Homemade Love and a Christmas Wish

A great meeting of the minds has taken place over the past few days.

It's been all girl talk. "What to make?, how to make?, what if?,

maybe not, wouldn't this be nice?" and so on and so on.

Our kitchen table has been taken over by cookbooks. 

For days the following ladies have intrigued us 

with their delicious suggestions. If you are still in search 

of a recipe or two I highly recommend each and every one.

Nigella Lawson

Julee Rosso

Irma Rombauer

Ina Garten

Maggie Beer

Stephanie Alexander

Martha Stewart

Delia Smith

Belinda Jeffery

Donna Hay

Miss Christine made her first Gingerbread House 

and I was delighted to pass over the challenge. 

The boys exclaimed it is the best one ever and I would have to agree.

Even our little Elf who travels around our house at night 

and wakes up in the most peculiar places agrees :)

I hold such promise for anyone who can create a roof top with such precision.

It has been homemade love right down to the last little 

biscuit tenderly wrapped with Christmas ribbon.

We are chopping and stirring and whizzing 

and my thoughts keep drifting back to you.

My family and friends....

Are you cooking, shopping, running frantic

or do you have your feet up by the fire?

Are you traveling or staying at home?

Many questions and I am sure not enough

time to answer. But if you do, 

I would love to know :)

I for one, look forward to sitting by our fire (above)

when the festivities have quieted to catch up with you.

I will sign off now wishing and hoping that 

your holiday is filled with the things you love.

Warmest wishes for a joyous holiday!

Jeanne xxx

images~me

Summer Sundays and Ina

I am loving this meme about Summer Sundays. 

A wonderful idea from The Tablescaper.

Thinking about summer is delightful.

There is nothing better than the good food that comes with summer.

In particular, the fruit and vegetables sold at the country roadstand market.

I came across this one in New Hampshire.

The first thing that runs thru my mind 

when I am standing in the midst of all this is Ina Garten

and her cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa

Her recipe for Gazpacho is a family favourite.

 To get that wonderful summer flavour 

you need to find beautiful ripe tomatoes.....

Once you have those in hand you follow these simple instructions:

The Barefoot Contessa

Gazpacho

Serves 8-10

2 hothouse cucumbers, halved and seeded, but not peeled.

3 red bell peppers, cored and seeded

8 plum tomatoes

2 red onions

6 garlic cloves, minced

46 ounces tomato juice (6 cups)

1/1/2 cups white wine vinegar

1/2 cup good olive oil

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Roughly chop the cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes and red onions into 1-inch cubes. Put each vegetable separately into a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until it is coarsely chopped. Do not overprocess!!

After each vegetable is processed, combine then in a large bowl and add the garlic, tomato juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix well and chill before serving. The longer gazpacho sits, the more the flavour develops.

Notes from Jeanne:

Texture is important, best to chop each vegetable separately...pulse slowly.

When you live overseas and try to follow American recipes it can be a bit of a hassle.

To make things easier for Kiwis and Aussies....

If you live in New Zealand, I suggest the 'Vegie Juice' by Daily Harvest. 

The 'Garden Harvest' with beetroot adds a really nice flavour.

If you live in Australia, I suggest their 'V8' low sodium vegetable juice.

I haven't made it in England yet...I will amend when I do :)

To all this I say Bon Appetit and have a wonderful Summer Sunday!

and Father's Day too!!

Visit here to follow along with Summer Sundays

http://www.thetablescaper.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-sundays-3.html

Images

1-4~me

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