Anyways…
I’m often asked where do I get my inspirations to create recipes. Almost everything you see here are developed by yours truly. There are times that I often flip through food magazines, cookbooks, blogs and recipe clippings from my mom for inspirations.
Not really clippings, more like an email from my mom. She’s digging the technology 🙂
But there are times when I love watching food channels on tv for inspirations. One of my favorite all time show is “French Food at Home, by Laura Calder” on Food Network.
I just love the way she narrates simple french food and cooking methods in a lay-man term. No fuss, no technicality or jargons — just simple french food that anyone can make at home.
But that wouldn’t stop me from dreaming about going to France, eh?
When I think or talk about France, this comes to my mind:
Julia Child 🙂
Cute little cafes along cobbler stone roads.
Chocolate croissants!
Dreamy cappuccino.
OK fine, I’d throw in the Eiffel tower and Louvre. What can a foodie think of, otherwise?
The other day, I was watching this recipe on tv: berry gratin with champagne sabayon. Laura made is so easily and the recipe required a handful of simple ingredients.
With some champagne in tow, what’s not to love? You can substitute berries with whatever preference you have in the berry department.
I just wish it was summer all over again.
Berry Gratin with Champagne Sabayon, adapted from Laura Calder’s French Food at Home.
Ingredients:
- 8 oz fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 tbsp aged balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp corn starch
- pinch of salt
- 4 small organic egg yolks
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 4 tbsp champagne/sparkling wine
Directions:
- Add fresh strawberry slices in a bowl with balsamic vinegar, corn starch and a pinch of salt. Mix and allow to macerate for a few minutes.
- Heat a saucepan with some water on low. Do not simmer, just heat.
- Meantime, make sabayon by whisking egg yolks, sugar and wine in a roomy glass bowl.
- Set the bowl over heated saucepan/double boiler and continue whisking sabayon until mixture is frothy, pale and ribbony. This should take between 5 to 8 minutes.
- Remove bowl from saucepan and keep whisking to cool slightly.
- Preheat oven to broil. Arrange macerated strawberries into individual gratin dishes and set it on a baking sheet.
- Spoon sabayon over strawberries and place under broiler until golden. This shouldn’t take more than a minute.
- Serve immediately with a glass of champagne.
Off to dream about France, french foods and most importantly, it’s desserts!! Huh.
What do you think about, when you hear the word “France”? And what inspires you in the kitchen?
Comments on this entry are closed.
A gorgeous dessert! So refined and surely extremely good tasting.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks Rosa.
I also find inspiration everywhere! Blogs, Twitter, cookbooks, the seasons and my imagination! Adore that you have featured strawberries. The sabayon with berries is luscious! Our berry season is longer than most other areas in California and I enjoy every last bite!
Deb — enjoy the longer berry season. I’m slightly jealous 😉
my mom is starting to dig technology too….well sorta! she finds some things very complicated. i have been trying to get her on facebook but she doesn’t understand the privacy settings…lol.
i have never made gratin before but it’s been on my to-do list for ages! yours looks perfect and fruity and so colorful 😀
Cakewhiz — don’t force her on facebook, mine is still comprehending the need to waste so much time over there 😉
This is so lovely, I can imagine eating this on a warm summer night in the French countryside!
Kathryn recently posted..west coast eats
These look like the perfect dessert!
the wicked noodle recently posted..it’s a wine and cheese party…and you’re invited!
Inspiration is everywhere and especially with all the delicious blogs that are around to peruse. I love this beautiful sabayon. It would be perfect with a glass of champagne:)
Lora @cakeduchess recently posted..Homemade Twix Bars
Wow Kiran! This looks amazing! You got me dreaming about France now too!!
Sammie recently posted..Furikake Chex Mix
Sammie — let’s dream about France together 😀
What a gorgeous treat that looks like…Shame that strawberry season is over in India, Yes! whats there not to love it 🙂
Rekha Kakkar recently posted..Bombay Masala Scrambled Eggs | Delicious and Healthy Breakfast To Start The Day
Rekha — Don’t worry, berry season is getting over here too!
How beautiful and lite! Lovely dessert.
chinmayie @ love food eat recently posted..Date & Cocoa Raw Truffles
I admire people like you so much ! I have a friend of mine who is like you and is always inventing new and delicious dishes. I need a recipe to at least follow.
