Thursday, June 30, 2016

Pause Paris #4~









I am fascinated by the formation of the peas..all the infinitely intricate transformations.
Nothing short of miracles.




I am absolument hooked on avo flowers..so easy to make ..so easy to eat..so pretty to see.
The Romaine..is from our gardens..earwig traps I call my heads of lettuce..chive blossoms home grown..edible pansies too..cherry tomatoes are still green here..and I don't see a chance in heaven at growing an avocado in QC yet.
A salad like this doesn't need much:)
Some S and P and a lovely home made vinaigrette..

The garlic looks like corn..
The peas are starting to bloom..so much like sweetpeas..but edible peas.
The herbs are so happy..I was wondering where those shears were:)
The tomato plants I started from slices of a Mucci tomato we liked..are healthy plants..with blooms..fingers crossed..
The borage from seed is about to bloom..
One thing for certain..I will never plant seeds in the gardens w/out making seed tape..w/ toilet paper..what a difference..I will show you:)Well I am sure you can imagine..a nice straight continuous row..or sparse and mixed up all crooked really..


Above is one delicious delicious cake..I found it on Instagram..that led me to Smitten Kitchen..and we are both smitten w/ this rhubarb big crumble cake:)
If you have just had a cast removed or about to:)  Maybe this could be on your list:)Of to do's:)
Do what she says..press the mixture in the bowl(th e topping) because it forms and then you can break off bigger pieces.
This recipe is PRINTED and in my keepers.
The only sub I made was use European Vanilla sugar instead of vanilla.
I find it makes such a difference..I did buy a few packs in Paris..but knew I could get them in Montreal..
certainly not for the next little while..I feel so bad for the store and it's employees..

Milano~A store Jacques and I enjoy every time we go to Little Italy.

Bon Weekend..a long one here and in the US..and Noah's 8th birthday:)

41 comments:

  1. Morning Monique!!
    I can smell your Herbs all the way to Ontario! hahaha!
    Lovely photos...you grew tomatoes from slices??? WOW...you are good!
    The crumble looks delightful...
    Happy Canada Day to you and yours...and a Birthday hug to NOAH!!
    We are off to the cottage after lunch...kids all coming out tomorrow...making 2 gluten free lasagnas...one veggie...one meat...PHEW!!
    Hope you all have a wonderful celebration...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. You're going to be busy Linda!

      They were fool proof the tomatoes..I wondered but it worked..let's see what the harvest is like LOL;)
      I wish we could have fresh herbs out our door every day of the year!
      Have fun..and Happy Canada Day..Fly that gorgeous flag.
      Hope Miss V ..has a hat or tee-shirt:)

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  2. Your vegetable garden is wonderful and with all the cool weather this spring I am amazed how far along things are progressing. The women with the cast coming off will have to give that cake a try for sure! It looks so yummy. I have a lot to catch up on in the next few months.

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    1. One more day! You have been such a trooper..no complaining..nothing.Happy for you:)

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    2. I have tried but sometimes... I missed that it will be Noah's birthday. I hope he has a great day celebrating. The Littles slowly become your Big Guys.

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  3. Your herbs look so healthy. That cake also look wonderful. Have lots of rhubarb growing - need to make something.

    Enjoy your long weekend.

    Mary

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    1. I hope you do try it..that Smitten Kitchen has got some great recipes..this one is a NY Times one I think..Have a great day Mary..

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  4. Your garden looks lovely! Thanks for reminding about St. Joseph. I went out and bought the statue and buried it yesterday!

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    1. I am telling you..humbly..it works.You planted him the right way?:)And don't forget where he is;)
      Fingers crossed..your house is pristine..it will sell..and now w/ St-J..a sure thing..sooner.

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  5. I ADORE Smitten Kitchen. Not only are the recipes good, but the little stories that go along with them are utterly delightful.
    I'm jealous of your basil. The snails eat more of mine than I do.
    That avocado flower is gorgeous. And probably easy. My husband is so talented in this way. When he makes dinner, it's a work of art.

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    1. Well you are lucky!
      I am too Jacques makes some meals too..and I am grateful..he's not the flower maker..but appreciates them..they are super easy ..and so pretty..there are many videos..
      Oh but my lettuce is earwig city:(
      I think I adore SK too now..It is on Instagram that I have discovered her .I have loads of catching up to do.
      I love the one photo Instagram♥

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  6. I love how peas look and grow too :) I have been picking ours for about a week or a little more now as we had them for dinner recently. I pick a handful everyday and then store them in the frig until I have enough for a meal. Love them roasted in the oven! My basil doing great - your varieties too :) The everlasting spinach never grew, sadly. I have green tomatoes the size of small tennis balls already. Love checking on my crops each morning. I have to remember to cut the rest of the garlic scapes! What a wonderful looking cake! Rhubarb and crumble are my faves - trying this one for certain. So sad about the store! Happy Birthday to Noah and Happy Canada Day, Monique!

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    1. And to you a happy 4th..your president..Mr. Obama was here.. what a class act..he is a natural spokesman..so unaffected..so wise..so smart so charming.A diplomat of the highest order.
      Should I shell these..LOL I have no clue..
      I grew them for how they look:)♥
      Guess what? Plenty never grew:(
      I was sad.
      I am over it now..but you know..I have other varieties of seeded basil and I cannot say they are going forth and prospering..
      the grocery store plant we brought out is great and the Costco one..
      My perennial spinach came back but conglomerated..w/ parse spots and I lost my seeds..next year will be different..Seed Hoarder.

