Dinner Party at Chez Nous!

There's nothing I love more than entertaining. Put me at the head of the table, surrounded by good friends,good music, good food and good wine and I'm a happy woman. Yesterday I hosted another lovely six- course dinner for some of my friends. The theme was France (actually, the theme is always France at chez nous)so the menu looked a little something llike this:

Apéritif
cranberry pate
saucisson sec
baguette (from our favorite bakery, Le Fournil de Sébastien)
black olives
mini- plum tomatoes
The apéritif was enjoyed in our garden with Pastis and a crackling fire in the background.

Entrée
Oeufs mayonaise
Such a simple dish- just some boiled eggs covered with garlicky mayo and served on a bed of salad.

Plat principal
Lamb chops marinated in lemon juice, olive oil and fresh herbs- served with a mixed green salad and some more of that heavenly baguette from Sébastien. I made a simple vinaigrette for the salad and we drank some Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône with that.

Fromage
Brie
Port Salut
Limburgse kaas
Red currants
(and more wine, of course)

Dessert
Homemade salted caramel ice cream. Lots of happy faces when this one was served!

Digestif
A variety of licquers served with coffee of choice and my special chocolate rosemary cookies.

(The music for this event was a mix of Brel, Aznavour, Wende, Brigitte & Serge. Oh, and a little Doris Day thrown in for good measure.)

But aside from the food, it truly was a great evening because I seriously have the loveliest, most gracious friends in the world. Not only did they show up with very thoughtful presents (wine and chocolate!), but they also helped out, played the guitar, sang and laughed a lot. Here's to more dinner parties like this one! I think the next one will take us to Italy- mangiare!

A Trip Back to My Youth

After our market trip yesterday, we walked into what the Dutch call a 'toko'- basically, it's a food store that sells all kinds of foreign products, mostly Asian. I love visiting these shops because they usually carry a wonderful variety of spices, grains and beans. Actually, it's the perfect place for vegetarians, vegans or people who consume little meat (like myself). You'll find so much more than the few varieties of canned beans they sell at your average Dutch supermarket! I even found Nigella seeds once!

But yesterday...
There, in a little corner, we had a tiny bit of Colombia, my birth country. Unfortunately, I don't remember much about life there (I was a baby when my parents moved to New Jersey). What I do remember was being surrounded by a good dose of Colombian cooking and culture when I was growing up in the States. That's why I was so excited when my eyes fell upon a little box of Triguisar!! Triguisar is a cooking spice I vividly remember my mom using. It wasn't readily available in the States, but I remember she would sometimes get it when she would travel to Colombia or relatives would bring her some when they returned from a visit. The spices basically consists of cumin, a little garlic and some salt. They're usually used to season meats, soups and stews. I remember that distinct smell coming from empanadas (small meat pies). When I opened that little package, I was transported to a house in New Jersey where Sundays usually meant a dinner of sudao (stew with meat, potatoes and other vegetables) served over rice. Of course, the sudao was seasoned with Truiguisar!

Then I spotted a very familiar looking block of panela (a product obtained from boiled sugarcane). My parents tell me that I cried the whole way on the plane ride from Colombia to New Jersey beacuse I needed my aguapanela con leche!! Honestly, I must've been two the last time I drank this, so imagine my delight when I was standing over the stove yesterday boiling a chunk of panela in a little water! Probably just like my mom and granny did more than 30 years ago!

I also spotted some crackers with a familiar Noel logo. I never had them before, but I do remember that little 'Santa Clause' (not sure if it's Santa though!) on many food packages brought over from Colombia. They were pretty good! And for good measure I threw in some Kool Aid (not Colombian, of course!) but very familiar- our fridge was never without a pitcher of that brightly- colored drink.

All in all, it felt like I had taken a trip back to my youth today. Amazing how that was possible simply through taste and smell!

Bold Little Salad

Here's a great salad which is really simple to throw together for a quick and tasty outdoor lunch or light dinner. The ingredients are summery yet the flavor simply shouts at you from the plate- that's how bold and intense this little salad is!
We enjoyed it alfresco for lunch yesterday with a glass of Bordeaux.

Here's the recipe:

Bold Little Salad
Serves 3-4

2 cans of chickpeas (400g per can)
1 bunch of parsley, chopped
3 spring onions, chopped
leftover roast chicken, or from your rotisserie counter, shredded
4-5 tbsps capers
15-20 cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered, depending on their size
juice of half a lemon
50 ml extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Simply throw all the ingredients into a large bowl, give everything a good stir and serve!

