An Italian Classic: Tomato & Mozzarella Salad

Tomato & Mozzarella salad... An Italian classic, need we say more? Its simplicity is luring! So many people think simple is heading off to buy some take out from the local 'chip shop'.

Well I am here to tell you that this is not the case! This dish is tasty, yes.. But also quite healthy! Yeah I know your eating a whole mozzarella ball (YUM!). But isn't it better than scoffing on a 'Big Mac' or ' Taco Frie'?! I think so...

So this little beauty is easy to make. Having fresh basil is essential. It will leave a fresh taste and make you want more and more when it's finished! It literally takes 10-20 minutes to make and leaves you feeling yummy inside.So get your chef aprons out and start cooking a storm of Italian freshness!

PS... If your in a stinker of a mood, the tomato crushing works a treat ;)

Per person
1 mozzarella ball
6 cherry tomatoes
3 basil leafs
Sea salt
Coarse ground pepper
Olive oil

Method

o   Wash tomatoes & dry with a tea towel.

o   Cut the beautiful cherry tomatoes in half & add to a mixing bowl.

o   Add sea salt and coarse ground pepper to the mixing bowl.

o   With all your might, squeeze and squish the tomatoes! (We want the sweet juicy flavour!) When you see a pool of water you know your up for a delicious snack!

o   Leave the tomatoes on the counter top to rest for about 20 – 30 minutes: this allows for the juices to mix together.

o   Wash basil leafs and carefully tare into little pieces.

o   Drain the mozzarella and dry with a piece of kitchen paper.

o   Cut into 1cm slices or slightly bigger or smaller, depending on your liking.

o   Plate up the mozzarella.

o   Go back to the tomatoes and give them a mix. Add the pieces of basil and mix together.

o   Plate the tomatoes just beside the mozzarella.

o   Sprinkle sea salt and coarse ground pepper over the mozzarella.

o   Drizzle olive oil over the dish.

o   Scatter ‘helicopter basil leafs’ and neatly arrange basil leafs over the creamy mozzarella.

To serve

Break off a piece of your favourite bread, tuck in & don't forget to suck up all those precious juices ;)

Bon appetito!

Bella :) x 

Bolognaise - French Style !

This is a beautiful little dish, know worldwide. It's delightfully scrumptious. Comforting!

This French style recipe is surprisingly good. I had it a couple of weeks ago and ordered it again today! With a bit of courage I asked the French chef to give me the recipe... To my surprise he was more than willing!

The owner of the restaurant asked it I wanted the chef to show me how to prepare the dish at my place or his... Laughing like no tomorrow, I said the recipe would be enough!

Elbows plumped on stainless steel counter tops we laughed and shared cooking tips. With a scruffy order docket book I took down 'his beauty' - Des Pates Bolognaise!



French Style Bolognaise:

Ingredients -

500 grams minced beef
1 can tomatoes
1 onion
Tsp Provencal herbs
Handful fresh basil
2 garlic cloves
Tbsp white sugar
Tsp salt
Tsp pepper
Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method -

1. Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a big frying pan.
2. Add the onions and fry until soft and translucent.
3. Add the 500 grams of minced beef and fry until completely brown.
4. Add the can of tomatoes and mix well with the beef mince.
5. At this stage you can add the Provencal herbs and mix thoroughly.
6. Finely chop the fresh basil and scatter over the beef mixture.
7. Mix the beef every now and then.

This goes great with spaghetti or tagliatelle.

Feeds - 4 people

Serve with freshly grated Parmesan and fresh basil leafs.



Also if your feeling cheeky and having a lazy day in the sun, why not add a glass or two of white wine? Chilled of course... ;) 

Bon appetite!

Bella :) x

Typical day at the Boulangerie

One of the best Boulangerie's is literally 1 minute away from where we live. It's a typical Frenchie bakery with fantastic bread, cakes and sunny people. On leisurely days off this place is my 'it spot'.

A simple espresso with a delightful taste of the freshest croissants and a chocolaty 'pain au chocolat' was the order of the day. It seriously wakes me up and puts a genuine smile on my face!




Sitting peacefully watching the French hustle bustle go by was soothing. An ordinary man chooses a 'cafe americano' with a light bite and joined the tiny terrace in front of the Boulangerie.

This was my opportunity to take some quality photos and of course have some fun! He was a natural! And even though I took a few photos, only one sufficed to be fit for the post today!

 

Bread: Should I get started?! 'French baguettes' are the bees knees in the 'bread world'. My preference = the 'Ceraine', the king of all breads in this particular family run Boulangerie. It is delicious. Crunchy. Wholesome. The seeds interwoven throughout the entire loaf give me a Funny... Happy... Sensation. If you want to go all out why not add some 'Comte' cheese and nibble with contentment? ;)

Stacking finished coffee cups and messing with my little camera was essential. Being playful at 10am is a fresh typical starting day for Bella! Passer bys looked on with smiles. Obviously thinking I was a tourist, yet not knowing that I've been living here for months and have just bought a new camera, I laughed on!!

Much love et bonne soiree!

Bella :) x

Premier blog about the zest and life of a French countryside market

Coeur de Boeuf tomatoes baby

Welcoming... 

Bella O'Keeffe Supiana to step forward with her first ever blog post!

Exciting, yes! Nervous, yes!

Here we go... On y va...

Living in the south of France is 'la creme de la creme' in a foodies world. Food is the very essence of social encounters, bringing people from different working lives together to share a glass of rose after a blissful 'dejuner'.

French markets give me a colourful buzzy feeling. You can't imagine how fresh the produce is until you see it, smell it and touch it for yourself. The different colours jump from the hand woven baskets and plastic carts. The presentation is simple. Vendors effortlessly create a piece of art for the food lovers eye.

The picture on the top left illustrates 'Coeur de boeuf' tomatoes. Just look at them! Aren't they lush?! The intense colour and smell almost knocked me out. The price tag says 'look at me' or in frenchie terms 'ACHETEZ - MOI'!! The French sun allows for the best tasting vegetables in the world.

So What Can You Expect At A French Countryside Market?

Fresh carrots

1. Plenty of local, fresh produce
2. The odd flirt here and there if you allow yourself to get involved in the rhythm of French madness
3. An overly confident French man who gets the crowd going and criticises everyone elses produce 'mais... c'est une blague' (it's only a joke!)
4. Local restaurateurs buying their bits and bobs for the lunch menu
5. People walking around in shorts and tank tops
6. Funny little baskets to weigh the goods
7. Playful vendors with passion oozing out of them
8. Huge old cooking pans

Fried potatoes - French style

A French market has so much up for grabs! It can be the most enjoyable moment in a day for me and even turn into a very educational hour or so. It can teach you a lot about a countries culture and people. Look on the right... Are you thinking of what I'm thinking?? Yes??...

Woooohooo!!!

When I saw these potatoes they had to be tried. Some are slightly burnt but somewhat edible! However, the taste is incredible... 1cm thick sliced potatoes tossed in a paprika and olive oil dressing, fried with smokey bacon and onions. The name: Bliss In A Pan!

Cheeky meat & fried potatoe vendor

It's taken me a couple of visits to be able to handle the 'in your face', attention seeking vendor. The advice: smile, play along, have fun and get them to smile with you!

If you ever happen to be in south France, make it your business to get to a food market in Provence- Fayence to be precise!

Much love
Bella x