Carolyn Chan recently posted..Garlic and brocolli pasta
Carolyn — awww, thanks a lot honey. It’s all based on trials and errors. Nothing comes up perfectly in first try 🙂
Food channels are not as inspiring as you my friend, this looks incredible 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..I’m Back Bringing Spring
Uru — thank you my dear. You made my day 🙂
What a creative dessert!
Sounds delicious Kiran if your interested in a healthy tasty snack check out UpCup! Chocolate energy superfoods
Non GMO, Gluten-Free Dairy-Free all-natural healthy chocolate your body deserves!!!
Teamupcups — thanks for the comment. I’d also appreciate it if you refrain from self-promotion comments in the future. Thank you 🙂
I have always wanted to make Sabayon. Your recipe looks easy and delicious! Stunning photographs.
Asmita recently posted..“Poori-Bhaji”
Beautiful photos and a lovely dessert. Simple and very elegant. It contains champagne, what’s not to like? GG
Glamorous Glutton recently posted..Game For Everyone
Champagne Sabayon? Yes please!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen recently posted..Plum Frangipane Gratin
Le Sigh! I wish you lived in my kitchen 🙂
This is gorgeous! And totally yum yum with the champagne and the strawberries and SWOOOOOOOON!
Parsley Sage recently posted..Home Cookin’ with Home Brew
Parsley Sage — and thank god I didn’t! A girl needs a bedroom at least, honey 😀
Wow…looks so delicious! I too have always wanted to make a Sabayon! Love Laura Calder too!
Ina gawne recently posted..SWEET CHILI BASIL CHICKEN
Just gorgeous! I already long for the summer again!!!
Delishhh recently posted..Pecan Shortbread Squares
Yes what a beautiful summer dish…. but now you are going to be cooking winter food and me summer ….. that first picture is sensational !
tania@mykitchenstories.com.au recently posted..Saucy Churros
Tania — I’m jealous about your summer!
I am always amazed when I see the impact Julia Child has on people even after so many years! Your sweet gratins looks so refreshing and sweet! When I hear the word Paris, the Seine bridges come to my mind!
Katerina recently posted..Little Chocolate Zucchini Bundt Cakes
Katerina — I need to go to Paris now that I’m curious to know more about the Seine bridge 😉
A lovely dessert: very stylish & posh too! Strawberry season is all over in Belgium but I will make it using fresh berries from my garden instead!
Fab pictures too, Kiran! So beautiful!
Sophie recently posted..Vegan pear, apple, soy milk & coconut nectar sweetened cacaco nibs smoothies!
Sophie — thanks dear, and I’m so envious of your garden berries 🙂
This looks really, really good and a lot easier than I thought it would be! Maybe you just make it sound easy. 🙂 question: How many servings do you get with this recipe? Thanks for sharing!
mjskit recently posted..Watermelon Rind Candies
MJ — thanks love. It makes about 3 dessert bowl servings. And it is truly very easy to make 🙂
Oh wow, this sounds amazing + your photos are so lovely! I could go for a bit of this right now – what a perfect post-dinner treat!
I like Laura Calder’s show too! Nice work on the sabayon and champagne, what’s not to love.
Nik recently posted..pumpkin stuffed naans
Kiran this is fabulous. I cannot take my eyes off it. Your photos just take my breath away.
Kim Bee recently posted..Apple Crisp Ice Cream for Our Autumn Apple Party! #SundaySupper
Kim — awww, thanks a lot for the compliments my friend 🙂
Just gorgeous and delicious looking. Would love a glass right now.
Tania @ A Perfect Pantry recently posted..Mini Muffin Monday: Chocolate Kidney Bean
What a brilliant dish. I’d be instantly transported to some small street in France and everyone would be nice to me. 🙂
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..Asian Salad
Gorgeous photos! I particularly like the one with the egg yolk in the shell! 😀 It really does look so easy!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..China Lane, Sydney
Lorraine — and it truly is very easy to make!
Fabulous looking dessert and I wish I can taste some. Just like you, I get inspiration from watching cooking programs but you know we eat mostly Asian food, so I look out for Iron Chef Japan and other Asian cooking programs.
