more

C'est L'Amour: French Eats For Feb. 14


Updated 02/13/12 1:05 PM · Posted by YumSugar · 0 comments

French Dishes Dinner Menu

If a global menu feels too daunting for your Valentine's Day dinner, try channeling a bit of Parisian romance by focusing on French foods. You don't need a view of the Eiffel Tower to feel the love — you can set the mood right at your own dinner table by pairing classic French dishes with your favorite sips. Here are 10 tasty dish ideas to help you create a Valentine's Day meal of festive Read more

Sweet Success: 10 Tips For Baking the Perfect Macaron


Updated 02/09/12 6:01 AM · Posted by · 1 comment

Baking Tips For French Macarons

With their vibrant colors and lacy frills, dainty, crisp-crusted French macarons are the perfect Valentine's Day baking project. But these lovely little delicacies are temperamental enough to stump even the most accomplished chefs. Even if you follow a detailed recipe down to the letter, a batch of macarons can go very wrong very quickly. Thanks to humidity, an unreliable oven temperature gauge, Read more

Soup's On: Easy French Onion Soup


Updated 02/10/12 2:45 PM · Posted by · 3 comments

Fast French Onion Soup

My new favorite weeknight meal is a soup recipe that comes together in minutes. It's a very abbreviated version of French onion soup, which traditionally begins with yellow onions, cooked down and reduced for hours until dark and sweet. This quick and dirty version begins with our butter-braised onions, which I always keep on hand, and calls for little more than broth, bread, and cheese. It may Read more

We're Talking Croquembouches!


Updated 12/28/11 1:40 PM · Posted by YumSugar · 0 comments

Croquembouche Information

Lately, I've been seeing towers of cream puffs, or croquembouches, appearing all over the place, particularly in bridal magazines or on wedding blogs. The croquembouche is most certainly a delicious trend – we had one at our wedding and it was quite a hit! — but these magnificent sweet sculptures are more complicated than they may appear. To get an inside look at how these profiterole towers Read more

Easy Winter Salad: French Lentils With Potatoes


Updated 12/19/11 4:40 AM · Posted by YumSugar · 0 comments

Healthy Lentil Salad

All of the richness that comes with the month of December is wonderful and delicious, but some days I just need a break from it all. I still want something filling and flavorful that will satisfy me. That's where legumes come into play for me – specifically, lentils. This salad incorporates classic French flavors, including whole grain mustard, onions, carrots, parsley, and french lentils. I Read more

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Serenades Us En Francais


Updated 09/03/11 5:26 PM · Posted by · 1 comment

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Singing in French

Joseph Gordon-Levitt channeled Serge Gainsbourg last weekend in his latest exercise in hotness. During a tribute to the late French singer-songwriter, JGL sang in French. Although he didn't know all the words by heart, instead relying on a handy notebook, the actor had a decent voice and French accent. Bradley Cooper's interview in fluent French still tops my list of handsome American actors Read more

Oh La La! Bradley Cooper Proves It's Hot When Guys Speak a Foreign Language


Updated 06/04/11 12:54 PM · Posted by · 23 comments

Video of Bradley Cooper Speaking French

With his piercing blue eyes, impressive acting and comedy skills, and friendly demeanor, Bradley Cooper couldn't be any hotter. Unless, say, he spoke fluent French. This past weekend, the star of The Hangover Part II, or Very Bad Trip 2 in France, came on French TV to discuss the movie's popularity, getting his big break after 30, and the possibility of a third Hangover movie (he said he'd be Read more