The next time I post, it will be over two weeks later. We are boarding a 14 day cruise to the Baltic Sea on Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas. The ship will depart from Stockholm (Sweden) then call on Helsinki (Finland), St. Petersburg (Russia), Riga (Latvia), Klaipeda (Lithuania), Tallinn (Estonia), Copenhagen and Fredercia (Denmark), Warnemunde (Germany) and finally disembarking in Hamburg (Germany). We'll spend a couple of days in Hamburg at the end of the cruise visiting Germany's second largest city.
I look forward to reporting back with plenty of pictures & video!
Until then, be well!
Fifi
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Day Trip: VENCE, FRANCE
Set in the hills behind Nice/Cagnes-sur-Mer is the lovely little town of Vence. Over the past 8 years we have visited Vence, specifically for a restaurant Auberge Des Seigneurs (http://www.auberge-seigneurs.com/home.htm). This family run "inn" also serves some of the most incredible meals - anytime we have guests they are always treated to memorable dining experience. Today, however, we decided to have crepes, but more on that in a bit.
As I mentioned, we've been visiting Vence for over 8 years. During most of those years, not much changed in this quiet village - until last year. Roadwork was underway on the main road along the medieval walls; shop keepers were complaining it was hurting business....however, upon our last two recent visits, the once exceptionally narrow sidewalks were now wide and newly paved with stones. Shops, that once complained were now busy with customers and clients. Many of the shops have underdone transformations to their storefronts: fresh paint, colorful awnings, cafe tables beckoning one to sit and watch the world go by. Inside the old village walls there is a new vibrancy - long established restaurants display bright table settings, home decor shops artfully showcase the little touches that are so very "tres chic" and everywhere people are milling about the medieval lanes and alleys while others are laden with shopping bags of little treasures purchased.
Today we were among the "strollers" in town after having an absolutely superb lunch of crepes at Creperie L'Ecrin. The owner was hands-on today - talk about a hard working man! He was exceptionally pleasant and friendly and his love for work came through in his cooking. When I asked if I could photograph the restaurant for the blog (and my review on Trip Advisor) he was very accommodating - he even turned on the lights to the lower dining room (used for evenings) and showed us around. If anyone is ever in Vence, please remember to dine there: open for lunch and dinner. Creperie L'Ecrin 8 Av Marcellin Maurel, VENCE
Fifi
As I mentioned, we've been visiting Vence for over 8 years. During most of those years, not much changed in this quiet village - until last year. Roadwork was underway on the main road along the medieval walls; shop keepers were complaining it was hurting business....however, upon our last two recent visits, the once exceptionally narrow sidewalks were now wide and newly paved with stones. Shops, that once complained were now busy with customers and clients. Many of the shops have underdone transformations to their storefronts: fresh paint, colorful awnings, cafe tables beckoning one to sit and watch the world go by. Inside the old village walls there is a new vibrancy - long established restaurants display bright table settings, home decor shops artfully showcase the little touches that are so very "tres chic" and everywhere people are milling about the medieval lanes and alleys while others are laden with shopping bags of little treasures purchased.
Today we were among the "strollers" in town after having an absolutely superb lunch of crepes at Creperie L'Ecrin. The owner was hands-on today - talk about a hard working man! He was exceptionally pleasant and friendly and his love for work came through in his cooking. When I asked if I could photograph the restaurant for the blog (and my review on Trip Advisor) he was very accommodating - he even turned on the lights to the lower dining room (used for evenings) and showed us around. If anyone is ever in Vence, please remember to dine there: open for lunch and dinner. Creperie L'Ecrin 8 Av Marcellin Maurel, VENCE
Where We Dined: VENCE, FRANCE
Here are a few of the places where we have enjoyed great meals in Vence:
1. Auberge des Seigneurs http://www.auberge-seigneurs.com/home.htm
The setting is an lovely old 'castle', family run restaurant and auberge. Incredible chef, his wife the most delightful hostess. We've been for lunches only but can say this: after a meal at Auberge des Seigneurs, we never want a full meal for dinner for two reasons: we are quite full and why bother topping a meal like that!
