Then, Sunday morning, we had birthday brunch for the family and my daughter requested a French theme as inspired by her current favorite musical Les Miserables. I created a French-inspired menu, combining some of the dishes that I have made before and some new creations.
Petit Pain Au Chocolat
I got the idea for this recipe years ago from Bon Appétit. It's a quick and easy way of making these delicious pastries. The original recipe can be found here.
Crêpes with Meyer Lemon Cream and Sweet Strawberry Coulis
I had to share this recent creation with my extended family. You can find the recipe and the individual presentation of this dish here.
Baked Croque Monsieur
Originally, I planned on making Petit Croque Monsieur sandwiches, but this would have been too time consuming. Instead, I created a new dish which was simply a baked Croque Monsieur.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
8 eggs
1/2 cup milk
Pinch of salt, pepper
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
Brioche, cut in slices (3 6 1/2 x 2 inch loafs)
1/2 pound ham, sliced
10 Gruyere cheese slices
1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
1 tomato, sliced in 1/4-inch chunks
2 tablespoons mint, chopped
Directions
In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper, nutmeg and dry mustard together.
Butter a 13x9x2-inch casserole pan. Arrange half of brioche slices and pour 1/4 of the egg mixture over brioche, then add a layer of ham and Gruyere cheese slices. Top with remaining brioche and pour the rest of the egg mixture all over. Sprinkle the grated cheese on top. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Bake Croque Monsieur for 35-40 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden. Sprinkle with tomatoes and mint.
to be continued
All Things French - Part 2
