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One of my high school girlfriends and I were the same way. After finishing our books, we switched books and then exchanged our opinions about them. The librarians at our private girl’s school knew Isabelle and I very well and even gave us some “privileges” that the other girls didn’t have. After our second year, girls started to follow in our footsteps and we formed a “Book Society”… cute! The librarians also lent us books to read that we would have never personally picked ourselves.
When I was reading and it was something I didn’t know, I went ahead and did some research. Isabelle wasn’t like me in this regard– actually I was the only one doing that – and she relied on me many times to explain things to her that she didn’t know.
One day as I was reading a novel, the author mentioned a dish I never had before. Just the way it was described, I could not only almost smell and taste it but it was also something I wanted badly. I went to my parents kitchen and showed it to them hoping they would make it… well, that never happened!
Years later, after I had just moved to Toronto, I was asked out on a date and he took me to The Select Bistro located on Queen Street back then – now it’s located on Wellington Street. When I started looking at the menu, I saw this particular dish and suddenly it dawned on me… that was the dish I had read about when I was a young girl and somehow had never tasted it. Without hesitation I ordered it! It was Duck à l’Orange! Although I had previously seen it on menus many times, somehow I never ordered it. I’m so glad I did that night because it was perfectly cooked just the way I imagined it when reading that book…
After becoming a regular at The Select Bistro, I eventually started making this dish at home. I was quite surprised that I nailed it on my first attempt. Was it because I had it so many times at one of my favorite restaurants? Maybe… but for me just making a dish that I was so curious about for more than 15 years and successfully make it was a big achievement on its own.
A few years ago though, I decided to make a slight change to one of my old time favorites. Overnight it became my Duck Breast with Blood Orange Sauce! Oh my… it’s so amazing! Switching from regular to blood oranges made a delicious impact on the recipe by giving the sauce a deeper, richer taste.
Another change I made to this new “improved” recipe was to spice things up a little by adding a spice that is too often ignored… harissa. Without overpowering the incredible flavor of the duck, this spice complements the dish perfectly. Now this Duck Breast with Blood Orange Sauce is absolutely mouthwatering!
You can make this for a weeknight dinner but it’s definitely an elegant meal to have when you are entertaining at home. I like to serve this with my Scalloped Potatoes and steamed vegetables. Surprisingly uncomplicated, this Duck Breast with Blood Orange Sauce will absolutely wow everyone… including yourself!
Bon Appétit!
Similar to this Duck Breast with Blood Orange Sauce, here are more amazing elegant recipes for you to try…
– Pork Tenderloin Vitali
– Sautéed Scallops with Beurre Blanc
– Braised Beef Short Ribs with Sherry & Shiitake
– Red Snapper en Papillote
– Veal Ossobuco
– Spanish Paella
– Fettuccine alle Vongole – Clam Fettuccine
– Lamb Chops with Balsamic & Red Wine Reduction
– North African Chicken Thighs with Dates & Pomegranate Molasses
and for even more great poultry recipes, click on this link… Recipe Category – Poultry
For ingredient amounts and much more, visit
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