“When upset, Reine-Marie liked to chop, to measure, to stir. To follow a recipe. Everything in order. No guessing, no surprises…
Dinner was served, starting with parsnip and apple soup, with a drizzle of walnut-infused oil on top. ~ The Nature of the Beast
The recipe inspired by the quote
On Monday, I shared an excerpt with you from The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny. The structure of the quote itself seems quite simple; this is what someone does when she’s upset and here’s the result of that action.
The quote included a reference to recipes, as in the written form, and I shared my thoughts on how following recipes can bring a sense of control to situations that leave us emotionally unhinged.
After chopping, measuring, and following, Rein-Marie, Armand Gamache’s wife, serves a simple soup that includes apples, an ingredient not typically associated with soup, but an ingredient that signifies the locale of the series and is symbolic of many of the themes woven throughout the story.
My soup recipe also includes apples but rather than parsnips, I chose carrots. A vegetable that is often associated with the development of clarity in the form of good eyesight.
Now, on to the recipe that the quote inspired.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to As We Eat to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.