Gwen’s Blog

TOPIC: France

Farmer’s Market Booty

I love the Farmer’s Market, I go once or twice a week year-round.  Yesterday I bought some knobbly wild mushrooms.  As you can see, I drew them before I ate them. The recipe below is really delicious.

8" by 8" on paper

This makes a great hors-d’oevre, you can make it ahead of time and better yet, you can eat as much as you want sans souci.  I’m not sure where I found the recipe, I’ve had it for so long; but it was probably Cooking Light magazine, a source of many of my favorite recipes.  Of course I’ve changed it a wee bit. Let me know your favorite mushroom recipe.

Champignons  Sans Souci

“No Worry Mushrooms”, but it sounds better in French.

1/4  cup rice vinegar
1  tablespoon sugar
2  tablespoons fresh lime juice
1  tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1/4  teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4  teaspoon salt
4  garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1  teaspoon grated orange rind
2  teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1  teaspoon dark sesame oil
1/2  teaspoon grated lemon or lime rind
1  pound mushrooms, halved or if very large, quartered
2  tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Combine first 7 ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; stir in orange rind, oils, and lime rind. Combine vinegar mixture and mushrooms in a large bowl; toss well to combine. Cover; refrigerate overnight. Add parsley; toss to combine.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: about 2/3 cup)

Door Knockers, a universal symbol of welcome

“Le Heurtoir” is my favorite type of door adornment.  The 18th century  door knocker reminds me of  my former profession,  jewelry design. Like jewelry, the design must satisfy definite requirements: it must be both handsome and  sturdy enough to be worn.  La Cascade’s door knocker  has lasted, along with the door,  for over 300 years.

Watercolor, pen and ink on paper.  6″ by 8″

Click on image to enlarge.


Bienvenue

Gwen

Gwen

I welcome those of you who have been captivated by our corner of rural France, as well as those of you who dream of joining us one day.

I hope that the pages listed on the sidebars  answer your questions about the logistics of teaching and taking classes at La Cascade and that the blog with its scatterings of news, stories, observations, sketches and photos will bring fresh glimpses into the magic that is France.