Crust
I followed Food52’s 7 step recipe.
Filling
3 cups peaches and plums (berries or apples also work well)
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cut the peaches into roughly 8 pieces. Mix the fruit, lemon juice, maple syrup, and vanilla together. Pour the fruit into the center of the dough, leaving 1 1/2 inch border. Fold the corners over the filling. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 25-30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
Sorbet
See my recipe here.
These are my favorite (relatively) healthy cookies. They are a great snack, dessert, or complement to your afternoon tea. Add pecans or walnuts to make them more filling.
Ingredients:
¼ c earth balance
¼ c peanut butter
1/2 c maple syrup
½ c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 ¼ c whole wheat flour
1 c oats
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ c flaxseed
½ c raisins or blueberries (fresh is best but frozen also works)
pinch of salt
Directions:
I’ve always loved Matcha Green Tea but it intimated me to bake with it. I finally decided to take a chance and it paid off. These cookies hit my matcha craving. I purposely made them not too sweet, although the chocolate chips make the cookies sweeter than you would expect. If you’re a matcha lover, these cookies are for you! Plus, matcha is rich in antioxidants and boosts memory.
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons matcha green tea powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar (add another 1/4th cup if you prefer sweeter cookies)
1/2 cup earth balance (or preferred butter, melted)
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 cup chocolate chips
pinch of salt
Directions:
Mix flour, matcha, salt, and baking soda together. In a separate bowl, beat (with an electronic mixer or blender) the maple syrup, sugar, melted earth balance or butter, vanilla, and eggs. Once the batter is light and fluffy, mix with the dry ingredients. Then fold in the chocolate chips. Roll into 1 inch balls. This recipe makes roughly 18 cookies. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Take out and place on wire rack until cool. Enjoy!
Discover Walks invited me and a few other bloggers on a food tour along rue Montorgueil. Our lovely guide, Marie, gave us an authentic tour of this iconic Parisian street that is home to numerous cafes, boulangeries, patisseries, and butcheries. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning and all the shops were just beginning to open. Our tour concluded in a picnic with all the French staples: bread, cheese, charcuterie, and pastries…
Marie posing with our baguette
Our first stop was a fromagerie called La Fermette. Marie told us that France has 370 types of cheeses so if you’re up for the challenge you can eat a different kind of cheese each day of the year. Roquefort is the oldest (and smelliest). The origin of the blue color is from the limestone in the Roquefort region. We settled with a less pungent Roquefort and a few goat cheeses.
Next, we headed to a boulangerie Blouet to buy our baguette. Bread is sacred to the French. The French are so reliant on their baguette that there is a French law forbidding boulangeries in the same area from going on vacation at the same time. Nevertheless, I know French families who keep a frozen baguette in their freezer, just in case. There is a competition each year called the Grand Prix de la Baguette de Tradition Française for the coveted prize of best baguette of the year. In 2015, the winner was Le Grenier a Pain. Originally the baguette was bread for working men who would get into fights with their bread knives. To discourage the use of knives, the longer traditional baguette was created so it could be broken, not cut. This is why now you break your baguette. Do not make the faux pas of cutting a baguette! Fun fact: the croûton or end of the baguette is supposedly the best part. It is always a fight to get it!
We then stopped at a butcherie to complete our charcuterie board with pâté, garlic sausage, goose rillettes, and saucisson. We went to a park by Les Halles where we enjoyed all the delicacies we bought from the day.
#bloggers
Let’s not forget dessert. Next we strolled to Sohrer, the oldest pastry shop in Paris, where the Queen of England visited. They pride themselves on having the best chocolate éclair in Paris. We ended our tour at Fou de Patisserie, which sells all the best pastries of Paris from the most renowned chefs and shops. We sampled lemon Financiers and the Mille-Feuille, consisting of layers of puff pastry and cream. A perfect ending to the tour!
If you would like to take part in this awesome tour, use my code BLOGLOVE10 to receive 10% off.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons stevia (alternatively use 1/2 cup maple syrup or agave)
2 ½ cups gluten-free flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
5 ripe medium bananas
1 egg
1/3 cup almond milk
½ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
optional
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts (chopped)
* To make this recipe vegan, substitute 3 tablespoons of water + 1 tablespoon flaxseed for the egg.
Directions
In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients together. In another bowl, mash the bananas, and then add the egg, almond milk, and OJ. Mix well.
Combine the two mixtures together then fold in walnuts and raisins. Pour the batter into a well-greased baking pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees F until a toothpick comes out clean.
Take out and place on a wire rack to cool. Wait until the bread has cooled completely before cutting.
Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen, Medina
View from Salon Bleu in Tanger
We flew into Tangier, a port city on the Straight of Gibraltar. You only need an afternoon here to walk through the Medina (old city) and petit/grand Socca. Do not fall prey to the men who will offer to lead you to your hostel or hotel, as they expect payment. The next day we took a 3 hour shuttle to Chefchaouen or Chaouen, known for it’s blue-washed buildings situated in the Rif Mountains. It is one of most unique and stunning places I have ever visited. It is rumored that Jewish refugees introduced the blue walls to symbolize the sky and the heavens. Now, people also believe that the walls are painted blue to repel mosquitos. Regardless of the reason, this blue city is not to be missed!
Local paint in Chefchaouen
On the outer edge of the Medina in Chefchaouen
Now, on to the food! Moroccan cuisine is characterized by ras-el-hanout, a typical North African spice, which is a blend of around 30 spices including cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, paprika, and cardamom. You must try tagine, a signature Moroccan dish consisting of meat and vegetables cooked in Moroccan spices and served over couscous. Afterwards, enjoy the traditional Moroccan mint tea, made by boiling water with mint leaves and adding a generous amount of sugar. Tip: ask for the sugar on the side. The dishes are also served with bread and olives. The bread is cooked in a wood-fired oven giving it a crunchy outer layer and doughy inside.
Snack Assada
Beldi Bab Ssour
Fresh Moroccan Bread!
Highlights:
Medina (old town): You can spend a whole day getting lost in the maze-like medina, where we stayed. The dazzling blue walls are lined with vendors selling patterned blankets, jewelry, and pastries.
Outa el Hamma Square: Main square where most restaurants and hotels are located. There is always something going on from religious processions to people dancing on the street.
Spanish Mosque: The Spanish Mosque is located about 20 minutes (by foot) outside of the medina and offers beautiful views of the city.
Cascades d’Akchour: A beautiful waterfall hike about 45 minutes from Chefchaouen.
Where to eat:
All the restaurants have a similar menu, but here are the ones I recommend:
Beldi Bab Ssour (Chefchaouen, Medina): A local spot that gets very crowded. It is around 3-4 euros for a main dish. We sat a communal table and met a local artist who gave us recommendations on what to order. The tagine is excellent.
Restaurant Aladdin (Chefchaouen, Medina): Located in the main square and a bit more expensive. The atmosphere and décor alone are enough to eat here. The rooms are lined with with colorful tapestries and patterned cushions. You feel like you walked into another world. Plus they have two outdoor terraces with panoramic views of Chefchaouen. However, the food was mediocre. I recommend going for mint tea or appetizers to enjoy the ambiance.
Snack Assada (Chefchaouen, Medina): Another cheap local spot that offers outdoor rooftop seating.
Restaurant Al Kasbah (Chefchaouen, Medina): Another delicious restaurant off of the main square. They have colorful tables and chairs on the street that are surrounded by plants. You feel like you are eating in the jungle.
Salon Bleu (Tanger, Medina): A beautiful restaurant that has a rooftop terrace with unbeatable views of the city. I recommend going at dusk and watching the sunset. It was our most expensive meal of the weekend, although still affordable—we paid 15 euros for an appetizer, main course, dessert, and mint tea.
Homemade local pastries in Chefchaouen
Al Kasbah
Salon Bleu
Drinking fresh juice in Chefchaouen!
As soon as I stepped off the Baixa-Chiado metro stop in the heart of the city, I loved Lisboa. I was greeted with sunshine and street performers playing music. Lisbon is the European San Francisco sharing the trolley cars, hills, 25 de Abril bridge (constructed by the same company that built the Bay Bridge), warm weather, and relaxed atmosphere. There is even a lookout point, where locals and tourists go to enjoy a drink with a view, that reminds me of Dolores Park. I felt right at home. I spent my days meandering the stone streets and enjoying lots of pasteis de natas. I highly recommend visiting this beautiful city!
My favorite lookout point with view of the 25 de Abril bridge
Highlights:
Free walking tour (with donation): My favorite fact I learned on the tour is that J.K Rowling lived in Lisbon! The inspiration for her character Salazar Slytherin came from a past Portuguese dictator who was assassinated near her apartment.
Village Under Ground: This is the hipster area characterized by retro themed double-decker buses underneath the 25 de Abril bridge that have been converted into cafes and co-working spaces.
Book stores: The streets are lined with small book stores, and in fact the oldest book store in the world, Bertrand, resides in Lisbon.
Lookout point: This is the lookout point that reminds me of Dolores Park. It is across from Museu de Farmacia off of rue Marechal Saldanha. Everyone basks in the sunlight and enjoys beers that they bought at a nearby convenience store.
