Sometimes big things happen in your small world that completely turn everything up side down, this is what has happened here in our family. Tomorrow I leave for a blitz visit to Sweden together with my oldest daughter and on Saturday I come back. Alone. She will stay there and finish her schooling and we will go on living here without her here and never in my life could I imagine that such a thing, in itself so natural (her leaving home I mean, after all she is 18), would make me feel so sad. You know that kind of sadness you cannot even really pinpoint because it is just deeply emotional without any real rational ‘meaning’ to it. I am all for my children living their own lives and I certainly don’t want to hinder them to leave home but I wasn’t prepared for this knock-out feeling. Anyway, I suppose this will be similar to when she moved out of our bed after 2,5 years of sleeping together, we, parents, felt devastated whereas she happily jumped into her new bed never to return to ours. I have to say that we didn’t experience the same feeling when the story repeated itself with the other two which is promising because if I will feel like this again and again, life will be pretty gloomy. Anyway, I will be a bit absent here this week unless I manage to find some time and space to update you but you can always browse here or
visit my new but old photography blog if you feel like it.
Having said that, I will now turn to today’s recipe. Red beetroots are back on my menu, I remember so well how my mother used to eat them simply cooked with some good salted butter melting on the slices in the way only butter can melt, and I still think it is one of the best ways to eat red beetroots but that doesn’t mean that you can’t eat them like this for example, in a simple salad with a goat’s cheese cream embracing their sweetness. And some walnuts and a bit of thyme to make it even better. What do you say, could you eat this?
RED BEETROOT WITH BABY SPINACH, GOAT’S CHEESE CREAM, WALNUTS AND THYME
4 servings
4 medium sized red beetroots
4 handfuls fresh baby spinach leaves. Or some other tender salad that you like.
150 g/ 5,3 oz fresh, soft goat’s cheese
150 ml/ 0,63 cup fresh cream
20-25 walnut halves, roughly chopped
fresh thyme
salt
Boil the beetroots in lightly salted water until they are soft. Let them cool down a bit before you slid off the skin and cut them into dice or just slices.
Mix goat’s cheese and cream until you have a smooth and thick cream. Add a litte pinch of salt if needed and as much thyme that you like.
Put a layer of spinach leaves on each plate, then a layer of beetroot and sprinkle walnuts over. Finish it all with a good dollop/drizzle of goat’s cheese cream and serve.
L
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This would have to be one of my favourite flavour combinations! So delicious!
I like the idea of the goat’s cheese offsetting the sweetness of the beetroot. The picture is lovely. I am an expat with 2 girls and I would not want to be without them – but life doesn’t always turn out like that does it. Treasure every moment you are with her – I’m sure you do.
What a tough moment this must be. My oldest is still a little girl, and yet I am already dreading that moment. I feel for you. Seeing the positive side, it must be nice for you that she is moving to your country of origin, fully embracing your culture. As a foreigner in Italy, I often feel like my children will grow up feeling just Italian. The first photograph is amazing, it really captures your state of mind in an image.
you know my heart and thoughts are with you on this trip Ilva! Be strong and I guess we need to let go to allow our “little ones” to grow. Love you!
Oh yes I know this feeling Ilva. It is hard the first time. One of our boys did a 6 month exchange to France when he was 15, travelling there and back by himself. No Skype back then either so we only had a phone call every couple of weeks. As difficult as it was for us at the time, he benefitted greatly from the experience. Enjoy your few days travelling together. Hugs.
Ilva… how much I know what you are feeling ! we are leaving Geneva on Saturday morning to bring our son (18 too) to the UK, he’ll be studying in the Cornwalls….. another experience for him and for us, c’est la Vie ! but let’s be posivite and thanksful to see them becoming great young adults
We know it’s the right thing to do and there’s no other way… but still it’s not easy. Can you imagine? I felt in a similar way a few days ago when my eldest started secondary school… no rational explanation to it.
I was just thinking about this the other day. Some friends just sent their 15 years old son to bording school and I can’t imagine that. My son is only 12 but one day he will leave the house for college. I know that I will be a mess when he goes.
Have a nice trip and do find some time to enjoy yourself. It is tough to let children go but it has to be done. Part of being a parent.
My daughter is away for a week’s holiday and I’m missing her. Maybe I should look at this as “practice” for the future.