Rhubarb! Rhubarb! And More Rhubarb!

Just in case you've ran out of ideas, here's the recipe for my rhubarb, apple and vanilla compote. Decadent over ice cream but just as good served over some fromage frais- for breakfast!

Rhubarb, Apple and Very Vanilla Compote
Makes about 750-800ml

600g rhubarb, cleaned and chopped in small pieces
2 Braeburn apples, peeled, cored and chopped
3 tbsps orange juice
1 fat vanilla pod, halved and seeds scraped out, use the pod as well
300g gelling cane sugar

Put all the ingredients into a heavy- bottomed pan and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes. Pour into sterilized jars.
Note: I don't bother removing the vanilla pod from the compote.

Takin' it Easy in the Springtime

As far as I'm concerned, this is the best time of year- foodwise. It feels as though we've left the heaviness of the winter behind us and have awoken to the lightness of new things- asparagus for example, and rhubarb, and of course, peas!

A simple springtime meal can consist of a plate of green asparagus, fresh from the market , grilled to perfection and drizzled with good olive oil and the slightest sprtiz of lemon juice. A succulent lamb chop on the side wouldn't hurt, but in all honesty, I'm fine with the asparagus alone. Perhaps a dessert made with rhubarb- a pie, if I don't mind spending some extra time in the kitchen, or a simple compote served over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Here is an example of one of my ridiculously easy springtime meals:
-pea soup with chives and fromage frais
-grilled lamb burgers
-a mixed salad tossed with a classic vinaigrette
-sliced crusty bread and good butter
-dessert: rhubarb compote with vanilla ice cream

Enjoy the spring!

New Discoveries in Foodieland

Last Saturday while we were shopping in Hilversum (our new 'place to be'), Hans decided to walk into a bookstore, just to browse. Before we were even inside, I spotted a rack filled with paperback travel-foodie books. There were two that caught my attention Heimwee naar La Douce France (Nostalgic About La Douce France) and Savoir Vivre. Both by a well- known Dutch writer, Onno Kleyn. A writer whom I never bothered looking into and now, one whom I'm trilled to have discovered!

Kleyn declares himself a francophile and that's clearly evident in every passionate word he writes about France and particularly, in the way he writes about French food. His book, Heimwee Naar La Douce France, does not have any pictures yet it is the type of book that makes you want to run into the kitchen! I love his simplistic approach to the French kitchen. There's nothing complicated about his recipes and the results certainly prove that. Last weekend I made the most fabulous crème brulée and oh boy was it easy!!

And today...
I was craving one of those beautiful fruit tarts you see in every French bakery. The kind that you're not really supposed to make yourself but rather buy. I turned to Onno for a recipe and once again, I could declare another culinary success- and it was literally, easy as pie!

Here's the recipe:
(adapted from recipe for Tarte aux Framboises, as featured in Heimwee naar La Douce France)

Tarte aux Fraises

Pastry
1 egg
pinch of salt
125g caster sugar
125g cold butter
250g flour, sifted

For the crème anglaise
100ml milk
tiny pinch of salt
3 tbsps vanilla sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp flour

500g strawberries, halved
1-2 tbsps strawberry jelly

Put all the ingredients for the dough in the food processor and pulse until the dough comes together. You might need to add a drop or two of cold water. Chill the dough for about an hour.

Bring the milk to the boil. Make the pastry crème by beating the egg with the sugar and salt until thick and creamy. I did this with my Kitchen Aid. Add the milk little by little while whisking. Add the flour and continue to whisk. Cook mixture until it thickens and then cook for another minute or so. Cover with a little cling film to prevent a skin from forming and set aside.

Roll out the pastry and lay it over a 28cm tart pan. Blind bake for about 20 minutes. Cool and remove pastry shell from pan.

Spread the crème over the shell and cover with the strawberries.

Heat the jelly until it glistens. Brush over the strawberries and marvel at your brilliant creation!

Satisfying my Cravings

I suddenly got the urge to bake a good old- fashioned cake the other day. I wanted something that would make the house smell heavenly, something a little summery (not that it's summer, except in my head) and something that would be easy to throw together in between housework and lounging in the garden.
Quatre quarts! What a perfect idea! But how would I make it 'summery'?? After a few minutes in my pantry and a lot of 'hmmm's' and 'oooh's' I decided to spruce up my version of this classic French cake with a good handful of dried red berries and a touch of lavender (don't you just love lavender in baked goods??).
The results were certainly worth boasting about- a beautifully scented, red- speckled, buttery loaf which went above and beyond satisfying my cravings!

