I have a very dear friend whom I have known since university days, who is a pretty strict vegetarian. No leather handbags or shoes or buffalo hide jackets for this girlie, oh no, even her cats have been raised as vegetarians, at least whilst in her presence . (You know how canny cats can be…
Category: Food
Indian Spice and all things nice
It has been noted before on this blog – please see any of the numerous posts involving food! – that we are lucky enough to have our very own Masterchef here on the Hillside. I wish that I could claim that title for myself but I confess to being much more at home pointing my…
The Colour Purple & Red Onions
This week I was instructed by my very own Masterchef Mr H, to purchase some red onions on my weekly supermarket trip. Yes there are indeed penalties to pay for having one’s own gourmet chef – the eternal washing up, frequent cleaning of kitchen and dreaded supermarket run to name but three. I was however…
French Essence # 3 – Macaroons à la Française
I have always thought of macaroons (macarons) as a particularly French delicacy, a delightfully diminutive round cake, crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle made from ground almonds, sugar and egg whites. Endless varieties of flavouring and delicate pastel colours can be found in tempting tower displays in the finest French patisseries. …
French Essence #2 – Wine
A few years ago we worked for a while with a French estate agent helping to select properties we thought might appeal to potential English buyers. Given most people’s romantic notion of the perfect French dreamhouse, it was not difficult to dismiss the ranks of ugly concrete shoe boxes and Spanish style haciendas which sadly…
Sweets to the Sweet – BonBons and Marshmallows
For anyone with a sweet tooth France is probably the closest you can get to confection heaven. Bonbons, dragées, macaroons, sweet cakes, patisseries, brioche, chocolate truffles, nougat, meringues – the list of sugary delights is long and enticing. I have personally always had rather more of a weakness for savoury rather than sugary but…
French Essence #1 – Garlic
If asked to sum up the essence of French culture the average Francophile would probably come up with an impressive list, amongst which would undoubtably feature haute couture, Hermès, Coco Chanel, Dior, an array of philosophers, playwrights Voltaire, Molière, great novelists Victor Hugo, cinema, Brigitte Bardot, Gerard Dépardieu, Bordeaux wines, cognac, champagne, Paris, Versailles, Marie…
Recipe : Asparagus, prosciutto and baked goat cheese………
A simple supper of delicious ingredients, perfect for two. Ingredients : A bunch of asparagus, washed, trimmed and peeled. 10 slices of Italian Prosciutto ham or similar. Clove of garlic sliced into matchsticks. A sprig of thyme. 160 grams of Saint Marcellin soft goat cheese or similar. Crusty bread to accompany. Blanch…
Strawberries and cream………..
“Strawberries are the angels of the earth, innocent and sweet with green leafy wings reaching heavenward.” ~Terri Guillemet Strawberries and cream All photos © Jane Morley
View from a French Hillside 