Shecky’s

Julia Child—a name known worldwide as kitchen royalty, bringing fabulous French cuisine to American viewers. “The French Chef” star would’ve turned the big 1-0-0 today, so what better time to recreate some of her classic, delicious dishes? Not only was Julia famous for her distinctive voice, tall stature and contagious giggle, but also for flipping a flapjack to the floor and picking it up with a simple “Oops!” and carrying on. From cream and leek potato soup (which she made for her hubby Paul almost daily!), to browned Brussels sprouts with cheese, to indulgent chocolate almond cake, we’ve gathered up a few of her top-tier, tasty recipes for every course on the menu. Gather your friends, pour a glass of vino (or two!) and cheers Ms. Child on her 100th birthday!

- Casey Schmieder

Cream of Leek & Potato Soup

Start of your meal right with Julia’s ever-delicious Cream of Leek and Potato Soup (on foodnetwork.com)! Not only is this recipe extremely easy to whip up, but it’s so marvelously mouthwatering that even the pickiest eater will be begging for more!

What You’ll Need: 3 cups sliced leeks (white and tender green parts), 3 cups peeled and roughly chopped baking potatoes, 6 cups water, 1.5 teaspoons salt, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup creme fraiche or sour cream, and 1/3 cup minced chives or parsley.

What You’ll Do: In a large pan, bring the potatoes, leeks, water and salt to a slow boil, keeping the heat on high until reaching the boiling point. Next, reduce the heat and cover the pan partially, allowing your ingredients to simmer for 20-30 minutes until the veggies are tender. Using a handheld blender, or a food processor if desired, begin blending the mixture together. Whisk in a dash of cream before serving, and then drizzle more cream over the soup to make an elegant design on top. Sprinkle with some fresh chives, and prepare for your mouth to water!

Image Credit: foodforvitality.com