Croquettes

In grey rainy Paris,
I sat with my Belle Maman,
dreaming of hot chocolate,
yearning for a croissant.
We chatted and remembered,
old stories from years gone by,
the people we met, the things we did,
the laughter, the drama, the sighs.
Time disappeared as it tends to do,
when there is affection between two,
Maman said "We'd better start lunch,
its almost close to noon!"
So we steamed fresh green beans,
made hot cheesy croquettes,
and sat down to eat again,

simple food for our heart and soul,

our taste buds, stomach and brain........

My adorable Belle Mere, Francoise

 

  

 Ingredients:

250 gms Oat flakes

4 eggs

1 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup grated cheese

1 tablespoon dried Herbes
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon paprika
Olive oil.

Method:

Beat the eggs lightly, adding the herbs,
sea salt and paprika.
Add the oat flakes to the eggs,
then add the tomato sauce and the cheese
and mix it all together with a fork or spoon.
The batter should not be runny,
nor too dense. Add a tablespoon or two
of water if necessary.

Heat a pan and grease it with olive oil,
drop a tablespoon of the batter, then
continue one tablespoon at a time,
making 4 or 5 croquettes at a time,
When one side is done, turn them over
and let the other side cook, pressing a little
with the spatula. Add some more olive oil if desired.

Serve with grainy or smooth mustard,
along with a salad or steamed vegetables.

 

Notes:

I used Herbes de Provence,

a blend of dried herbs from Provence, in France.

You can use any blend of herbs and spices you desire.

Cheese used in these croquettes is Emmental Gruyere,

a Swiss cheese, that melts beautifully and has a lovely flavor.

The tomato sauce is homemade by Frnacoise.

She blanches and peels the tomatoes then cooks them gently,

along with shallots, garlic, parsley, herbs, salt and pepper.

It is the best tomato sauce I have ever tasted!

Even though I totally forgot
to add the mustard in the pictures,
these croquettes go very well with a strong mustard,
that tingles in your nose.......
We ate them with steamed green beans,
with a knob of goat's butter melting on top,
and some beautiful cherry tomatoes.
It was a perfect lunch, in this apartment
right next to the Eiffel Tower, can't ask for more, right? ;-)

Keep it Simple. Be Creative.

Taste and Play. Find your own Way.