Oh yes..I have a very similar recipe on my blog but with a horseradish cream and chunks of goat’s cheese melting over the still warm beets. Yum, one of my favourite ways to eat beets for sure!
Congratulations on making the top 50 food blogs!
Rita
Gluten Free
Oh I am so sorry to hear you’re feeling so sad about this. I hope you can enjoy the time in Sweden at least a little bit. It will probably turn out to be good in the long run, but I know that doesn’t help at the time you’re feeling bad. Sending hugs.
And that photo with the chair in the background is stunning!!
I’m so sorry that you are sad Ilva and I hope that the feeling will go away very soon.
So vibrant, and I can just imagine the delicious sweetness of those beets. I’m sorry you’re having a tough time with your daughter moving out…those changes in our lives can be happy and sad at the same time, can’t they!?
Some of my friends are going through the same thing. Their daughters or sons have left for university and I think you have articulated the feelings a parent feels during times such as this very well…
Ja, man blir förvånad över kraften i de känslorna. Tror man ska vara vaccinerad och rustad, att allt är ok och helt plötsligt är det som om ett hål öppnar sig. Jag har funderat mycket över vad den känslan står för, men har inget enkelt svar. Det närmaste jag kommit är att det är en förändring, och ingenting blir någonsin exakt detsamma. Det kan bli annorlunda, men ett band är av. Kanske är det det. Sen vänjer man sig. Så är det också. Och det är annorlunda med varje barn, olika personligheter och olika relationer till dem. Det är fint att hon vill knyta an till Sverige och dina rötter, tycker jag. Ger er något gemensamt. Hoppas ni har det bra nu.
9 years from now, I might be riding back alone and just the thought makes me cry. Hugs to you.
I LOVE the picture with the jug and mauve reflection on the glass of water .. makes me wonder if it is the beets or the jug. Your pictures are so natural, well knit and “meant to be” kind, yet there is that huge element of surprise and magic in everyone of them. I could spend days straight, just going through your photographs.
“There are two lasting gifts we can give our children.
One is roots, the other wings.”
Congratulations on a job well done with child number 1! It is only through knowing the unquestioning love of a parent that children develop the self-confidence to even move away for university, and also be open enough to enjoy the adventure they embark upon.
From personal experience, this will be a period of transition for you, dad, and the siblings – but also for your daughter as well. I am sure she will have many questions for you in her new role; with newfound independence come responsibilities as well, and she will learn to appreciate you more as time goes on! So your role has changed; just be there for her if and when she needs you … she will!
I know it seems like forever now, but university doesn’t last forever, and then they do return to the coop! And even if life tugs them farther afield, in four years you’ll be completely prepared to handle it!
The first child is the hardest; in my experience, it gets easier with each one. As your daily life evolves to accommodate the shift in family dynamics, I dare say you may even be impatient for the last one to get there!
Do be gentle with yourself in the coming weeks. And be proud of your daughter, and yourself for reaching this milestone!
Yum! Yes, I think I could try this recipe.
Have a good and safe trip. Don’t worry too much, time will fly by very fast and you’ll see your oldest very soon.
Best wishes,
Paz xoxo
Awww I have not experienced the feeling of waving my babies goodbye yet as one is 9 ad the other is 2, but I can just imagine how hard it will be when the time comes. Smile and be happy your daughter will do well and be all she desires to be, because of all the love, morals and values you have put in to her.
On a lighter note, the beetroot, spinach and goats cheese looks scrumptious I love purple food, I find it digests well
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I know exactly what you are describing. It’s so deep. And without words or logic. I went through it with both sons (shhh don’t tell them). And now, with an empty nest (going on maybe five years now?) I still have days where I am surprised by these feelings. Gorgeous photography, as always. You are an artist. xox
I have also just been through this experience with my oldest daughter, last week, and you describe the feelings so well! I love your blog – the artistry of your beautiful photos and the fabulous food.
Lovely salad, I’m sure I would enjoy it… beetroot, thyme and cream are great combination.
Ilva, I am late to reply to this, but my connections have been truly horrible lately.
I jsut want to say that the decision to leave a country is never easy, and the person who leaves feels a sense of “guit” that never quite ends. I left my country, my family, and my friends 16 years ago, and for my aging Mother it is a difficult pill to swallow, I know.
I hope you can find comfort in the fact that she will be a happy person, no matter where she is – and help her live with her decision…..
many hugs going your way…