Thursday, September 10, 2015

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..

58 comments:

  1. What lovely tomatoes !
    I can't wait for summer tomatoes we are next to spring !
    Always is a pleasure see yours posts Monique :))

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  2. Monique, a handmade card from you must be exquisite. Of course she adored it, and must adore you as well. Simple pleasures in life.....things made with heart and hand.
    I'm not one to eat tomatoes, but that doesn't stop me from admiring your creation. Beautiful!
    Loved the French Bakery experience. My husband would be in heaven!

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    1. That is so true about you and tomatoes...I think Sam and Meakin had such a wonderful time..the town would be right up our alley I think...
      Yours too!

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  3. Beautiful!
    Delightful!
    Incredible!
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  4. Gorgeous tomatoes Monique. I never tire of tomatoes either. If asked what my favorite food is, it would be, without a doubt, tomatoes. They are one of the reasons I never want summer to end. Those tins are too cute. What a great idea and the warm towels with lemon are too. Ronelle is really talented and I enjoy her blog a lot. I hope you have a great weekend too.
    Sam

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    1. I knew her blog would please you..all things French:)

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  5. Wonderful use of all of your tomatoes Monique. Love the tin. Love Ronelle's blog too. Sam and Meakin lived the good life in their little village.

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    1. I know..you'll be in Italy soon taking great pics..tasting great food..seeing beautiful sights..we went in Sept..it was lovely.

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  6. The tomatoe dish looks so delicious. I will have to try it. Ernie is sweet sitting there in the birdbath. And I love everything on your bakers rack. Today we celebrate Katherine's 3 rd birthday. On such a sad day here, we are blessed to have her.

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    1. What a gift she is on this day to you all..Shes is a ray of sunshine.


      No one will ever forget Sept 11th:(

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    2. Yes she is a ray of sunshine for all of us. We chatted this morning on her way to nursery school. She was gabbing away. I doubt she will nap. Her mom made frozen rice crispie treats for school. I made cupcakes with edible frozen wafers on top.

      Thanks Monique. I think I emember reading that Canada took all the inbound planes when the airports shutdown here. Such great acts of kindness.

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    3. :)
      Our tiny town..our firemen went..it was very moving for them..you know.. even miles away..on FB..news media..here.. we never forget and Sept 11th..it is always remembered.

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  7. I love that you find all of these wonderful ideas and share them here :) Who needs Pinterest when we have Monterest :-) I just saw my hairdresser yesterday (well needed). Another lovely woman from Germany...Renate. I just picked an armful of tomatoes, this past weekend. The warm weather really made them ripen quickly. I picked one, probably like your Pineapple but called Mr. Stripey, that was a 1 pounder! I made sauce on Tuesday when it rained all day - recipe coming up soon. I never tire of tomatoes and pasta either. Delicious idea with the garlic and onion. Will try soon! Your Iceberg is so pretty hanging over Ernie. Blooming now? Oh-la-la! Chilly and gloomy here on this sad day of remembrance. I am going to visit Ronelle right now :) Happy weekend!

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    1. You are so funny..love that..
      We learn soo much here and chances are we don't know all the blogs each other knows..so this works..wish I was the creative mind behind all the recipes and art.
      I think I was born a forger.
      Imagination was left out..so I see recipes..ideas that appeal to me..and try.
      You and I go way back..you know that already.
      Looking forward to your tomato sauce..

      A very sad date in everyone's calendar.
      I think we all remember what we were doing..how small the world is..
      remember the buyer of ou home worked in The World Trade Center?
      Unharmed..but watching it all unwind on TV getting ready to leave for work was unreal..all the stories that folowed..:(
      Take care.

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    2. I wish I could had brilliant ideas! Forager also :)

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    3. Very similar in more ways than one then..:)
      I know I am complimenting myself by writing that;)

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  8. Why I'm so hungry when I read and look this page !!! I like so much the caviar d'aubergines.... Nice w.e. Christine

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    1. Thank you!
      The caviar is so delicious..everything she makes..so delicious..!

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  9. Oh, I so envy you your tomatoes! Staring at your pictures, I swear I can taste them (I wish I COULD taste them) - very few tomatoes from the CSA share, but hope to go to a lovely farmers market that had loads. And those links had me dreaming - I'm so sorry I was only in Paris a long time ago. Thank you ! I have just finished re-reading a book I think you might like: The Book of Ebenezer Le Page - set in Guernsey between WWI and WWII, a long but wonderful read. Off today to find an eggplant!

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    1. Thanks for the recommendation..I will write it down so I don't forget..I am reading the one on my sidebar,,and have 2 in the waitline:) But I am always w/ a book on the go..so I appreciate every recommendation.
      Hope you get to the market Katrina:)
      It's a long winter..yours will be milder and busier this year!

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  10. I never tire of home grown tomatoes either. The season seems so short. I roasted some cherry tomatoes yesterday with garlic, evoo, salt, pepper and thyme sprigs. The house smelled so good when they were roasting!

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    1. I had forgotten to mention the fantastic aroma at baking the dish!
      You are right..Tomatoes..garlic..herbs..roasting away..better than cake..well for me.:)

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  11. Monique, I would never tire of tomatoes...So many dishes you can use them in. My husband doesn't care for fresh tomatoes from the garden. He doesn't know what he is missing. Our tomatoes never got large this year. They are all done now. Your food dishes look so wonderful. I cam almost smell and devour your photos. How very special that you made a treasured handmade card for your hairdresser. Even the smallest things can brighten one's day. Havea lovely weekend.

