Thursday, October 6, 2016

Warm hearted soups~Bouquets garnis.. and stragglers..










It's unfortunate for the herbs and last tomatoes when the temperature changes..my lavender is having a second bloom and has grown so big..this is the plant that does best in the raised hexagonal bed..my rosemary is flowering..the sages are sprouting limbs everywhere and the thyme and parsley seem to be saying..we're not finished yet..just like our weather..with war sunny days..
I wish..and most of the green tomatoes..well they will just stay green..as they are getting pulled out for the garlic.
When we went downtown..we also stopped at Marché Atwater..there are a few shops there that I just love..things we bought in Paris..yes..in that shop..I found my lentilles de Puy,that bourbon vanilla sugar..some French Icing sugar..
and they had packages of bouquets garnis like the store of importations at Marché Jean-Talon..I have bought them before..but I thought of all my herbs..and decided on the spot to make my own for my soups and stews .
The timing was perfect as Penny at Lake Lure Cottage  Kitchen had posted this soup..I already had the beautiful leeks on hand..'tis the season..I had potatoes..and I was good to go..she added cauliflower and I had half a head left..so great idea Penny, I took your lead.
Thank you..my fridge is less stocked..:)
I did add a bit of cream..for Jacques..you know;)Some parm cheese and I sautéed the veggies w..bacon;)
Since I was going to add bacon as a garnish..why not?:)
Still painting:)
Still loving it..
Have a few more little paint suggestions..

It is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada..So a happy one to my Canadian friends..
We are celebrating without Alain ,Adamo,Frédérick,Lucas and Max..they have plans:)
Just us girls...Oli..Noah and Jacques.
I am so very very grateful for my family.

The weather is absolutely congenial to say the very least.

It is so gorgeous outside..not the gardens..not the grass..but the trees and the sky and the fall harvests.
It's a wonderful world.
Have a lovely weekend.

50 comments:

  1. Too you too Monique. You do have much to be thankful for. Happiest days...

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  2. Penny is a wonderful cook, so I know that soup recipe turned out wonderful. I love your bouquet garnis! Happy Thanksgiving.

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  3. I am loving soups now. I will definitely be trying this one.

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    1. Do you get much cooler weather in fall?Soups need cool don't you find?:)

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    2. Yes, we eventually do....It is warm now, but this weekend, we are expecting rain and the temps shall be cooler. I do agree, I prefer soups when it is cool outside.

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  4. One of the first soups of the Autumn, it is deightful. At least I think it is because I love Autumn! And I also wish we could have something to celebrate like Thanksgiving here too.
    Anyway, I'll cook cosy and comforting little meals with some squash, because I love those!
    Have a wonderful end of the week ~ 

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    1. Je te reviens demain matin avec mon thé..les petits mousses viennent de partir..♥

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  5. I must make this soup! We seem to survive on soups in the fall and winter. Potato leek is a favorite, and adding in the cauliflower sounds good. Your little bouquets garnis are little gems. ;-)
    Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend, Monique. Happy, Happy!

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  6. Love, Love, Love everything ♥ Soup sounds good right now...
    Hugs, Jody

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  7. Beautiful little bouquets! Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving weekend.

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  8. Your soup looks delicious and your bouquets garnis are so pretty. Your herb photos have reminded me that I need to buy another sage plant as mine didn't survive the winter. I am so glad that you are enjoying painting, it is a brilliant way to pass the time. Have a great weekend. Hugs Rose x

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  9. HI Monique....
    I am back! Lovely impromptu sleepover at the cottage!
    Gorgeous weather....hot!
    I make a delish potato and leek soup...adding the cauliflower would be fantastic!
    Vivian coming in the am...7:30....for a sleepover!
    Then....back to the cottage on Saturday....home Sunday....turkey Monday!
    I must be mental! Hahaha!
    You will have a wonderful time....
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. Busy busy busy times for you..this summer is lasting so long it is extending your cottgae time..that is wonderful..I just hope we don't have a green Christmas.Been there done that..last yr..

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  10. Happy thanksgiving. I really love how you have photographed your herbs. Very special.
    That soup looks so comforting..we could do with it here.
    We have a very harsh cold spell here, which is so unlike our normal temps this time of the year.
    Enjoy your extra special weekend with your family and thank you for all the care you take to "visit " me.
    Sending on a special South African hug to you xx

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    1. It's always a pleasure to catch up on you..we go back a long way now..at least 6 years I think..and we share the same birthday:)
      Thank you Shel...

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  11. Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your family Monique. Hope you have a wonderful celebration. I especially like that pumpkin painting. Hope you get to enjoy doing some painting over the weekend. Here we will be celebrating my sister's birthday on Sunday. Thank goodness we don't have to worry about the hurricane coming our way.

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    1. Now over 478 deaths..it looks so bad..
      between that and the presidential race..we hardly have any Canadian news..
      lots going on everywhere..
      happy festivity weekend:)Enjoy these special moments.

