Friday, January 22, 2010

Food Glorious food!

Meringues with strawberry cream and Muscat or sweet dessert wine jelly.
Strawberry cream ~ place strawberries in a blender and then fold into whipped cream ( makes a lovely pale pink cream)
I have given the meringue recipe on my blog before and the jelly I saw on ~
Trish's Paris Kitchen and made some it was delicious.
Make a jelly with sweet dessert wine and sugar, gelatin and then boil.
Allow to cool and then do the first layer with strawberries and then refrigerate until set.
Then cut up nectarine and I used blueberries or you could add raspberries.
Then refrigerate until set. This not only looks great, but tastes divine.
A little entree of scallops
The view from our deck ~ actually I remember now why this photo was taken... it was just getting towards dusk and there were about 5 wood pigeons in the tree. Maybe if you enlarge the
photo you may be able to see them better.

One of the best things about Summer is to be able to have long leisurely lunch outdoors.
We have been entertaining with family and friends over the holidays.
I love to cook and these are just a few of the food and people photos.

French cheese, terrine, pate and breads ~ we have a gorgeous little French shop, the food is superb.





Blini with herbs, salmon roe and sour cream.

3/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons quick rising dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs separated
2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
2 tablespoons fresh parsley

To assemble
1/2 cup sour cream or creame fraiche
1/2 cup red salmon roe or finely sliced salmon
freshly ground black pepper
flat leaf parsley
butter for cooking blini

In a small saucepan, heat milk and butter over low heat until butter is almost melted, remove from the heat and set aside to allow butter to finish melting and liquid to cool to lukewarm.
Meanwhile combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in food processor and pulse with on/off motion to blend. With motor running pour milk mixture through feed tube into dry ingredients and pulse to blend. Add egg yolks and pulse until well mixed. Transfer batter into a mixing bowl, cover, and set aside in a warm place to rise for about 40 minutes, or until double in bulk.
Heat a griddle or large, heavy frying pan until hot. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold them, along with chives and parsley into the risen batter.
Butter hot griddle just enough to prevent the blini from sticking .
Drop batter by 1/2 tablespoon onto the griddle, spreading it out if necessary to make 1 1/2 -inch rounds. Cook each side for about 40 seconds, adjusting the heat if necessary so that blini brown nicely without burning.
To assemble, spread 3/4 teaspoon sour cream over the top of each blini. Top with 3/4 teaspoon salmon roe and a grind of pepper over the top. Garnish each with a parsley leaf.
Makes 35 Hors D'oeuvres

Have a wonderful weekend
Hugs
Carolyn

48 comments:

  1. Yummy! Carolyn everything looks so fresh and lovely at your home. Love all of the different cheeses. Brie is my favorite. Mmmm...:)

    What beautiful water views as well!

    Blessings, ~Melissa :)

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  2. Hi Carolyn,
    I keep forgetting you are having summer now. Especially since we are having lots of rain, thunder, hail, wind and it is keeping us wet for now! Your party looks divine, what fun you are having. I wish I had more time to cook like that. It all looks so delicious!
    Sharon :-)

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  3. The food looks delicious and the sun looks so nice and warm, how lovely to relax and enjoy it all!!!
    Thanks for the recipe, yummy!!!
    Hugs,
    Margaret B

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  4. Oh Carolyn, Everythings looks just soooooo yummy!!! It's very early in the morning here but I'm getting hungry already:). Thanks for sharing the recipe for the blinis! I saved it. The view from your deck is absolutely gorgeous!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Hugs,
    Julia

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  5. Looks like the best time ever! You are so mean to be showing all this amazing food and I'm totally out of food here at my house. I need to go shopping badly. After all this beautiful food here in your post, it will be sooner than later.
    hugs

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  6. HI Carolyn, oh your food just looks delicious and you have given me some wonderful ideas for this weekend. I have to dinners to cook for - I love cooking too, just need the time, energy and ideas and it is so much better.
    x
    Have a lovely weekend.
    Suzi

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  7. Oh Carolyn, this all looks so YUMMY and to have summer is even better girl...I have a foot of snow right now...Hows your cute bears doing....hope all is well across the pond for you my friend...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  8. Ohhh yummy food Carolyn. Looks superb and I bet it tasted delicious. Have a great weekend. I love the view. don't get that down here in the big smoke. I can usually see the hills but today they're all grey... oh well, thats Welly for ya haha.

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  9. Oh Carolyn...your pictures are lovely! I am dreaming of spring!
    Your food looks so yummy...I love your fruit and meringue...I must try those.

    You are having a wonderful summer, yes? Thank-you for your sweet note.

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Hugs, Nancy

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  10. Wish that it was warm enough to eat outdoors here. The food looks delicious, well done you.

    It almost makes me a little homesick :-)

    Leeann x

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  11. I'm coming over for lunch on the deck. It's not just the food that is glorious -- but that view! Lucky you! I have no doubt the company is equally as wonderful! Blessings, Tammy

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  12. Dear Carolyn,

    I can't take my eyes off those gorgeous pics of such gorgeous food!!

    Off now to the kitchen to try out yr mouthwatering recipes...!!

