New Potatoes with Rosemary and Olives; Croissants on the Garden Gate

Go directly to recipe

Remember all of those money-raising schemes we endured as children?

Selling magazines that nobody wanted?

Peddling chocolate bars and 'white almond bark' during the already sugar-bloated holidays?

Passing off 'genuine bees-wax candles' that burned for 50 seconds and left puddles of wax everywhere?

Somehow, at least here in the back of beyond, the French have figured out the proper way to handle these fund-raising rights of passage.

I have actually been waiting for several weeks for the kids to come around for their annual sale.

They finally did: last week.

And, this morning, around 8:00, they delivered.

Oh not to the door, mind you. 

This is France.  The Sunday morning 'lie-in' is sacred.  No one would dream of disturbing a French household on a Sunday morning anytime before 10... or, maybe 11.

The young lads asked where they should leave the delivery.  Normally they would just put it on the window ledge (remember, we have 18" walls), but they know that would wake the dogs, so they left it tucked in the gate.

This morning, while the coffee was brewing, I walked the 20 feet to the garden gate and came back with these freshly baked, flaky croissants and pan au chocolate.

We may not be able to get a pizza delivered, or have anywhere to go for Chinese take-out, but I'll take 'croissants on the garden gate' any day.

Even if it's only once a year....

Speaking of gardens, my herb garden is coming back to life: the oregano and marjoram is big enough to start cutting; the thyme and lemon thyme are all showing signs of new growth; the chives and garlic chives are well up and getting ready for their first flowering.

And that year-round work horse, the rosemary is having a spring growth spurt.

Rosemary is widely used in Mediterranean cooking and is classically paired with lamb and pork.

It is thought to boost the immune system and stimulate memory.

When I lived in Minnesota, I planted it every  summer (because it froze every winter) and used it sparingly.

Here I have a whole bush and use it with abandon.

I toss whole sprigs on the charcoals to impart a smoky, rosemary flavor to grilled meats, use the branches as skewers for kebabs, and put it into just about anything.

I (and the Greeks) particularly like it paired with olives.

I have another simple dish for this week's edition of Weekend Herb Blogging, started by Kalyn, of Kalyn's Kitchen and hosted this week by Margot of Coffee and Vanilla.  Be sure to visit Margot on Monday for the round-up!

I may have mentioned rosemary in past Weekend Herb Blogging posts : Braised Potatoes with Rosemary and Roast Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary to name two...

New Potatoes with Rosemary and Olives

10 - 15 new potatoes
1- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
8 - 10 olives any color or combination
1/3 cup white wine

Lightly wash potatoes but leave whole. 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.

I can't take these complicated recipes and challenging breakfasts.... I'm going to go have a nap!

Bon Dimanche!

Comments

[Deborah]

Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs. Especially with potatoes!!

[Kalyn]

I really love rosemary. My plant died over the winter, but now I've planted some in my brand new herb boxes, so life is good around here!

[Kristen]

I am soooooo moving to France. Oh my gosh. What a life!!

[Betty C.]

What memories! I sold candles (God knows why,) magazine subscriptions and of course Campfire Girl cookies and mints! I loved the chocolate-mint cookies too..

[Lannae]

Sign me up for that lovely croissant delivery any day! Wow! The photo is making my mouth water! Yum! Light, flaky, buttery, yummm!

[tbtam]

I don't know what looks better, the croissants or the potatoes.

YUM!

[MyKitchenInHalfCups]

I really would love that garden gate Katie!! Trade you for my frogs and or a dozen of these cheese cake balls ;))

[Simona]

That is really sweet, I mean, the pain au chocolat. You know, I make roasted potatoes with rosemary often, but I've never added olives to them: thanks for the suggestion!

[katie]

Deborah, mine too, Mon mari actually prefers it dried... we compromise.

Kalyn, mine always did in Minnesota - too cold.

Kristen, it does have it's moments!

Betty, we have to make the candles (assemble them) first, then sell them...

Lannae, I wish they did it more often - can you believe I want more door-to-door school sales!

tbtam, the croissants for indulgence, the potatoes for health...

Tanna, it's a deal.... Airmail?

Simona, I am always on an olive kick... I'll put them in almost anything!