Sintra: I took a perfect day trip to Sintra, located about 1-2 hours by train from Rossio station. It is a picturesque Portuguese town where the Portuguese monarchs lived in the 20th century. It is filled with lush green hills and pastel-colored houses. My three favorite sites are Quinta da Regaleira (large estate/park with the famous initiation well that you enter through a cave), Pena Palace (the colorful palace at the top of the hill), and Castelo dos Mouros (medieval castle). The castles and parks are a bit too far to walk between but you can take an overpriced (5 euro per person) tuk-tuk ride. I recommend taking at least one to Pacio da Pena at the top. From there, you can follow a trail down back to the city.
Barrio Alto: A trendy area filled with cute shops and cafés that is very Marina-esque—there is even a juice shop.
Azulejos tiles: Cannot be missed as they are all over the city.
Pink Street: This is where most of the bars and night life takes place.
Pena Palace at Sintra
Me walking up to Pena Palace
Initiation Well
Village Under Ground
What to eat:
Pasteis de nata: Rich custard pastries. The custards grew in popularity because women used the egg whites for bleach and were left with excess yolks. Their solution was to make pastries, and lots of them.
Petiscos tapas: A typical one is Moelas– chicken gizzards with traditional sauce. Yum!
Bacalhau: Cod fish. Cod is a staple component to many Portuguese dishes and is often served with roasted potatoes. The fried cod cakes (Pasteis de Bacalhau) are popular too.
Sardines: Another specialty from the region.
Ginja: Traditional cherry liquor that you sip. To me it tastes like cough syrup but many people enjoy it.
Bicas: espresso!!
Where to eat:
Cervejaria Ramiro (Seafood) The seafood restaurant recommended by Anthony Bourdain. It is very touristy and the queue is always long. We waited at least an hour. They offer champagne (don’t be fooled though—it’s not Moët) and charcuterie plates in a nice outdoor terrace while you wait.
Pasteis de Belem (Pasteis de nata) A 40 minute bus ride from the city center but these are supposedly the best in Lisbon. I found the ones from the little shops in town were equally as tasty.
Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau (Cod pastry) The popular cod pastry that you should at least try once while you are in Lisbon. It is often served with a glass of port wine.
TimeOut Market (All types of cuisine) It is over-priced and touristy but cool to check out if you have the time. Not a highlight.
O Cantinho (Locals, traditional) Pan-fried sardines and roasted potatoes.
Nicolau Cafe (Healthy) A marina-esque cafe offering soups, salads, smoothies, and toasts. I opted for the soup of the day (slit pea), avo toast, and a coconut latte. I heard their pancakes and french toast are also good.
Artis (Portuguese tapas) I recommend the roasted octopus and moelas (chicken gizzards).
Santini (Ice Cream) Best ice cream in Lisbon. I got roasted apple and mascarpone.
Chapito (Nice, traditional) Restaurant with view. Needs reservations.
Casanova (Pizza) Best pizza in Lisbon
Topo (Rooftop bar)
Park Bar (Rooftop bar)
Porto is a small coastal town in the northern part of Portugal, around 3 hours by train from Lisbon. To me it is a mixture between Nice and Florence. The close proximity to the water gives it a laid-back and carefree atmosphere that I experienced in Nice. The cobble stone streets, colorful houses, and cafes along the Douro River create the romantic Italian feel. It is often cheaper to fly out of Porto than Lisbon so I recommend tagging it on before/after your trip.
Highlights:
Walking tour
Port wine tour: It is where port wine originated so there is no shortage of wine tastings.
Dom Luis I Bridge: Beautiful view of the city.
Livraria Lello: The bookstore that inspired J.K Rowling.
What to Eat:
Broa Bread: Traditional bread made out of corn.
Francesinha: A sandwich consisting of sausage, steak, egg, ham, cheese, fries, and special sauce (each restaurant has their secret recipe).
Seafood
Traditional Vegetable soup
Port Wine
Where to Eat:
Café Majestic: Touristy and over-priced but it is nice to see and enjoy an expresso if you have time.
Bread and Breakfast: A cheap alternative to Cafe Majestic, located around the corner.
Casa Guedes: Pulled pork sandwich.
Café Santiago: Where you can try the famous Francesinha sandwich. I recommend splitting it with a friend.
Buraco: Cheap local food. A main entrée is around 5-6 euros.
Fish Fixe: A nice restaurant on the water but it is a bit more expensive.
Maus Habitos (Bad habits): A rooftop restaurant known for their pizzas and salads served in homemade pizza dough.
Obrigado Portugal, for a wonderful week filled with delicious food!
Carrot Cake + Latte
Adorable little cafe in the Marais, extremely tiny though. There is only room for four tables. They serve gourmet coffee and baked goods.
