This recipe from the kitchen of Anne Challier is really a French cuisine classic. Pâté fois de volaille is easy to make in advance and perfect for an appetizer or a picnic.

Make this recipe for seared salmon one time, and it will become a “go-to” quick dinnertime meal for two (or more). The tomato, shallot, caper and olive ragoût is a savoury combination that is similar to a puttanesca pasta sauce.

This easy dish of Provencal baked potatoes is a perfect companion to eat with roasted lamb shanks, rabbit in a mustard sauce, a lemon thyme trout, or a pork tenderloin.

In Portugal, the culinary rumour is that there are 365 (or more) ways to cook salt-cod (bacalhau) – one for every day of the year. Cod is called morue in French. It is quite common to find this fish on menus, and it is often the “centre” of attention in the traditional Provencal aioli (recipe here). Gilles recipe for brandade a purée of salt cod, olive oil and other ingredients is below.

This seafood dish so bright and flavourful that I call it sunshine on a plate (see post for step-by-step photos). Seared scallops are coquilles Saint-Jacques in French. They are not hard to cook, but there are a few culinary keys to achieving a crispy result. Try to find fresh scallops …

This Butternut Squash Soup might become your “go-to” for cool fall days. It requires very little preparation and only four ingredients. The heat of your oven will keep you warm while you wait.

One of my favourite cookbooks inspired this meringue roulade with rose cream and raspberries dessert – Plenty More by Yotam Ottolenghi.

When you think of French desserts, perhaps meringues are usurped by chocolate glazed eclairs, vanilla cream layered mille-feuilles, lemony madeleines and glazed fruit tarts. But, what about lollypop coloured macarons?

Create your own mini turkey roasts using deboned thigh meat and carrots. Roast the turkey with your favourite root vegetables – potatoes, carrots, turnip, parsnip, and onions.

Quince are not a pretty fruit. Far from perfectly shaped they resemble an oversized, rock-hard pear. However, once peeled and stewed with sugar, like apples for a compote, quince are versatile. You can make a quince paste, which is delicious with cheese or follow this recipe for Quince Puff Pastry Tarts …

This Squid Ink Pasta with fresh squid and tomatoes is a striking main course. The black pasta, red tomatoes and squid are a wonderful savoury combination. Enjoy any time of year.