Vegetables au gratin

Vegetables au gratin: I made it with cauliflower, broccoli, long beans, petite red potatoes and leeks. Carrots are often added too.

Ingredients:

1 Cauliflower, cut into florets ($4.39/lb)
1 broccoli crown, cut into florets ($2.49/lb)
3 -4 petite red potatoes, cut into thick slices ($2.20 each, you might get them cheaper at local grocery stores when you buy in bulk)
4-6 long beans, cut into inch long pieces ($3.29/lb)
Chopped leeks ($1.49/each, you may skip using it if it is not in your pantry. You may also add freshly chopped parsley instead)
Salt
Freshly ground pepper

For the sauce:
Butter 2 tbsp (Use some to grease the baking pan)
Plain flour 2 tbsp
Milk

Method:

1. Boil water with salt in a steamer. Boil or steam the vegetables(except the leeks) till just tender. Set aside and drain excess water in a colander.
2. For the sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter on low heat and add plain flour while stirring continuously. Do not let it turn brown. Now add milk slowly ( to avoid lumps) till the sauce is thick. Add salt and pepper to taste. You may add grated parmesan in the sauce. 
3. In a greased baking pan, pour the steamed vegetables, sprinkle salt and pepper to taste (you may use ground spices of your choice too), fresh leeks, and the sauce. Top with breadcrumbs and cheese of your choice. Alternately, you may top with some crushed parmesan crisps(my style). Bake until the sauce is bubbly or at 400 F for 30 mins.
   
   This dish is best served hot off the oven. 

A variation is broccoli cauliflower casserole is here.

I added sliced fingerling potatoes and sliced onions

Pan roasted vegetable ratatouille

Mélange de courgettes, de tomates, de poivrons, et d'aubergines

1. Dice zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper or sweet peppers, and tomatoes. 
2. Mince garlic or use garlic salt, pepper, minced basil (or fresh thyme).
3. Pan roast in olive oil until the vegetables are cooked thoroughly.

You can add an Asian twist with minced green chilies and low sodium soy sauce.

Coq au Vin

Link 1 (in French)

Link 2

I made it in a pan for dinner.

1. First, I tore some bacon and put on a pan, along with diced shallot(can use pearl onions instead) and diced potatoes(not necessary, can add carrots too). 
2. Then I added some marinated chicken pieces (less cooking time), salt(prefer using salt while cooking then at the end), crushed pepper, bay leaves, crushed cloves of garlic and stirred. 
3. Used some red wine for the sauce and some fresh parsley.

You can use chicken broth instead of chicken pieces for amazing bacon and potatoes.

You can have baked cinnamon apples as dessert.

Chicken liver pâté

For Fredo

One of my French friends, introduced me to pate, and I have been addicted to it since, especially the ones from Three Little Pigs with truffles. However, I decided to make some at home, I found a video here.[videojug]

I have seen this made with mostly cognac or port wine, you can use any cooking wine you prefer. I didn't have any truffles, I used shiitake (how predictable :D) instead.

Nutritional data on chicken liver, here