Tag: french canadian

Poor Man’s Pudding

~ Karine K ~ 1 Comment
Poor Man's Pudding
Poor Man’s Pudding

Poor Man’s Pudding, or pouding chômeur as it was originally known, is a quintessential French Canadian dessert. It originated in the Belle Province early during the Great Depression and can be literally translated by “pudding of the unemployed man”. It was actually created by female factory workers. This recipe for the Poor Man’s Pudding comes from my mama’s recipe vault. I can remember eating this scrumptious dessert throughout my childhood. It is so easy to make and satisfying, I can see why there was often a pan at home. It also requires ingredients that you probably already have on hand, so you could decide to make this, like… right now! I hope you enjoy this recipe!

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see it! Please tag @LivityGardens on social.

And for other French Canadian desserts, check out My Famous Date Squares and this Date and Coconut Cake.

Print

Poor Man’s Pudding

Poor Man's Pudding
Print Recipe
  • Author: Karine K
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: French Canadian

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 3 tablespoons aquafaba
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Sauce:

  • 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 1/4 cup coconut milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 200˚C (400˚F) and grease a square baking pan (8-in x 8-in). In a large mixing bowl, sift flour and baking powder. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar into a cream. Add the aquafaba, the milk and the vanilla extract. Mix until you get a smooth consistency. Add the dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) and mix just enough to combine. Whisk the sauce ingredients directly in the bottom of the baking pan until well-combined. Using a spoon, place dollops of the dough on top of the sauce. Place in the oven and bake for approximately 35 minutes. Take out, let cool slightly and enjoy. Bon appétit!

Keywords: pudding, french canadian, dessert

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Print

Pouding chômeur vegan

Poor Man's Pudding
Print Recipe

Le fameux pouding chômeur façon végé vous comblera! Un goût typiquement québécois et une recette simple et rapide a réaliser. Saviez-vous que le pouding chômeur a été créé au tout début de la grande Dépression par des ouvrières? Elles y avaient trouvé une façon économique de sucrer le bec de leur famille. Pour d’autres recettes de desserts du Québec, consultez ma recette de carrés aux dates et le fameux gâteau Reine Élizabeth, que j’ai renommé gâteau aux dates et coconut.

  • Author: Karine K
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 à 10 portions 1x
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Four
  • Cuisine: Québec

Ingredients

Scale

Pour le gâteau:

  • 1 tasse de farine tout-usage
  • 1 1/2 c. à thé de poudre à pâte
  • 1/2 tasse de sucre
  • 1/3 tasse de beurre
  • 3 c. à soupe aquafaba
  • 1/4 tasse lait
  • 1/2 c. à thé d’essence de vanille

Pour la sauce:

  • 1 1/2 tasse de cassonade
  • 1 1/4 tasse de lait de coconut

Instructions

Préchauffer le four à 200˚C (400˚F) et graisser un moule à cuisson carré de 8po par 8po. Dans un grand bol à mélanger, tamiser la farine et la poudre à pâte. Dans un autre grand bol, battre le beurre et le sucre en crème. Ajouter l’aquafaba, le lait et l’essence de vanille. Bien mélanger. Ajouter le mélange de farine et de poudre à pâte et mélanger délicatement, jusqu’à ce que les ingrédients soient bien incorporés. Fouetter les ingrédients de la sauce directement dans le moule. À l’aide d’une cuillère, déposer délicatement des boules de pâte sur la sauce. Placer au four et cuire pendant environ 35 minutes. Retirer du four, laisser reposer et dévorer. Bon appétit!

Keywords: pouding, chômeur, dessert, québec

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Fennel, Carrot and Chickpea Fricassée

~ Karine K ~ Leave a comment
Fennel, Carrot and Chickpea Fricassée
Fennel, Carrot and Chickpea Fricassée

This Fennel, Carrot and Chickpea Fricassée is quick and tasty. Fricassée is a French dish made by half sautéing, half stewing pieces of meat, and serving them in a thick white sauce. My grandpa used to make it often.  He would make his fricassée in its even simpler form, by sautéing ground beef in loads of butter along with lots of diced onion and celery. He would then deglaze the pan with hot black tea, add some heavy cream, whole peppercorns, fresh parsley, and there you had it! Sometimes he would add cut up potato cubes in there.

Well, as you can imagine, this fricassée recipe is much different. First, you HAVE to use the freshest vegetables you can find. Because the vegetables are the stars, there are very few other seasonings. I sauté the veggies until they are soft, but not browned. I then add some liquid, to continue the cooking, but just enough so that it doesn’t turn into a soup. I removed my grandpa’s beloved cream, obviously, but did not substitute. You can serve with a dollop of fresh coconut yogurt, if you’d like.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see it. Please tag @LivityGardens on Instagram and use the hashtag #LivityGardens.

If you like chickpeas, check out these other great recipes: Chickpea Chole, Quick Fennel and Garbanzo Beans Soup and Chickpea Curry with Figs and Apricot.

