Sassy Southern Cooking with a French Twist

mayonnaise

A Conversation with Pierre Wolfe about The French Cook: Sauces

I was delighted to join culinary radio veteran and utter gentleman Pierre Wolfe a few weeks ago to talk about France, cooking, Julia Child and The French Cook: Sauces

He loves France as much as I do! You can listen to it at the following link to the podcast. Our interview starts 30 minutes from the beginning.

The French Cook: Sauces (Gibbes Smith, March 1, 2013) by Holly Herrick

The French Cook: Sauces (Gibbes Smith, March 1, 2013) by Holly Herrick

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bon Appetit!

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Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk

DON’T CRY OVER SPILLED MILK

Here’s an excerpt from Charleston Style and Design’s latest issue and an essay I wrote about how cooking mistakes can actually be a good thing for healing laughter, learning, and even crying:

Cooking mistakes can be a good thing

Mom used to say that there is no use in crying over spilled milk. But as a chef and cookbook author who has spent countless hours in the kitchen, I can tell you there are benefits to a good cry.

I’ve witnessed a lot more grievous errors than spilled milk. I once worked frantically with a young French male apprentice under the watchful eye of decorated pastry chef Pierre Hermé. We were trying to prevent a huge vat of pastry cream from quickly becoming a messy batch of sweet scrambled eggs. We succeeded, barely, by straining the rapidly clotting batch, but not without sweat and tears. No shame in it, even for a French boy or this American girl. Lessons learned: Constantly whisk your pastry cream, and don’t let the flame get too hot…

For more, click on the link at the top of this page.

Happy cooking!

 

 

 

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Cottage at The Crossroads Reviews The French Cook: Sauces

Special thanks to Jane Windham at cottageatthecrossroads.com for her cookbook review blog of The French Cook: Sauces. She tested and was especially happy with the roasted asparagus with an orange and prosciutto bechamel sauce.

Anchovy and Parsley Mayonnaise with Salmon from The French Cook: Sauces. Photo by Steven Rothfeld

Anchovy and Parsley Mayonnaise with Salmon from The French Cook: Sauces. Photo by Steven Rothfeld

Here’s some of what she had to say:

“Not only were there gorgeous food photographs that made me practically drool, there were French street scenes and action shots of French chefs that made me feel that I was right in Paris.

Ok, I’ll admit it. French cooking has always intimidated me just a bit. I’ve always wanted to learn how to make make my own Hollandaise, Bearnaise, and Puttanesca sauces but felt a little inadequate.  Holly demystifies the techniques in making these as well as creating your own stocks. And there is even a chapter devoted to whipping up your own mayonnaise. Didn’t think mayonnaise was French, did ya?  Well, it is the base for aioli, remoulade, and tartar sauces.

The French Cook: Sauces not only gives you the step-by-step instructions and tips for making all these sauces, but it also includes several recipes that use the sauces.”

To see Jane’s complete review or to spend time on her and husband Leo’s fabulous blog, click on this link.

http://cottageatthecrossroads.com/cookbook-review-the-french-cooksauces/

The book is currently available online (see link to follow) and in bookstores near you on March 1.

Bon appetit and happy cooking, too!

The French Cook: Sauces (Gibbes Smith, March 1, 2013) by Holly Herrick

The French Cook: Sauces (Gibbes Smith, March 1, 2013) by Holly Herrick

 

http://www.amazon.com/French-Cook-Sauces-Holly-Herrick/dp/1423632389/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361469516&sr=8-1&keywords=the+french+cook%3A+sauces

 

 

 

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Kind Words from Ilke’s Kitchen

I would like to thank food blogger and photographer Ilke Erdogan McAliley for taking the time to review my about to be released new book,  The French Cook: Sauces (Gibbes Smith, March 1, 2013).  Ilke explores the mayonnaise chapter as she prepares one of the favorites from her Turkish kitchen, International Salad.

The French Cook: Sauces (Gibbes Smith, March 1, 2013) by Holly Herrick

The French Cook: Sauces (Gibbes Smith, March 1, 2013) by Holly Herrick

 

 

Here’s some of what Ilke had to say:

“I guess the success is in the details that Holly mentioned in her book: using the plastic blade in food processor, pasteurizing the eggs, room temperature ingredients, the type of oil and pepper recommended, and tips on how to save it if everything goes south. Just like in Tart Love, she has a nice, familiar way of explaining things. I love it that although her books have a teaching component,  they do not sound like a textbook.”

Anchovy and Parsley Mayonnaise from The French Cook: Sauces. Photo by Steven Rothfeld.

Anchovy and Parsley Mayonnaise from The French Cook: Sauces. Photo by Steven Rothfeld.

 

Thank you so much, Ilke.

If  you’re interested in visiting Ilke’s blog and would like the recipe for her delicious International Salad, click on this link:

http://www.ilkeskitchen.com/2013/02/international-salad-dabbles-in-mayonnaise/

Bon appetit!

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