2. Creperie L'Ecrin (sadly no website, but they are on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LecrinCreperie)
The place is adorable! The crepes were superb and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Definitely going back again and again!
3. Le Troquet (http://letroquetdevence.free.fr/) We dined here a few years ago; our friends selected it. We thought our friends suspected us of only selecting "good" restaurants so we asked them to find a restaurant, without our help, and be convinced that you could not get a bad meal! Not only was it good, but the atmosphere and friendly service convinced our friends that a good meal could be found anywhere!
4. La Victoire Restaurant (sadly no website, but listed on Trip Advisor) We happened upon this very popular eatery one Sunday with another friend...we missed our timing and many restaurants were closing their (lunch) service...fortunately, La Victoire was still serving and we had an excellent steak meal - paired with a bottle of wine it was perfect!
Vence offers so many choices in dining, that one can hardly decide where or what to eat!
1. Auberge des Seigneurs http://www.auberge-seigneurs.com/home.htm
The setting is an lovely old 'castle', family run restaurant and auberge. Incredible chef, his wife the most delightful hostess. We've been for lunches only but can say this: after a meal at Auberge des Seigneurs, we never want a full meal for dinner for two reasons: we are quite full and why bother topping a meal like that!
2. Creperie L'Ecrin (sadly no website, but they are on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LecrinCreperie)
The place is adorable! The crepes were superb and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Definitely going back again and again!
3. Le Troquet (http://letroquetdevence.free.fr/) We dined here a few years ago; our friends selected it. We thought our friends suspected us of only selecting "good" restaurants so we asked them to find a restaurant, without our help, and be convinced that you could not get a bad meal! Not only was it good, but the atmosphere and friendly service convinced our friends that a good meal could be found anywhere!
4. La Victoire Restaurant (sadly no website, but listed on Trip Advisor) We happened upon this very popular eatery one Sunday with another friend...we missed our timing and many restaurants were closing their (lunch) service...fortunately, La Victoire was still serving and we had an excellent steak meal - paired with a bottle of wine it was perfect!
Vence offers so many choices in dining, that one can hardly decide where or what to eat!
Where We Dined: ANTIBES
Cruise ships are starting to offer tours to Antibes; and just recently, Oceania began making stops in Antibes.
Old Antibes has a nicely sized "old" town behind rampart walls and enjoys the benefit of the having the largest marina in Europe: Port Vauban (http://www.portvauban.net/). Right now it appears that any cruise ship calling to Antibes will be tendered in...a short walk along magnificent yachts and visitors are welcomed through one of the rampart portal gates to the Old Town. Go left, go right, go straight ahead - each quaint lane is filled with interesting shops and many many bars, cafes, bistros and restaurants. Antibes has delightful beaches, too!
Here is a sampling of where we've dined:
Old Town:
L'Elephant Bleu (Asian - and it is really good)
Creperie du Port (my favorite!)
Le Vauban (the chef is amazing)
Le Rustic (excellent salads and selection of pizzas)
Le Jardin (ask to sit in the garden!)
La Voute (very cool" - it is in the lower level!)
Le Veil Antibes (great bar for drinks, snack and people watching!)
Michelangelo (we did lunch, but dinner attracts the rich & famous)
...and more that I cannot remember!
"New" Town:
Le Coq licot (seafront near the rampart) (love it!)
Le Lisbonne (parallel street to Albert 1er, near Gendarmerie)
Sud Square ("new" town square; sit & enjoy the fountains)
The list goes on and on - so many more places, so little time! There is no shortage of places to dine: light lunches, snacks, gelato, plenty of sweet shops and casual to elegant dining. Menus in Antibes are so varied that there is never a shortage of options; whatever your mood, there's a menu for you!
