The spring garden is being slowly replaced by the summer garden.
We ate the first of the summer squashes and I pulled up some of the lettuce and all of the spinach before we left for Spain.
Most of the spinach was turned into soup.
I saved enough of the tender leaves to have one last spinach salad.
Bacon, Egg and Spinach Salad
Preparation and cooking time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 6oz (175gr) fresh spinach
- 4 tbs fresh basil, snipped
- 3 tbs fresh chives, snipped
- 4 thin slices dry-cured ham, roughly chopped
- 2oz (60gr) shaved cheese (I used Mimolette)
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbs vinegar
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Vinaigrette
- 1 tbs Dijon-style mustard
- 1 tbs Balsamic vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 3 tbs salad olive oil
Instructions:
- Sauté ham in oil until crisp. Remove and set aside.
- Heat 1 1/2 inches of water in a deep skillet. Add vinegar.
- When water is softly simmering add eggs and poach for 2 – 3 minutes.
- Vinaigrette:
- Mix mustard, vinegar and garlic.
- Slowly add olive oil, whisking constantly.
- To finish:
- Combine spinach and basil.
- Add vinaigrette and toss well.
- Arrange spinach on two plates.
- Divide ham and sprinkle on salad.
- Put an egg on each salad.
- Top with cheese, sprinkle with chives and serve.
Here are a few last photos of our little holiday:
We drove through Andorra on our way so I could do some shopping – nothing fun… I was stocking up on olive oil, sherry and a few other Spanish goodies.
This is the main road coming into Andorra from France, over the mountains.
I forgot to mention that, in addition to the dogs, our friend also feeds all the village cats. Our girls had never met a cat before. The cats have no fear of the dogs. Our friend's dogs ignore them. My dogs chased them. I was hoping they would get a well-scratched nose but it didn't happen.
This is taken through the windshield. It's the road going down the mountain from our friend's house to connect with the main road over the Spanish pass.
The views are spectacular driving through the mountains in summer, with flocks of sheep, herds of goats, cows and horses.
One has to be a bit careful, though. It's very common to come around a corner and see the road ahead full of meandering animals.
Like a small group of horses. This particular one was in no hurry….
These are food horses, not riding or work horses.
Life is different here….
I have had dogs scratched by cats but that did not ever stop them !!!!
My Cora chases cats that will run. If they stop and face her, she skids to a halt. I wish they would all stop and teach her a much needed lesson, but I can’t blame them for running from 55 pounds of eager dog.
manningroad, I doubt it would stop mine, either. They’re just too curious!
Zoomie, that’s it – if they run, the dogs chase. At least I have stopped them from chasing the bunnies when they’re on the leash…. I hope. The cats all jumped up the walls and got away. LOL
Ah, that photo through the windshield reminds me of the Dordogne, heading to LaRoque-Gageac.
I think I have an idea now for all that ham in the freezer…
The landscape photos give me such a thrill. I miss southwest France!
Mimi, it is a pretty drive – as are most of them in this area….
Christine, come visit 😉