What had me thinking about this lately is a book I checked out of the library entitled Cooking in Paradise: Culinary Vacations around the World.
This book is a few years old so keep in mind, these businesses may have closed, changed hands, changed prices.... but it gives you an idea for a culinary vacation that sounds like kick-ass fun. And you learn something.
As an example from the book, Chez Madelaine Cooking Tour provides lodging, a short tour of the area if you are so inclined, and cooking classes where you get hands on experience. There are even recipes in this book given by the host. Chez Madeline offers a chocolate cherry babka recipe which I have copied for later.
The book provides the information you need to book a cooking vacation and covers France, Italy, Asia, the US and Canada, Mexico...
And so this made me think of Laura and all the very interesting and lovely photos, stories and recipes she posts on her blog, Laura's Paris Cooking Notebook.
Ok, here comes the soup.........
One of the recipes we have recently enjoyed is Laura's simple and comforting minestrone soup.
You'll need a thick slice of pancetta, some shredded cabbage, leeks, chopped celery, 2 carrots, and potatoes.....
Chop the veggies and get an assembly line going.........heat some olive oil in a large pan and tip the veggies and pancetta in.......
Cover and cook over medium heat a few minutes. Then add home made vegetable or chicken broth. Add white beans and a can of diced tomatoes.
And then you have this aromatic, healthy and warming soup..........
You can view Laura's original post and recipe here.
AND, turns out Laura should have been included in the aforementioned travel book about culinary adventures because...well, check out this site A World In a Pan for a culinary escapade. This looks educational, fun and it would be a adventure.
One day.....I'd love to go. In the meantime, I'll sit and glare at the rain coming down and our soon to be lake front property.
looks yummy...I made a minestrone a week or so ago but haven't gotten around to finishing up the post...
ReplyDeletewhat a great idea for a book read! thanks for that, and I need a hot bowl of soup right now
ReplyDeleteI would love that book. Your soup looks so comforting - it's -39 with windchill here right now.
ReplyDeleteA culinary vacation is on my bucket list of things to
ReplyDeletedo!
The minestrone soup is perfect for cold, nasty and rainy days like we are having. We braved it today, to go holiday shopping-It was nuts out there today.
I try to find interesting food whenever I'm on a vacation, even though my family is not always happy with the "adventure" of it! This sounds like a great book and I love the minestrone recipe.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone - if you are having nasty weather, or just need to spend some time inside, traveling through a book is a great and cheap way to escape.
ReplyDeleteThe soup was not my recipe, although I modified it a little, always a comfort on a chilly day.
Love the recipe and the review. I always try to incorporate a foodie bent into our travels, what a better way to learn new foods, ingredients, and preparations than eating like the locals. Inspiration for my Bon Vivant Travels series indeed.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
CCR
=:~)
Oh my gosh, YES!!! It's like my dream... and the soup...wowza, I'd love a big bowl to warm me up right now :)
ReplyDeleteI took a cooking class on a "girls vacation weekend". It was so much fun!
ReplyDeleteAnd soup is my favorite!
Chef Ryan - thank you! I enjoy reading your travel series - it's nice to be an armchair traveler sometimes.
ReplyDeleteGirlichef - you poor girl, up there with all that cold and snow...let me get you a bowl. Mmmmm
Debbie- that sounds like lots of fun. One day I hope to do that too.
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