Print

Fennel, Carrot and Chickpea Fricassée

Fennel, Carrot and Chickpea Fricassée
Print Recipe
  • Author: Karine K
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
  • 3–4 shallots, sliced thin
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 fennel bulbs, cored and sliced thin
  • 2 carrots, cut into small cubes
  • 1 red, yellow, or orange bell pepper, cut into small cubes
  • 1 large celery stalk, cut into small cubes
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme
  • 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 2 large handful spinach, large leaves torn
  • 1/2 to 1 cup vegetable broth
  • Sea salt and pepper, to taste
  • Garnish: fresh fennel fronds, fresh parsley

Instructions

In a large straight-edge sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat. When hot, add the shallots, garlic, fennel, carrots, bell pepper, celery, thyme sprigs, and generous pinches of sea salt and pepper. Sauté over medium heat, stirring often, so the vegetables cook, but do not brown or burn, about 10 minutes. Add the chickpeas and mix well. Add some stock, a little bit at a time, so that the vegetables are wet, but the broth isn’t soupy. Add the spinach and toss until just wilted. Taste and adjust seasonings. Bon appétit!

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Print

Fricassée de fenouil, carottes et pois chiches

Fennel, Carrot and Chickpea Fricassée
Print Recipe
  • Author: Karine K
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 portions 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 c. à soupe d’huile de pépin de raisin
  • 3 à 4 échalotes françaises, en tranches minces
  • 3 gousses d’ail, émincées
  • 3 bulbes de fenouil, sans le coeur et en tranches minces
  • 2 carottes, coupées en petits cubes
  • 1 poivron rouge, jaune ou orange, coupé en cubes
  • 1 branche de céleri, coupée en cubes
  • 1 branche de thym frais
  • 1 boîte de pois chiches, rincée et égouttée
  • 2 grosses poignées d’épinards
  • 1/2 à 1 tasse de bouillon de légumes
  • Sel de mer et poivre, au goût
  • Garnish: fresh fennel fronds, fresh parsley

Instructions

Chauffer l’huile à feu moyen dans une grande poêle à rebords hauts. Ajouter les échalotes, l’ail, le fenouil, les carottes, le poivron, le céleri, la branche de thym, et de généreuses pincées de sel de mer et de poivre. Faire revenir à feu moyen, en brassant souvent, pendant environ 10 minutes. Ajouter les pois chiches et bien brasser. Ajouter du bouillon de légumes, un peu à la fois, afin qu’il s’évapore lentement. Ajouter les épinards et mélanger jusqu’à ce qu’ils soient légèrement cuits. Goûter et ajuster les saveurs. Bon appétit!

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

My Famous Date Squares

~ Karine K ~ 2 Comments
My Famous Date Squares
My Famous Date Squares

Carrés aux dates, French for Date Squares, are a French Canadian staple. Every mom in town makes them and every French Canadian kid grows up eating them. They are delightful and you can adapt the filling to the seasons. Date squares are the perfect Holiday treat. You can serve them at your next party or bring them to a potluck. They are so festive. And I say famous, because even Oprah had them!

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see it. Please tag @LivityGardens on Instagram and use the hashtag #LivityGardens.

Print

My Famous Date Squares

My Famous Date Squares
Print Recipe
  • Author: Karine K
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups dates, chopped
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 1/2 cup brown sugar, divided
  • 1 teaspoon corn starch
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350˚. In a small bowl, mix the 2 tablespoons water and the corn starch. Set aside. Bring one cup of water and 1/2 cup of brown sugar to a low boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the dates and the corn starch mixture. Keep simmering until the mixture thickens, about 6-8 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the vanilla extract. Mix well.

Beat the butter into a cream. Add 1 cup of brown sugar, the flour, the baking soda, the salt, and the oatmeal, and mix well. Spread half of the mixture at the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish lined with parchment paper. Compact well. Add the date mixture on top, and top with the rest of the oatmeal mixture (do not press down on the top as you want it to look like a fluffy crumble). Place in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until golden on top. Let cool on a rack for about an hour. Cut in squares and eat them all! Bon appétit!

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Print

Carrés aux dates

My Famous Date Squares
Print Recipe
  • Author: Karine K
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 8 portions 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tasses de dates, hachées
  • 1 tasse plus 2 c. à soupe d’eau
  • 1 1/2 tasse de cassonade, (1/2 tasse pour le mélange de dates et 1 tasse pour la croustade) 
  • 1 c. à thé de fécule de maïs
  • 1/4 c. à thé d’extrait de vanille pur
  • 1 1/4 tasse de flocons d’avoine à l’ancienne
  • 1 tasse de beurre
  • 1 1/2 tasse de farine
  • 1/4 c. à thé de bicarbonate de soude
  • Pincée de sel de mer

Instructions

Préchauffer le four à 350˚. Dans un petit bol, mélanger 2 c. à soupe d’eau avec la fécule de maïs. Réserver. Porter 1 tasse d’eau et 1/2 tasse de cassonade à ébullition dans une casserole moyenne. Réduire le feu à moyen et ajouter les dates et le mélange de fécule de maïs. Mélanger et laisser mijoter jusqu’à ce que le mélange épaississe, environ 6 à 8 minutes. Retirer du feu et ajouter l’extrait de vanille. Bien mélanger et laisser refroidir environ 30 minutes.

Défaire le beurre en crème. Ajouter 1 tasse de cassonade, la farine, le bicarbonate de soude, le sel de mer et les flocons d’avoine. Bien mélanger avec les mains. Étendre environ la moitié du mélange dans le fond d’un moule de 8 pouces par 8 pouces, préalablement recouvert de papier parchemin. Presser pour bien compacter. Ajouter le mélange de dates et recouvrir du reste du mélange de croustade (ne pas presser le dessus). Placer au four pendant 25 à 30 minutes, jusqu’à ce que le dessus soit doré. Retirer du four et laisser refroidir pendant 1 heure. Couper en carrés et dévorer! Bon appétit!

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!