Quinoa Pilaf and Lentil Salad; House Hunting Hints
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Differences to note between the U.S. and France if/when you decide to buy here (or most European countries):
US: Old is 50 years; new is 5 years or less.
France: Old is 300 years; new is 50 years or less.
US: Central heating means (normally) forced air through ducts, which allows you to also have central air conditioning.
France: Central heating means a furnace that circulates hot water through radiators attached to the wall; usually one per room.
Air conditioning is closing the shutters on all the doors and windows during the day to keep the heat out and opening them all up again to let the cool evening air in (before you close them against the evil night air).
US: All plumbing and wiring is carefully hidden within in the 4" thick plasterboard walls.
France: All plumbing and wiring is on the face of the 24" thick solid stone walls.
US: There are closets in the bedrooms and cabinets in the kitchen.
France: There are no closets...anywhere. There are no cabinets in the kitchen and there may not even be a kitchen; but always a fireplace.
US: 'On a nice lot near a secondary road' means that the house sits in the middle of a plot of ground, usually square, all of which belongs to the house. Said plot is adjacent to a road.
France: "On a nice lot near a secondary road' means one wall of the house is sitting on or so close to the pavement that if you stick your hand out the window (if there is a window) you run the risk of having it snapped off by a passing lorry. There may be a yield sign painted on the side of the house.
The plot of ground that comes with it could be all on one side or the other, and may not even be contiguous. One may have to go out of the house, cross the neighbor's property (or the secondary road) to get to part of it. It could be in another village.
US: Partially restored.....HUH?????
France: Partially restored.... Ranges from:
'There's a roof' to
'The roof no longer leaks, there are doors and we got rid of most of the bats' to
'There is actually a room you can safely sleep in and a working toilet' to
'There are actual plans which are partly implemented'.
US: Realtor photos show views of the entire house and every room from every conceivable angle.
France: Estate Agent photos are so cleverly taken that, the fact that the neighbors piggery shares the wall with your potential bedroom and the local sawmill is less then 5 meters from your only door are not known until you've driven 45 minutes to see this 'charming, rural location'.
House hunting is hard.
We may be done with it though......
We may have found something.....
Negotiations in progress....
One of the things I try to do in summer is to cook ahead, particularly when it starts getting warm.
And, one of my favorite ways to do that is to make a Pilaf, then turn the leftovers into a salad.
This week I used quinoa as the base grain for the pilaf. I love the nutty taste, and the fact that it's an almost perfect food.
This is the second time I've contributed a quinoa recipe to Weekend Herb Blogging.
For more great herb, vegetable and grain ideas visit the archives at Kalyn's Kitchen. For this week's new recipes visit Joanna of Joanna's Food.
Quinoa Pilaf
3/4 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cup chicken stock
2 carrots
1 stalk celery
2 shallots
2 tsp olive oil
6 - 8 cherry tomatoes for garnish
Put quinoa and stock in a small saucepan, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until done, about 15 minutes (or whatever your package says).
Chop celery, carrots and shallots. Heat oil in a small skillet and sauté shallots, celery and carrots for 5 minutes. Cut cherry tomatoes in half. When quinoa is done, stir in sautéed vegetables. Spoon into a bowl and serve, garnished with tomatoes. Refrigerate half of the Pilaf (or whatever is left but without tomatoes) for the Salad.
Quinoa and Lentil Salad
1 - 1 1/2 cups leftover quinoa pilaf
3/4 cup cooked small green lentils (Lentille Verte du Puy)
1 tbs fresh, snipped chives or garlic chives
Balsamic Vinaigrette
1 tbs Balsamic vinegar
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp Dijon-style mustard
2 tbs olive oil
2 tsp sesame of walnut oil
Snip herbs. Combine lentils and quinoa pilaf in a medium bowl. Put ingredients for vinaigrette in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Immediately pour over quinoa/lentils and stir to combine. Add chives, stir and serve.
And a final house hunting hint: Take your digital camera. Some rooms in some houses are so dark, the only way you can see them is to take a flash photo, then look at the photo to see the room.
Be prepared to back out fast.....
I have never tried Quinoa, the pilaf looks good.
Posted by: Jessica | June 22, 2008 at 12:34 AM
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you've found a house that's "the one." Your comparisons are hilarious. Yes, we are quite spoiled in America, it seems. Imagine wanting closets and cupboards.
Love the sound of a salad with quinoa and lentils, just brilliant!
Posted by: Kalyn | June 22, 2008 at 03:03 AM
Glad your house hunting is coming to an end, though I'll miss your wonderful stories.
