I love adding fruits to our salads.. even if chicken and avocado are involved.. when we ate at the Bistro..we had a salad w/ a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette..so funny.. that was the only thing that left me wanting for more..of..salt.
Not one hint of salt in the salad..which left us both wondering how the rest of the meal would be seasoned..Jacques is not a salter..I have become one.
No salt in a salad=bland.
I found a recipe and we tried it atop all that..but.. hardly any ..and it was just right..not the best.. don't jump in and make it until I say and mean it's the best:)...just right...for my craving for it salted.
All was well:)..at the Bistro..after the salad..
I have been brushing up on my calligraphy..I find it relaxing..and good for me to be still..and write..and paint...
My Windsor Newton ink..on the other hand has clumped beyond repair and I threw it away.
I love painting little vignettes and adding words..to cards..
I have an oblique pen on order..curious to see how that will work..but this pen..which I have had for eons..is a treat..
I read that April was letter writing month..so why don't we take one minute to drop someone a hand written note?:)
I will:)
I made more of that jam.. w/ a stronger hint of Cassis this time.
How many times have I made it?
Too many.
One of my favorite things in life is cooking in the kitchen with sunshine streaming in..
it's one of Jacques' too:)
A kitchen..no matter how big or small..things happen..and usually magic.
Have you read Pat Conroy's cookbook?
Sam at My Carolina Kitchen spoke of it..I was able to get it..
♥
That man writes like a poet..a chef..a traveler..a father ,a husband..
a son..sadly he is gone..and not that long ago...
Prince Of Tides is one of my all time fave movies/books..and he is a favored author of mine.
The book is a delight.Reads like a novel of short stories sprinkled with recipes..
Un coup de ♥
Do you remember that sweet set cof cookie cutters Marie had sent?
I made the British Custard Creams?
This time I made her Bourbon cookies..like Marie..I used vanilla..had no bourbon..her recipe worked like a charm..see how clear the words are?
Quality little cutters and a good recipe=success:)
The weather shaped up beautifully..today..Thursday..
we had an appt. in Mtl..and stopped in Little Italy on the way home..
♥
Ings. for a Marcella Hazan dish..and a few odds and ends..
I love that place..
Bon Weekend~
Miracles do happen~
Borage..happening now~
Everything looks so pretty in pink! Lovely photos and painting, too. I liked to read Pat Conroy, also. So sad about his passing. I didn't know he put out a cookbook, though. I'll have to find a copy. I loved how you described it.
ReplyDeleteYour online library probably has one! See how small my garden is at the moment?:)
DeleteYou have such lovely handwriting, I can see how you would love calligraphy! Hope ~ is a wonderful thing. I love Cassis and love to add a few drops to a glass of Chardonnay, or to Champagne on my birthday. We just bought a new bottle as ours had gotten stale. Now I know to keep it in the frig. Adorable little cookies and the pretty-in-pink spatula. One day, you'll have to tell me how many spatulas you own :)Oh, your borage! I hope it fairs better in the weather this year!
ReplyDeleteWell I ever knew that about the fridge !TY..I think I have..this one.. 3 Xmas ones a turquoise one..a bee one..:)Maybe one or two others:)
DeleteI may add sme borage to the borders..well..a border or 2:)
Monique, I don't know if I like blue or pink the best, but I do love your garden card. So sweet. Strawberry with cassis? Never had it but sounds good. I have to have salt and even have to be careful not to have too much. I can only imagine that cookbook of Pat Conroy recipes. I'm looking for a good shrimp and grits recipe and a cajun cream soup recipe. I'll have to go look at that book at Barnes and Noble. Sounds great. And, I can't remember if it was purslane which was fat and lemony or borage I liked so. I bet you are going to candy the little blue flowers. Have a wonderful weekend. It will be rainy here so I'll be doing house things.
ReplyDeleteOh Donna..I have been making those shrimp and grits since we had them..I am waiting to postt how we make them because I want to surprise my daughter:)Now that's an idea..candy the borage!
DeleteNice here..may start a small garden clean up;)
i definitely love all the pinks and your calligraphy and watercolors so so pretty. those little cookies look so good it's making me want a sweet treat :)
ReplyDeleteand your little borage leaves i always love the first new growth
I love the first sprouts too..hoping they mean more to come:) We both love writing don't we?:)
Deletegreat post
ReplyDeletewould you like to follow each other?
I'll follow back after it
www.miharujulie.com
Mon I think it has to be over two years that we've not gone to Milano and the Market!
ReplyDeleteI made General aTao fior dinner it was delicious!
I guess your anxious to get your hands into the earth......����
I am..well we go when we have appointments..we try and fit it in..so worth it..can't say I love fresh pastat better than dry though;)Was a little tough yesterday..we both said we still love Milano..no time fr the market yesterday..maybe next time..you introduced us to all that!:)
DeleteLove your pinks Monique! But then again, I love all that you do. The salad looks delicious. I love fruit in chicken salads, even with avocado and I adore your bowls. My boss had some of those. Very nice. Your calligraphy is exceptional. Would love to be able to do that! And the artwork on the card. So simple and so very pretty. I ADORE IT! Your Bourbons are perfection! I have not made them in a long while now. I need to make them again. They are a favourite. I hope you have a fab Friday and a beautiful weekend! Love and hugs! xoxo
ReplyDeletePS - love the tender green shoot. Spring . . . sigh . . .
