You don’t need to spend much time at the Marseille airport or at the city’s Noailles market (le marché des Capucins) to sense a strong North African influence in the region. At the market, you can shop for all the ingredients that you need for this B’stila b’djej recipe

My recipe for Tomatoes Provençales is inspired by the typical cuisine, but it is a lighter version with a zucchini-herb stuffing (farce) intended as a pre-dinner bite. The tomatoes filled and baked and then served as an appetizer with cocktails.

Rabbit is often served in France as an alternative protein to chicken, pork or other meat. This oven-roasted rabbit is flavoured with garlic and herbs that are traditionally found in Provence. The recipe requires very little prep time and just like a roast chicken it will fill your home with savoury aromas.

Entertaining should be easy. Invite your neighbours over for drinks and serve this simple appetizer – goat cheese with herbs or peppercorns.

A light and flaky bed of puff pastry smothered in tomato and shallot relish with thick tomato slices and soft melted goat cheese.

Swiss chard may not be something you typically think of an an ingredient for baking, but the subtle flavour adds texture to this sweet snack. Dusted with sugar this square is perfect with a cup of coffee or tea.

What could be more delicious than a big messy sandwich at a picnic with friends. This Nicoise Pan Bagnat is packed with layers of flavour that only get better the longer they marinate together. Fresh peppery arugula with tuna, pickles, olives, capers, fennel, tomatoes, anchovies and homemade mayonnaise are perfectly presented on an artisan baked french loaf.

Jackie shares her version of a Provencal classic soupe au pistou. In this variation, there is a heavier dose of tomatoes to give you a summery reminder as winter closes in. According to Jackie, All this tomato growing and preserving couldn’t go by without attempting a few new recipe ideas …