Archive for August, 2008


Mood Enhancer

Sunshades On Queens Wharf

I was supposed to publish a post regarding architecture today, I mean it’s what I planned. But I changed my mind, when I came back home this afternoon. I spontaneously wanted to share my seaside walk !

After the lunch with Paprika on the city-to-sea bridge, I strolled for two hours to enjoy the fine weather ! No wind and a dazzling sun ! Paprika remind me that it was only raining for three days in a row. It’s true, in Paris, you can have one full week under the ‘grisaille‘ specially during winter…

I was not the only one to enjoy this bright weather. It looked like all Wellington came to meet on the seaside ! Everywhere people were sit down, chatting, eating but mostly sunbathing !

Later, walking on Clyde wharf, I stumbled upon Rona, moored in the marina. A superb 19th century yacht with an elegant line. I really like this type of boat. It reminds me Auckland last summer when we were on board of this tall ship Soren Larsen for the parade of sail !

Rona’s deck

After 120 minutes of non-stop walking I started to feel my feet and decided finally to go home, filled with good mood !

The stroll would not have been complete without gulls ! They are always there…and I like them !

La suite en français…

En Dents de Scie…

I hope Sylvie was right when she said that blooming magnolia is the sign Spring is coming, cause the weather is checkered…

Last Thursday, in the morning, everything (or almost everything) was covered with a thin skin of ice ! Neighbors roof, plants and deck handrail was like a long white stripe. Temperature went down to 4°C in the night, but the ice quickly vanished under the sunbeam.

Last Saturday, the weather was so mild and sunny that Paprika and I were sunbathing on the deck, feeling like Summer… Just missing a barbecue !

And yesterday, at the end of the afternoon, it was like in Baudelaire poem: Spleen. ‘ When the low, heavy sky weighs like a lid‘… The fog brought a mysterious feeling erasing the surrounding hills outline.

And what about today ?! Today, it’s raining and windy !

And I can’t explain why my mood has been like this versatile weather these last days…

La suite en français…

Forgive Me or Not…

It’s back to school, or back to work for most of you in the Northern hemisphere.

I’m happy this year, I’m not following the massive French move of vacationers ! Now, everything is upside down.

Anyway, I had homework to do and I just procrastinated, like if I would be on holiday also… So it came back to me, and that’s part of the reason I did not post this week.

I thought these little sweets would be a good way to forgive my lack of post…

These tiny tartlets are easy and quickly made. I did them with the emblematic kiwifruit -Zespri to be more accurate. To balance kiwifruit acidity, I simply made a banana purée.

Useless to say that you can do them with your own favorite or seasonal fruits or do a savory version, for an apéritif.

I was hesitating to post the recipe as I guess everybody have already made tart in his life, but just in case…

Kiwifruit tartlets
For 12 tartlets (6 cm diameter)

Pastry (pâte brisée)
250g flour
120g unsalted butter
2 tbsp caster sugar
60ml water
1tbsp of orange blossom water (to flavor the pastry, but optional)
1 pinch of salt
Filling
2 kiwifruits
1 banana
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar and salt // In a sauce pan melt butter over low fire and let it cool for a while // Pour melted butter in flour, add water and orange blossom water // Knead quickly to combine. Do not over knead // Roll the dough in a ball shape, wrap it with plastic film and store it in the fridge for one hour // Preheat the oven to 200°C // Roll the dough out on a dusted flour surface // Cut 12 discs into the pastry to fill tartlet tins // Prick with a fork the bottom of tartlets // Pour an handful baking beans or dry beans in each tartlet // Bake for 18 minutes // Remove baking beans and cook for 10 more minutes at 175°C // Remove from oven and place on a cooling tray // Peel and mash banana to make a soft purée // Peel and slice kiwifruits // Gently spoon banana purée into cooled tartlet shell and top with a slice of kiwifruit
Printable recipe for kiwifruit tartlets

La suite en français…

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 388 other followers