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  12. Your bouquets garnis are beautiful. I just picked the last of my herbs yesterday. Made a chive bread with the last of the chives. Your soup looks lovely. Love the addition of a little cream and the bacon flavor. Thanks for the link back. I love this time of year and your pumpkin watercolors. Have a great weekend Monique.

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  13. I love the photos of the bouquet garni but yes, like you, I would make my own while I can! My rosemary, lavender, thyme and parsley are going great (oregano on a second lease of life, too) but the basil is sadly gone. We have green tomatoes ripening in paper bags... have to remember to check them. I think I might do a soup this weekend, too -- it's supposed to cool off tomorrow and your soup idea sounds pretty wonderful! Maybe some rosemary biscuits, too.

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! A long weekend, and a wonderful celebration. Maybe a little painting time too?

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    1. Absolutely some painting time jeanie..have to use my watercolors while I can:)
      You should make some little bouquets garnis..:) They keep well..and in a cheesecloth add a lot to soups and stews..it's the cute factor too:) And maybe paint them?
      Have a great weekend.

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  14. Happy Thanksgiving Monique! I hope you have a wonderful time with family and especially those grandchildren. I love your little bundles of herbs - so pretty. Sorry to see them go too. Lovely pumpkin painting as well. Enjoy!

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  15. First of all Happy Thanksgiving. I am crazy about the idea of adding cauliflower to potato leek soup - genius. Herbs are funny....often ours seem their very best at the end of the season.
    Sam

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  16. Beautiful photo of the bouquets garni! I love the board/floor they are on. Will you freeze some of your bouquets to use throughout the winter? The soup looks and sounds so delicious. We are heading downward with our temps today. Chilly and windy. Better than being near a hurricane though :) Everything about the soup sounds wonderful to me! Love the pumpkin paintings ♥ Happy Thanksgiving, Monique! I'm sure it will be wonderful.

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    1. The board..:)
      In the first home Caroline owned..it was so cute..a single woman had had it built for her..2 bdrs etc..a big fireplace..in the seasons she did not use it..she had this HUGE folk art front built for it..

      when they moved they did not want it..I kept it..the 3 panels..horizontal..have come aprt..but we will get hinges to repair it.I love it so..ap 4feet by 3 ft..
      The bouquets garnis I have bought and used..are just dried..dry dry dry:) So I am just letting them dry..

      we put 4 more gardens to bed today..it was Indian Summer again..cooler tomorrow..but I feel we have come far..:)
      It will be nice..I knw..my fave girls and 2 of my fave boys..well 3 counting J;)
      Thank you Susanx

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  17. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Monique.
    I know you are very thankful for your family :-)

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  18. Happy Thanksgiving! Great green tomato pic! 'Tis soup season for sure now, with these cooler days!

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  19. Happy Thanksgiving Monique, I know it will be lovely, fun and delicious at your house!

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    1. Thanks Chris! We're going to have a very unconventional TG..too many people are missing..:)
      I made your little shortbread cookies w/ the pumpkins for the Littles:)

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  20. Happy Thanksgiving! We have much to be thankful for. And yes, Matthew came by for a visit, but we avoided the worst of it. Lots of friends were evacuated in my area so I had house guests. But we never even lost power. So grateful!
    Love your photo of bouquet garni!!

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    1. That's fantastic news..I remember a couple of occasions when we had aplace there..:( The worry when you are away..my neigbours have a place ..in Melbourne..they have no idea of the damage as everyone was evacuated..Thank you for your TG wishes Barbara:)

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  21. I am catching up on reading your blog....we just returned from an amazing three week trip to Spain and Portugal! My herbs did well while I was gone. Harvesting and making my own little bouquets garnis is a great idea! I saw Penny's soup also and thought it would be great as things cool down. Adding bacon is a super idea. I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

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    1. Thanks so much Kate..I hope you post abouth this trip..sounds great!

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  22. Just finished scrolling through all your posts that I've missed! Your life always seems so idyllic to me! Love your teacups, apple pies and I best get my herbs picked pronto!

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    1. Welcome back!Must had been a trip you will never forget:)

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  23. Happy Thanksgiving Monique! Can't wait to hear about what you and the girls get up to. It will be fun and delicious no doubt! Do you dry your bouquets garnis? What a fab idea! Your soup looks gorgeous and I am sure was absolutely scrumptious! Your paintings, beautiful as always. I love reading about your life. C'est magnifique! Oh, I know it is not perfect, whose is, but I love reading about your life all the same, probably because I love you. xoxo

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    1. Yes I dry as it..then either as is or in a cheesecloth usually..makes cooking even more fun..
      oh I don't need much to be excited:)
      We had a nice TG..F and the boys even came and they were busy but came after.
      I love playing board games w/ them..J's not a board gamer..but he does w/ them..Scrabble:)

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  24. Love, love your forest green bouquet garnis!!
    So pretty.

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    1. Cute eh?:) I like them too..every year I will now..

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  25. Yum! And a happy belated thanksgiving to you.... I am a little behind on everything these days! xo

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