Fifi
Old Antibes has a nicely sized "old" town behind rampart walls and enjoys the benefit of the having the largest marina in Europe: Port Vauban (http://www.portvauban.net/). Right now it appears that any cruise ship calling to Antibes will be tendered in...a short walk along magnificent yachts and visitors are welcomed through one of the rampart portal gates to the Old Town. Go left, go right, go straight ahead - each quaint lane is filled with interesting shops and many many bars, cafes, bistros and restaurants. Antibes has delightful beaches, too!
Here is a sampling of where we've dined:
Old Town:
L'Elephant Bleu (Asian - and it is really good)
Creperie du Port (my favorite!)
Le Vauban (the chef is amazing)
Le Rustic (excellent salads and selection of pizzas)
Le Jardin (ask to sit in the garden!)
La Voute (very cool" - it is in the lower level!)
Le Veil Antibes (great bar for drinks, snack and people watching!)
Michelangelo (we did lunch, but dinner attracts the rich & famous)
...and more that I cannot remember!
"New" Town:
Le Coq licot (seafront near the rampart) (love it!)
Le Lisbonne (parallel street to Albert 1er, near Gendarmerie)
Sud Square ("new" town square; sit & enjoy the fountains)
The list goes on and on - so many more places, so little time! There is no shortage of places to dine: light lunches, snacks, gelato, plenty of sweet shops and casual to elegant dining. Menus in Antibes are so varied that there is never a shortage of options; whatever your mood, there's a menu for you!
Fifi
Where We Stayed/Dined: BARCELONA, SPAIN
Hotel:
Our last trip to Barcelona (Jun 2014) we stayed at the Eurostars Cristal Palace (http://www.eurostarscristalpalace.com/). It was an exceptional value for quality (4 star), location (near Placa Catalunya at the top of Las Ramblas) and an easy walk to the city's old town and Gothic quarter.
The hotel is location just off the thoroughfare Passeig de Gracia, making it convenient for Hop-On/Off busses, metro and transit buses.
Restaurants:
7 Portes http://www.7portes.com/angles/ (2 blks off Via Laietana on Passeig d'Isabel II)
Restaurante Salamanca http://www.restaurantesalamanca.es/salamanca-main-menu-eng (Seafront in Barceloneta)
Grill Room http://www.grupandilana.com/en (off Las Ramblas, side street opposite Teatre Principal)
Entertainment:
Palau de la Musica Catalunya (http://www.palaumusica.cat/en) A UNESCO World Heritage Site. This performance center is still used today for performances. On our last Barcelona visit, we attended a Flamenco Song & Dance show that was outstanding. The interior of the building is gorgeous. If you attend a performance, select seating anywhere in the center. The sides do no have full view of the stage above the loge level. By the way, performances are not expensive and a well worth an evening out...don't hesitate to dress up! (Casual wear is permitted, but the building is such a throwback to a by-gone era, that is hard not to get swept up in the elegance of it all!)
Palau Guell: Near Las Ramblas and the Teatre Principal. Well worth taking the full tour (audio headset) and admire the unique Gaudi design: both inside and outside. After you've toured the "palace", head over to lunch at the Grill Room not too far away! (http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_directory/monuments/guell_palace)
Food Market: Entertainment in a very different way! Walk around the Boqueria Market, snack at one of the many counters, or pick up a fresh fruit container cut to enjoy as you stroll around! All your senses will be tested to the max: the fruits, vegetables, ham, cheeses and bread play havoc with your sense of smell, the beautiful displays of produce will overwhelm of your sense of sight; your hands will be to touch, the sound of vendors hawking their goods will test your sense of hearing, and tempted to no doubt, will be your sense of taste; just surrender yourself and enjoy! http://www.boqueria.info/index.php?lang=en
Barcelona Airport to City Center:
There are plenty of taxis and the fare is between 30-40Euros and is about a half hour drive.
