As I type this post, it’s raining cats and dogs outside. It’s soup weather for sure. I’ve made this week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe (Spur of the moment vegetable soup, p 74) three times in the past 3 week. It’s just that good. Carrots, onions, garlic, celery, potato and ginger combined with some rosemary … Read more
This week’s French Fridays with Dorie (Endives, apples and grapes, p 338) was the type of simple dish that makes you wonder “Why didn’t I think of that?” Caramelised endives and apples with grapes sounds a little odd but it really works – the sweet of the apples against the bitter endives is a great … Read more
I think it was this moment, when I watched Kate Hill make an apricot tart from scratch, very casually, whilst in Gascony this summer which made me realise that pastry is not to be feared, rather, befriended. Pastry is a magical thing and when you show up with something with pastry *from scratch* it’s guaranteed … Read more
Sorry Dorie, this week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe (Eggplant “tartine” with tomatoes, olives, and cucumbers, pp 144-15) was one I just could not get my head around. In fact, even though I made a “version” of it (and I use that term very loosely!), I didn’t end up even serving this to Mr Neil … Read more
It’s a really quick French Fridays with Dorie post this week. Whilst I made this ages ago, I haven’t had a chance to sit down and write this post until this week – which just happens to be back to work week for me (the boys are not back until the middle of next week … Read more
Summertime….. and the living is easy… as they say. Except that here in Paris, it’s barely been summer-like weather. But no matter, this week’s JC100 recipe – Ratatouille – was perfect for those of us cooking in cooler conditions than those of you sweltering back home on the east coast. Ratatouille can be comfort food … Read more