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watercress

January 21, 2010

watercress%20soup.jpgJust as I'm taking a break from writing Toute Allure to answer emails from readers, my friend Travis calls. He's on the TGV with - oh joy - six bags of watercress for me. 'It's puffed up my luggage so much that there's no room in my bag for my laptop,' he complains.

Travis is coming out especially for a party on Saturday night - the infamous Disco D'Hiver - that Mitch, a mutual friend is organising in the local salle des fetes. We have all organised ourselves into tables, and each table is responsible for its own decoration, food and wine. I'm doing my signature - some might say predictable - goats cheese and onion tart (thank you Nigel Slater!) with a green salad, while Travis is making beef bourgignon and Anita is rustling up a a dessert. Martine has promised to make - and I'm so looking forward to this - an aperitif that translates as 'champagne soup.'

Most of all however, I'm looking forward to that watercress or cresson, a 'wonder food' that's impossible to find in my region (I'm so hoping some one will contradict me on this). I'll be driving over to Travis's first thing tomorrow morning to pick it up and spending the afternoon rustling up several batches of Liz Hurley's delicious watercress soup. I never ever imagined that the thought of six bags of watercress could make me so happy.

comments (8)

1. Posted by jeannie on January 21, 2010 9:48 PM

Now there's a phrase I didn't expect to read in your blog (or anywhere else for that matter) "Liz Hurley's delicious watercess soup." Model, actress, swimwear designer, organic farmer.....soup creator; is there no end to this woman's talent?! x


2. Posted by mimi pompom on January 21, 2010 9:52 PM

Wow - you are fast off the blocks this evening. I only posted this 30 minutes ago. Seriously this soup is DELICIOUS and so easy - just chuck two lots of watercress, a chopped onion, and a potato into some chicken stock and hey presto.... you have a body just like Liz Hurley's.
Just kidding, but the ratio of effort to result is excellent and it's packed with magnesium and iodine which regulates the thyroid and makes you less hungry (or somthing like that.)

Mimi xx


3. Posted by Jeannie on January 22, 2010 5:51 AM

I've been able to buy this at Super U in Sauzé-Vaussais - you could phone them to order to ensure it will be there


4. Posted by mimi pompom on January 22, 2010 7:29 AM

Dear Jeannie II

that's excellent news. Are you sure it's watercress and not one of the many imposters such as lamb's lettuce or mache that you find on supermarket shelves? There is a Super-U near me in Vivonne, so i might see if they have it.

Mimi


5. Posted by jasmine Cronin on January 23, 2010 4:02 AM

Congratulations on all of your success in writing! I left the UK a year ago, so I hope it comes out in the US soon. And the soup looks divine...New TV show concept? Live from the French countryside?


6. Posted by mimi pompom on January 23, 2010 10:54 AM

Dear Jasmine

thanks for your message. LOVE the idea of 'live from the French countryside' - sort of Martha Stewart in rural France... endless possibilities.Good luck with whatever you are doing in the US.

Mimix


7. Posted by jeannie on January 25, 2010 1:46 PM

Oh my goodness TWO jeannies!!! Imposter!!!! Oh and I made the soup - very nice...now where the heck is my Liz Hurley body?? Will it arrive in the post? ;-)


8. Posted by SYLVIE ARNAUD on February 3, 2010 8:51 PM

Mais oui ma chère! le cresson peut indéniablement vous rendre si heureuse! son goût si incomparable: velouté et à la fin un peu piquant sur la langue... QUEL DELICE! Surtout n'oubliez pas une bonne lampée de crème fraiche qu'on achète sur le marché de Poitiers!

PS je suis poitevine et je viens de m'installer dans le KENT , amusant non?


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