Maison Yvonne Marie

Food

Family

Travel

Fashion

maison.yvonnemarie@gmail.com

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    Mini Hot Cross Buns

    It had only been a couple of months since we’d trekked to the other side of the world and were settling into our new home in Australia. Easter was upon as and it would also be our first holiday away from home. I was still climbing the learning curve of navigating grocery stores, bakeries, coffee…

    View recipe: Mini Hot Cross Buns

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    The Perfect Apéritif – French 75

    France was on the brink of winning the World Cup in 1998. The streets were lined with fans, cheers echoing throughout the country, along with the blares of Ricky Martin’s, “La Copa de la Vida.” I was crammed into a bar with my mom in Angers, a city not too far from Paris. While she…

    View recipe: The Perfect Apéritif – French 75

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    Carrot Cake

    With spring’s arrival and Easter preparations in full swing, bunches of carrots are welcomed into the kitchen. Growing up it was a sign our home would soon be filled with the nostalgic smell of a highly anticipated carrot cake. To prepare, the earth is washed off this beautiful root vegetable and with a quick peel,…

    View recipe: Carrot Cake

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    Mini Spring Pea and Pancetta Quiche

    I gravitate towards dishes that serve as a blank canvas and with seasons or even moods, can be transformed. This is probably why I’m so drawn to risotto, for its ability to invite fall, winter, spring, and summer to its flavor profile. Much like this universal rice dish, quiche does likewise.

    View recipe: Mini Spring Pea and Pancetta Quiche

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    Easter Babka

    It’s one of those cakes that prompts nostalgia when its aroma fills the kitchen as it rises in the oven. Growing up, the Easter meal leaned into the beauty of traditions passed down from generations and the dishes lining the table were therefore eagerly anticipated.

    View recipe: Easter Babka

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    Smoked Salmon Flatbread

    This dish is both light and delicate. The pairing of fresh herbs with velvety crème fraîche on a crust with a crisp outside and fluffy middle, then topped with beautiful smoked salmon and a pop of color from the slightly sweet red onion and savory capers, makes for a beautiful appetizer. This is great for…

    View recipe: Smoked Salmon Flatbread

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    Tomato Risotto

    Arborio rice is the canvas to which the flavor profiles are endless of what can be added to create a creamy, satisfying, and colorful meal. Risotto is an easy dish with which to experiment in the kitchen, leaving room for forgiveness to tweak the flavor to the exact desire. In this case, I was dreaming…

    View recipe: Tomato Risotto

  • Bleu, Blonde, Rouge – Guided Tour of Paris

    We wanted the stories, not just a recount of monuments, landmarks, statues, and churches, especially with two teenagers in tow. Her passion for history and the arts was evident in the manner in which she spoke about Delacroix’s pieces in Saint Sulpice, the progress of the church’s restoration, and the statues of female figures immortalized…

    View recipe: Bleu, Blonde, Rouge – Guided Tour of Paris

  • Paris Photoshoot

    It was about five o’clock in the morning and the alarm on my phone had just sounded. I turned it off and checked my email. Still blurry eyed, I opened my inbox, which quickly cleared my vision as on one particular email, the subject title read “YOU WON – Paris is calling!”

    View recipe: Paris Photoshoot

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    Lemon and Pea Risotto

    Saturday nights at home, cozied in the kitchen with my husband and two teenagers, our record player scratching out melodies that prompt reminiscence of past travels, and I’m surrounded by ingredients to prepare one of my preferred dinners. Lining my butcher block are fresh lemons, delicate shallots, sweet and anise notes of tarragon, complimenting the…

    View recipe: Lemon and Pea Risotto

Posts

  • The Tables Have Turned

    The Tables Have Turned

    They separated us moments after we arrived. Just prior, with a name tag and timid smile, standing in the foyer of a Spanish mission-styled building…

  • As Tight as Pinched Pierogi

    As Tight as Pinched Pierogi

    It’s an art that’s been passed down in my family from generation to generation. The ingredients and technique remain more or less the same. The…

  • Whipped Goat Cheese & Fig Spread

    Whipped Goat Cheese & Fig Spread

    Perfect in every way; it’s a little sweet, a little tangy and most importantly these days, quick to whip together. This combination served with crackers…

About the Author

I’m Yvonne and welcome to Maison Yvonne Marie! What started as a way to unwind after a busy workweek when expats, flourished into a weekly tradition that’s now a pillar of my family’s week and has been for over a dozen years. Gathering around food for a family-friendly happy hour where we foster our bond, is an opportunity for myself, my husband, and our teenagers to disconnect from the world and enjoy small bites that I’ve whipped up and are inspired by the seasons and our travels. Each Friday we ring in the weekend with our traditional Friday Family Bites, a moment we long for as the weekdays pass. With a passion for cooking and baking, my daily muses are my collection of cookbooks, beloved cooking shows, family recipes, and a nod to a healthy’ish lifestyle. The result is a spark of creativity in the kitchen and I especially love sharing the fruition with others.

“There is no such thing as good cooking if it’s not made with friendship for the person it was intended for.” – Chef Paul Bocuse