A good food-related read for lovers of French food--and Egyptian food!

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whipappeal

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I curled up with a good book on Thursday night; it's called _Return to Paris: A Memoir with Recipes_, by Colette Rossant. It's a lovely, fast-paced story about a young woman leaving her childhood home of Cairo to live in her mother's hometown of post-World-War-II Paris; she describes in compelling detail the dishes she misses (pita bread stuffed with ful beans) and the dishes and markets she learns to love in Paris. Anyone who has enjoyed walking around Paris, discovering small restaurants and market-streets will find a home in this memoir. The recipes scattered throughout the book are also appealing; "Chicken Fricassee" is now on my What-To-Cook-Next-Weekend list.

I love good writing, and good writing about food and memories! Now I must find Rossant's other book (has anyone read it?), and Zuri's, and I'll be happy. smileys/smile.gif

(At the moment, instead of being curled up with a book, I'm curled up with Marks and Spencer's Shortbread Bites, which are proving to be a much-needed antidote to sweet Czech cakes.) smileys/smile.gif

 
Thanks so much, just added that to an Amazon order, sounds lovely...

Have not been to Paris yet, it is moving up on the list. I also have Zuri's book on that order.

Had a Egyptian gentleman on a ship I was on last winter and was interesting and scary to prepare my recipes of Mediterranean foods. I have been to Turkey and Greece and felt pretty confident. Do you remember the Egyptian name for Tzatziki, it was really neat, was going to write it down before he left, and?? Anyway he kept making sure none was wasted, so guess it was o.k.


So many books, so little time! Thanks Again,
Happy Trails,

 
Sorry, Nan, can't think of the Egyptian name for Tzatziki... Please share your Med. recipes! smileys/smile.gif

 
Oh Boy, I will start looking for some original recipes. I have tweaked these so many times.....

depending on tastes, and often what I had on hand. I will type them and include tweaks that worked.
I am trying to write up a phad thai recipe now for friends. I use the "Galley Girl Phad" recipe, Ron in Worcester posted here. But when I look at the original, the sauce and noodles are about the only thing consistent. There again, stuff happens when you realize you are missing somthing or some people don't care for an ingredient.
I am organizing files now, so good time to do this.

 
Nan, we saw the movie "The Guardian" and I have a new appreciation for your work on the ships.

great movie.

 
I had pathetic pad thai here, a couple of weeks ago, so a good recipe would be great!

 
Here is Ron's post. And, here are my tweaks--

I too like it non-greasy. Use Sambal Oelek instead of the chile powder. I usually make a double batch of the rice vinegar, fish sauce mixture. I add more veggies and seem to need a bit more. It keeps in refrigerater and you can toss in stir frys or?
I don't always use the eggs, I actually like fried noodle (like fried rice)for breakfast if there are any leftovers.
I use shredded cabbage instead of bean sprounts. We don't always have them here and a package of rice noodles I had a long time ago had the recipe with cabbage. I also sometimes put julliened carrots and onion. Sometimes more veggies?
I usually make half with shrimp or chicken or pork and the other half tofu.
Anyway, maybe make it as written and then tweak on you own?
Have fun, Enjoy!

http://www.finerkitchens.com/swap/forum1/10247_REC_galleygirls_Pad_Thai

 
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