In the Kitchen at Design Sponge
Small and simple events in life suffice to make us happy, and it is a good thing. Being contacted by Kristina, an editor from Design Sponge, was one. Their website is eye-candy… a wonderful trove of design ideas.
“Moi ? Really?”
“One of their editors wants to feature my blog on their site,” I told P. excitingly only a few minutes after I received Kristina’s email.
I mean, how funny it was for me to think about it when I acknowledged to Kristina that I was in fact a huge fan of Design Sponge.
Kristina asked for one original recipe. I gave her two: I was just too excited. In fact, I chose to share what is my typical lunch fare — soup and mini cakes. But if you have been following me in my kitchen, you already know this.
If you are interested in seeing the recipes, check for the full article by following this link. The recipes are the Dark Chocolate Pistachio and Nut Muffin I had already showed you some time ago, and a two vegetable bicolor soup. When you cannot choose one vegetable in your soup, why not have two instead, and eat them together in the same bowl?
Many thanks to Kristina and Design Sponge again for this super chouette honor and the great write-up! They made my day!
Have a nice week-end everyone! A la semaine prochaine !
- 7 Tbsp butter, soft + for the molds
- 1/2 cup blond cane sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk, 2%
- 1/2 cup quinoa flour (80 g)*
- 1/2 cup amaranth flour (60 g)*
- 1/2 cup brown rice flour (80 g)*
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 oz chopped dark chocolate, 64 % cocoa
- 1/3 cup green shelled unsalted pistachios
- 1/4 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 Tbsp poppy seeds
*These can be found in organic stores; they can also be substituted for all-purpose flour.
Steps:
- Preheat your oven at 350 F.
- Grease six muffin molds, or paper molds.
- Chop the chocolate coarsely; set aside.
- Chop the pistachios and pecans coarsely; set aside.
- Place the flours, salt and baking powder in a bowl; set aside.
- If you have a stand mixer, place the butter and sugar in the bowl and work until the batter is smooth and creamy, light in color (or do it by hand).
- Add the eggs, one by one, waiting that the previous one is well incorporated before adding the next. Add the milk and mix.
- Add the dry ingredients slowly while beating. Mix only until everything is well incorporated.
- Fold in the chocolate, nuts and poppy seeds.
-
Divide the batter between the molds, about 3/4 full each.
Bake for about 30 min, or until the blade of a knife comes out dry when inserted.
Remove and let rest for a few min before unmolding on a rack.
These muffins keep for a few days but are even better eaten the first day.
The white soup, potato soup:
- 1 lb potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 sunchoke, peeled and diced
- ½ fennel bulb
- 1 celery branch
- 1 shallot, peeled and chopped
- Water to cover, or homemade vegetable broth (see recipe here)
- 1 sprig of thyme
- Salt and pepper
- 3 Tbsp crème fraîche
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 Tbsp olive oil + dash to serve
- Fleur de sel
The green soup, pea soup:
- 1 cup green peas (11 oz) (frozen or fresh)
- 1 sunchoke, peeled and diced
- 1 small broccoli head (about 3 oz), diced
- ½ bulb fennel, diced
- 1 celery branch, diced
- 1 shallot, peeled and chopped
- Water to cover, or homemade vegetable broth (see recipe here)
- 1 sprig of thyme
- Salt and pepper
- 3 Tbsp crème fraîche
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 Tbsp olive oil + dash to serve
- Fleur de sel
Steps:
- Prepare the two soups following the same steps. Take a large thick-bottomed pot and heat the oil on medium heat. Add the shallot and cook without browning (about 1 min).
- Add the chopped vegetables and cook for 5 min on medium to low heat. Cover with broth or water. Simmer covered for 20 min, until fork tender.
- Stop the heat and mix with a blender. Add the cream and mix. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- To serve, place a small ring mold inside a soup bowl and pour one soup outside the ring, the other inside. Remove the ring. Serve with freshly chopped parsley, a dash of olive oil and fleur de sel sprinkled on top.
Accompany with tartines (slices of whole grain bread with various toppings of your choice, equivalent to open faced sandwiches).
28 Comments »
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Wonderful choices and congratulations!
Comment by Peter G — On February, 29th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
congratulations! that is so exciting!