Nava Krishnan recently posted..Pathumwan Princess Hotel (Bangkok) – Part 2
I actually just returned from France so the memories are very fresh in my mind still. Your sabayon fits so well with your description of eating on a cobblestone street after visiting the Eiffel Towel and the Louvre maybe. 🙂 What a great recipe!
Jean (Lemons & Anchovies) recently posted..Apricot-Raspberry Bars
Jean — can I say I am so jealous at your recent trip? 😀
This is so beautiful, Kiran! I’m dying to go to France this upcoming spring… wanna come ;)?
Ashley – Baker by Nature recently posted..Chocolate Covered Apples
Ashley — Oh my god!! I want to go too!!!!!
Such a gorgeous dessert !
France is any foodie’s travel destination, you must visit once 🙂 I was lucky to visit different parts of France, but it is one of the places I would love to visit again 😉
Namitha recently posted..Chocolate Overdose Cake and 3rd Anniversary !
Namitha — I am now pestering the Husband to add it onto our travel “bucket list”! Thanks for the nudge my friend 🙂
Nice idea of a recipe, it would be great as a Sunday dinner dessert. =)
France, reminds me of the fact that I have not seen my family there for over 5 years and unfortunately I ll never see my grandmother again.
Helene Dsouza I Masala Herb recently posted..Comment on Sleepy Tea – Orange Blossom & Chamomile by Namitha
Helene — I’m sorry if this post brought back bitter-sweet memories. I hope you get to visit your family soon.
where and how on earth do you come up with these recipes? They are so freakin good, so creative, simply genius and delicious! I am loving the berries with the balsamic and champagne sabayon!
Kitchen Belleicious recently posted..Stuffed Vidalia Onions
Jessica — thanks for the compliments honey. I got this recipe inspired from a cooking show 🙂
Oh, what lovely pics and what a delicious recipe – perfect for our upcoming summer here in Australia. I especially like the final instruction to enjoy with a glass of champagne – I’ll be happy to comply with that!
Amanda recently posted..Flourless Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Amanda — do comply and let me know how it tastes. Cheers!
I’m like you Kiran I get inspiration everywhere I go 🙂 Ohhh i can’t wait to try this recipe! Strawberries are in season in Melbourne now and it’s so cheap hehe YAY!
Daisy@Nevertoosweet recently posted..Sunday Bliss – Sweet Crumble
Daisy — lol, I love your enthusiasm. Do try and let me know how it tastes 🙂
Ok, first off this dessert looks simply amazing! I love easy, sophisticated sweets such as this one. You definitely hit the nail on the head. When I think of France, I think of younger days; traveling with friends in college and right before our wedding. It’s such a magical city. 🙂 Last but not least, where did you find those adorable spoons? Love them!
Julie — so glad to see you back into blogging my friend 🙂 And I truly hope we get to visit France someday!
ps: I would be talking about the spoons soon.
The champagne and the strawberries – yes, please! what an interesting and unique recipe, K! Love it!
Baker Street recently posted..#MuffinMonday: Orange Pumpkin Muffins with White Chocolate and Ginger Streusel
Anu — thanks dear 🙂
love this! When i think of the word France, i just think i want to go!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc recently posted..Horse Stamp Inn: Travel Tuesday
Alison — count me in 😉
This is truly a lovely recipe. I love the simplicity of ingredients, yet the presentation is so impressive.
Kristi Rimkus recently posted..Have You Tried Chicken Apple Sausage? Sweet Potato and Chicken Apple Sausage Chili
Kristi — thanks love 🙂
Wow this is another unique recipe. I’ve never tasted anything like this and kind of hard to imagine, but it must be wonderful… very French! Speaking of which… I wish I could travel to France too! I totally missed an opportunity to go before having kids. Now I can’t see myself going there with two kids, so how long do I need to wait… argh.
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Mentaiko Pasta | Spicy Cod Roe Pasta 明太子パスタ
So wonderful! I have a weakness when it comes to berry desserts…and this is a winner!
These are gorgeous! I’ve never seen such a pretty dessert! 🙂
Courtney Jones recently posted..Pear + Golden Raisin Cookies [Guest Post]
These are beautiful. The flavors sound divine and the presentation is lovely.
Erin @ EK Can’t Cook recently posted..7 October 2012 – Crescent Pepperoni Rollups