Flavors in Love

Do you have a secret desire to cook for family and friends….but you’re too scared??? Here is the perfect recipe to have you cooking with confidence. This Brunch dish can be made ahead of time and then served warm when guests arrive. It is a simple and elegant Asparagus and Mushroom Frittata, and anyone can make it. It easily serves 10 guests or more depending on how you slice it, and you can use just about any vegetable, cheese or herb. It’s a great way to clean out the fridge!!

I made this for a recent family brunch. You will love it and so will your guests. And you’ll love yourself even more for making the effort.

We will be making this dish and so much more for a special hands-on brunch class that I am teaching on Sunday, Jan 30th. Click here to register and soon you’ll be Flirting with Flavors!

Brunch for the Family

ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOM FRITTATA

Serves 10

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 bunches asparagus, cut into bite-sized pieces, bottom 2 inches discarded.

2 bunches scallions, chopped, ends discarded.

1 pint cremini mushrooms, sliced, stems discarded

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 baguette, thinly sliced horizontally

A dozen large eggs

1 quart of heavy cream

1 bunch of chives, chopped

8 oz grated cheddar cheese

8 oz grated gruyere cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat a large skillet, and then add 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sauté the asparagus, mushrooms, and scallions about 7 minutes, or until nicely caramelized. Don’t overcrowd the pan—if necessary, sauté vegetables in 2 batches. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the heavy cream. Add the chopped chives to the bowl. Season well with salt and pepper.

Grease a 3-quart casserole dish with butter on all sides. Line the bottom of the dish with one layer of sliced bread. Top with a generous sprinkling of some cheddar and gruyere. Then add half of the vegetables. Repeat with another layer of bread, cheese and vegetables. Then pour the egg mixture over top of this. Add a few dots of butter scattered over the top of the dish.

Place in the oven to bake for about an hour, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and frittata is puffed and lightly golden on top

Frittata by the Slice

Airport at St. Barts

I have been to St. Barts over 25 times and I never tire of this magical little island. I fantasize about my trip weeks before I go.  I have to admit that getting to St. Barts is an adventure that’s not always pleasant. That small plane from St. Maarten is only a 10 minute ride but often harrowing. Sometimes the winds are high and I am holding my breath until we fly over the mountain and land at the tiny airport and hear the first “Bonjour” at customs. Then we rent a car at Gumbs, say hello to Odile our lovely rental agent, and  make our way to the Hotel Isle de France.

I have traveled to many other Caribbean islands, but everything that St. Barts has to offer resonates with me….its turquoise waters, pristine beaches, chic restaurants, charming hotels, open and kind-hearted residents, unique shops, and perfect weather..it’s truly paradise.  And in the evening when the sun is setting after a relaxing day, the sound of the tree frogs is mesmerizing.  I know they are singing to me.

My guy Michael and I began traveling to St. Barts in 1999. We rented a villa that first year, then we discovered the Hotel Isle de France, and we have stayed there ever since. In fact, we bought one of their time shares. I adore this hotel… right on Flamand Beach. Everything about it is simplicity… but in that very stylish French manner…like the yummiest bed sheets, towels, and robes, and beautiful music playing when you walk in the door. Everyone there is like family now

I love my daiquiri!

La Flamand Beach

We go back to many of the same restaurants over and over, and there are always a few new ones;

Salad at the Isle de France

If you find yourself on the beach at the Isle de France,  have a dacquiri and lunch at La Casa de l’Isle. The menu is a lovely mix of salads and grilled foods with an Asian twist. Something for everyone. And of course, we have to have a bottle of Domaine Ott. The food is fresh and the view can’t get much better. The people watching is always good!!! It’s relaxed and perfect. The store in the hotel is fabulous.  Caroline runs it and she has a fashion show every year. The hotel invites everyone to watch the show and have free cocktails. Fun!

Maya’s is one of the Island’s most popular restaurants. Randy is always the welcoming host and his wife Maya is the chef. The food is simple French with a bit of Island flair. I always run into people I know. We had a local fish and a lovely Bresse chicken and vegetables the night we were there.

Bresse Chicken at Maya's

And then there’s the shopping. Of course there’s Hermes and Dior which are lovely, but also St. Barts has the most unique small stores like Poupette St-Barth and Laurent Effel. Gustavia is the capital of St. Barts and I love shopping there for the perfect new beach cover-up or sandals, or that great little dress. When we go into Gustavia, we eat lunch at The Creperie right in town and the food is sensational. Typical French, good fresh salads and of course a myriad of crepes, savory and sweet. I loved my banana, nutella and chocolate crepe…Mmmmm. Tres Bonne.

Nutella, Chocolate, and Banana Crepe

We had dinner at the fairly new L’Isola Italian Restaurant. Their food is top notch. Pasta was cooked perfectly. The restaurant was full and had a great buzz.

Wild Mushroom Salad at l'Isola

The best lunch on the Island was at the Eden Rock Hotel. My salad and veggies were outstanding. The view…with the planes flying in…was perfection!

Veggie Salad at Eden Rock

We often spend Thanksgiving in St Barts and I have had many a delicious Thanksgiving meal at Maya’s.  This year, my dear friend Henry Lambert and his girlfriend Heather invited us to their sensational home overlooking the port of Gustavia. He cooked a traditional feast complete with a tender turkey, cranberry sauce, the best gravy, sausage stuffing, sweet potato pie, and excellent conversation.

Henry carving the turkey

Thanksgiving feast at Henry's

Dinner at Le Ti St Barts is a must for fun and buzz. Carole, the owner, used to own La Plage with her husband Thierry. They are now divorced and he runs La Plage, she Le Ti. They have a fashion show every night. The models are gorgeous and everyone dances on the tables! It’s exactly the kind of scene you would expect on a French Caribbean Island. I could dance until dawn and have many times.

Grilled Lobster Lunch at La Plage

Fun at Le Ti