Here's the recipe:

Quatre Quarts with Red Berries and Lavender

250g all- purpose flour
pinch of salt
1 ½ tsp baking powder
225g soft butter
225g caster sugar
4 medium eggs
1 tbsp dried lavender (suitable for cooking)
120g mixed dried red berries

Soak the red fruits in hot water for approximately 15 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
Preheat oven to 165C. Line a 28 cm rectangular cake pan with baking paper.
Sift flour and salt into a bowl. Add the baking powder and the lavender and stir thoroughly.
In a separate bowl, whip the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. Beat the eggs in a small bowl and add them little by little to the butter and sugar mixture.
Fold in the dry ingredients and the red fruits in two batches, stirring thoroughly after each addition.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for about an hour and 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Allow to cool on a wire rack bevore serving.

Outdoor Wining and Dining

Isn't it great when you can finally start eating outside again? Even if it's with a thick sweater on? This Sunday we had a typical weekend meal in our new garden- a lemony roast chicken, baguette, a green salad and a good bottle of wine.

While the chicken cooks, we open the wine and have a little appetizer (usually a bowl of olives, preferably anchovy- wrapped). Perhaps some good tunes and an outdoor fire to keep us warm. Little things can make us so happy!

Oh and in case you're wondering, to make the chicken you need:

-a good organic (happy and tasty) chicken
-half a lemon
-5 cloves of garlic, bruised (I prefer pink garlic from Lautrec)
-a fresh bouqet garni
-coarse sea salt
-pepper
-olive oil

Preheat oven to 200C. Wash the chicken inside and out and pat dry. Stuff the lemon, herbs and garlic into its cavity. Rub lovingly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for approximately two hours. It's a good idea to let the chicken come to room temperature before roasting it, and to let it rest for a good ten minutes before carving.

Le Jardin

The garden is really starting to take shape! I love the fact that it's actually an extension to our living room. We plan on creating lots of beautiful memories here- chatting, laughing and enjoying life- with a bottle of wine and a good meal, of course!

Market, Sun and Cafe au Lait!

It's a beautifully sunny day. No better time to head to the market than now! Just for a stroll, a little shopping and a bit of people- watching.

I've bought a kilo's worth of tomatoes, an aubergine, a courgette, some peppers and a bag of shallots. Yes, it's definitely too early to be craving ratatouille, but I simply couldn't resist. I also bought some rhubarb for a compote which will go over vanilla ice cream.

After my market trip, I stopped for a huge cafe au lait which I enjoyed in the early spring sunshine. A few chapters later, I left with a smile on my face.

And it's not even noon!

Me? Bree?

Ok. So I adore spending time in the kitchen and also think that "one's house is not truly clean unless it's spotless". Does that justify a comparison with Bree? Well, I don't know. All I know is that I DO like her muffins!!

Bree's Blueberry Muffins
From page 59 of the The Desperate Housewives Cookbook

Vegetable oil cooking spray
12 tablespoons (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces
1½ cups milk
3 large eggs
Grated zest of 1 orange
3 cups all-purpose flour, preferably bleached
2/3 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling on the tops of the muffins
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, preferably freshly grated
1½ cups fresh blueberries, or 1½ cups frozen blueberries

1. Place a rack in the center position and preheat the oven to 400F. Spray a 12-compartment muffin tin with vegetable oil cooking spray.

2. Combine the butter and milk in a small saucepan over very low heat. When the butter is half melted, pour the mixture into a small mixing bowl and stir until the butter is completely melted. Whisk in the eggs and orange zest thoroughly and set aside.

3. Stir in flour, 2/3 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Add the berries and toss to coat with flour. Pour the milk mixture over the dry ingredients and stir gently from the bottom up just until no white streaks remain. The batter will look lumpy.

4. Divide the batter among the muffin tin compartments. There will be enough batter to fill each compartment to just below the rim. Sprinkle the top of each muffin evenly with sugar. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 22 minutes.

5. Cool the muffins in the tin on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the tins and cool completely before serving.

Makes 12 Muffins

Lovely Things

Just a few of the things around the house that make me smile...