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

You're so lucky to live where the rosemary is perennial; for me, it's an annual planting, so I look for the largest plant I can afford. I don't have the patience to wait for a tiny plant to get just slightly larger -- I always want to start big!

[Casey]

the olives are a brilliant addition. In northern california my rosemary is wonderful all year round, but particularly in early Spring.

[Lucy V]

I've seen young soft rosemary coming out at the market lately. It must be nice to be able to clip your own. I remember your post about these kids and the pains au chocolat last year... I painted stones and sold them, sold cookies, sold lemonade...

[LisaRene]

I've noticed a bit of a trend with your cooking, many recipes include wine :) My kind of lady!

[FarmgirlCyn]

Rosemary roasted potatoes are really my favorite vegetable. This new recipe, however, just might take the coveted #1 spot, as who could resist the wine and the olives? I cannot wait to try this! Here in the midwest, one must buy a fresh rosemary plant every year, as they definitely do not winter over. The oregano is back, the chives are here, and the thyme is looking lush, but alas, it is still too cold to put in any rosemary!

[Coffee and Vanilla]

Thank you sooo much for your entry! Delicious :) I'm big fan of rosemary recently... Margot

[Heidi]

Those croissants look divine!

We were in Tuscany two years ago, and the villa we rented had the most amazing rosemary bed - it was a lovely scent to wake up to every morning.

But I'd actually prefer those croissants :)

Heidi

[Bellini Valli]

To have chocolate croissants delivered to our door. We have a bakery called La Boulangerie not far from work that makes chocolate croissants to rival anything in the world....just perfect. I wouild enjoy your potatoes and lamb as well later on in the day with a glass of wine instead of a morning tea:D

[katy]

um, oh my god. pain au chocolat delivered to your house? on a sunday morning? this just goes to prove what i've guessed all along -- living in france is actually heavenly. i'd take those over pizza any day! :-)

[katie]

Lydia, it was an annual for me for years... And expensive to get any decent size. Now I use the hedge clippers.

Casey, I really like it in early spring, too.

Lucy, one year we had a neighbor kid selling votive candles - but I think they have a winner with this gig!

Farmgirl, I DO remember.... My sage always lived through the winter, too. But not the rosemary.

Margot, you are so welcome...

LisaRene, a little splash, or two, helps most everything, including the cook!

Heidi, I'd share... but, you know, they really don't keep well, at least, not at our house.

Val, whoever thought of this sale was right on! They could do it more often for me.

Katy, and the amazing thing is it's only a few cents more than buying it at the boulangerie... and a lot more fun!

[Elizabeth]

You people with your rosemary bushes right outside the back door drive me nuts! ;-)

Those potatoes sound fantastic!

It is looking like this might be the first winter I've managed to keep a rosemary plant alive - in a pot in the basement under grow lights. I've had to treat it twice for powdery mildew. I hope I don't manage to kill it in the next couple of weeks before it's safe to take it outside....

Croissants! How lucky are you?! One of the neighbourhood kids used to sell thumbergia in hanging baskets and she used to leave them on the porch on a Sunday morning. I can't believe she had the nerve to grow up and leave home to go to university!

[Mimi]

Croissants on the garden gate? Ooh la la!

I love that sort of thing. I hope to find a pizza truck next time I am up in the hills above the Lot...

[Núria]

What a wonderful way to cook potatoes! I also have new branches of Rosemary. You, Greeks and Myself... like it paired with olives. I should get this one done during this long holiday weekend :D

[katie]

Elizabeth, good luck with your rosemary! We are lucky to have it so close... Kids today have no consideration, at all!

Mimi, Sunday is a good day for the pizza trucks... don't know why. The Lot should be lovely in the fall, sigh...

Nuria, you know me, anything with olives...and wine!

[Jeanne]

Oh how stressful it must all be...! I would love to have local kids leaving croissants on my fence, rather than litter, but then that's London for you :o)

Rosemary is one of my favourite herbs and I often do rosemary roast potatoes with garlic & olive oil. I like the addition of olives and will definitely be trying that!

[katie]

Jeanne, it really is a lovely start to a Sunday - too bad it's only once a year.