A walk, memories and a dream.

Yesterday, after work, I decided to go for a little walk around the block.

The walk took me past a farm (well, where I live, all my walks do). As I passed the cowshed, I got a whiff of that cowshed smell.

And, with it, a flood of memories.

My Granny and Grandpa used to have a farm in Constantine, Cornwall.

Everytime I go past a cowshed, I have a vivid memory of watching the cows being milked and of seeing the young calfs.

Now, accordingy to my father, Grandpa sold his farm when I was 9 years old – strange that I should have such detailed memories.

Last night, I had a strange dream. Normally, I don’t remember my dreams but, this one is still with me, now – many, many hours later.

Read more about… A walk, memories and a dream.

Work stuff.

Work has been strange again.

Last week, Marie France was on holiday and her replacement went sick.

Read more about… Work stuff.

Pot au Feu

I cook two different types of Pot au Feu. Neither are classic recipes – they just happen to work for me!

This is my recipe for the beef version.

I start off with a kilo of Plat Cotes de Boeuf. These are, basically, the ribs underneath the shoulder of a cow (or, more likely, a steer). I find that it is ideal in terms of quantity of fat, beef and bone – you need all three. It is, also, very cheap over here.

Read more about… Pot au Feu

Conger Steak – the easy way!

The fish van is came round this morning (whilst I was at work).

I had handed in my order to Michelle (the landlady of my local bar) – the fish are freshly bought off the boats earlier in the day – I went for a Conger steak, to be slowly cooked in wine with tomatoes and shallots and served on a bed of rice.

Almost Italian!

As, I was in a good mood, I even splashed out on a few prawnies, for my masters (the cats who have to be obeyed), as well!

However, when I got home, I decided to cheat and do something different.

I’m not sure if it was the thought of washing up that pointed me in the right direction but, I did make the right choice. So, what did I end up doing?… You’ll need to look at the Kitchen section of this site, to find out!

All the best

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Buying and Storing Garlic

OK. Some things that I have learnt about buying garlic…

Always buy it from the Saturday morning market at Josselin. Well this works for me but might cause you some problems – I can assure you, however – it’s worth making the effort. The supermarket stuff just isn’t the same.

Garlic is grown in the south of France (the good stuff, that is) and is picked in early to mid summer (depending upon the area) and then dried for three months (in warm air but out of direct sunlight). L’ail blond de Lomage & L’ail rond de Limousin are the first to be found. Then L’ail violet appears (a good keeping variety) and is finally followed (and out-classed) by the l’ail rose de Lautrec.

Read more about… Buying and Storing Garlic

Buying and Storing Tomatoes

Some general rules about buying and storing tomatoes. Once again, from the Saturday morning market at Josselin.

1). Only buy Tomatoes on the vine. Tomatoes that are still on the vine don’t know that they have been picked. They might notice that there’s no water coming up the vine but they’re probably used to that.

2). Only buy local Tomatoes. Tomatoes that come from Morocco, Spain or wherever have been picked too early (before they are ripe). The have spent days (or weeks) in the backs of lorries. They may even have been treated to special gasses to make them last longer. They are not Tomatoes – they are imposters. They have no taste and, if you eat them, neither do you!

3). Only buy what you need for today. Buy your tomatoes on a daily basis. It’s OK to buy just three or four (if you’re single like me). Choose them carefully – no-one will mind. If they do mind, change your supermarket.

4). Never, ever put tomatoes in the fridge. If you buy them on the vine (and thus, they don’t know they’re dead) – why try to freeze all the flavour out of them. Imagine how perky you’d be if someone shoved you in a dark cold fridge for a few hours – especially if you were used to being outside in the sunlight and warmth.

My tomatoes get kept in a basket on the bookcase (yes, the one that gets all the afternoon sunlight). Sure, they won’t last very long (a couple of days at most) but does that matter? Not at all – I buy my tomatoes every day.

All the best

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Tomatoes and Terrines

Terrines – They come in all sizes and colours and cost about 2 euros each.

Originally used for making pate (or similar), I have about a dozen and don’t get stressed if I break one. I tend to use them a lot.

Tete de Filet Mignon

One of the things I really like cooking in them is Tete de Filet Mignon.

The Filet Mignon is the muscle that, in a castrated male pig, doesn’t get used very much – not at all, in fact. It is the pig equivalent of filet steak in a cow (I should say, male castrated bovine animal here – a steer, in other words.)

Read more about… Tomatoes and Terrines

Summer Roast Chicken

I only cook roast chicken one way now.

I got the recipe from Nigel Slater’s Appetite – surely one of the most sensible (and sensual) cooking books ever.

All you need are as follows…

A good chicken
Butter
A lemon
Garlic (of course!) – a whole head, cut in half

Read more about… Summer Roast Chicken

Too Much Olive Oil?

Perhaps I have too much olive oil at home. Many food writers (including the best, Nigel Slater) argue that, in the countries where the olives are grown and olive oil is a vital part of the diet, there will only be two bottles of olive oil in the kitchen. One will have been decanted from a tin drum and will have cost tuppence a litre. The other will have come in a bottle and will have probably have been a present from a friend or a neighbour who has grown and pressed their own.

Read more about… Too Much Olive Oil?

Conger Steak, the easy way!

The fish van is came round this morning (whilst I was at work).

I had handed in my order to Michelle (the landlady of my local bar) – the fish are freshly bought off the boats earlier in the day.

I went for a Conger steak, to be slowly cooked in wine with tomatoes and shallots and served on a bed of rice.

Almost Italian!

As, I was in a good mood, I even splashed out on a few prawnies, for my masters (the cats who have to be obeyed), as well!

Read more about… Conger Steak, the easy way!

Gallettes and a poem

As I’ve stated before, I often, after a hard day’s work, pop into my local bar for a beer and a chat. It’s not so much that I need an alcohol infusion – what I really need is a break between work (which is becoming more and more difficult for me) and home.

Read more about… Gallettes and a poem

Random wafflings

Often, after a hard day’s work, I pop into my local bar for a beer and a chat. It’s a very quiet bar and certainly not for tourists. Michelle, the landlady, seems to have taken me under her wing (perhaps she does that with everyone).

Read more about… Random wafflings