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Showing posts from April, 2010

LAVENDER DREAM

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...and its ice cream! My floral self again... A really easy floral ice cream, made with fresh or dried lavender flowers. Years ago, I had a really bad experience with lavender sorbet.It reminded me of the lavender detergent we used in my childhood to clean the loos.  After some research I found the below recipe. Its simple and delicious and, provided you aren't one of those unfortunate people allergic to lavender, will leave your palate cleansed. For those of you who have an ice cream churner there is a beautiful velvet version and for those of you who don't, a wonderful  "cheats version."  Why lavender? Because it soothes... *Please note ingestion of lavender should be avoided when pregnant or breast feeding Lavender Dream Ice Cream.. for churner owners Recipe adapted from HappyLavender.com 1 1/4 cup whole milk 1/2 cup fresh lavender flowers , washed and patted dry ( you can use dried, buy them from an Organic Shop...I get mine from Bio Chartrons, Cours Port

FLOWER POWER

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On eating flowers.. Apart from the apparent dangers of eating flowers - fertilisers, sprays, bees etc, there are also many joys in flower eating. I was reminded of this when I came upon a bag of early nasturtium flowers at the market.  I fell back in time to the 70's, la belle époque , and my caftan-wearing mother sending me to school with nasturtium, cream cheese and ham sandwiches...everyone alse had peanut better! I was embarrased and teased beyond the average measures of childhood cruelty but I did, and still do, defend the delicious peppery taste of nasturtium flowers. We left the market, bag of nasturtium flowers in hand and picnicked under the wisteria in our country garden - nasturtium, cream cheese and ham sandwiches washed down with a large glass of chilled rosé.  A sweet moment. Nasturtium, Cream Cheese & Ham Sandwich Good quality sandwich bread Washed nasturtium flowers plus a few leaves Lambs lettuce/ mache Cream Cheese/St Moret Ham Spread cream cheese o

FIRST SPRING BBQ

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What is it about the chill of a clear-skied Spring evening and the smell of bbq.d meat...? Caveman calling? Basic BBQ Rules Stay simple. Invite the people you love -  the ones who won't shy away from the paper serviettes! BBQ = intimacy. Buy good meat.  Never buy pre-marinated meats. ( this is especially so in France!) Marinate meats yourself, let your mind travel - sweet chilli and soy, grated fresh ginger, sesame oil & soy, lime juice & zest and green tobasco for fish, rub chicken with indian spices, roll in yoghurt and spices... Add a variety of salads, stay seasonal - Classic potato salads, green leaves, mixed tomato salads with lashings of garlic, soothing raw veg salsas, grilled veg with quinoa spiced up with Basque pepper and chopped white spring onion. Serve good crisp Rosé.My favourite is good quality Italian Bardolino.. Ask someone to bring dessert...my friend brought Key Lime Pie, I went heavenward! Best Potato Salad Ever So many potato salads make

PORTOBELLO FRESH

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Named after Portobello Rd, London, the fleshy, earthy Portobello mushroom is the big brother of the "little brown mushroom"... ain't that sweet! There is so much you can do with these gigantic mushrooms, now in season. What am I doing?  Stuffing them! Great to compliment bbqs, salads, charcuterie, etc Quick, easy, divine and healthy! Basil, Chive, Goat Cheese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms 8 portobellos ( when choosing they should be dry and smell earthy) 8 tablespoons crumbly goat cheese 1 cup greek yoghurt or creme fraiche 2 heaped tablespoons scissored chives and the same of basil salt and pepper olive oil Pre heat oven 180° Take stalk out of mushrooms and clean mushrooms and pat dry. On a low flame, pan fry mushrooms in olive oil for no more than 5 mins. Meanwhile, mix stuffing ingredients, adding salt and pepper to your tastes, then spoon into each mushroom. If you have extra cheese, crumble on top of each mushroom. Bake for 20 mins. Serve with a simple

BERRY POWER

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Low in fat, carbs, and calories. High in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Berries contribute to overall health, may even help prevent cancer and heart disease, as well as slowing the aging process. 1 cup of sliced strawberries contains a day's requirement for vitamin C.  1 cup of blackberries, a day's worth of manganese, while the same amount of raspberries supplies a third of  daily niacin needs.  Blueberries and strawberries are excellent sources of vitamin E.  The season is here. Berry salad for dessert tonight... Balsamic Berry Salad 1 cup each straberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. 1 teaspoon Balsamic vinegar (this enhances the natural sugars, means less icing sugar) 1 tablespoon icing sugar Chopped mint Berries into a large bowl.  Sprinkle over balsamic vinegar, mint and icing sugar.  Toss gently and chill for about an hour before serving. As an alternative to chantilly, mix half natural yoghurt  half unsweeetened whipped cream

PRE WEDDING SUPPER...

