Confiture De Figue, Fig Jam
Figs are one of those fruits that make me stop in my tracks at the market. Soft, plump, and so delicate they seem to bruise if you look at them too hard, figs announce the change of season with quiet elegance. In September, they are at their peak here in France, tender and honey-sweet, with […]
Roast Chicken French Style Oh La La
There is hardly a dish more significantly French than roast chicken. It’s a universal favorite at home, in the restaurant, at the market. For us, a Saturday market lunch often includes roast chicken that I buy from a farmer who roasts them “sur place,”. It’s hot when I buy it, it’s still hot when I turn […]
Grilled Pork Shoulder
SMOKY PORK SHOULDER EPAULE DE PORC FUMEE For the Marinade:3 tablespoons grainy mustard2 cloves garlic, minced1 tablespoon herbes de Provence (dried, from page xx); if using commercial herbes de Provence, try 2 teaspoons 1 teaspoon mild honey10 tablespoons (155ml) mild flavored beer One boneless pork shoulder that weighs about 3 pounds (1.5kg) 1. In a […]
Salted Caramel Sauce
SALT COD – BRANDADE DE MORUE
Salt cod becomes silken in this tempting dish from the Mediterranean coast of France.
Orange Marmalade
Try to find Seville (bitter) oranges for this, but if you cannot, use regular oranges. The marmalade will still be rich with orange flavor. And use organic fruit – it’s pure, and it will taste better!
Elegant Chocolate Chip Cookies
I am moving from two places at once. It’s a saga, an ordinary one you might say. But moving is never ordinary to the person who is experiencing it. Read more
White Asparagus and a Graduation
The small Dutch city of Wageningen was crackling with excitement recently, or so it seemed from my perspective amongst a group of master’s students that included my daughter Fiona, about to participate in their graduation ceremony. Because the pandemic had robbed them of their bachelor’s ceremony, the event took on epic proportions. The University […]
Voting in Europe
Yesterday was voting day for European elections. We had 38 official parties to choose from, and we all know who won. Pretty much throughout Europe. The wind is blowing to the right. My voting station is the nearest public high school, a five-minute walk from where I live, and I headed there mid-afternoon on Sunday. […]
More Voters, More Chances
This morning on the radio (France Culture, a French national treasure), I listened to two women debate the various economic proposals from parties running in the hastily called French elections. I’m no economist but I understand the basics, and it is horrifying to learn how weak so many of the proposals are. And unrealistic. I […]
