my garbure

January 26th, 2012

Garbure or stone soup

Peasant stew.  Fit for a king and royally good: 
my garbure

This month second graders all across America are reading as many books as they can that have been awarded the Caldecott Honor.  One of my favorite Caldecott books is Stone Soup by Marcia Brown. The book is about three hungry soldiers who convince (or trick) a town of peasants to make soup from stones (and other on-hand, but hidden, ingredients). The effort culminates in a soup that the peasants declare is “fit for a king.” While we are not making soup from stones, the ability to make a simple yet hearty soup with on-hand ingredients (and a few seasonal vegetables which I consider under-used but easily obtainable) is the inspiration for this week’s simple pleasure, my garbure. Read the rest of this entry »

piperade crustless quiche

September 1st, 2011

piperade crustless quiche

Ladurée, piperade and deferred gratification realized: piperade crustless quiche

Call me farmer Lisa but I have chickens and a garden. My children agreed to the poultry addition to our family on the condition that the chickens would not become “poule-au-pot.”  When I inquired as to the source of their fear they cited the example that I recently gutted and cleaned fish in front of their friends on a playdate. Point taken. I assured them that my interest in having chickens was solely for the eggs so they acquiesced. Inspired by the beautiful peppers in the market and these chickens, piperade crustless quiche is this week’s simple pleasure.

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