Quinoa for breakfast? Really??

Yes I was dubious too, BUT I thought I'd give it a go and actually it was surprisingly delicious - and filling too. The test will be whether I get the 11am munchies!

Have a go - makes a change from porridge and quinoa is higher in protein and all sorts of other goodness. Low GI too so it should keep me feeling full and energetic until lunchtime.

Recipe:
35g quinoa (dry weight) - doesn't look like much when you weight it out, but trust me it expands!
1/4 galia melon (or any other fruit you like)
100g natural or low-fat Greek yogurt
4 cardamon pods
1 cinnamon stick

Place the quinoa in a pan with the cardamon and cinnamon stick and cover with boiling water. Bring to the boil and then simmer for around 15-20 minutes until all of the water is absorbed. Removed the cinnamon stick and burst the cardamon pods so that you can mix the seeds into your quinoa.
Leave for a few minutes to cool and top with fruit, yogurt, and for additional sweetness a little agave syrup.

For a creamier taste, cook the quinoa in milk, almond or soya milk or even reduced-fat coconut milk. This would be delicious with berries and pumpkin seeds too, or served hot with raisins and cinnamon.

Best tastes in Antibes today!

Today I tried my first local Pissaladiere and it was fabulous! I bought it from a boulangerie tucked away in one of the beautiful vieux vielle streets (and it seems to only be open a few days a week which makes it more intriguing!). The owner told me that their Pissaladiere (a kind of pizza topped with caramelized onion, anchovies and olives) goes back three generations and is their speciality. It certainly didn't disappoint.

I also tried some very cute mini 'croissant aux pignons' (pine nuts) which are apparently another speciality of the region. Not the traditional croissants, but a sweet, dense, almondy sweet-like treat.

Now for slightly more virtuous foodie find - Michel Montignac jam! It uses apple concentrate rather than sugar. A bit like the St Dalfour kind you can get in the UK.

The GI guru (although I've just found out in France it's IG (Index Glycemique of course) Michel Montignac was one of the first to use GI for weight loss. www.montignac.com and someone who's principles I promote (when I'm not eating Pissaladiere and croissants - I don't think they're allowed!)

My foodie update from le sud!

I've been here almost one month now and here are some of my 'amours' and 'detestes' from the beautiful south. 

Amour - the flavour you get from simple homemade meals like this:

5 minute spaghetti with simple ratatouille

Simple ratatouille:
tsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 white onion, diced
2 bay leaves
1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
1/2 courgette, diced
1 large tomato, diced
2 mushrooms

(Also loving the quinoa, garlic and parsley (quinoa, ail et persil) spaghetti I found in the organic food shop in Antibes).

Deteste - paying more for du the de menthe (mint tea) than for a cafe creme in Nice! Seriously?

Amour - Fritto misto, bien sur. Especially when eaten in the sunshine by the sea.

Deteste - Paying 3.50 euro for 2 grapefruit! Though they were very good pamplemousse.

Amour - The French interpretation of a salad. Protein-hit! Yum.





Deteste - Going to the supermarket and seeing that half of the fruit and veg comes from Africa or Spain (and that strawberries cost about 5 euros a punnet!)



Amour - the amazing mint tea with toasted almonds I found at the antiques market in Paris. Definitely one to try at home.

Deteste - ordering 'legumes vert' and getting spinach covered in cream. I just want some plain green vegetables! (s'il vous plait).

Amour - the little nibbley bits you always get when ordering a glass of wine (and the chocolate almonds you get with a coffee!)

Deteste - still not knowing how to order a SMALL white coffee in a cafe.

Amour - those chocolate biscuits that you can of course buy in the UK yet only allow yourself to buy in France (Le petit ecolier)!

l'aventure commence français

Bonjour et bienvenue!

So, it's day 4 of my French adventure and I'm just about 'trouver mes pieds'. Antibes is beautiful and I'm loving exploring the cute little alleys, coffee shops and local sights (there is a Mango...whoop).  My over-enthusiasm for French supermarches has also come out in full force and I think the security man in Monoprix is wondering why the strange English girl comes in looking so happy every day! (though I did have a little very English strop out of Carrefour today when nothing was happening very quickly at all).

Here are a few of the foodie finds that made me smile (many of which reminded me of summer camping trips and holidays to gites in Normandy)

You can't beat Bonne Maman jam on French toasts

Courgettes rondes - apparently a traditional recipe is to stuff them and roast with a mix of onion, anchovies, egg, parmesan and a little bread. Yum!

I don't usually get excited about tomatoes but...how pretty!

Good to see I can get Agave syrup for my porridge

Seriously? Crustless bread! In the land renowned for baguettes?! Disappointing.

My favourite find has to be ready-made galettes (buckwheat pancakes) - so now I can have them every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner (if I wanted to, not that I would of course..) 

I'll be back soon with some new French recipes and tales of my vie en France!