Grateful

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Rather than wait for the post that I end up not writing because I don’t have the time, or I am too tired (and then I’d rather draw and color with Lulu), I thought I’d write something short with only a few words filled with all of the thoughts I’ve been meaning to share.

Mainly, words to iterate how grateful I feel.

We are two days away from June 21st. The first day of summer.

Do you love it as much as I do?

It’s the time when delicate strawberries and gorgeous looking cherries make their appearance in the garden.

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They are some of favorite things about summer.

This year, my elder berry tree is also blossoming for the first time.

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I still cannot believe that we are so far in the year already. And that in two days, our baby son Rémy will already turn 4 months old.

I am oh so grateful!

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Photo credit, Christina McPherson

The thing is that, this spring, I turned 46.

There is not a single day when I am not feeling overwhelmed with thankfulness at the fact that I was able to grow inside my belly the most exquisite brother for Lulu at 46. The most precious baby for our growing family.

Rémy is our extraordinary miracle baby son.

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I hope you will understand why I have not been able to find time at all to write. As it turns out, I am too tired at night to write.

Words have been piling up inside me though. I just didn’t find the right time and the best manner to express them.

But I just felt like I had to today as the day marked a point in time very special.

I finally completed the edits to my second manuscript. Which means that my second book with Roost Books is now soon to be published. It will be released next spring.

I am really looking forward to get it out for you to explore.

With recipes like these inside.

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So summer…..

Over the coming months, I hope that I will be able to find a new rhythm, between work and family.

Mostly, I want to be able to enjoy our newly formed family, our baby son–as I know he is the last one –and his big sister. Lulu is such an extraordinary sister; 6 years apart between them really serves us well.

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I will be around in July, traveling in August, and resuming more work in the fall. I will start planning new workshops, which I am really excited about.

All of this, I hope to be able to share. I want to come back with new recipes, pictures, stories, and whatever comes in between.

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Thanks for sticking around. I’ve missed writing. But I know it’s just a phase. Another stage of my life.
And right now, it is about enjoying this special baby moment that goes away so fast.

How much I am loving it!

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I feel grateful to live this experience once again.

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Before I head upstairs to bed, I will leave you here with a favorite recipe I’ve been making over and over to stay strong and healthy.

As always, I’ve been cooking a ton. Because feeding my family scrumptious foods always comes first.

I hope you enjoy the food.

I wish you all to be well.

And eat well.

A bientôt !

_D0C5733_BlackQuinoaCroquettes

_D0C5756_Romanesco

_D0C5710Quinoa

Black quinoa croquettes with sweet potato

Makes eight 3-inch croquettes

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 ounces (60 g) kale leaves
  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • Sea salt and pepper
  • 5 1/4 ounces (150 g) grated and peeled sweet potato (or butternut squash or red kuri squash)
  • 1 1/4 cups cooked black quinoa
  • 1 ounce (30 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup (35 g) quinoa flakes
  • 1 tablespoon chopped chives
  • 2 large eggs

Steps:

  • In a frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on medium heat. When warm, add the kale and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute and add 2 tablespoons water (or vegetable stock). Cook for an extra 2 minutes or so, or until the kale has softened. Remove from the pan and chop finely; set aside.
  • In the same pan, add 1 more tablespoon olive oil and add the sweet potato (or squash). Season with salt and pepper and cook on low to medium heat, covered, for 5 minutes, or until soft.
  • In a large bowl, combine the quinoa, kale, sweet potato. Stir in the cheese, quinoa flakes, chives, and eggs. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  • When ready to cook, heat oil in a pan over medium heat. When warm, form small patties and cook on each side for 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned and crispy.
  • Serve with a generous salad on the side, and plain yogurt or sour cream.

65 comments

  1. A beautiful post Bea – gorgeous food, gorgeous family, gorgeous life. Well done.

  2. I’ m so happy for you dear Béa, my best wishes for you and your amazing family!
    Beautiful pictures!…Thank you for the recipe, looking forward for your new book!

  3. Fantastic, beautiful words, waiting for your second book, enjoy your nice family life, regards from The Netherlands😉

  4. You feed my soul. I’m so glad that you had a moment to write, be well, Bea.

  5. Congrats Béa for your little Rémy and for your second book! 🙂

    The first day of summer is kind of bittersweet for me. On one side, YAY SUMMER! 🙂 On the other side, days start getting shorter again – even if at first, it’s imperceptible. And I like nothing more than having daylight until after 10PM 🙂 (at least here in France).