It Was (and is) a Very Good Year

Another wonderful birthday has gone by and I feel so very blessed, lucky and loved. Not that presents are important, but I'm sure you want to know what I got.

It actually started the day before when we got six bottles of some of my favorite wines (two Crozes Hermitage, two Pouilly Fume and two Cru Bordeaux Cantemerle). The next morning I came downstairs and saw a beautifully wrapped hortensia plant in the sweetest shade of powdery pink. With that was a glossy home magazine, an overwhelmingly large bar of white chocolate and a gorgeous card. 'Just a little something' said my sweet husband. The rest would come later. Kirstie also surprised me by making a lovely card with lines from some of my favorite French songs. As far as I was concerned, I didn't need anything else.

But, that evening, Hans took me out to dinner to a cozy, little nearby bistro Hemel op aarde- which translates to 'Heaven on Earth'. And it was heaven on earth! We started off with some appetizers- Hans had the carpaccio of smoked Wagyu filet with truffel and parmesan. I had the mini- lobster croquettes served with saffran mayonnaise. Both very tasty, but the real treat was our main course- a Wagyu beef entrecote. I don't think I've ever eaten such a fantastic cut of beef! It was beautifully full- flavored and deliciously tender. I ordered mine with a pepper- cognac sauce and Hans had his with a Dijon mustard coating. The meat was served with a bowl of perfectly crisp fried potatoes, a salad and assorted seasonal vegetables. For dessert, Hans chose the fruit sorbet served with forest fruit coulis and I had the coffee creme brulee which was spectacularly flambed on the table! The cherry on the sundae was a tiny glass of rose liqueur- absolutely fantastic, though strong enough to knock you out after just one tiny glass!

The next day we headed to some of my favorite shops for all sorts of odds and ends for the house- satin sheets (my second set this week), tall candle holders, bathroom accessories, a very elegant butter dish and flowers. After a delicious lunch, Hans insisted that we visit Oldenhof, my favorite cooking store. He wanted to buy me a lid for my copper Mauviel pan and ended up getting my pan a sibbling! I can now boast to the world that I am the proud owner of two Mauviel pans- Francine (the 4.6 liter frying pan and Jacques (the 3.5 liter saucepan). I love these pans for the way they look but oh man are they awesome for cooking (yes, I know, that's what they're actually meant for)!

I went to bed Sunday evening with a smile on my face. It was (and still is) a very good year!

The Most Perfect Bread

I love making bread. The whole process really appeals to me- from the kneading to the way it makes the house smell as it cozily bakes in the oven. Truth be told though, my favorite part is the kneading. I think most people who've kneaded their own bread know what I mean when I say that this is one of the best ways to get rid of one's frustrations. The more you slap and punch that dough, the better it feels!

Perhaps that's why I have been hesitatnt about trying the very famous 'no- knead bread'. 'There goes my fun', I thought. But let me tell you, the cruel enjoyment I gave up by sacrificing the kneading was more than compensated by the ultimate enjoyment of sinking my teeth into what truly is the most perfect bread. Just look at that crust! Need I say more?

Here's the recipe (again)

No-Knead Bread
Yields one 1 1/2 pound loaf

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

This House is Now a Home

I never thought we were going to make it- but we did. We survived our move and now own the cutest house on the block! On Monday evening we sat in our new living room fireplace lit, chicken roasting in the oven and Aznavour records playing in the background. Hans and I kept looking at each other in awe- it was just so beautiful (even with the pile of boxes behind us in the corner)!

Our house has a lot I love. First of all, it has country appeal and a bit of 'Frenchness' which makes me feel as though I'm permanently on vacation. I adore my cozy kitchen with its cafe au lait colored walls, cream colored tiles and rounded brass cabinet knobs. We still have a lot of work to do though. The blue colored cabinets (actually they're kind of 'Nigella blue' )are going to be removed and traded for baskets. We'll also need some lamps of course and a hanging pan rack which will hold a collection of copper Mauviel pans (yipee!).

The living room is half done. We only completed the seating area (which faces a gorgeous garden with, among other things, a huge lavender bush, roses and hortensias).We decided to keep it simple but with a country feel. Therefore no huge cd towers, leather couches or vintage waiting room chairs anymore. The seating area is completely built around the fireplace and our favorite painting. And best of all- we are having a dining room table especially made for us (it'll be delivered in April and I really can't wait!).

Our bedroom has the coolest walls- French lillies everywhere! That's another room we still need to work on though (we'll be needing new side tables and lamps, for example).