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Let them eat cake! Best woman for a great friend tomorrow, I have been assigned to desserts this evening to tempt both French and Irish families. Choc dipped strawberries for  the bride who is in no state to hold a cake fork  and Moist Raspberry and Lemon Zest Dessert Cake for those who can still drive a fork.. Moist Raspberry and Lemon Zest Dessert Cake This dessert can make either 2 dessert cakes or one enormous one. Freezes well. 500gr fresh or frozen raspberries 3 tablespoons sugar 300gr butter , non -salted 1 1/2 cups sugar 3 large eggs ( I use free range, better colour! ) Zest of 2 lemons 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 1 cup whole milk 3 1/2 cups premium quality flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Pre-heat oven 180°. Place raspberries into a bowl and sprinkle with 3T sugar. Toss, put aside. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, zest and vanilla essence. Stir in milk, flour and baking powder. Pour into springform tin and put raspberries on top. Bake 60mins. Serve with lashings of

OMEGA ME !

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Long-chain omega 3 fatty acids ...the best source is in oily fish.    Hands up who LIKES oily fish? For years I have been trying to feed mackerel to my children. Atlantic mackerel is extremely high in vitamin B12. It is is also very high in omega 3, containing nearly twice as much per unit weight as does salmon.   Mackerel is good for the heart, bone development and apparently enhances intelligence. When I was pregnant I literally vacumed down this fish in the hope that it would not only render me capable of doing maths homework with future child but maybe also make my baby brilliant. No comments about my non-capacity in the maths arena!! Last week my mother-in-law served Mackerel Crumble for lunch.  Delcious and simple to make, my children adore it. This is definately a recipe to share! Mackerel Crumble   2 packets mackerel in Mustard Sauce   ( available in all french supermarkets and organic shops, weight 169 gr.If you are not in France, use tinned mackerel, about 350gr and a

GET DOWN My American Market.com

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Who needs US grocery?        MyAmericanMarket , as recommended by DesperateAngloHousewives : Bordeaux Are you struggling to satisfy your cravings because you are:   -  Embarrassed to ask your family and friends for one more favor? -  Fed up with products that melted or broke during the transatlantictrip? -  Worn out from having to rush around Paris, search for parking spaces and drive in traffic? -  Frustrated from having to wait until your next trip or someone’s visit? -  Tired of bringing back heavy suitcases from your trip to the US? Then, My American Market has been designed for you: it is a hassle-free online store for your American food and beverage staples Selection One of the largest assortments of American food and treats in stock and ready to be shipped. Convenience Open 24/7, My American Market is there whenever the cravings get you! Easy to order My American Market online store is very user-friendly. Find and order your fav

WEE SPRING SALAD

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Just had an "oh my god" moment as tried on prefered outfit for family wedding THIS Saturday! Should be feeling pre-nuptial in honour of gorgeous blond blue-eyed tall with muscle- definition, franco-dutch cousins tying knots at great altitude (the french alps!!) this weekend but can only say... BRING ON a salad! Panic Salad 1 chicken breast   2 tablespoons sesame seeds 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds 5 cups mesculin salad ( 5 lettuce mix!) handful raw mushrooms ( good for your brain, silenium) handful raw brocolli ( will help you go pooooohs tomorrow!!) 2 long shallots dash olive oil dash balsamic vinegar squirt lemon/lime juice salt pepper Roll chicken breast in sesame seed and bake at 180° for about 20 minutes. Let cool then slice thinly. Mix vinegar, lime juice , oil and salt and pepper, set aside. Chop up raw ingredients and place in salad bowl, add chicken breast and sunflower seeds. Add mesculin and dressing. Serve, eat until you can no more and feel like a