Black Olive Tapenade

Who doesn't love a good olive tapenade? This one takes about 15 minutes to make. You may wish to served it with crudites (a variety of vegetables to dip,) in addition to slices of warm baguette from your local boulangerie :-)


Difficulty Level: Facile


What you need:

• 2 six-ounce cans black olives, drained
• 3-4 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2-3 tsp. capers
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/8 cup chopped red onion
• juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 3 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
• pepper, to taste
• 1/4 tsp. dried thyme

What to do:

1. Process all ingredients in a food processor and serve on thin slices of toasted baguette. Bon Appetit!

Creamy Herb and Garlic Spread

An easy little spread to put together at a moment's notice, this is a nice addition to any array of hors d'oeuvres for a dinner party.

Difficulty Level: Facile

What you need:

• 1 8-ounce container vegan cream cheese (about 1 cup)
• 3-4 tbsp. chopped fresh herbs (parsley, sage, thyme, etc)
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• sea salt and black pepper, to taste

What to do:

1. Mix all ingredients well and serve on thin slices of toasted French baguette.  Bon Appetit!

Lentil Walnut Pate Lettuce Wraps

If you wish to keep a trim waistline (like the quintessential French woman,) you may wish to forego serving this dish with crusty bread and opt for individual pieces of Bibb lettuce which you can fashion into petit wraps.

Difficulty Level: Facile


What you need:

• 1 cup cooked lentils
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 1/8 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 tbsp. breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp. red wine
• 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
• salt, pepper to taste
• Bibb lettuce, washed 

What to do:

1. Heat olive oil in a cast-iron pan over low heat. Add onions and garlic, cooking until they are soft.
2. Preheat oven to 350F. Place the lentils in a well-oiled baking dish, add the cooked onions and garlic mixture and combine, adding a bit more olive oil if you like. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Pat the mixture down into the bowl and brush the top with olive oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve warm with crusty French bread and individual pieces of Bibb lettuce "wraps."  Bon Appetit!

Melange de Noix Epices (Spiced Nut Mix)

This fun little melange de noix comes from The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz. I omitted the pretzels that he calls for and the end product was, well...vraiement magnifique!


Difficulty Level: Facile


What you need:

• 1 cup raw nuts (I used a mix of almonds, walnuts, peanuts and brazil nuts)
• 2 tsp. vegan margarine
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tbsp. maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 350F and spread nuts on a baking sheet. Toast for 7-10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix the margarine, brown sugar, cinnamon, chili powder, maple syrup and cocoa.
3. Stir the warm nuts into the spice mixture. Coat completely and sprinkle with salt.
4. Place them back in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes, until the nuts are glazed and brown.

Serve to friends this holiday season. Bon Appetit!