As I’m sitting here, in front of the fire, with the wind howling and the rain lashing the windows, I find myself wondering if we’ll ever see spring.
Then I remember it’s still February.
There are some signs of spring, though, despite the weather….
My crocuses are starting to bloom, some of the spring herbs are starting to come to life and the first new potatoes are showing up in the markets.
New potatoes are about the size of walnuts, or smaller. In the photo below, that is not a huge baking potato on top of the new potatoes…. It’s a medium size, regular potato, about the size of a woman’s fist.
Along with asparagus and artichokes, new potatoes are one of the best treats of spring.
If you can’t get new potatoes, or the they are large, cut them in half or quarters. The wine, olives and rosemary lend a Mediterranean flavor. Finish with a bit of sea salt, if you like.
Braised New Potatoes with Rosemary and Olives
Total time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- 12 – 15 new potatoes 10oz (300gr)
- 1 sprig of fresh rosemary or 2 tsp dried
- 8 – 10 olives, any color, I used both Greek and green
- 1/3 cup (3oz, 30ml) white wine
Instructions:
- Put everything into a small saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer, gently for 15 minutes.
- Uncover and continue cooking for another 15 – 25 minutes, depending on size, until potatoes are done.
- Stir occasionally. When done, a knife should go in easily and the wine should have reduced to a thick syrup. Serve.
I’ve been blogging for 9 years this month.
Nine years!!!!
I’ve written over 1800 posts.
I remember, back in the beginning, getting excited about my 100th post and one year anniversary.
It never occurred to me that I would still be doing it 9 years later.
Actually, until I looked at the history I didn’t even realize it had been that long.
Life was simpler then. Facebook was just a baby, only 2 years old and Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, Tribrr, etc, etc, didn’t exist.
There were no Google algorithm changes and Bing wasn’t even around.
We food bloggers wrote posts, sometimes took a bad photo to go along with the post and read and commented on each others posts.
Simple.
Now there is so much to monitor and keep track of and check and read and learn….
I confess I don’t always remember it all.
Like checking my spam folder.
After I installed a new comment filter I checked at least once a week to make sure it was working correctly.
It always was.
Then I started checking whenever I thought about it, which was every few months.
Then I forgot about it completely until this morning.
I checked it.
I would now like to apologize to all of my readers who have left comments that have never appeared and been completely ignored.
And I will remember to check my spam folder……
Along with monitoring Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest and Google+ and Google search and Bing and all of the updates by all of the people who are experts in all of this.
Nine Years!
This is going to the Lavender and Lovage Cooking with Herbs Party this month.
Gosh, nine years, me too! Seems way to many. And yes things have changed incredibly but the food is still wonderful and delish just like these potatoes.
It has been a long time. But it has been worth it to find friends like you. Never met; sure, but I feel like we are friends anyway. Those of us who have been here awhile understand what you are talking about. Spam folders? Just now dealing with it. Pinterest? Who knew. Great potato dish Katie. Great photo too.
This dish looks like perfect comfort food! I’m still waiting for spring too, but you’re way closer then me. Right now, it’s 4 degrees out and there’s still at least two feet of snow on the ground. Yesterday at noon, it was a whopping zero. That was our high.
Speaking of roaring fires, when we moved here a few months ago, one of my conditions on buying the place was putting in a fireplace since there was none. We’re getting our third estimate this week. I don’t care if it gets done on the hottest day of the summer this year, I’m building a fire the minute the contractor leaves!
I miss my fireplace…
Wow Katie…congrats! 9 years is a long time. Love your potatoes – pure comfort food!
Happy blogoversary! -13 degrees in Massachusetts this morning. Love reading signs of spring in France.
Congratulations on nine years of sharing!
WOW! Nine years, and all of them great!! Congratulations Katie.
We had rare snow last night and no fireplace for a nice fire. Lucky you.
Chuck
Tanna, I can’t believe it’s been that long…. Good thing I like to eat. LOL
Penny, so much has changed it’s hard to keep track of it all – it has been nice to make such wonderful friends from all over the world.
nightsmusic, spring is late here too – slowly, coming. I haven’t been without a fireplace since I was a child but this is the first time it’s been more than ambiance LOL
Ina, a long time, yes…. and I love new potatoes
Sullimaybe, I do not miss that kind of cold…. makes me think I should quit complaining 😉
Thanks, Zoomie,, A long time.
Brassfrog, oh, you poor things….. We haven’t had snow in 2 years. Good thing as the last time we had 3 inches and were snowed in for a week. The fireplace helps
Congratulations for blogging for 9 years and sticking with it. I also started a little over 9 years ago — there must have been something in the air. But of course, I took my long break, so it’s not exactly the same. You have really built a wonderful site, with great good, recipes and stories! Who knows, here’s to 9 more!
I wrote something similar about spring yesterday after driving to work in the snow. And it also crossed my mind that it IS still February. But we have been known to get signs of spring in late February some years, and I know that is frequent in warmer climes like yours. It looks like this isn’t going to be one of those years.
Blog on, Katie!
Well done! I’ve only been at it for just over a year and already I wonder if I’ll continue. It is fun sharing insights and discoveries though and I’ve enjoyed dipping into yours every so often. My indication of spring is that the broad beans I sowed recently have started to move. My own early season potatoes have sprouted too – I should plant them out. I’m planning on growing them in old compost bags and fear that they will need frost protection for a while yet. I hope you have a happy 10th year of blogging.
Betty, I think we had a warm Feb. once and now I expect them all to be like that LOL It was different back when a lot of us started….. and a lot are gone. Life changes, non?
Mike, thanks. You must be a lot warmer than we are. I still haven’t put the onions in…. although I at least have them ready this year LOL. Keep blogging, you never know where it may lead.