There is an airport shuttle bus that departs/arrives to Placa Catalunya as well as train service from the airport to Placa Catalunya (http://www.webarcelona.net/transport/transport_eng.asp)
Our last trip to Barcelona (Jun 2014) we stayed at the Eurostars Cristal Palace (http://www.eurostarscristalpalace.com/). It was an exceptional value for quality (4 star), location (near Placa Catalunya at the top of Las Ramblas) and an easy walk to the city's old town and Gothic quarter.
The hotel is location just off the thoroughfare Passeig de Gracia, making it convenient for Hop-On/Off busses, metro and transit buses.
Restaurants:
7 Portes http://www.7portes.com/angles/ (2 blks off Via Laietana on Passeig d'Isabel II)
Restaurante Salamanca http://www.restaurantesalamanca.es/salamanca-main-menu-eng (Seafront in Barceloneta)
Grill Room http://www.grupandilana.com/en (off Las Ramblas, side street opposite Teatre Principal)
Entertainment:
Palau de la Musica Catalunya (http://www.palaumusica.cat/en) A UNESCO World Heritage Site. This performance center is still used today for performances. On our last Barcelona visit, we attended a Flamenco Song & Dance show that was outstanding. The interior of the building is gorgeous. If you attend a performance, select seating anywhere in the center. The sides do no have full view of the stage above the loge level. By the way, performances are not expensive and a well worth an evening out...don't hesitate to dress up! (Casual wear is permitted, but the building is such a throwback to a by-gone era, that is hard not to get swept up in the elegance of it all!)
Palau Guell: Near Las Ramblas and the Teatre Principal. Well worth taking the full tour (audio headset) and admire the unique Gaudi design: both inside and outside. After you've toured the "palace", head over to lunch at the Grill Room not too far away! (http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_directory/monuments/guell_palace)
Food Market: Entertainment in a very different way! Walk around the Boqueria Market, snack at one of the many counters, or pick up a fresh fruit container cut to enjoy as you stroll around! All your senses will be tested to the max: the fruits, vegetables, ham, cheeses and bread play havoc with your sense of smell, the beautiful displays of produce will overwhelm of your sense of sight; your hands will be to touch, the sound of vendors hawking their goods will test your sense of hearing, and tempted to no doubt, will be your sense of taste; just surrender yourself and enjoy! http://www.boqueria.info/index.php?lang=en
Barcelona Airport to City Center:
There are plenty of taxis and the fare is between 30-40Euros and is about a half hour drive.
There is an airport shuttle bus that departs/arrives to Placa Catalunya as well as train service from the airport to Placa Catalunya (http://www.webarcelona.net/transport/transport_eng.asp)
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Recipe: 'Spaghetti with Scallop & Chorizo
And this is how it went together:
 |
| Cooked Chorizo |
1/2-3/4 lb of frozen scallops
1/2 lb spaghetti
Serves 2-4 (depending on portion sizes)
Broccoli or any veg you want
 |
| Defrosted Scallops |
Now, set the water to boil for the pasta
Next cut the chorizo
Frying pan, medium heat cook the chorizo until beautifully browned
(Is the water boiling yet? Add the spaghetti and cook as directed)
Remove the cooked chorizo, keep the flavorful oil!
Add the scallops to the frying pan with the chorizo oil and cook
Remove the scallops, keep the flavorful oil!
 |
| Add back just before pasta is done |
When the pasta is just about done, turn up the heat on the frying pan to medium again
Add the chorizo and scallops back to the pan and move to the side so you can add the pasta
Drain the pasta and add to the frying pan
Drain & plate broccoli
Toss and turn the pasta in the frying pan, a few strands will get crispy while absorbing that fabulous color!
Enjoy!
Fifi
Day Trip: Biot, France
Biot (pronounced: bee-OH) is a lovely, tiny hilltop (what else!) town famous for glassworks. Glass blowing in fact; for glassware, plates, bowls, pitchers, lamps, vases etc... The town has been around over 2500 years! http://www.visit-biot.com/
Our "day trip" to Biot was a spontaneous one, an "after lunch" car ride to be exact - we live only a few minutes away! As I described, Biot is a hilltop village and the car ride up the winding streets is quite steep at certain points, but the vistas from there are amazing! Parking the car takes some skill, because all the parking is on the road going back down via a back lane. Undaunted, and our little car being just that, little, we found a spot at the very end of the car park! Now the short walk up to town is always a very good stretch of the legs because the incline is very steep and you feel your lunch calories burning away. (Many years ago, we could not find village parking and had to drive down to the parking area below the village; we climbed stair after stair, hill after hill and still more stairs - this in a pair of flip-flops and while toting two little ones along!)