    Looking forward to your next post, whenever it is and whenever you feel up to it 😉 Enjoy those precious family moments.

  6. I was really happy when I saw that you have another baby.Best wishes to you and your family.
    Svetlana

  7. Such a wonderful post! Especially inspiring for me as i too have a miracle baby boy – just 3 months old – and still cant imagine the time to blog! ☺️ Clearly it can be done though 🙂 Beautiful as always!

  8. Béa, quel magnifique billet ! Très émouvant, très pure. Bravo pour avoir terminé l’écriture de ton deuxième livre. Bises.

  9. So nice to “read” you and feel your happiness in this stage. It must be gorgeous to enjoy you’re children, specially when summer is coming. A beautiful time to enjoy at the garden, cooking with fruits and fresh and lovely vegetable.
    I’m glad to here you’re second book is going to be publish soon!! So nice!!
    And I hope sometime you can consider to make a workshop in this southern lands of the world hehehehe
    Wish you the best!

  10. You have a beautiful baby and your pictures are very pleasing to look at. Felicitations.

  11. Wonderful post. Enjoy every moment of this summer and all the summers in your future. I wait patiently for the new book and updates on your busy life.

  12. This is so beautiful Béa!! I’m so happy for you, to find and respect this incredibly new (yet familiar) rhythm of life with your babies…. Congratulations on your new book, I can’t wait to see it!!! Happy Summer!

  13. i hate summer. your sweet baby well that is another, far happier story.
    i will enjoy your family posts and look forward to more comfortable weather.

  14. Oh Bea, I had no idea!! What a lucky woman you are and I anxiously await the next book. LOVE the first one. Enjoy the baby while he still is a baby!!

  15. Thanks for a beautiful post. I had my son when I was 43 – it takes a lot of energy! So I especially appreciate your post today! Congrats!

  16. Congrats! I had just found you in recommendation from a friend in late 2009 around when you released your first book, turned 40, had Lulu. Your recipe for warm leek salad has been a huge favorite with me and my friends always ask for the recipe. Congrats on your new bundle of joy! I look forward to your new book.

  17. Enjoy this beautiful time with your miracle baby, there will be time for blogging later on. Wishing you all the best and a great summer 🙂

  18. Je note la recette! Ça a l’air frais et si bon! Je suis si heureuse pour toi, tu a l’air si épanouie dans ton rôle de jeune maman!

  19. Wow! I remember when you had Lulu….and now this miracle. So very happy for you! Take the time to enjoy it all and blog when time allows…we’ll all be here 🙂

  20. Congratulations! So good to read that you had a safe delivery and that you and your family are doing well. And do please keep posting – even if its irregular! Happy solstice happy summer.

  21. Béa, nous avons tellement de choses en commun. J’ai une petite fille qui va avoir bientôt 4 ans et j’ai aussi eu un petit garçon qui est né le 23 février qui va avoir 4 mois comme Rémy et j’ai 42 ans. Moi aussi je savoure ses moments si précieux. Ça passe tellement vite qu’il faut prendre le temps pour bien en profiter. J’adore te lire et j’ai hâte que nous revienne en force 😉

  22. I always come by here every now and then to see if there is a new post, and so happy to read about your gorgeous son, congratulations! Your photography is stunning, can’t wait for the second book to be in my hand 🙂

  23. Congratulations! I love your pictures, you look so deeply happy! I cant wait for more posts and the book, but for now, enjoy your new family live!
    all the best and love
    rebecca

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  25. Congratulations, Bea! Look forward to your next book and hope to meet Remy one day soon.

  26. Bea! I am so happy for you! Congrats again on your lovely baby. Rémy is just 3 months younger than my precious little boy, Léo. 🙂
    Me too, can’t find time to put up a long overdue post. I guess, I need find really find time soon! Enjoy your time with your little one!

  27. Hi Béa, I was so glad when I got the link to this new post on my mail box. I miss your posts, your pictures, recipes and stories, but in fact I did not expect that you would post frequently, right now you have more important things to do, right?
    You know what I think? I think you are the kind of mother that every child should have the luck to have. It’s something special to see how you love & care for your children.
    Beijos

  28. What to say? Words are just as tasty as your pictures. I can feel the happiness in each word, on each photograph.
    Life is beautiful when we stop and look around, isn’t it?

