The 14th of July, or Bastille Day, is fast approaching! It's time to brush up on your high school French, the language of love, and fall head-over-heels for French food all over again. Of course, some of the loveliest French dishes can be found right here at Allrecipes.com, where cuisine is our raison d'être!

In France, the 14th of July is a national holiday known as Bastille Day, a day when the French people celebrate the political power won by ordinary citizens who overtook the Bastille prison in 1789. This was the turning point of the French Revolution, marking the end of the Monarchy and the beginning of the First Republic. Two days after the storming of the Bastille, on July 16th, 1789, the King officially recognized the tricolor flag (the colors blue, white and red symbolizing liberty, equality and fraternity) and the success of the Revolution that it stood for. For French citizens, Bastille Day is a festive time to appreciate liberty, democracy and the struggle against all forms of oppression.

So let both the flavors of France and the taste of liberty inspire you this coming Bastille Day: Instead of storming a Parisian prison, storm into that kitchen and get cooking! How can you go wrong with classic French ingredients like rich crème fraîche, red Burgundy wine and fresh crusty baguettes? You can't! C'est impossible! Convene your own assembly of French Onion Soup with country bread, croissants or baguettes, followed by an entrée like Chicken Cordon Bleu or Boeuf Bourguignonne (Burgundy Beef), and take your meal to its rousing conclusion with the crème de la crème of fine dining-a fine French dessert! The sweet taste of liberty will resonate in your very being along with Chocolate Mousse Cake or French Crêpes. With your tummy feeling 'très bien' and your taste buds in heaven, you too will be moved to cry out, "Vive la France! Vive la France!"

French
• French Baguettes
• Crêpes
• Fabulous French Loaves
• French Onion Soup VIII
• Crème Fraiche
• Crème Fraiche Chicken
• Chicken Cordon Bleu II
• Beef Bourguignon
• Chocolate Mousse Cake