French Connection~

I'll never complain about too many tomatoes...
too much pasta..
too many roasted vegetables..
too many roses..

I wanted to try a couple of new things..I had a lovely aubergine..some sundried tomatoes..capers..anchovies..and a recipe I had been wanting to make since I saw it on Hélène's blog..you know..that special  food family travel home based in Cannes blog I love..

Caviar d'aubergines..right here..

I made a much smaller version for Jacques and I..in a small pot and in an empty little can I saved..I save a few of those for small portions..that idea came from Ronelle..at her blog My French Kitchen..years ago..
in fact when the boys came for dinner a while back and we had ribs..I used another of her ideas..
feels sooo good..made them smile..and made me happy to see their hands and faces ribsauce free..  you moisten facecloths..and warm them in the microwave..you can tuck in a lemon wedge or herbs after..and wrap in foil..♥Warm moist towelettes..what's not to love!?
Spa treatment .

Speaking of all these recipes and ideas from my favorite French /France blogs..Ronelle taught us splatters.
I have been trying splatters for years..w/ toothbrushes..flicks of the wrist etc..  but see the large blue splotches?

Newly aquired technique from her:)
Go see her tutorial at her previous to last post..here...at her other blog African Tapestry.

Thank you  SO MUCH Hélène and Ronelle.


Still had and have more tomatoes..I wanted to try a recipe I pinned that the photo did not match the dish at all and I knew that..

still I wanted to make it..I altered it..a tad.

I put parchment on a sheet..oiled it well~
Sliced a Vidalia onion and spread on the parchment..
Sliced Italian tomatoes from my daughter's garden..and put on top..  salt pepper..and that is just 1 clove of my home grown German garlic..you need to have garlic on every tomato..  parm cheese.. a bit more Evoo.. roast until they shrivel and just start to turn..

I then transferred that gorge mixture to warm rigatoni..added a ton of fresh basil..more evoo..pecorino.. some parsley..
You can reserve a bit of your pasta cooking liquid  and add..

Some crushed garlic breadcrumbs on top and un beau verre de vin rouge.Ou deux.

I am not tiring of tomatoes at all..not one bit.

I saw my hairdresser yesterday..
she made my hour..she was touched by the card that I  sent her made from the book.And told me.
Some people are so easy to please and grateful about the smallest things..
No diamond rings..no fancy cars..she is compassionate ..and a lovely lovely young woman..
And a gardener:)  Next for her?  Adding some of my spinach..and PEANUTS!
Can't wait to see how they do~
Ernie..I love that cement /concrete bird in the birdbath..I bought it from Ernie..M   so many many years ago at my brocante..he sold the most beautiful things there..his wife was a realtor with me.. he has been gone a while,,but I must say he was a ray of sunshine..everywhere he went.
So of course I named my bird Ernie..and it reminds me of him..all the time.
I like how Iceberg ( a gift when we moved here)has grown so tall her branches are bending and the last blooms hang over the birdbath..and Ernie.

Bon Weekend~

Gotta tell you..how great does this look?
What a fun fun fun experience..