Yes, I know I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t resist that title.
And it is true….
They’re not wearing anything and they are Blondes!
Blondes being the local beef cattle…. and the sun was shining.
In the Vendee the cattle were Charolais.
The local farmer just let them out into this pasture, cows, newly-born calves and bulls, and they appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Basking in the sun.
And after they enjoy a summer in the sun…..
In my opinion, the beef here is wonderful for braises and slow-cooking, but for the barbecue we like the veal.
It’s ‘country’ veal, which is grass fed, and butchered at an older age. It’s the color of lamb or pork and very tender. We prefer it medium rare, and lightly flavored.
Veal Chops with Herbs, Lemon and Garlic
Preparation and cooking time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 veal chops, preferably center- cut and an inch thick
- 2 tbs fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tbs snipped fresh marjoram or oregano
- Sea salt
- Pepper
Instructions:
- Mince garlic.
- Snip herbs.
- Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, herbs and garlic.
- Spoon over chops and allow to marinate for 20 – 30 minutes.
- Grill chops on barbecue for 3 – 5 minutes per side, depending on how thick and how done you want them or broil about the same amount of time.
- Brush once with any reserved marinade.
- Sprinkle with a bit of sea salt, grind some pepper and serve.
Work continues on the dining room. Now that the wallpaper is off, the walls appear to be in pretty good shape – just a bit of patching and work on the seams.
Of course a new floor needs to be laid and wiring done. We like more than one outlet in a room.
On the outside, the potager is doing well. I continue to add string and twine to the top of the fence and put the little wooden fence around the bottom wherever the bunnies try digging.
And I continue to hope everything gets big before the bunnies get hungry. For some reason they only munch on young plants.
The gates are done for the new fence. Guapa is guarding the gate to the new herb garden.
Doesn’t she look like a good dog?
Looks are deceiving.
Since the fince has been finished, Bonnie has not escaped…. But Guapa has, 3 times.
It seems she has a nose for finding the little nooks and crannies where mon mari forgot to finish attaching the fasteners. We think it’s all secure now.
Maybe.
p
The veal looks picture-perfect. More and more – veal is indeed butchered older – maybe the backlash from the public? Growing up with Italian food, veal and lamb were a mainstay. (And not as expensive). My garden looks paltry next to yours – what fun you will have!
I love veal chops. What a fabulous recipe. Looks delicious!
Love the crestfallen look on Guapa’s face. She is plotting her next escape.
I love all the pictures with first one being my favorite! Lovely veal chops.
The veal looks delicious! I can’t find veal where we live very often – I wish!
Dogs can be such Houdini’s !! I can leave the front door wide open and Ginny will not go out – it took intensive training though !
That’s a veal chop of happiness … happiness I don’t think Guapa is feeling 😉 what would life be if we remembered to fasten all the fasteners!
Dogs! What we do for them. We have chosen to have people house sit and dog sit for us while we are in France just so our sweet Daisy doesn’t have to suffer separation problems.
Claudia, I agree about the older veal – and we love lamb. Garden is starting to produce food – love it!
Veronica, thanks – we like it better than beef
Pam, yes, she is… I have to watch them constantly LOL
Marina, thaks ;-))
Ina, lucky or us veal and lamb are plentiful and reasonable here
manningroad, bunnies pre-empt any training
Tanna,that would take all the fun out of life.
Penny, we always had house sitters for our dogs in US, too…. Same reason. We have a really good kennel here.
I remember last spring, when I put in my new veg garden, that the bunnies would tear it up even with the lattes fence. But then something funny happened, all the bunnies where gone. it took me about a month to figure it out and I was happy when I did. I had a great hawk that would hunt from the pine at the corner of the property…he is still doing a great job keeping my garden in one piece