Braised Duck Legs with Sweet and Spicy Pineapple

 

Duck is the “meatier” relative of chicken: its complex flavor and unique texture make it highly suitable for bold culinary combinations, which is exactly what I had in mind.
While I more often use duck breast, this time, I had D’Artagnan’s Rohan duck legs to experiment with, and I chose a classic pairing with pineapple, along with Asian inspired sweet and spicy sauce.

Baked Camembert Cheese with Cherry-Kumquat, Ginger and Brandy Jam

Baked white rind cheese, such as Camembert or Brie, is one of the easiest, yet most festive dishes for a relaxed entertainment. Baking the cheese turns it even creamier, enhances its flavor, and keeps it at the perfect texture for serving with tasty additions, such as crackers and fruits. The pairing of delicately salty cheese and sweetish/aromatic additions is hard to resist.

Pear, Kumquat and Ginger Upside-down Cake

After a few lengthy recipes, I’ve decided it’s time for something a bit quicker and easier to make. My initial idea was to bake a simple pear-ginger cake, but then I’ve found these lovely kumquats at the store – and decided they would fit perfectly in the cake.
So, even though I ended up complicating the simple recipe a bit, the result was definitely worth it. I believe “festive” is a good word for describing this fragrant, colorful and moist cake. It is just perfect for this time of the year, or for any other festive occasion. Try it and enjoy.