    Have a great weekend!

    xxxLOLA:)

    PS Hope you've recovered from the shock & awe back at my blog The Johnson Diaries !!x

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  13. Thanks Melissa for your visit.
    Blessings to you.

    Many thanks Sharon.
    The past few days we have had lots of wind and a funny Summer here - maybe global warming.
    The sea has not been very warm so I hope that the Summer warms up soon.

    Hi Margaret,

    The blinis are delicious and are great served with a glass of champagne.
    Many thanks for your visit.

    Thank you Julia for your visit and glad that you liked the recipe ~ they are very yummy.

    Hi June,

    If you were over here, you could come and partake of our food.
    You will be welcome.
    I have loved seeing your snow photos ~ a winter wonderland!

    Hi Suzi,

    Thanks so much for your visit, and good luck with your dinner party.
    As you say takes a lot of time and energy to prepare for having guests over.

    Thanks Gloria ~ all is well here, enjoying the Summer and I have seen a lot of beautiful snow photos around blog land.
    I look forward to coming to visit you.

    Hi Karen,

    How lovely to see your new Avatar photo ~ love the tiara.
    The weather has not been that great up here too.

    Lovely to have your visit Nancy and I enjoyed visiting you today.

    Hi Leeann,

    Thank you for your visit ~ won't be long and you will have Summer there again.
    Look forward to coming to visit you in France soon.

    Hi Tammy,

    If you ever make it to NZ would love you to come and have lunch with us on the deck - you would be more than welcome.

    Dear Lola and Nora,

    Many thanks for your visit.
    Good luck with the recipes and have a wonderful weekend.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  14. Hi Carolyn! Your party looks like it was a lot of fun and the food looks delicious! What an absolutely gorgeous view from your deck! It looks like a nice celebratory meal with festive looking crackers and a crown. :)

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  15. The view from your deck, Carolyn, is gorgeous!! Ah, looking at your photos, family, friends, good food, the sun shining, I'm ready for SUMMER!!

    ((Hugs))

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  16. yum! I am hungry :))
    thanks for sharing these recipes, I will definitely try them!
    oh and what a beautiful view you have, darling!
    have a fabulous weekend, hugs

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  17. Hola darling Carolyn, how nice you share your recipies, everything looks so delicious here, specially from your deck looking to the ocean, a marvelous view from a cozy deck... what could be better???
    Many hugs to you, my friend
    Maria Cecilia

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  18. Hello my dearest, dearest, dearest friend!!!

    ALL IS GOOD!;o)

    GNAMMMMMMMMMM!!!!

    THANKS a lot for your nice comment!!!

    KISSESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. SMACK. NI

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  19. Hi TattingChic,

    There were actually some of the Christmas lunch, with the crown and crackers and then we had two other luncheons, that some friends came around.

    Hi Marsha,

    I hope that your Summer will soon come for you.
    Thanks for your visit.

    Thank you dear Susan and I wish you a wonderful weekend too.

    Many thanks Maria Cecilia, for your visit and your kind message you left. It is wonderful to have a dear friend like you.

    Dear Ni,

    You are one of the sweetest!
    Thank you for your visit, dear friend.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  20. Sounds wonderful.
    I love to see your photographs
    and all you share.
    Love you
    Jeanne

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  21. One word for life at your place on Waiheke Carolyn - idyllic! Everything looks wonderful & I'm sure you are the most fabulous Host.
    Millie ^_^

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  22. Beautiful! The food, the place, the people, all lovely!
    You have a wonderful weekend too!
    Rosemary

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  23. The food looks great and so does the company!
    Now I'm hungry!!! ;-)

    Have a great weekend!
    Anne

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  24. Thanks Jeanne, lovely to have a visit from you.

    Hi Millie,

    I hope that one day, if you and Moth are over in our parts, you might come and have lunch with us.

    Thanks Rosemary and you have a wonderful weekend too.

    Many thanks Anne for your visit and you have a great weekend.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  25. Your photos are wonderful, Carolyn! They are probably the closest I'm ever going to get to New Zealand!
    The meringues and wine gelatin rang a bell...I have a port wine gelatin recipe that is one of my favorites. It's rather sweet and has lots of fruit and almonds in it so I only serve it with whipped cream. Your meringues are lovely little bites of heaven!

    Love seeing your food and family fun!
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  26. Oh Carolyn these pics make me long for Summer! Fresh fruit in season *sigh* that sounds so wonderful...and eating out on the deck!!! It's so dreary here today and the sun is not supposed to come out all weekend...

    Enjoy your beautiful weather and delicious food ~

    :) T

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  27. Everything looks so tasty! It's so funny to see you all enjoying a meal outside in sleeveless tops. It's the middle of winter here, ah the joys of the northern hemisphere! Have a great weekend Carolyn!

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  28. Thank you for your visit Barabara, always great to hear from you.
    I hope that one day you might be able to make it down under for a visit.

    Tracey, I will have to look on when you have Summer and fresh fruit over there. Sorry you have a dreary day without sun, have a wonderful weekend. It is often a good way to get all those inside jobs and crafts done.