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    1. I am certain your clients loved you Linda..!
      I bet you got lots of thank yous!
      Have a great weekend~

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  12. I loved Sam and Meakin's post too. What fun to see behind the scenes in that beautiful bakery. I have so many wonderful memories of Provence. Those recipes where the photo doesn't match the recipe are very frustrating. I just can't get enough of our luscious vine ripened tomatoes. Lovely photos, Monique.

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    1. A dear dear post..and amazing how you can tell everyone just loved Sam and Meakin there!

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  13. Hi Monique, there is nothing like fresh summer tomatoes, no matter how you prepare them they are delicious.

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  14. I am gathering all the tomatoes (and recipes to use/preserve them) that I can. Such fleeting deliciousness!!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  15. I just lost my comment to you...i think...so this might come in twice. Anyway, what I had said was that no matter what the subjects of your photos in this post, I was struck by the color harmonies!!! And I wrote that YOU are so greatful and appreciative of so many many things in your life, including your grateful hairdresser!! PS Did you get a new hairdo?

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    1. Same hair do since I am 17 I think..
      I cut it once when I was 21 after I had Myène..it seemed her little hands were always grabbing it.. so short once and I knew it was not for me..
      It is much too long..but my hairdresser is so nice..she encourages me to just leave it long..even at 61.
      My dream would be to let it be all grey..but it would take forever..so she adds..some beige..some brown.. with that foil..:)
      Take 1 hr.I walk in and one hr later I am out..always with wet hair.
      I don't like fuss..or appts..like beauty appts..never.
      Blablabla..:)

      She really si so nice Rita..and has struggled..she's so darn smart too..
      she said school didn't interest her..now it would..she is like a sponge..and remembers things..and is very very bright.
      So she spreads all that kind energy..I see her doing many much older women's hair with so much care..and patience..

      I wish more professionals were so inclined..in all walks of life.


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    2. I too have such a sweet person who nurtures my hair. She is more sensitive than any before, an artist. She's only 21 but wise and sure of herself beyond her years and can talk to old ones and young ones alike!

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  16. The roasted tomatoes on pasta sound heavenly. We still have some tomatoes and I have never tossed in an onion when roasting them....sounds wonderful!

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    1. It's good.. juj it up..:) seasonings ..herbs..house smells DIVINE.

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  17. Grateful is one of the most beautiful words in the dictionary. I never liked tomatoes as a child, but I sure do love them now. This sounds wonderful.

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    1. My mom's fave sandwich always had tomatoes:) Either plain tomato..or BLT at the Woolworth's counter with me.

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  18. A visit with you Monique is always a feast. For the eyes. For the soul. For the stomache. Must try your pasta. It looks fabulous! But then again, all that you cook and create makes me hungry, both food wise and other wise. Have a fabulous Sunday! I am a grateful person as you know, we are two of a kind. xoxo

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    1. You are!!

      Always.. for everything..
      More grateful than I and a way better cook baker too..
      And that's the truth ..the whole truth and nothing but the truth:)

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  19. Merci beaucoup Monique. ):
    I love all your posts...feels like little gifts dropping into my inbox..I always leave your posts for last, so I can read them leisurely. I wish mon chéri loves pasa, but he doesn't, so we rarely eat pasta. Ihave such an abundance of tomatoes this year and on my schedule..tomates confites...not the dried ones, but the semi dried one, like you made here...store them in omlive oil in fridge. Like bonbons we eat them!! Too delicious!
    ronelle

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    1. I should make des tomatoes confites..that/those would be my kind of bonbons:)

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  20. We are still enjoying late summer tomatoes - I hope they stay a bit longer because we love them so. Love all your gorgeous photos :) Have a wonderful week Monique!

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  21. Encore un billet comme je les aime ! ;o) Ravie que tu aies apprécié comme moi cet excellent "caviar" d'aubergine. J'aime beaucoup le service dans la boîte en métal.
    Tes petites tomates rôties sont adorables elle aussi ... Et tu as bien raison, on n'a jamais assez de tomates, de pâtes ou de légumes rôtis ! ;o))
    J'aime beaucoup le blog de Ronelle, moi aussi. Cela fait un moment que je ne l'ai pas visité, d'ailleurs ... Le temps commence à me manquer ! ;o) J'y retourne après mon passage chez toi. Bisous

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    1. Je ne sais pas cooment tu fais TOUT ce que tu fais..avec tant d'attention et d'amour.
      Chapeau..!

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  22. Simply stunning! I'm definately going to give that recipe a try.
    Thank you for sharing all these delightful goodies.
    x

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  23. Beautiful tomatoes!
    I roasted 15 pounds with garlic and herbs yesterday. Love pulling them out of the freezer in January.
    Have a nice week! Our warm temps are returning this week. We surely needed this rain.

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    1. I really should do that one year..fresh tomatoes..make all the diff..
      I may take Ronelle's suggestion and bottle some 'confite " ones in oil:)

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  24. Question, questions questions, that's me! I am planning to do this recipe and realized I bought cherry tomatoes instead of Italian. I can use them anyway in salads etc. About how many Italian tomatoes did you use and at what temp did you bake? Thanks!

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    1. Hmm.. I think I used ..6 Italian tomatoes.. long healthy ones:)

      400 F

      here is the original recipe..

      http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/southern-italian-style-rigatoni-with-roasted-tomatoes

      when you pin..the photos will sway you..not at all this dish!
      6 Italian tomatoes..made enough for J and I..reserve some pasta liquid..and taste..you need the basil..etc..your house will smell like heaven..and pour the juices from the roasted onions..garlic into the rigatoni..:)

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  25. The aubergine caviar in the tin is super cool.
    Amalia
    xo

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