From Ruth Van Waerebeek’s “Everyone Eats Well in Belgium Cookbook.” Don’t be turned off by the unusual name; it’s Dutch in origin (pronounced VAH-ter-zoy); it’s basically a hearty chicken and vegetable soup/stew thing, with a deliciously rich and creamy broth. (I tell the kids that it’s Belgian Chicken Soup, and they love it.) It’s not hard to make at all, and great for entertaining since it can be prepared almost entirely ahead of time.
My mother used to make endive salad (witlof salade) in different ways; I thought I share them with you. She used to use mayonnaise but I usually use the sour cream. I would think you can use your own favorite dressing on this but I would suggest you make it a creamy one. Use as much dressing on this as you like, the 3 tablespoons are just a guide line. I sometimes cheat and buy the beets in a jar! The amount of this salad depends on the size of the endive and the beets.
A springtime treat in France, violet asparagus – gently steamed and then served with hollandaise sauce, divine! All that is needed to accompany this seasonal delicacy is crusty bread and chilled white wine. There are several ways of making this classic French sauce, I give you a very simple method here, and this recipe is well behaved enough to stay warm for up to 30 minutes! There are three types of cultivated asparagus: white, violet and green. The exposure time of asparagus to sunlight determines its colour – under sunlight the white asparagus turns first violet and then green. The cultivation methods applied determine the colour. Green asparagus for example is grown above ground and tastes most similar to the “original” wild asparagus. I like to sprinkle fresh violets from the garden on my asparagus – violets are edible and even if you do not eat them, they make a beautiful garnish! Serves 4 as an appetiser and 2 to 3 as a light meal.
Make and share this Gratin of Brussels Sprouts recipe from Food.com.
Who knew salad ingredients would taste so good grilled? A simple and elegant accompaniment to any dish. This can be prepared on the outdoor grill or easily made up on a stove top grill pan.
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