I rarely buy fresh vegetables until my winter squashes are gone but I can vary our diet a bit by using pantry staples.
I always have lentils on hand, usually 3 or 4 different kinds. They don’t need soaking and cook much faster than dried beans, usually in about 20 minutes.
The red or coral lentils cook much quicker and … Continue reading.....
I love barley.
As a child the beef barley soup in the red and white can was my favorite.
Sometimes, I even make a proper Beef Barley Soup or even Beef Vegetable Barley Soup.
But this one is easy – no stock to make first…
I didn’t even use beef – just grabbed a pack of sausages I had … Continue reading.....
Mon mari has been cooking on the barbecue grill for, well let’s just say a lot of years….
He does an excellent job, rarely cooking anything longer than necessary, and even more rarely burning something.
He’s never been bothered about getting the perfect grill lines on a steak or chicken breast. He is, however, always very careful to get the … Continue reading.....
I’m getting to be very fond of skillet dinners.
If the timing is right, and it usually is, I can put the skillet on the heat, chop / cut and fry for 15 minutes. cover for another 15 minutes to finish and dinner is done in half an hour.
I use a big skillet so there is a lot of … Continue reading.....
It was inevitable that pumpkin find its way into a quiche this winter.
And raclette cheese.
They were both leftovers, and I do love to use up the odd bits.
For those who don’t know raclette is both a cheese and a meal.
A raclette dinner normally consist of meats, usually charcuterie, of some sort, boiled potatoes, small pickles, pickled … Continue reading.....
I’m down to 7 butternut squashes and 2 big pumpkins.
Guapa is helping now.
After her bout with an intestinal upset I didn’t feed her for 18 hours. I had intended it to be 24 but I couldn’t hold out against that pleading look any longer.
Then I gave her the recommended white rice.
Turns out she’d rather starve….
Upon … Continue reading.....
I got a seed catalog the other day….
We all know what that means: Spring is Coming !!!
And with warmer weather comes outdoor cooking and grilling chicken.
Ever since I watched Nigella Lawson spatchcock a chicken I’ve wanted to try it.
Okay, I’ve wanted mon mari to try it – he’s in charge of grilling, after all.
I’ve explained … Continue reading.....
I found a great new source for good beef here: the vegetable store.
There is a chain of supermarkets here in France, called Grand Frais (big fresh). When I first started going there it was 90% fruits and vegetables, with a side aisle of international packaged foods – dried mushrooms, specialty rices, Italian canned tomatoes, etc. and a small butcher … Continue reading.....
