Elegant Vegetable Soup

>Crème Fraîche

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Crème Fraîche

This Recipe Makes Two Cups

With a taste reminiscent of hazelnuts and a hint of tanginess, crème fraîche is France’s favourite form of cream for use in cookery.

With enhanced body and more complex flavours than fresh sweet cream, crème fraîche is a thick, rich concoction with a custard-like consistency.

Ingredients:

Two tablespoons of cultured buttermilk, preferably full-fat

Two cups of heavy cream

Combine the buttermilk and cream in a saucepan and heat till just before boiling. Pour the mixture into a clean glass bowl or jar. Partially cover and let stand at room temperature for eight hours, or until thickened. Stir and refrigerate at least 24 hours before using. The crème fraîche will keep for about two weeks in the refrigerator. I like to chill and then whip it, so that it becomes thick like Devon cream.

~~©M-J de Mesterton 2006

Elegant Purple Cabbage Salad

Red or purple cabbage, sliced thinly and mixed with feta cheese, yellow tomatoes, olive oil, vinegar, cilantro and salt makes an elegant salad. I grew this purple cabbage and the yellow pear tomatoes. It is best to let this dressed salad sit at room temperature for at least an hour, so that the cabbage softens a little.

©M-J de Mesterton

>Elegant Purple Cabbage Salad

>

Red or purple cabbage, sliced thinly and mixed with feta cheese, yellow tomatoes, olive oil, vinegar, cilantro and salt makes an elegant salad. I grew this purple cabbage and the yellow pear tomatoes. It is best to let this dressed salad sit at room temperature for at least an hour, so that the cabbage softens a little.

©M-J de Mesterton

Baby Beet, Steamed and Dressed

This home-garden-grown baby beetroot was washed, steamed for five minutes, then dressed with olive oil and a few drops of balsamic vinegar. The root, bulb and leaves were consumed by your faithful editor. Grown in soil with only kitchen compost as a fertiliser, and no pesticides, this exquisite, nutritious beet was part of a health-promoting luncheon.

©M-J de Mesterton

Baby Beet, Steamed and Dressed

This home-garden-grown baby beetroot was washed, steamed for five minutes, then dressed with olive oil and a few drops of balsamic vinegar. The root, bulb and leaves were consumed by your faithful editor. Grown in soil with only kitchen compost as a fertiliser, and no pesticides, this exquisite, nutritious beet was part of a health-promoting luncheon.

©M-J de Mesterton

>Baby Beet, Steamed and Dressed

>

This home-garden-grown baby beetroot was washed, steamed for five minutes, then dressed with olive oil and a few drops of balsamic vinegar. The root, bulb and leaves were consumed by your faithful editor. Grown in soil with only kitchen compost as a fertiliser, and no pesticides, this exquisite, nutritious beet was part of a health-promoting luncheon.

©M-J de Mesterton

>Baby Beet, Steamed and Dressed

>

This home-garden-grown baby beetroot was washed, steamed for five minutes, then dressed with olive oil and a few drops of balsamic vinegar. The root, bulb and leaves were consumed by your faithful editor. Grown in soil with only kitchen compost as a fertiliser, and no pesticides, this exquisite, nutritious beet was part of a health-promoting luncheon.

©M-J de Mesterton