summer cooking

Ratatouille: A creative challenge

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Ratatouille: a  cooked melange of summer vegetables that originated in Nice and is popular, in various versions, throughout the Mediterranean countries. As with most country classics, there are as many recipes as there are cooks. Everyone seems to agree on most of the ingredients: Aubergine (eggplant) Bell peppers, any color Onion Garlic Courgette (zucchini) Tomatoes … Continue reading…

Creamy Cucumber Salad; Free Cars!

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I think I’d like to be a philanthropist when I grow up. I used to want to be a paleontologist, but a philanthropist sounds like a lot more fun… And much cleaner. Now, if I could only get someone (Bill Gates, perhaps?) to give me a few million dollars I could get right at it. … Continue reading…

Steak Caesar Pasta Salad; Com’on, have a guess!!!!

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These last three mornings I have gotten up with the best of intentions; none of which have come to fruition. You all know the type of day: first the phone rings, then the neighbor stops by, then this, then that, and before one can blink the sun is setting. All of these little interactions take … Continue reading…

Brined and Grilled Cornish Hens; The Weekly Menu Plan

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Brined and Grilled Cornish Hens I’ve had a crazy, busy week: my s-i-l flew over last Friday to help us pack…. And OMG, did we ever get a lot done!  All of the fussy stuff is packed, most of the books (not the cookbooks) and everything that needs dusting.  Our house looks rather bare but … Continue reading…

Smoked Salmon, Salmon Salad; Quest for a Wine Barrel

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It’s not always easy living in France (or any ‘other’ country). We don’t really understand ‘them’. They don’t really understand ‘us’. Most cultural mores are ingrained in childhood and we don’t understand our own let alone someone else’s. So, we all get frustrated at times…which is what makes it interesting. A lot has been written … Continue reading…