  29. Congratulations!!!!! wish you lot’s of health, love & happiness……to your whole family……and ton’s of energy to keep showering us with your special touch photos and recipes…….cheers, Sonja

  30. Heartiest congratulations on that sweet boy. I love the deep contentment that shines out of your eyes. You are both so beautiful!

    I adore that pregnancy shot in the snow, what a wonderful skirt! Where did you find it?

    I’m going to make this recipe this weekend, can’t wait! I’ve been looking for the right quinoa patty…

    Enjoy your beautiful family.

  31. Congratulations on your new baby son, your beautiful young daughter, your upcoming book and your lovely photographs! Wow, you have a LOT to be grateful for!

  32. Congratulations Bea, for the baby and the book. Missed your posts. Enjoy your time with baby. They grow up to fast….

  33. Congratulations!
    Rémy – and you – look beautiful. I have really enjoyed your blog and book for some years. I was initially disappointed to check back in and see few new posts – but what a wonderful reason why! I have an 8 month old son, and I can’t imagine how hard it would be to find time to put together the kind of work you do with a baby. I think it’s fantastic that you’re taking the time to enjoy his babyhood with him. All the best for you and your family! Your fascinated audience will still be here when you have time to step back into the limelight. <3

  34. Hi,
    I totally get it. I had my one and only baby when I was 44 years old. I also call him my miracle baby. Amazing, wonderful, challenging, and blessed. Life is good. xo

  35. Hi

    i recieved your book just 3 days back,it is amazing book to have in my kitchen,would you please tell me which camera are you using and which lens?,

  36. Hi Amal, my camera is the Canon 1 D Mark 4. Happy to hear that you like the book! Thank you for the feedback!

  37. So happy to have you back, Bea. I have been checking about once a month, et voila! here you are. Gorgeous photos as usual. Congratulations on your gorgeous son.

  38. Wow!
    Bea, I’ve been reading your blog for over ten years now! and even though we never met I get excited for you every time i read about the milestones in your life. I missed that you had a baby because you’ve been slowing down here and so i stopped coming by as often, but i came to see how you are doing. Such beautiful news. You are an inspiration always. Feel good..

  39. Congratulations Bea on your new born son Remy. Such great news! Yes, it’s been awhile.. for me as well as life is a constant change. I do not blog anymore but will occasionally check in on your and a few other bloggers. Can’t believe Lulu is so big now – remember you being pregnant with her, Enjoy them!

  40. I am so glad you are taking your time with the family. The first months with a new baby are always magic, and they pass way to fast, so I am really, really clapping my hands that you are so aware of it! I am sure we will see a lot of beautiful posts and recipes soon enough again, don’t worry. Everything has it’s time and you are doing great! Profite bien, Béa!

  41. Please let us know if little boys are easier than little girls : )

  42. Susie, I am really lucky as both Lulu and now Rémy are really easy babies. Rémy is very mellow and super happy, always found with a smile! So far, both are equally the same!

  43. I have not visited in a while. What a delightful surprise to see that you have a new little one! Congrats on Remy! Enjoy this new stage of your life. I know that Lulu and Remy are plenty to keep you busy!

    Love the gorgeous photos of all and the recipe, of course!

    Shirley

  44. Always warm my heart read yours posts Bea ahh what nice adventure with your little boyIm sure he is amazing.But I know have a girl and a baby you need time and enjoy this time.
    I adopted my twins at 40 and remember I live this year almost onlt for them!
    Enjoy your time and yours kids.
    Blessings.
    A bientot Bea!
    xo

  45. Bought your book 3 years ago and still want to read it all over again the third times

  46. Congratulations! Can I ask what bassinet you have in that photo? It’s very nice!

  47. Dear Bea! I feel you so much in not having enough time for the blog – but wanting to SO SO much! I’m at the same stage – even without a baby… I was going to read this post when you posted about it on Instagram in June, but somehow I forgot to do so and then came summer… So today I stumbled upon it again and love it so much. Such a joy to have another baby at the age of 46 (!) and to really know how to enjoy time with him and the rest of the family. Such precious moments!

    I really do understand that you don’t have much time for the blog at the moment. But I’m really looking forward to your new book and to see more posts here in the future!

    Love and all the best from Sweden //Sonja

  48. What a great text! 🙂 You are absolutely right, there are so many things you should be happy about, because you are blessed with them. Especially family and friend! Greetings from Meraner Land 🙂

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