We visit Biot often not only because it is nearby, but because it is quaint and charming. We always visit the church at the end of a pebble stone road and for the past few years has been undergoing restoration, section by section. Our recent visit revealed a lovely church - beautiful, simple and filled with a calming peacefulness.
Read more: http://www.visit-biot.com/discover/historical-heritage/monuments-sites/church-sainte-marie-madeleine
We'd been walking a bit, stopping to browse in the shops, looking over menus for future lunches and admiring the glassworks that we worked up a thirst! A refreshing glass of rose is always a welcome treat - any village, any town anywhere in France! Fifi
 |
| Museum with collection of ceramic jars dating back 800 years. |
 |
| The peaceful church of St. Marie Madeleine |
Read more: http://www.visit-biot.com/discover/historical-heritage/monuments-sites/church-sainte-marie-madeleine
We'd been walking a bit, stopping to browse in the shops, looking over menus for future lunches and admiring the glassworks that we worked up a thirst! A refreshing glass of rose is always a welcome treat - any village, any town anywhere in France! Fifi
 |
| Does that table have your name on it? |
Monday, July 14, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Berlin: Helpful Links
Here are some links to the places referenced in the Berlin blog:
Berlin Hilton: http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/berlin/hilton-berlin-BERHITW/index.html
Sanssouci Park: http://www.potsdam-tourism.com/detail/id/10215/theme/a-z.html
Museum Island (Pergamon): http://www.berlin.de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/museumsinsel/index.en.php
Fassbender & rausch (chocolates!): https://www.fassbender-rausch.de/
KaDeWe (largest department store in Europe): http://www.kadewe.de/en/the_kadewe/
St. Nicholas Church: http://www.visitberlin.de/en/spot/nikolaikirche-stadtmuseum-berlin
Chicago Williams BBQ: http://chicagowilliamsbbq.de/galerie/
Berlin Parliament Building/Reichstag: http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/visits
CheckPoint Charlie Museum: http://www.mauermuseum.de/index.php/en/berlin-wall-exhibiton
Bridge of Spies: http://coldwarsites.net/country/germany/the-glienicke-bridge-or-bridge-of-spies-berlin
Fifi
Berlin Hilton: http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/berlin/hilton-berlin-BERHITW/index.html
Sanssouci Park: http://www.potsdam-tourism.com/detail/id/10215/theme/a-z.html
Museum Island (Pergamon): http://www.berlin.de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/museumsinsel/index.en.php
Fassbender & rausch (chocolates!): https://www.fassbender-rausch.de/
KaDeWe (largest department store in Europe): http://www.kadewe.de/en/the_kadewe/
St. Nicholas Church: http://www.visitberlin.de/en/spot/nikolaikirche-stadtmuseum-berlin
Chicago Williams BBQ: http://chicagowilliamsbbq.de/galerie/
Berlin Parliament Building/Reichstag: http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/visits
CheckPoint Charlie Museum: http://www.mauermuseum.de/index.php/en/berlin-wall-exhibiton
Bridge of Spies: http://coldwarsites.net/country/germany/the-glienicke-bridge-or-bridge-of-spies-berlin
Fifi
Friday, July 11, 2014
Travel: BERLIN
Berlin - a city synonymous with World War II, the "wall" and center for the reunification of Germany. And that was exactly what I saw in a day trip several years ago while on a cruise. One day: one view of Berlin, one view of Germany. Fast forward several years later and I have the opportunity to revisit Berlin - this time with a friends, over a long weekend and with a renewed interest in this capital city. Having visited several other cities, towns and villages throughout Germany, this would be the city with the greatest intrigue: history and politics (old and new). It did not disappoint - in fact, it left me wanting to learn more. Berlin will be on the short list of places to return.