Kirstie's room is a pale purple paradise, the bathroom is cozy and has a wonderful bath and we even have a huge walk in closet and plan on turning the attic into a sitting room/ library! This girl is happy!

To celebrate, I baked my first old- fashioned chocolate cake yesterday and decorated it with the pink sugar flowers I bought in France during our last vacation.

It's official- this house is now a home!

Food Snob

I am not ashamed to admit that I am one of the world's biggest food snobs. Let me put it simply- life is to short to eat bad food, and to me 'bad food' doesn't mean chips or chocolate. To me, 'bad food' is food loaded with E- numbers or food that is unethically produced. Sure, a piece of organic meat is more expensive than a piece of meat from the bio industry. But here's the thing- why not eat 'good' meat once or twice a week and leave the bad stuff (which is full of nasties such as antibiotics and growth hormones) for what it is?? Fruits and veggies are tastier when they're in season and when they're organic. So yes, call me a food snob, because I am a food snob! And as a self- proclaimed food snob, let me tell you about my latest discovery- Marqt!

Marqt is a brilliant food market which recently opened in Amsterdam and Haarlem. I can sort of describe Marqt as a cross between Dean & Deluca and Whole Foods. They sell everything from bread to fish to produce- everything delicious and everything produced with respect for nature. I've been there three times already and I love it! The bread is fantastic, the cheeses exceptional and the fish to die for! Hans is diligently getting up every Saturday morning to drive us there because let me tell you, like me, my dear husband is also a food snob!

If you're living in The Netherlands, this is definitely a place you'll want to visit again and again. You palate (and nature) will be very pleased!

Christmas (Over)Eating!

Yes! Nothing like the holidays to give the old waistline a run for its money! It's the 26th today and as I sip my Crozes Hermitage, the smell of Hans' braised lemony chicken is slowly filling the room. The feast will be complete with bacony sprouts 'a la Nigella' and his famous pan- fried potatoes served with a good dollop of French mayo. Yum! I'm going to enjoy this last day of feasting because before I know it, it's time to use good common sense again!

Besides the food though, we've had a fabulous Christmas. We're quite anti-social during the holidays because our idea of a perfect Christmas is to celebrate it at home, only the three of us, in our pyjamas with nothing to do the whole day but feast, feast, feast, feast!

The day started off with the traditional unwrapping of the presents (I got a red Le Creuset terrine and a bottle of Coco Madamoiselle). After that we sat down to brunch and the rest of the day was spent watching movies, and of course, eating.

Here is some of what we had!

Hope your Christmas was also merry!

Baking Christmas Cookies

Christmas is just a little over a week away! Where did the year go?! Not that I'm complaining. I simply love Christmas- or better said- Christmas food! Actually, the air is heavy with the aroma of white chocolate and cranberry cookies as I write (more on that later)!

Let me first tell you about our annual cookie baking day. It's a tradition for the three of us to make our Christmas cookies together. I make the dough and roll it out while Hans and Kirstie do the cutting. What a lovely way to spend an evening- basking under the glow of the Christmas lights, drink within reach and Christmas music in the background!

Wie Zoet is Krijgt Lekkers

It's that time of year again!

Sinterklaas is officially in the country- and this year we were lucky enough to welcome him in my city! I've secretly been wishing for that since I discovered Sinterklaas some eleven years ago! Hans laughs at the fact that I'm still such a kid. Should I be ashamed to tell you that I was more excited than Kirstie when we met one of the most famous Pieten, (Sinterklaas helpers), the very cool Testpiet? Well, I'm not!

To celebrate, Kirstie and I spent an evening baking kruidnoten. It has been a tradition to do this a day before Sinterklaas arrives in the country. We will also be making more next Thursday evening, just in time for the big event on Friday the 5th of December!

Here's the recipe, which is foolishly easy!

Paola's Kruidnoten

250 g self- raising flour
pinch of salt
80 g dark brown sugar
45 g light brown sugar
1 tbsp Speculaas spices
100 g soft butter
3-4 tbsps milk

Preheat oven to 150C and line a cookie sheet with baking paper.
Sift flour, add sugar spices and salt. Stir well.
Add butter, in small pieces, and the milk. Knead well until the dough comes together. I always do this with my Kitchen Aid.
Make small balls the size of marbles and arrange them on a baking sheet with a little room between them. Flatten them a little and bake for about 20 minutes.
The kruidnoten keep well for about 2-3 days.

