Lauren Bacall, Paris & a favorite recipe

I came across this recipe and sentiment this week by 

Lauren Bacall for a lovely watercress and potato soup

and wanted to share it as a little part of the amazing 

woman that she was behind the glamour.

  

Lauren Bacall and husband Humphrey Bogart enjoy cocktails in Paris on March 23, 1951

 She writes…

"This recipe has been chosen by me as a favorite recipe for the simple, logical reason that I had it for the first time on my first trip to the most beautiful city in the world, Paris. It was a happy time, as it always is in Paris, so I pass this on hoping that a flavor of the city of the chestnut trees will be felt by all who have Potage Cressonniere."

Potage Cressonniere  (Watercress Soup) 

Servings 6 – 8

1 lb potatoes
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ pints milk (heated)
one bunch of watercress
1 oz butter

Peel the potatoes, quarter them and boil them in salted water until tender.

 Drain, crush them with a potato-masher, and when free from all lumps add the boiling milk and salt.

 While the potatoes are soaking, wash and pick the leaves off the watercress and chop roughly.

Add to the soup and cook for 5-6 minutes.

Take off the fire and add the butter.

Pour into a hot tureen and serve.

I'll be making this tonight.

(Maybe with a little champagne to toast Ms. Bacall!)

ciao! fabiana