Cocoa and Lavender reached a milestone 10th birthday in February – 10 years and over 500 recipes published. At the beginning, I had no idea what to write. I had never taken a food photo, not even surreptitiously in a restaurant. I didn’t have a clue about how blogs work. …

This duck stew recipe is completely adaptable to any season of the year. Provencal Duck Stew with Winter Fruits is a make-ahead main course for a meal with friends.

Luckily, this recipe for Creamy Mushroom and Chestnut Soup is so delicious it has stopped my brown food colour rant in its tracks.

Slow-cooked lamb (agneau) dishes are typical on menus in Provence. You see sheep herds grazing in farmers fields or often free-range in the hills of the Alpilles, Luberon, Var and Haute Alpes de Provence.

Although paella is considered a Spanish dish it is very common to find it at markets in Provence. The vendor cooks up their version of this hearty rice dish in a paellera. The exact cooking time will depend on your ingredients and how long the rice takes to cook.

Risotto is easy to make, and a great dinner party dish. Prepare your mise-en-place in advance (wash the asparagus, and have your ingredients ready). Let the conversation flow while you stir the rice.

Try this recipe for Provencal Duck Stew before the weather gets too warm. This dish is a great main course for long summer lunches or dinner parties because it is best prepared ahead of time and reheated. Make this recipe in advance and it will allow you to enjoy the …

This slow-cooked pork stew will fill your home with delicious aromas. If you are lucky enough to forage for your own cepes, you with think you landed in autumnal heaven.

At Mas d’Augstine, we spend our “off-season” on maintenance, accounting and a bit of experimentation in the kitchen. To kick off the 2018 Chambre d’Hôtes season, we accommodated a party of eleven (yes 11!) and tested our recipe at the first table d’hotes of the year. Following a pasta course (Mushroom Spinach Ricotta Cannelloni), we served Flambéed Chicken to rave reviews.

A traditional chicken Fricassée flavoured with a Tarragon, mustard and veggie cream sauce.