Go here to study or read. Lots of space and great coffee!
Enjoy delicious lunch items and coffee in a cozy and relaxed setting. They have great wifi too! It is around the corner from my apartment so I come here often to do computer work. I love their soups, which come with salad and a tartine.
Coffee shop by the Jardin du Luxembourg. One of my favorite lattes in Paris is their Golden Latte avec curcuma, canelle, gingembre, et miel. So delicious! They also have a nice Matcha Latte.
Outdoor gourmet coffee shop off the streets of the Champs Élysées
Pink grandma-style tea house in the heart of the Marais. They offer a vast assortment of tea (green, black, white, etc.) that you can also get to-go.
One of my favorite coffee shops in the 6th. They serve high-end coffee, delicious baked goods, and healthy breakfast items.
A coffee shop founded by the owners of Bike About Tours. They offer artisan coffee, homemade snacks, and bike tours.
Acai Bowl
A vegan/vegetarian café using plant-based and sustainably grown ingredients. They offer juices, smoothies, soups, salads, vegetable bowls, and packaged snacks (kale chips, fruit bars, hummus, etc.). Located on rue Charlot in between chic art galleries and hand-crafted jewelry stores. Highly recommend.
Holy Baked Beans + Champignons
Popular brunch and lunch spot with healthy vegan and vegetarian options. They change their menu monthly based on what is in season— exactly what I like to hear. Relaxed and casual atmosphere. They do not take reservations so be prepared to wait.
Adorable healthy café with Vegan/Vegetarian options. Soul Kitchen, nestled by the Montmartre steps, offers a daily-changing menu with homemade dishes made from local organic ingredients. It is owned by two cheery woman who are eager to tell you about the menu. It is creatively decorated with mismatched and colorful plates and furniture.
Lunch Box (changes daily)
Known for her beautiful and feminine plates decorated with flower petals and herbs, Angèle brings you gluten-free delicacies. Angèle is leading the way in the emerging Parisian health food movement. She has a small take-away shop in the 1er, a café or salon de thé in the 11è, and a catering service. She is also working on her second cook book and TV show on La Quotidienne. I am slightly biased because I work for Angèle, but I firmly support her philosophy of creating natural and healthy dishes.
Green Eggs + Feta, Avo Toast, Ham Sandwich
One of my favorite affordable brunch spots in Paris. They offer delicious Shakshuka and Green Eggs + Feta (pictured above), as well as an assortment of toasts and sandwiches. Again, be prepared to wait on the weekends as the café only sits around ~15 people at a time. My friend and I were so eager to eat after waiting 40 minutes that we ordered 3 entrées between the two of us! No regrets.
Butternut Squash + Lentil Salad with citrus dressing, Lavender Scones
Merci is a combined home goods store and cafe. You have probably seen an Instagram photo of girls posing in front of the vintage mini car (painted either bright yellow or red) that is located in the courtyard. The walls are lined with books and it is common for customers to bring their well-groomed dogs. Enjoy a butternut squash and lentil salad along with lavender infused scones.
Delicious healthy dishes. They are known for their homemade biscuits and gourmet coffees (must try the mocha and pumpkin spice latte). It is owned by two charming women— one from Sweden and one from the US. The cafe is very small and cozy, off of the main street and tucked away in an alley. They also speak English here.
Acai Bowl, Salmon Eggs Benedict, Pancakes with maple bacon
Chic healthy café around the corner from Le Carreau du Temple. They offer a seasonal menu with fresh and organic ingredients. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Salmon avo toast
Excellent drip coffee and salmon avocado toast. A great place to bring your laptop and get work done.
Matcha Bowls + Drip Coffee
Small coffee shop with organic coffee and brunch items.
Celery Soup + Beet Hummus Toast + Salad
Enjoy delicious lunch items and coffee in a cozy and relaxed setting. They have great wifi too! It is around the corner from my apartment so I come here often to do computer work. I love their soups, which come with salad and a tartine.
Part of the Ober Mamma Italian chain. Not the healthiest brunch items but everything is delicious. We ordered the brioche french toast and truffle eggs, along with a pistachio and chocolate latté.
Le Tricycle (10th arr) 100% vegan
Nous (9th and 10th arr)
Pinson (Marais)
Miznon (Marais)
Serve for breakfast or as a healthy dessert. To make it more decadent add maple syrup or honey on top. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 lemon (juice + zest)
1 banana (mashed)
1/4th c honey
1/2 c sliced almonds
125 g almond flour
1 t nutmeg
1 t cinnamon
1 t vanilla
butter or coconut oil for greasing
Directions:
Bella's Belly 