Jill Colonna

Over time, I adapted this French Apple Custard Tart by reducing the sugar and alternating between the cinnamon with nutmeg, just like I remember the custard egg tarts I had when I grew up in Scotland. Adding that extra touch of vanilla, nutmeg or cinnamon in the pastry base had even my cinnamon-avoiding husband ask for a THIRD slice – and, as a Frenchman, he’s careful about his dessert intake! Makes one 28cm (11 inch) tart; or 8 tartlets; or 2x 16cm tarts 275g/10oz sweet pastry (with a good pinch ground cinnamon) 2-3 apples (Golden Delicious) 4 organic egg yolks Meanwhile, using a hand whisk or fork, beat the egg yolks, sugar, nutmeg (or cinnamon), vanilla and cream.

This Chestnut Vanilla Ice Cream makes me dream of holidays in France – and particularly of my husband’s island of Corsica. If you don’t have an ice cream machine or mixer sorbet/ice cream attachment, then take the cream out of the freezer every 30 minutes (about 5 times) and mix up the partially frozen mixture well. 8 egg yolks 100g caster sugar 2 small 100g tins of sweetened chestnut & vanilla purée (Clement Faugier) 400ml whole milk 1 vanilla pod pinch of caramel powdered colouring (optional) a handful of broken marrons glacés (or whole ones if you’re feeling posh) 1.

With some chèvre goat’s cheese hidden under the onions before hitting the crispy puff pastry, the flavours are divine – especially with a touch of fresh rosemary and toasted walnuts sprinkled on top, almost as an afterthought. For those of you not keen on goat’s cheese, however, you can replace the cheese with Comté, Emmental or your own favourite cheese – or omit the cheese entirely. – use a good quality farm goat’s cheese and about 6 thick slices in total for a whole onion tarte tatin. Otherwise, replace the goat’s cheese with a few slices of comté cheese (as I use in the tartlet tatins on the video) o Not keen on cheese at all?

Gourmet meals can be given that extra touch of chic with a horseradish and beetroot macaron (recipe on page 103 of my book). Why not serve them with a mini portion of beetroot and horseradish risotto, especially designed to accompany your mini savoury macaron on top? I found extra mini porcelain tagine dishes in Paris that could hide a mini cumin macaron in them for that extra fun surprise at the table. Thai green curry macarons can be a surprising addition to this recipe starter of sweet potato, crab and thai herb croquettes, served with a thai-style mayonnaise to use up your egg yolks (again, the recipe is with the croquettes).