'tis Easter! Let's eat.

[chrelion]

I was just thinking "Man, I'm really hungry." And then, of course, food came to mind. Delicious, wonderful food. But I don't know that many recipes. Do you guys know any really good foreign (which, for me, means "not American")-type dishes that are quick to make, don't require too many ingredients and are delicious? Preferably, uniquely French meals would do. The less well-known, the better. Even a traditional family recipe would do.

[nurvonic]

well, i dunno how "quick and easy" these are, but here ya go...

http://www.ffcook.com/pages/allrecipes.htm

[Twitch]

Hmm, well being that Easter marks the end of Lent and traditionally the French are mostly Catholic so, at least the ones who still practice the tradition, have gone without meat or alcohol since Ash Wednesday (Hence the feast on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) which is always done before Ash Wednesday).

This is what I found for French Easter traditions:
Easter is, very much, a chocolate holiday. It is also a big day for familial reunions at church and at the table. People eat a large meal, and for dessert, large and small eat chocolate-filled candies shaped like eggs, bells, chicken or fish.

I think Lamb is often the meat of choice for Easter and here are some ideas: http://frenchfood.about.com/

But if you want a simple recipe I make all the time here is one for Potage Parmentier it is a simple leek and potato soup that I have always enjoyed, even when made with water during Lent. If you like Vichyssoise, this is the traditional provincial soup that was puréed, creamed and chilled to make it. (To make Vichyssoise, which must be served cold so it is best to make it the night before or in the early morning, just follow the recipe below using only the white part of the leeks, purée the soup and when puréed add ½ to 1 cup of heavy cream, mix well, and refrigerate. It is usually garnished with fresh minced chives instead of parsley. A dollop of sour cream in each bowl is a pleasant addition.)

[garçoncanadien]

i recommend making a salade niçoise and ratatouille on brown rice; that is a killer meal

[Twitch]

^I gotta agree about that. Those are both excellent dishes. Though you might want to skip the ratatouille though if Alizée is a dinner guest because of the zucchinis.

And some trivia about the recipe I posted above:
Soup Tale: France was beset with famine following the Seven Year War (1756-1763). Native son Antoine Auguste Parmentier, who had been fed the so-called poisonous potato root in a German prison-of-war camp, returned to France to find his country men starving. He set up potato soup kitchens throughout Paris to assist the poor. Ultimately, Louis XVI recognized his work by saying, "France will thank you some day for having found bread for the poor." In fact, he is best honored by the pleasure his country take in digesting Potage Parmentier.