French cooking - any tips?

[TwinkleTwinkleLittleEtoile]

I just got back from France after a short break, and as usual when I go there, I just love the food. It seems to simple and effortless, but can I recreate it when I try? No, of course not.

Any tips on how to eat more French? Or any recommendations for recipe books? I'm a decent ordinary cook. I saw the film Julie and Julia, and certainly don't plan on deboning a duck, or whatever it was she was aiming for. I'd love to be able to make a cassoulet, decent quiche, maybe some pastries.

Any tips?

Unicorn good job I did it then!

It turned out v well though the sausages I used could have had more taste, I'll have a look at Booths next time I think, and add more smoked sausage.
Even DS who's the most fussy ate some cabbage. And he wanted to have another helping for tea tomorrow (it made gallons).

I used this recipe

www.jardiner-malin.fr/recettes/potee-auvergnate-recette.html

I didn't have any turnips and it was a bit difficult to judge the normal size of French vegetables (I suspected the leeks might have been a bit smaller than my veg box monsters so I only put in 1)
With the amount of meat in my post above it will do 6 adult servings plus 3 small child servings.

Totally random bold in my post is due to my iPad autocorrect. Bizarre.

My husband is French. At home he makes Apple tart, Tarte Tatin, pear cake, chocolate dessert, chocolate mousse, crepe, soups, aligot, beef bourginon, pasque-joux etc. I've never known anyone make croissants etc, they are just bought from the bakers. My MIL cooks all kinds of dishes. He has a recipe book but got it in France. I don't have much idea how to make these things, its part of the reason I married him.