Posted by: Lydia | June 22, 2008 at 05:28 AM
No closets, anywhere? Well, I guess I can cross France off the list. ;) My husband and I are currently looking to buy a place in San Diego. I feel your pain. Though it sounds like your pain may be over? I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, my dear!
Posted by: Susan from Food Blogga | June 22, 2008 at 02:48 PM
As always, I chuckled my way through this one, then laughed out loud at the final admonition, "be prepared to back out fast!" :-) Hope the one you found is a success!
Posted by: Zoomie | June 22, 2008 at 07:13 PM
How exciting that you may found THE house. How's the breadoven :) ?
(Don't know how you manage to cook at all!)
Posted by: Lien | June 22, 2008 at 09:35 PM
ok I was on vacation and I have gone back but for the life of me I can't find the post that says why you are moving...please enlightne me cause you put the pretty pink shower in and ordered those tiles...after August and such.
Shayne
Posted by: shayne | June 23, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Oh Katie, I was laughing so Gorn had to have me read this to him. Wonderful fun . . . well maybe if you really have found a place. Then the real fun begins. Does it have a kitchen or just a bread oven!;)) Hope it works well for you!!
Posted by: MyKitchenInHalfCups | June 23, 2008 at 04:17 AM
You make me laugh everytime! There are so many similarities in Holland. Of course there are no closets! Of course you better frown at estate agents pics...and their lingo? A lesson in creativity with words...
Posted by: Baking Soda | June 23, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Oh, I so hope you've found your new home! Loved that post...no closets? Where do you hide clutter? :)
The quinoa looks marvelous!
Posted by: sher | June 23, 2008 at 09:30 AM
LOVE the househunting tips ... and the two-step quinoa - I love making too much specially so that you can use the leftovers for the next meal
Hope the housebuying goes well - look forward to hearing about it
Joanna
Posted by: Joanna | June 23, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Jessica....Try it - you'll like it!
Kalyn, really! Closets AND cupboards????
Lydia, somehow I think the stories may just be beginning. Did I mention that bats are a protected species here?
Susan, that's why armoire's were invented... No closets - anywhere! Good luck on your own effort - and cherish the closets...
Zoomie, I had been standing right next to a big hole in the floor... A deep hole!
Lien, no kitchen...inside or outside. No bread oven.
Shayne, simple reason - we sold our house. Why did we sell? Complicated reason that I never really explained... maybe I will, now...
Tanna, it has 4 square rooms that are totally empty except for the fireplaces.
Baking Soda, yes, they totally redefine the term 'charming'.
Sher, one doesn't have it.... Thus the car boot/garage sale coming up. There are normally not basements or garages either.
Joanna, I'm not certain if I'm excited or terrified!
Posted by: katie | June 23, 2008 at 07:08 PM
You made me laugh so much! Hope all goes well. Great-looking salad.
Posted by: Simona | June 23, 2008 at 08:12 PM
I can't imagine not having closets! Good luck hunting katie and your dish looks very good.
Posted by: Sue (coffeepot) | June 24, 2008 at 12:02 AM
The quinoa and lentil pilaf looks right up my alley. We have been loving up quinoa in our house (well, two of us have anyway) and this one looks like it would be a winner.
Posted by: Kate | June 24, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Simona, thanks...I think we've done it! (touch wood)
Sue, It's not easy, but this will be the third time. Thankfully, mon mari always builds me some ;-))
Kate, we both love quinoa... one of us more than the other - but he's learning!
Posted by: katie | June 24, 2008 at 11:59 PM
I do hope you've found your dream house! I've not used quinoa yet but your recipe has me inspired.
Posted by: Christine | June 25, 2008 at 10:00 AM
By the way katie I tagged you for a meme. Sorry if you have already done it which I am sure you probably have.
http://coffeepot.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/me-oh-me/
Posted by: Sue (coffeepot) | June 25, 2008 at 05:24 PM
Christine, you really should try it...
Sue, thanks, I checked it out... Hayseed, indeed!
Posted by: katie | June 26, 2008 at 10:00 PM
This reminds me -- I'm out of quinoa. Never tried it as a pilaf and the recipe looks delicious.
Posted by: Jude | June 29, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Jude, the pilaf is good. I'm getting rather partial to quinoa, cold, in salads, too.
Posted by: Katie | June 30, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Suddenly house hunting in France looks less enticing!
Posted by: Mimi | July 10, 2008 at 04:08 AM