Arrived to Schonefeld Airport, the smaller of the two airports serving Berlin - this was the East German airport serving East Berlin. A friendly taxi driver greeted us and off we went to the Hilton at the city center.
We started our first full day with a delightful walk past monuments, landmarks and churches. We came upon St. Nicholas Church, destroyed in WW2, rebuilt by East Germany in the mid 1980s and the center of passionate Sunday sermons calling for a unified Germany...imagine standing room only to hear these "sermons". Afterwards, a stroll to Museum Island and a visit to the Pergamon Museum to see the exquisite reconstruction of the Gates of Ishtar (about 575 BC by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II). Spectacular.
A lunch, another walk listening to our friends explain as we went along. (One of our friends lived in West Berlin for many years before the wall came down.) The time passed quickly not realizing we must have covered several miles! Later than evening, dinner at Chicago Williams BBQ. (You can assume correctly there is a huge American influence in Berlin!) Next day was an even more exciting day: a walk to Checkpoint Charlie (where East met West). We went through the museum there - that was an education. Every child should learn about the history of Berlin post WW2, including the building of the wall and it's eventual tear down. The photographs, the accompanying stories and artifacts really brought a "face" to the history lessons we learned in school.
That evening, 4th of July, we are attending an open air concert. The host of the show is half American, half Canadian and sings a lovely rendition of God Bless America - it brought tears to my eyes. The show went on and it was fabulous - all female entertainers from opera to samba to contemporary pop. The US Embassy was holding a huge party at park elsewhere in Berlin...by invitation only???
Following day a trip to Potsdam...a drive over the Glienicke Bridge aka "The Bridge of Spies" used by the Americans and Soviets during the Cold War for the exchange of spies. The real destination of the day was the Sanssouci Palace, summer residence of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. The tour was amazing and the acres of landscaped gardens were fantastic. Pictures cannot do it justice, but I tried (see video).
Our last day started very early; we had a scheduled tour of the Reichstag (Parliament Building). The glass sphere over the chambers, with its inclined walkway provided a fabulous 360 degree view of Berlin. Panoramic vistas of the city included large open green spaces, looking over rooftops to the winding river below, architectural marvels both old and new and building cranes everywhere - a testament to the ever changing face that is Berlin.
Enjoy the (long) video!
Fifi
Arrived to Schonefeld Airport, the smaller of the two airports serving Berlin - this was the East German airport serving East Berlin. A friendly taxi driver greeted us and off we went to the Hilton at the city center.
We started our first full day with a delightful walk past monuments, landmarks and churches. We came upon St. Nicholas Church, destroyed in WW2, rebuilt by East Germany in the mid 1980s and the center of passionate Sunday sermons calling for a unified Germany...imagine standing room only to hear these "sermons". Afterwards, a stroll to Museum Island and a visit to the Pergamon Museum to see the exquisite reconstruction of the Gates of Ishtar (about 575 BC by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II). Spectacular.
A lunch, another walk listening to our friends explain as we went along. (One of our friends lived in West Berlin for many years before the wall came down.) The time passed quickly not realizing we must have covered several miles! Later than evening, dinner at Chicago Williams BBQ. (You can assume correctly there is a huge American influence in Berlin!) Next day was an even more exciting day: a walk to Checkpoint Charlie (where East met West). We went through the museum there - that was an education. Every child should learn about the history of Berlin post WW2, including the building of the wall and it's eventual tear down. The photographs, the accompanying stories and artifacts really brought a "face" to the history lessons we learned in school.
That evening, 4th of July, we are attending an open air concert. The host of the show is half American, half Canadian and sings a lovely rendition of God Bless America - it brought tears to my eyes. The show went on and it was fabulous - all female entertainers from opera to samba to contemporary pop. The US Embassy was holding a huge party at park elsewhere in Berlin...by invitation only???
