A few blues..I am loving.. this Bleu Lavande Tea and Honey..calming..soothing.. just right together~
I made a few Shepherd Pies..actually Cottage Pies:-) lately..and added a few twists that I saw Gordon Ramsay do..I added red wine to my beef (he uses lamb) ..I have always used beef for these..the wine gives it a kick..and I added Spring green onions to my already rich mashed potatoes..if you are going to have mashed potatoes..I am on the rich side..I like cooking them in broth with a garlic clove or 2 or 3.... draining..quick dry.. ricing..adding butter.. s and p..warm cream..a touch of sour cream.. parsley..and now Spring green onions.. the bed of potatoes w/knobs of butter on top sit atop a layer of cream corn..I sometimes add kernel corn to the creamed corn..not the last 2 times.. which sits on top of the onion,wine.. beef cooked mixture..350 degrees until the top is bubbly and golden..Love this meal~ Make it in the morning..nothing to do at night:)
Love soaps for the bath....liquid or hard.. this is a line I found..there is Olive..♥..Blueberry Pie♥ etc..
The salts are from Bleu Lavande..and Nancy:)
Then..there was the discovery of Scallion Pancakes..My dear Jana sent me the idea and links etc..and sauces..and different recipes..
I am going to point you to the right direction..for a tutorial and everything..At Amy's~
Another little food find was a cole slaw with a honey lime sesame oil type dressing..I added some mayo..not much..but did like the sesame oil lime additions..You can find the recipe here..(And many other wonderful recipes..)I have made the pulled pork twice now and my daughter has made it also..Keeper recipes~
The blue house ..is so old and charming inside..filled with antiques..the owner..is the owner of the Brocante/Market I like to go to early in the morning on beautiful Saturday..It's been their market ever since I moved here almost 40 yrs ago and more!Spring through Fall..It just closed for the season this past weekend~
I went inside one yr..as I sold some things..maybe 35 yrs ago there..on the last day of the season..and the owners invited all the sellers in for a sip of wine:)
It has grown so much..you have to park in the fields if you arrive late.. many many indoor outdoor booths..Mostly antiques and collectables..some organic produce..clothes ..vintiquities...jewelry.. quaint birdhouses..perennials..so much..so nice..I do love it.~
It sits at the entrance of the market grounds..~
People come from all over ..
I don't blame them..It's one tourist attraction I frequent..early:)
The gull..insisted on being included..
He's so vain.. he probably thinks this post is about him:)
Have a great week~
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The blues in your photos are so lovely, Monique. I especially like the seagull perched so innocently on the fence. Love the tips about cooking potatoes and putting them on top of a corn layer in your cottage pie. My goodness, that sounds so delicious.
ReplyDeleteI love blue too especially blue china and yours pictures look wonderful like always!
ReplyDeleteBlue/bleu I never wear it, but love blue glass bottles, pottery, glazed plant pots and flowers, especially lavender. Lovely photos,and I'd love to live in that adorable timber house. I like the sound of your variation of the cottage pie, and I'm with you on the mashed potatoes, they have to be rich and creamy. Now I must go and check out all the links for the recipes.
ReplyDeleteLove everything in this post. I do think the wine in the shepherd's pie would make it even better. It is my middle child's favorite dish. I made easy bangers and mash for dinner last night.
ReplyDeleteThe scallion pancakes...a big hit here for the youngest son. I'll check out the recipe. The cottage pie is for me since I love anything I can make it in the morning before work. I loved what you said about the gull ;o) Ours are very bold, and hang around the parking lot at the mall in case you might drop a potato chip or something.
ReplyDeleteMay I ditto the love & the lovely that I hear in the above comments...Your gorgeous & clear images soothe & uplift...and even the title, Un peu de bleu, is lovely & I want to say it over & over...In 2004 the Musée de la civilisation in Québec did a whole exhibit called Infiniment Bleu....I did a post on it once on my old blog...Perhaps I'll re-post it with some of the poetry they had there, in French & English. Did you see it, by the way? It looks like they have a book on the show: http://www.mcq.org/presse/bleu.html Lately I've had cravings for la lavande & bought some & have it all over the house...Je rêve de lavande française et je rêve de bleu et de vos photos...Merci infiniment!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely missed that .I would have liked it~
DeleteLavande,is so soothing..calming..beautiful.
Love the blue colors that shine through all your photos in this post, even in the one of the seagull. Your mashed potatoes look so enticing! I am with you - I like them on the rich side too. That sesame oil dressing looks so good, too!
ReplyDeleteLime-sesame vinaigrette YUM
ReplyDeleteI could eat that now...
Love these blues....from the plates through to the house.....reminds me of summer!
ReplyDeleteThat cottage pie looks very yummy!
You are a spoil Monique :-)
Shel
I love blues and rarely wear.. just my jeans and my jean jacket..so much black and white and beige..:)
ReplyDeleteRita I'd love a repost and am going to check out the link now..Thank you.
