When we lived in the U.S. we had a gas grill and mon mari did all of the summer cooking on it. A few years before we left he added a charcoal smoker. We loved the smoker so much that, when we were packing up all of our worldly goods to move across the pond we bought another one. We didn’t want to risk having a well-used and smelly smoker … Continue reading →
Our most recent lock-down was lifted this week, although the 7pm curfew remains for another 2 weeks. When the pandemic first started I got into the habit of stocking and cooking from my pantry. I’m used to it now, and rather like not having to go out to do the shopping as often. Plus it’s given me an excellent excuse to try new combinations in old foods…. Like marinated artichoke … Continue reading →
One of the changes to our summer this year, due to the pandemic, is an abundance of herbs. We have planters on the deck surrounding the pool. Last year they were full of geraniums and petunias and lavender. Due to lock-down we didn’t get to the garden store to buy plants this year. But I always have herb seeds on hand….. I filled all the planters with a variety of … Continue reading →
There was a time, long ago, when smoked salmon was a rare, decadent, treat. I used to order it from Williams Sonoma, back when it was still only a catalog company (at least in Minneapolis). I would place my order in late November for a Christmas delivery and it would arrive, from Scotland, packed in dry ice, just in time for the holidays. It was wonderful. When we lived in … Continue reading →
I think I posted the ‘last risotto of the season’ a few months ago. Then lock-down happened and I started cooking according to what was in the fridge and pantry plus what could be ordered online. This being France the items that are considered essential enough to be available for online ordering are perhaps different than what one would find in other countries. I could have ordered all the chocolate … Continue reading →
The French term for a savory, baking powder bread is ‘cake’. Really….. They even give it a proper English pronunciation. But, being American, calling this a cake just doesn’t seem right. And it’s not really a sweet / tea bread either. I settled on Savory Bread…. but it’s not really bread either. Whatever you call it, it was good sliced as is or with a dab of goat cheese and … Continue reading →
My supermarket is being remodeled. Admittedly it was looking rather tired and could use the work but does remodeling also have to involve rearranging? Yes, I understand the marketing wisdom of moving everything around so that shoppers can’t go directly to pick up what they need. If they have to wander the store aimlessly for days they may succumb to impulse buying thus boosting store profits. Understanding it doesn’t mean … Continue reading →