A Sticky and Lusciously Sweet Pudding Cake

Tell me? How big is your sweeth tooth?

Well, mine just happens to be HUGE! I am a self- proclaimed sugar fanatic who has a hard time resisting things like dulce de leche (straight out of the jar), sugary meringues and bars of cheap white chocolate (higher sugar content). In a perfect world, I would eat nothing but sugar and still be healthy and fit! Alas! A girl also has to eat her fruits, veggies, lean proteins and whole grains.

Recently, I added a wonderful recipe to my repertoire of sinfully sweet desserts. I tried the recipe, courtesy of Greg Patent's book, A Baker's Oddyssey, for the latest issue of Desserts Magazine and oh am I glad I did! This is definitely a recipe I will keep in mind should I find myself going through one of my sugar- crazed moments.

I present to you the lusciously sweet Boschendal Pudding Cake- a soft, syrupy cake which is a dream to make and a dream to eat. You simply make the sponge and then drench it with a sweet, creamy sauce, allowing it to slowly seep into the cake. It is best to serve this cake warm but I find that it goes down just as well once cold. One thing I do recommend is a hearty, face- puckering ristretto to go with it!

For the recipe, please turn to pages 72-73 of Desserts Magazine. This issue, by the way, is their largest ever! Plenty of ideas to satisfy that naughty ol' sweet tooth of ours!

NOTE: In my experience, the amounts given for the sauce are a bit on the generous side. Half of that amount should suffice.

Yes, I'm Still Here!

I know, I know. It's like I totally dropped off the face of the Earth as far as my blog is concerned. Well, I do have plenty of excuses to justify my absence, so read on!

First of all, we are buying a new house! It was a carefully considered decision, and we're both terribly delighted about how lovely it is, but truth be told- I've shed a few tears thinking about the fact that we're leaving behind a place which will always remain my first 'real home', our first home.

So many memories! I don't even know where to begin! Perhaps it's best to begin at the very beginning and rewind back to December 17th, 1997- the day Hans and I decided to spend our first night in the new house, one day before the actual moving day. We had nothing with us except a mattress which we just threw on the kitchen floor! And because it was right around the holidays, our first piece of furniture (mattress not included) was a beautiful Christmas tree! I was 19 years old then, a crazy girl madly in love and totally oblivious to anything except living in the moment. Those days were spent in a rose- colored haze, pretty much until I found out I was pregnant about a year and a half later.

Perhaps the most beautiful memory I will take with me is the birth of my gorgeous child, Kirstie. She was born in our bedroom, on our own bed, on the last day of the past century- December 31st, 1999! I felt so proud to have her here in my own surroundings.

Not to be forgotten of course, is the fact that I learned to cook in this kitchen. The girl who couldn't boil an egg and thought that making pickle sandwiches was cooking (just pickles and white bread, mind you), was suddenly baking chocolate cakes and lusting after kitchen equipment instead of fancy clothes and makeup!

Oh and our garden! A garden which always stuck out like a sore thumb in this neighborhood simply because it was so wild and more importantly, used! I can't even begin to imagine how many meals and how many gallons of wine we've had here- and you know, we've also been sitting outside in the pouring rain, looking like complete idiots but feeling so happy!

Memories, memories! Sure it will be hard to close the door to this house next spring but I take comfort in knowing that new memories will be made in our new house!

The life changes don't stop there though because as of this Monday I will be a teacher's assistant at a Dutch High School! I will still continue with my own company but I'll also be working with a great team of people. I had the interview for the position last Thursday and was told I'd hear from them the following week. The next morning the phone rang at 8:30 AM and yes- I got the job!!

So, I hope you won't hold my absence against me! As you see, I was busy building myself a new life!

Stay tuned for a foodie post!

Book Review for Desserts Magazine

Just singing the praises about one of my favorite books again- Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World.

Check out page 42- 43, and the rest of this gorgeous magazine of course! Hope you like it!

Desserts Magazine

Cooking with Elizabeth

"There is one mistake we nearly all make when attempting French cookery. We make it too complicated."

And here are two wonderful dishes to prove this quote from Elizabeth David's French Provincial Cooking:

*Piments doux en salade (thinly sliced red pepper, olive oil, and black olives)
*Oeufs en cocotte Pascal (eggs cooked au bain marie and served with a mustard cream seasoned with tarragon, chives and parsley)

I'm really enjoying cooking with Elizabeth these days.