Blue seems to be a universally loved color, your photos are so lovely Monique. You made the slaw look so gourmet! Thanks for the link, I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
ReplyDeleteOh, and please try the pomegranates ONE more time. Put your bowl in the sink. It gives you a good position to whack the pom. Use a heavy duty spatula or a sturdy wooden spoon. Hold it with your fingers spread and "WHACK" it! Honestly Monique, I've never had a drop of mess anywhere other than the bowl. I have a huge container of pom arils in my fridge right now as I did at least 6 poms in just a few minutes for the post. I'm using them on everything!
I will try again..of course!!
DeleteGosh, I am not sure what to comment about. I always have so many thoughts after reading your posts. Love your photography, and those mashed potatoes are gorgeous. I am working on my presentation. And lime dressing, I am smitten.
ReplyDeleteQue de douceurs parfumées et goûteuses ... <3
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blues, Monique. You know how I love blue in the garden :)
ReplyDeleteThe story of the blue house and brocante and market is charming. It must be a delightful place to visit!
You have the most beautiful site I have ever seen. Thanks so much for the gracefulness of your presentation.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous colors, and mashed potatoes sounds irresistible-)) New season, new mood, new color. I like that-)
ReplyDeleteI like the theme blue. Very nice pictures.
ReplyDeleteGreat post M. I never thought of making scallion pancakes which I only discovered this past year. Imagine.
ReplyDeleteI love good soaps and especially lavender. I still have some from my visit in Greece 2 years ago! I love the way they make my dresser draws smell. And somehow they awaken a childhood memory. Sometimes taking a few out and holding them improves my day.
I never knew that A!!
DeleteYou put it so well:)
I am a lover of all things blue...my favorite color. I love everything you posted! I must try the scallion pancake recipe, my kids love them! The casserole the cottage pie was in is really lovely!
ReplyDeleteThe slaw...everything looks so colorful and inviting!
Bisous...xo
The casserole.. is a couple of yrs back from Plattsburgh NY..TJ MAXX..
ReplyDeleteThey had a lovely collection..It's the blue you love I think..
Bisous...toujours~~
Yummm...great pictures!! They're sweet and delicious!!
ReplyDeleteXOXO!
I am in love with that seagull. All of your pretty blues remind me of my mother. Blue was her favorite color and she wore it almost exclusively.
ReplyDeleteSam
haha, Monique, your last line about the sea gull cracked me up. So funny. As usual I have loved all of your photographs and ideas. I love blue and white. I also love red and white. These are my favourite colour combinations. I think that the gingham in June Cleavers kitchen was red and white, at least that is how I have pictured it my whole life. I long for a red and white gingham kitchen. But then again, I also long for a blue and white one. Some people are never happy! Everything today is a feast for the senses here on your page, but then that is true of every visit! Such a lovely spot. I love coming here. Much love and hugs to you. xxoo
ReplyDeleteI laughed at the seagull line too. I love Carly Simon. :) That blue house is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteOne of my faves..You are the love of my life:)
ReplyDeleteShe's still great to me!
Blue, blue my world is blue……..each image is so pretty, Monique. The packaging, the cookware, your beautiful food …. oh, my, This is splendid!
ReplyDeleteAll those dreamy French blues - which makes me think of summer, so M. Seagull fit right in:) Handsome fellow! And oh, all that lavender! At this moment I am wafting a cloud of honeysuckle from a tester at a store for a very expensive face cream, but it smelled SO wonderful. No I didn't get the cream, but would've if my bank account had been fatter. All these wonderful herby scents (especially lavender and lemon verbena) really infuse the spirit with joy...by the way, what is the difference between cottage and shepherd's pie? Love this bright, beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a teen..I loved Avon Honeysuckle scent..so much so..I just bought some honeysuckle hand soap in a pump at Target..
DeleteMrs.Meyers..:-) Cottage pies are made with beef..the other lamb..I never knew:-)
I a a sucker for scents I love:-)
Do you still have borage flowering in your garden? We are under snow.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah..no..this is a post I prepared at the end of summer..never got around to posting as fall beautiful fall took my breath away:-)
DeleteCatching up on blog reading. I always want a comfy chair and a nice cup of tea for your blog!
ReplyDeleteI'm swooning. What beautiful blues and lavender is a heavenly treat. A beautiful post - as always!
ReplyDeleteMary x
Beautiful blues and lavender products!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
Love the blue in the first photo, Monique...my favorite color.(My house is all blue and white with touches of fuschia) No doubt that tea is wonderful. I rarely drink hot tea...mostly iced tea. Tea like this one really needs the purity of hot tea.
ReplyDeleteRe scallion pancakes....I can't remember whose recipe I used (am thinking Dorie), but I made them a couple years ago for the blog. They were a pain to make, lot of wait time as I recall, but oh my, they were fabulous to eat!
Il faut revenir par ici, Monique ! Tu auras la lavande ... et les mouettes ... c'est promis ! ;o)
ReplyDeleteBisous
Hélène
Un jour:)
ReplyDeleteC'est un souhait!
Barbara..the tutorial with Amy is great!
Thanks Pam..You too..!
Everything is so pretty in blue. The pancakes and slaw sound fabulous. This post reminded me that I had sugared some violets and still have some left. They need to garnish something chocolate I think.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post!
ReplyDelete