Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A Most Delicious Salad~



I have a new cookbook..I have been waiting for this one..I had been fortunate enough to see the "proof" and knew I would love to add it to my collection..I really don't have that many cookbooks..I have my mom's Jéhane Benoit's.. a few that my husband bought me the first few years of our marriage:)Pol Martin.. etc:)People used to go to his office and sell them.. he knew I needed all the help I could get~ Truly....



I have some that clients have offered me.. some I have picked up..and some from friends..
But many I gave to my daughters in a bag or two the last time we moved ..I don't know if they kept them..
But I do have 2 bookshelves w/ books and 2 drawers filled w/ cut outs and printeds:)

I have one from Jain about California Cuisine and Mary Screen Doors and Sweet Tea..where my polka dot shortbreads originated:) and one I bought on Hélène's recommendation that I love:)La Cuisine Des Fées~I like looking at cookbooks..no..I love looking at cookbooks..

I nearly forgot the recent Moroccan one:)
My husband said I can't love something..I can like it..I said have you read my blog? I LOVE:) He knows..and he reads it~

In a nutshell 2 bookshelves.
This is my latest aquisition and it is stunning..

Maria Loggia.

I made her Pear and Beet salad and it is delicious~



I perused the book the evening I received it.A wet rainy October night by the fire~
What a treat!!
It is just great.I bought the English version as it was the original version..but it is available in French and I first saw it in French at a lovely bookstore a friend took me to.

The recipe seems long but it's not really..

It's a matter of blanching your mandolined pears in a syrup comprised of water, sugar and cinnamon,cardamom , lemon juice and rind.. clove.. then baking them on parchment until crisp..turning over once..next time I would not slice as thinly w/ my mandoline~


The beets are roasted at 425 in foil w/ EVOO , a bay leaf and thyme..garlic..s and p..~She called for red but I had rich orangey golden ones..

Cooled..then peeled and thinly sliced..
The recipe adds goat cheese and hazelnuts..I used a soft cheddar and toasted pine nuts..
The recipe calls for mâche..I had arugula and Boston..
The dressing is Sherry Vinegar..Evoo ,garlic,Dijon ,hazelnut oil salt and pepper..
On a large platter or in ind. bowls you arrange the sliced beets in a concentric form overlapping slightly..add your mâche..scatter the pears..add goat cheese and nuts..Drizzle w/ dressing and serve immediately.
I will make this again:)

22 comments:

  1. Tes photos sont somptueuses, on n'a qu'une envie, déguster tes plats délicatement, savoureusement, avec tendresse !
    Un grand moment!

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  2. that is just gorgeous! i am sitting here shocked by a cold rainy night by the fire still... and you have already had snow! for a moment i thought it was persimmons~ another gorgeous composistion.

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  3. Oh Yummy!! I just love to slice fruit and dry it, to use as garnish like the pears. This book looks so interesting, I love, yes love, cookbooks, I read them like novels!!
    This salad looks delicious, thank you for sharing the lovely photos!
    Hugs,
    Margaret B

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  4. Your salad is a work of art, Miss M. The pear slices are perfect. A good cookbook is a real treasure.

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  5. That is one seriously beautiful salad!

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  6. I think I would love this salad, too. You must tell your dear husband that we women can be highly emotional about our food! ;D

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  7. Monique, that is a salad that I would love. Yellow beets are a favourite. As always your photos are incredible.

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  8. The salad looks beautiful. Your post made me chuckle...the part about your husband. Yes, I believe that LOVE is the correct word here. :) Other things, maybe not. So many recipes I want to try on your blog.

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  9. I swear Monique, everytime I come here I just go, "Wow wow wow!". This time is no exception. And I think you can love cookbooks! I really do.

    I'm curious, would you share what camera and lense you shoot with please? I can usually tell what people are shooting with, but because your shots are so close to their subject I have no idea.

    I'm guessing a Nikon, but of course could be wrong.

    Laura

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  10. Oh! What a nice salad...love the way you decorated with dry apple, looks delicious :-)

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  11. Lovely salad. Pear slices delightful..Cookbooks are like novels that can be read again and again..there is always something new.

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  12. A delightful salad that is picture perfect! I completely understand what you meant when you said it was a treat to sit by the fire and peruse your book. Did you have your hot drink by your side? ;) We are going to get wet and cool weather soon in Singapore (nothing like Canadian winters, though!) and I LOVE curled on the sofa reading a nice book while the children play around me. Bonne Journee!

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  13. M...Lovely salad...enjoy your new cookbook! The dried apple slices take me back to our farm days....We converted and antique chicken brooder into a food dehydrator...I could dry 1/2 bushel at a time!!!! Great memories! Love your photos, xoxo~Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings...

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  14. It's uncanny years ago I had a food dehydrator and gave it away.It worked so well too!

    Hi Laura Flowers cause I love saying that:) All trip photos Europe..the beach..lavender fields are shot w/ a Sony DSC-H2.That's my compact point and shoot..no lenses etc~

    The food.. I use Canon XSI or Oly E 510.A mix of both..

    I am certain the Nikons are superb ..my addiction began w/ the Coolpix 950 then 4500.Their sweet spot for macros were amazing to me.

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  15. Cette salade est superbe. Ça semble être un bon livre de recettes.

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  16. Hélène..si jamais le coeur vous en dit... Avec 10 autres personnes..Nous ferons un groupe et nous aurons un cours..
    Elle est sympa.. et vraiment..tout vaut le moment!

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  17. What a lovely and beautiful recipe Monique! ...wh reminds me I must buy a mandolin.. I need one :) The sliced pears boiled and baked look so dainty and translucent.

    If it was a cold october nite I wld certainly curl up n read a good book by the fire..how cosy n relaxing...:))

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  18. I know I would love your beautiful salad - so pretty and I love all the ingredients!

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  19. Wow what a fabulous mix of flavors! A gorgeous salad!

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  20. What a beautiful salad Nana! It looks delicious! xxoo

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  21. Delicious looking salad. Great for Thanksgiving, I just bookmarked it for the holiday. Thanks!

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