Following day a trip to Potsdam...a drive over the Glienicke Bridge aka "The Bridge of Spies" used by the Americans and Soviets during the Cold War for the exchange of spies. The real destination of the day was the Sanssouci Palace, summer residence of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. The tour was amazing and the acres of landscaped gardens were fantastic. Pictures cannot do it justice, but I tried (see video).
Our last day started very early; we had a scheduled tour of the Reichstag (Parliament Building). The glass sphere over the chambers, with its inclined walkway provided a fabulous 360 degree view of Berlin. Panoramic vistas of the city included large open green spaces, looking over rooftops to the winding river below, architectural marvels both old and new and building cranes everywhere - a testament to the ever changing face that is Berlin.
Enjoy the (long) video!
Fifi
Monday, July 7, 2014
Recipe: Broccoli Soup
This has got to be the easiest & fastest soup to make! We'd just arrived home and needed to make a light meal...not much available but just enough to prepare this delicious soup! The potato thickens the soup, the shallots add a subtleness and the blue cheese, well, that is the surprise "pop" of flavor! Wow!
What I used for 2 servings:
1 bag of frozen broccoli florets (just about a pound)
3 shallots
1 medium potato (peeled, and cut into medium sized chunks)
Salt & Pepper
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Wedge of Blue Cheese (you can use Gorgonzola) (you can use crumbled blue or Gorgonzola cheese)
In a large pot, salt the water and bring to boil.
Cut the potato, dice the shallots
When the water is boiling, add potato chunks and continue to gently boil
Take out bag of frozen broccoli florets (or cut up fresh head of broccoli)
Add olive oil to a small frying pan, medium heat, add shallots
Cook shallots until tender - remove from heat, set aside
Add broccoli to boiling water (with the potatoes)
Boil for about 4 minutes - until potato & broccoli are just soft (not mushy)
Drain potato & broccoli BUT RESERVE SOME OF THE WATER
(it has lots of vitamins and we'll need some!)
In a blender, or in a bowl using an emulsifier, add the potatoes, broccoli and shallots
Add about 1/2 cup of the reserved water, salt & pepper to taste - puree it all together.
If too thick, add small amounts of water - be careful not to make it "runny"!
Return the puree soup to stove top and reheat (it should not need much time at all)
Serve into two bowls
Garnish with a thin wedge of blue cheese (or Gorgonzola); crumbled blue cheese works well, too
Enjoy!
Fifi
What I used for 2 servings:
1 bag of frozen broccoli florets (just about a pound)
3 shallots
1 medium potato (peeled, and cut into medium sized chunks)
Salt & Pepper
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Wedge of Blue Cheese (you can use Gorgonzola) (you can use crumbled blue or Gorgonzola cheese)
In a large pot, salt the water and bring to boil.
Cut the potato, dice the shallots
When the water is boiling, add potato chunks and continue to gently boil
Take out bag of frozen broccoli florets (or cut up fresh head of broccoli)
Add olive oil to a small frying pan, medium heat, add shallots
Cook shallots until tender - remove from heat, set aside
Add broccoli to boiling water (with the potatoes)
Boil for about 4 minutes - until potato & broccoli are just soft (not mushy)
Drain potato & broccoli BUT RESERVE SOME OF THE WATER
(it has lots of vitamins and we'll need some!)
In a blender, or in a bowl using an emulsifier, add the potatoes, broccoli and shallots
Add about 1/2 cup of the reserved water, salt & pepper to taste - puree it all together.
If too thick, add small amounts of water - be careful not to make it "runny"!
Return the puree soup to stove top and reheat (it should not need much time at all)
Serve into two bowls
Garnish with a thin wedge of blue cheese (or Gorgonzola); crumbled blue cheese works well, too
Enjoy!
Fifi
 |
| Potato & Shallots |
 |
| Frozen Broccoli Florets |
 |
| Garnish with blue cheese |
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