Comment by Jaime — On February, 29th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Oh I do wish I could have that for dinner tonight. That would be perfect for one tonight.
Congratulations on the write up! It’s a grand article!
Comment by MyKitchhenInHalfCups — On February, 29th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Hi!
I just adore your blog and have found it inspirational! I always covet your cooking pans and wee pots (as above) and can never find them. It would be really thrilling if you’d post your sources, well, any in North America or web-accessible. I realize you get a lot of your equipment in France.
Comment by M McLean — On February, 29th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I’m always so inspired when I visit your site. When I’m here, It’s like a breath of fresh air. Everything is so fresh and beautiful. I’m going to hang out for a while more…
Comment by White On Rice Couple — On March, 1st, 2008 at 12:27 am
Beatrice,
This is absolutely fantastic. I would do ANYTHING, but seriously anything to have that muffin and a cup of, I believe it’s, hot chocolate
Beautiful presentation as always.
Comment by Tea — On March, 1st, 2008 at 12:38 am
love your photos, so bright and cheery!
Comment by kat — On March, 1st, 2008 at 12:58 am
C’est fou comme une belle photo peut magnifier le sujet. Ce chocolat il ne lui manque que l’arôme.
Comment by Vanille — On March, 1st, 2008 at 1:46 am
Great! Your pictures are always breathtakingly beautiful and colorful!
Cheers,
Rosa
Comment by Rosa — On March, 1st, 2008 at 4:17 am
your pictures look really pretty, congratulations
Comment by matylda — On March, 1st, 2008 at 4:18 am
That is fantastic. I am a huge fan of Design Sponge also so I’m excited to hear that you will be featured there! You so deserve it!
Comment by Aran — On March, 1st, 2008 at 5:11 am
En voilà un super projet!
Comment by Flo Bretzel — On March, 1st, 2008 at 5:28 am
Bea~ so bright soup~
yummy~
Comment by YOYO Cooking — On March, 1st, 2008 at 8:53 am
design sponge is a great site…glad I found it thru your blog. And your blog so fits the website…very stylish and beautiful.
Comment by veron — On March, 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Il y a toujours une belle imagination féerique dans tes belles photos…C’est en couleur tendresse..j’adore et j’adore…Bon dimanche Béatrice…
Comment by Eleonora — On March, 1st, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I was SO excited to see this on Design Sponge–two of my favorite sites, united! You are so stylish!
Comment by Cakespy — On March, 1st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I’m happy for you Bea! You trully deserve it!
Comment by Lore — On March, 1st, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Bea, it is your site that’s eye candy! and where do you get your cute spoons? are they glass?
Comment by connie — On March, 2nd, 2008 at 11:22 am
C’est juste completment craquant, pas seulement la mousse sur le chocolat, mais les renoncules, tout quoi.
Comment by gracianne — On March, 3rd, 2008 at 6:12 am
I saw you there, Bea! It’s a beautiful participation.
Comment by Patricia Scarpin — On March, 3rd, 2008 at 10:47 am
Ooh Design Sponge and Bea! Perfect combination. Hands down.
Comment by EB — On March, 3rd, 2008 at 11:26 am
It was a great write up indeed! I too love their site and style. The mini cakes look great!
Comment by tartelette — On March, 3rd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
This is such a beautiful blog, a feast for the eyes. I don’t have time to look at everything. But I really feel I must up the ante with my own presentation - mouthwatering!
x x x
Comment by naomi — On March, 4th, 2008 at 5:34 am
Oh Design Sponge is so nice and pretty. Congratulations Bea, you and Design Sponge are absolutely fitting!
Comment by Suzana — On March, 5th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Many many thanks everyone. I really felt honored to be up there. I really dig Design Sponge!
Comment by Béa — On March, 5th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
You have some of the most beautiful photos on the net. Wonderful and inspiring!!
Comment by Chuck — On March, 8th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Ce n’est pas très original, mais je suis en extase devant ces photos. Quelle lumière. Quelles couleurs.
Bravo pour ce bel article chez Design Sponge.
Comment by La Mangue — On March, 10th, 2008 at 4:53 am
I like your new template picture :), very pretty!
Comment by Sophie A — On March, 11th, 2008 at 10:38 am