You are way ahead of us in the green dept!
DeleteMarie..you have beautiful handwriting!
Happy weekend to you Marie..and thanks for another sweet recipe!And the cutters!
Anything sweet/savory is a nice change. I really like Persian cuisine, which employs a lot of fruit in savory dishes.
ReplyDeleteLove the combo too..lovely blog you have..I am sure to enjoy many many posts;)With a name like A Tatse Of France..I knew I would.
DeleteWhat a lovely post ( as always ) a taste of all the things I love, some not edible but I adore, especially your calligraphy with some aquarelle on the side. Bourbon biscuits were my all time favourite when I was a child. We were only aloud them for parties, How life changes, for the better I admit. I can feel your delight in finding one of your cherished seeds popping up showing signs of life. It will get warmer soon for you. Our weather is not consistent, and I've a feeling I'll need to pack a few warm sweaters and my boots for our get away next week. but I can't wait I'm feeling a bit like a hermit.
ReplyDeleteBarbara..get that sweater out to walk your new gardens:) How exciting.I must say the sight of those boxes..:) Like Laurie above..
DeleteJe suis amoureuse des petites cartes comme "Hope" que tu as faites. Si délicates et fraîches !
ReplyDeleteC'est la saison du jardinage, et je suis déjà certaine que ton jardin est en belle floraison.
Bonne fin de semaine
Nous avons encore un peu de neige:( Pas beaucoup..endroits ombragés..en fin de semaine ..j'espère semer quelques graines de petts pois etc:)
DeleteJ'aime bien mi aussi de petites choses simples..:) Merci Camille.
I see you love PINK:) So sweet!I worked in the cosmetics as a young woman in college..Estee Lauder was a favorite..a nice high end shop..it was so much fun..Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy the peeks into your home through your photographs of small additions (the little vase of flowers for instance). I met Pat Conroy several times when we lived in Charleston. He was a great presence!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
Oh I bet he was..I think I would have been charmed.His words :)Thank you Bonnie.
DeleteEverything looks so pretty in pink. I am in love with that salad. Salads need salt. I try to season as I go and taste, taste, taste. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed Pat's cookbook. His stories just make it. My copy is packed away in some box in the garage, waiting for bookshelves that will be installed soon. In the meantime I checked out a copy from the library and am rereading it for the hundredth time and enjoying it all over again. Hope you and Jacques have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteSam
So many god stories in the book..he lived a full life!
ReplyDeleteThanks again Sam!
Breathtaking !!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are like paintings..
YUM
I wish:)
Deletelovely Madeleines..and that scale..I am still thinking about it..looked reasonable? I have no clue..guessing.
Strawberry with Cassis....sounds delicious. We have vendors selling flats of strawberries along the roadside... Our berries come from the coast and they are so very sweet. Sometimes I can get some that are locally grown...equally as sweet. Your jam is a must for me! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWell it is David Lebovitz's:)Don't expect a jelly..it is runny and lovely:) Sweet sounds DIVINE.
DeletePink is good for the soul! Instant cheer, dear Nana - and the wee little borage peeping up makes my gardeners itchy fingers want to dig in the dirt.
ReplyDeleteOh me too Katrina..even though we do a clean up in the fall..Spring emerges w/ leaves nonetheless in the beds:(
DeleteSaw a scilla today.That was lovely.
All your pinks are just beautiful! Love those cookies too - I will have to get a lettered cookie press. Your card, calligraphy and painting are all so lovely. The salad looks like spring time and now I want one for dinner tonight. Have a lovely weekend Monique
ReplyDeleteYou too Tricia!I think you will enjoy lettered cookie presses..so "personal":) For your Littles;)
DeleteLove it all, but the calligraphy and the vignettes, aaaah, so sweet! Well, I guess I am in sync with April then...That's all I'm sayin'....
ReplyDeleteI CANNOT WAIT:)
DeleteHope there is a return address:)
Your salad looks great and I love your pink dishes!
ReplyDeleteThe pinks were serendipitous.. a brocante..and too reasonable to not bring home all those yrs ago..Perhaps under $15.00 for all..I just cannot remember it was so long ago.
DeleteI love seeing your "trisket" on the window sill. xoo
ReplyDeleteMe too..every day:) That's art for you..
DeleteSaid the wannabe to the artist:)
Why am I so late to the show?
ReplyDeleteBeauty photos...and I adore your seedling♥️
Have a great week ahead Monique!
Cheers!
Linda :o)
Un billet qui m'as mis très en appétit !!! Bisous
ReplyDeleteThe cake looks delicious, Monique. Don't you love baking with almond flour? I do.
ReplyDeleteYou have some hardworking grandsons there! I remember the fall leaf raking (have the cutest photo of my three in piles of leaves) and then in spring, you have to rake all over again! It's such a pleasure to see new growth on bushes and in your yard. Used to love forsythia.
Have a lovely week! I'm going with my Antique club to a marvelous Warhol exhibit today.
Hi Monique, Catching up with visiting. You are my favorite stop! I always get inspired to get out my paints and practice. Thank you for just being YOU!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jody ♥