    Thank you Sares, for your visit and I hope that you are having a great weekend.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  29. Hi Carolyn. It's been so dreary and wintery here in Northern California. So uplifting to see your picnic! Thank you! Trish

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  30. Carolyn I almost chipped my tooth trying to get to the food.

    Looks delicious.

    xoxo

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  31. the food looks delicious!

    love your blog! :)
    - Audrey Allure <3
    http://audreyallure.blogspot.com

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  32. Thank you Trish, for your visit.
    I hope that your weather brightens up soon.

    Sorry Renee, many thanks for visiting me.

    Hi Audrey,

    Lovely to have a visit from you and I look forward to coming to visit your blog. Thank you.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  33. Hi Carolyn! How wonderful to see your summer-outdoor-photos! It also makes me longing for warmer days when have barbecue in our garden and enjoy the warmth of the sun!!!
    Some days ago I had a thought about "your" winter in NZ ... perhaps you want to answer my question: In "our" wintertime we have Christmas as a fundamental reason to enjoy the cold and dark time; we light candles and prepare presents and so on. And I asked myself if there is some kind of "official celebration" in winter time of NZ, too...
    Sweet Hugs, dear Carolyn, yours Traude

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  34. Dear friend,

    What a delicious food you have cooked!! Yummy!!
    I like so much different cheeses.

    So sunny and warm and relaxing pictures, wonderful photos!!

    I wish you sunny week, too!!

    Big hugs, Marge:))

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  35. Carolyn,
    I love your new header. All that food looks scrumptious. I make a shake for myself daily, frozen strawberries and skim milk. Hmmmmmmmmm. so yummy! I am thinking I will try your recipe too.
    Blessings!
    Gwen

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  36. Dear Traude,

    Where we live, our winters are very mild and we do not ever have snow.
    In winter it is lovely to go down the South Island to Queenstown, where we have been skiing.
    We do have Queens Birthday weekend holiday in June, which is in the winter.

    Dear Marge,

    Many thanks for your visit.
    I am glad that you can not smell these cheeses as one of them was very stinky.
    Have a wonderful week.

    Hi M,

    Thank you for your visit.

    Many thanks for visiting, my blog Gwendolyn.
    A nice strawberry shake is so good for you, I often make them too.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  37. Hello, Carolyn! I had a grand time catching up with you. Sounds like you are enjoying your summer and spending lovely time with friends and family. Your blog header is adorable. Kudos to your daughter!

    Your lunch party is beautiful! What a gorgeous setting, and the food looks incredible. I must admit, I'm such a nervous ninny when it comes to entertaining, and I always cringed when I had to do it. But seeing your photographs makes me think of maybe...just possibly...one day.....

    I hope your health issue is settled and fine. Hugs to you! xoxo

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  38. Thank for your visit, dear Bella.
    Always lovely to hear from you.
    If I can do it ... you can.
    I like to use a recipe and most of the time my food turns out ok.
    I hope that life is going well for you dear friend.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  39. Hi Carolyn!!!! oh wow!!! these photos look wonderful...and that food ...what yummy treats...I will have to try these blinis...yummmmmmmm!!!!

    Hope you have a wonderful day!!!!

    Thank you for checking out my paintings!!! you are so sweet!!!

    Hugs
    Diana

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  40. Oh my everything looks amazing. You are so lucky to be enjoying a lovely meal outside...I am counting down the days until we can do the same. Have a great new week!

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  41. Thank you so much for sharing these photos and these recipes, Carolyn! :)

    I love to cook, as well! I usually cook Chinese food, and I always stock up on fruits!!!! So all these pictures made my mouth water!!!! :) :)

    I love that little deck you've got there!!!!! :)

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  42. You may design bears ... but you have a talent for food too!
    I loved visiting your blog!
    I was reading an article this morning about a New Zealander who lives in France, in the Loire, and produces a wine called Kiwi Cuvee ... the Asutralians did not appreciate because they said it could make the consummers belive it was from New Zealand. So I felt I had to try some New Zealand wine!
    Cheers.

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  43. Can I say GORGEOUS and OH SO YUMMY! LOVE THIS POST!!!
    Toma

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  44. Yummmm-the food looks scrumptious! Wow, the view from your porch is glorious! It looks like everyone is having a great time eating and enjoying the lovely weather:).

    Blessings,

    Kim

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  45. Thanks Diana, I have enjoyed seeing your talent ... with a painting a day.
    You have been so busy and I love your work.

    thank you Koralee and I hope that you have a wonderful week.

    Hi Charity,

    Thank you for your visit.
    I enjoy Chinese food too and I am sure that you are a wonderful cook.

    Hi Laura,

    Many thanks for your visit.
    It was great to discover your blog and to see life for you, in Paris.
    I love Paris.

    Thank you Toma, always great to have a visit from you.

    Hi Kim,

    Yes, it was a pleasant time when friends come by and we can enjoy some good food and company.
    The weather has been great so makes for an even better day.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  46. Glorious food indeed. Hmmmmmm.... Yummy!!!

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  47. Thanks Fe, for your visit.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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Thank you so much for visiting Draffin Bears.
It always makes me happy to read your comments
and I look forward to visiting you.


Carolyn xx