      I see so many baby foxgloves..fingers crossed they will be big and foxglovey next year..:)
      This is a big crumble..the kind you can pick off and savor:)
      As in your name:)

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    2. We will have to remember to share seeds when there is no risk of freezing them in the mailbox :) I wish I saw lots of baby foxgloves in my garden. I lost those I had years ago and planted a couple of new ones this year. May they be happy and make babies :) I know I will savor this crumble cake. Pinned! I have to Google again how long I can keep cutting my rhubarb. I think it's coming to an end soon :(

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    3. It's the first time I have seen all those babies..remember I bought one last year? These are the offspring..Fingers crossed :)
      Going to check about rhubarb too:)

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  7. I am lost in the divine lusciousness of this beautiful post! Happy Canada Day!

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  8. Such a stunning dessert. Wold love to tiptoe off with it by myself. Noah 8? That little stinker is trying to grow up on you. What beautiful plants in your garden. Our garden produced much squash this year, but the corn is kaput. I've pickled some cucumbers, but will have little to freeze. You could grow an avocado there from Logee's Greenhouse in CT. They've hybridized it so it produces earlier and not a lot of leaves to make a mess. Grows in a pot and you can keep it in a sunny window in winter. Your salad is too pretty to eat.

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    1. That little stinker:) How cute!
      I'll have to look into those avocados thanks for the tip Donna:)

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  9. Gorgeous photos of your gorgeous herbs and vegetables, Monique! I've never planted peas, but next year, I must.

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    1. Since I posted..so many more puffu peas..I can just imagine in your gardens:)

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  10. Happy Birthday to Noah! Your garden is beautiful. I know you must tire of me saying that! I cannot believe how much further ahead everything is there! We have had one week of sunshine and warmth, but that is it. The cold temps slow everything down, and the rain . . . well. No pods on my peas yet, but plenty of blooms, and the tomatoes also. I have my fingers crossed! Happy Canada Day! I am sure you will be enjoying a weekend of festivities! xoxo

    PS - That dessert looks marvelous!

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    1. The big crumbs Marie..Oh pick pick pick..it really is so good.
      Marie we are having a summer ..that is what summer should be..hot sunny..like when I was little..blue skies..so pretty..but dry..miss miscontent again mentioning that.
      I am liking growing produce..I only have small spots..but I like it..:)Like you!

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  11. Happy Birthday to Noah! Happy Canada Day!
    Your garden shots are lovely....I saw the scissors and thought maybe you placed them there. Ha! Glad you found them.
    Oh that divine dessert.

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    1. You won't believe what I found..I had washed 2 blusher brushes outised so old..long..I thought prop them up to dry in there..when the plants were younger..I found them..LOL

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  12. Everything is so green and healthy and beautiful! Well, except for that gorgeous crumble cake:) Impressed as always with your avocado flower - you make everything so, so pretty. I'm fascinated by your toilet paper tomato plants, don't forget to tell us what that is. Happy long weekend and a handful of confetti to Noah!!!

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    1. I will show you..so easy really..great idea..I know they sell tape seeds but I had not seen them..when my son-in-law told me that's what he bought I Googled..and it worked:)

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  13. I can't find an email for you, so in answer to your question as why I stopped creating mosaics. I have rheumatoid arthritis and it is hard to break the china with nippers. If you would like to see some of my work you can go to my old blog here http://lavenderhillstudio.blogspot.com/

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    1. Poor you..I had see previous pieces and loved them..on my right sidebar there is a little one and black email icon..:)
      It's a shame when we have passions..hobbies and are forced to stop....
      So painful...

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  14. What a great Parisian pause. Such a gorgeous garden Monique. It truly inspires me!

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    1. The only exercise I get;)I love looking after the herb pots:)Rewarding..

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  15. That avocado flower is out of this world pretty.
    Recipe anywhere?

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    1. Yes,,so many places..I just Googled and this is the first one that came up..
      I think for a luncheon:) Maybe w/ Coco Jobard?:)

      http://healthynibblesandbits.com/how-to-make-avocado-rose/

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  16. Monique, your garden is looking awesome! Love all the flower pics! Happy Birthday to Noah ♥
    Hugs, Jody

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  17. Monique ~ Bon weekend to you and happy b.d. to Noah. I'm sure you will have something special baked up for him. I love how you are teasing us with pauses between your Paris posts :) Like a sorbet between courses. Your garden looks wonderful! The hydrangeas are looking amazing here. I just cut a bunch for the hall table. xxoo

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    1. I bet you have the blue hydrangeas too..I only have one and it struggles..Happy 4th:)

      I just find my Paris posts are long and could bore everyone..watching Le Tour de France:)
      The party was yesterday..his mom hired a magician..:) it was cute..tomorrow we take Noah out for his birthday..It's a tradition...have a beautiful day:)

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  18. Bonjour chère Nana,

    Cette année j'ai planté quelques plants de tomates dans le jardin. Elles commencent fièrement à se montrer !
    Autour de la piscine l'an dernier j'ai planté une multitude de plantes aromatiques... Elles se mêlent à la lavande !
    Lorsque j'aperçois ta photo avec le basilic, j'ai envie de la secouer (!!) pour en recevoir tout le parfum !
    La sauge dans un bon civet hum !!...
    Merci pour ce délicieux partage.

    Gros bisous

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  19. Your photos are amazing Monique! The rhubarb cake is definitely a keeper! :) xo

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  20. I still have my Skipper doll, Monique. Love, Susan

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