Moving to Paris was the best bad decision that Texan Ellise Pierce ever made. Wooed to the city by a Frenchman, she soon found herself with just 100 euros in her bank account. So she launched a last-ditch effort to stay in the City of Light: She started her own catering business and began teaching other American expats how to re-create flavors from home. Using French ingredients and techniques from both sides of the Atlantic, she did more than found a culinary company -- she created a unique style of cooking that's part Texas, part French, and all Cowgirl. Recipes include:

• Cornbread Madeleines
• Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Tartines
• Cauliflower Galettes with Chipotle Creme Fraiche
• Green Chile-Goat Cheese Smashed Potatoes
• Peanut Butter-Chocolate Soufflees