The people of France are serious about food. They are a people who live to eat, instead of eat to live.

French meals are known for the use of heavy creams, butter, and fats. To flavor the meals, French chefs use a variety of herbs including parsley, thyme, bay leaf, mint, rosemary, chives, chervil, and sage. Spices often found in French cooking include fennel, coriander, cumin, caraway, and juniper berries. Meals are accompanied by bread and cheese. The French eat more cheese than any other nation in the world, and produce over 400 different types of cheeses.

The day begins with le petite dejéuner, a little breakfast, consisting of a coffee or hot chocolate and a freshly baked croissant or bread. Lunch, typically eaten around 2 p.m., consists of several leisurely courses, including salad or soup, a main dish of meat or fish, and, finally, cheese, fruit, or sometimes dessert. The evening meal, often a time for the whole family to gather, is eaten around 8 p.m. Depending on the size of lunch, the evening meal will also often consist of several courses.

Beverage choice is also very important to the French people. For every occasion and meal there is an appropriate beverage selection. A light apéritif (a light alcoholic beverage) precedes the meal, and a digestif (something a bit more spirited) follows. Wine often accompanies the meal itself.

There are three types of cooking associated with France today. Haute cuisine is known for its extreme richness and elaborate presentation. Cuisine Bourgeoise is high-quality home cooking. Lastly, there is Nouvelle Cuisine, lighter dishes in which fresh ingredients are prepared to optimize natural flavors.

Get into the spirit of France, with these delicious dishes. Please have Adult Supervision while making these recipes, and enjoy!!

• Quiche Lorraine
• Rolled Omelet
• Brioche Dough

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• France