Tune into FOX Tomorrow for Valentine Date Night

On February 12, 2019February 12, 2019 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, Be Inspired, Taste1 Comment

Tune into Fox 4 KDFW, tomorrow, Wednesday, February 13th about 9:40 to see ME cooking LIVE with the morning crew!

I’ll show you how to host a Romantic Date Night, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Instead of fighting crowds this year, opt to stay in with this mouthwatering menu. Pan seared Pork Chops with Apple Cranberry Pan Sauce served over Creamy Mashed Potatoes is decadent and satisfying and the best part, it won’t take you all day to prepare!

For a sweet ending try one of my favorite go-to recipes French Chocolate Bark.

Pork Chops with Apple Cranberry Pan Sauce

2 boneless pork chops, 6 ounces each

1-2 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons butter

½ large Granny Smith apple, peeled and chopped

¼ cup dried cranberries

1 tablespoon onion, grated

1 small garlic clove, pressed

1 teaspoon brown sugar

2 tablespoons dry white wine

¼ cup chicken stock

pinch cinnamon

¼ teaspoon sage

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in a chef’s pan set over medium/low heat. Salt and pepper pork chops liberally. Dredge chops in flour and place into the hot pan. Sear for 3-4 minutes until pork is getting brown. Flip and sear the second side. Remove the chops from the pan and place them in a glass baking dish and into the oven to finish cooking, about 18 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 155 degrees. To prepare the sauce deglaze the pan with the white wine. Add remaining ingredients and cook until mixture is thick and apples are breaking down a bit. Remove from heat and serve over the pork shops.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

3 pounds potatoes, preferably Yukon Gold’s, peeled and diced

½ cup heavy cream

¼ cup butter

Salt and Pepper to taste

Boil potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain water, reserving 1 cup of cooking water. Place potatoes in a bowl an electric mixer and mix with cream and butter until perfectly smooth. If potatoes are still too stiff, add a bit of the cooking water until desired consistency is reached. Salt and pepper to taste.

French Chocolate Bark

1 12-ounce package of 60% cocoa chocolate chips, I use Ghirardelli’s

½ cup dried cherries, coarsely chopped

½ cup toasted pecans, coarsely chopped

½ cup coconut

Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Melt chocolate in microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals stirring well in between each time. Spread melted chocolate on parchment paper creating a thin sheet of chocolate. Sprinkle with fruit and nuts and slightly press into chocolate. Chill the candy in the refrigerator until set and break into pieces. Keep bark refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

TASTE THE FOOD. TASTE THE WINE.

TASTE THE CULTURE.

A Taste of Paris 2020

Culinary adventure of a lifetime!

More Details…CLICK HERE

Did Someone Say Food?

On July 16, 2018July 18, 2018 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, Be Inspired, Discover, TasteLeave a comment

When traveling with A Taste of Paris, food is pretty much always on our minds. You know what they say…”When in France, do as the French do” and food is always on the minds of the French!

When asked, Why France? Jacqui Cooper, a former ATOP traveler, said it best…”To me, the mere mention of Paris evokes thoughts of exquisite food, wine, and pastries;”

See the recipe below for Sweet Red Chili Basil Tomatoes from our Parisian chef; you may be surprised by one of the ingredients that make this stunning morsel an explosion in your mouth.

“the first hint of trendsetter fashions; beautiful countryside and gardens; and a city of lights illuminating some of the world’s magnificent historical architectures.”

“Paris also brings to mind the flea and food markets where ordinary folks shop for the necessities of the day.”

“I chose the ATOP trips because it enabled me to revisit some of Paris’ breathtaking historical sites,”

“such as Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, and the Pantheon;”

“and to enjoy again, the French countryside and wonderful champagne.”

“The tour also gave me the unique opportunity to delve into the food side of Paris.”

“Of course, we went to lovely restaurants and bistros to partake of the Parisian cuisine,”

“but the motivating reason for choosing ATOP was the “hands on” activities. For example, we had an afternoon at the world famous Le Cordon Bleu School, where we actually, under the watchful eye of a French pastry chef, participated in the painstaking detailed process of making macrons.”

“Another day found us meeting the Chef for our market class at the food market in mid-morning to shop for ingredients for the day’s luncheon.”

“We purchased what was needed and returned to the Chef’s school to cook. We again participated in every step of preparing a meal and how to beautifully present it on the plate.”

“These kinds of “hands on” experiences made the ATOP tour truly an unforgettable trip.”

“An ever present reminder of the trip is the personalized chef’s jacket that Lorie gave each of us while in Paris. Thanks Lorie.”

So Thank you Jacqui for summing up the A Taste of Paris experience so articulately!

You can still travel with ATOP in 2019 CLICK HERE for all the details!

And try Sweet Red Chili Basil Tomatoes with produce ripe from the field today!

Sweet Red Chili Basil Tomatoes

1-2 cups cherry tomatoes

Basil leaves, one for each tomato

1 teaspoon brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon Piment d’espelette (or substitute, 11/2 teaspoon paprika and a healthy dash of cayenne pepper)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make a slit in each tomato about ¼ inch deep. In a bowl, mix sugar and seasonings very well. Add tomatoes and coat well with the sugar mixture. Place tomatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment and using the back of a knife; slide a basil leaf into the slit of each tomato. Place baking sheet into the oven to warm through for 4 minutes.

See you soon!

A Taste of Paris Goes PINK!

On March 1, 2018February 27, 2018 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, Be Inspired, Discover, TasteLeave a comment

Registration for ATOP Travel is now OPEN. In April 2019, I am hosting a very special event: A Taste of Paris Goes PINK. This all-female trip is jam-packed with amazing offerings.

What a perfect time to travel with your mother, daughter, sister, or best friends, and ME to The City of Light. You will be treated like royalty at the Ecole Ritz Escoffier, the most luxurious address in the city of Paris. You will enjoy a custom-crafted class on classic French desserts at the famed Lenôtre. You will venture into a 400-year-old cave for a cheese and wine pairing class, igniting your palate and your spirit. You will also be treated to a Champagne tasting event like no other, complete with Champagne Sabering!

To celebrate this extraordinary one-time offer, my website will go PINK for the entire month of March!

Get ready for PINK- fun, food, and fashion just in time for spring.

Just a few of the precious ladies that have joined me for ATOP trips!

Chocolate Madeleines, the perfect treat ANYTIME!

On June 21, 2017September 4, 2017 By Lorie FangioIn Taste1 Comment

Chocolate Madeleines are the perfect anytime treat! In France when you order coffee, you always get a small biscuit. These days, it is usually a tiny wrapped butter cookie but at a posh address; you may be served a madeleine alongside your beverage. Madeleines are tiny little pound cakes and are not typically seen in chocolate but you know me…chocolate is always my flavor of choice.

Madeleines are easy to make.

You will want to purchase the special shell shaped pans to create madeleines. These precious pans are always a favorite buy for my ATOP travelers.

Butter the pan very well, but do not leave clumps of butter on the pan.

Flour the pan evenly.

Melt butter and add dark cocoa, mix well.

Add sugar and mix well.

Add eggs one at a time mixing well in between each.

Add flour and mix only until combined.

Using a kitchen scoop, portion the batter in the center of each shell. Bake for about 20 minutes until each madeleine is puffed.

Make a batch for someone you love TODAY!

Join me in Paris, April 2018! For all the gorgeous details CLICK HERE!

Chocolate Madeleines

¾ cup butter

1 ½ cups sugar

¾ cup flour

¾ cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder

3 eggs