Written on Tuesday, April 26th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
local produce, recipes
Here’s a cheap and easy potato dish that I first ate at University. I think it originates from Northumberland.
This is great on its own but even better with merguez sausages.
It just takes a few minutes to prepare and roughly 45mins in the oven.
You need:
450g large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
40g butter or 2 tblsp olive oil if you prefer
250g onions, peeled and thinly sliced
75g beef dripping (if you can’t get this then goose fat or more butter will do)
115g mature Cheddar cheese (Conte would be just fine too), grated
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Heat the oven to 375 °F/190 °C/Gas 5
Cook the onions in the butter until soft but not browned.
Melt half the dripping (or extra butter) in an ovenproof dish. Remove from the heat then arrange a layer of potatoes in the pan, then a layer of onions followed by a layer of cheese, season with salt and pepper then repeat finishing with a layer of potatoes.
Put the pan on to a medium heat and fry for a few minutes or until the bottom layer of potatoes is brown. Dot the surface of the potatoes with the remaining dripping (or butter). Put into the preheated oven and bake for approx 30 minutes. Increase temperature to 425°F/220°C/ Gas 7. Return pan to the oven and cook for a further 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Written on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
local produce, vegetables
Which are your favourite varieties of potatoes to grow? Do you stick with your tried and tested ones or ring the changes each year? If you have a garden in England and also one in France do you grow the same varieties or find that different ones thrive better in the warmer climes?
I love their weird names too: pentland javelin and rocket are two of my favourite early crop ones. Award for the strangest name must go to Pink Fir Apple those odd knobbly shaped potatoes that make a fabulous gratin.
The potato is so versatile and yet so underrated.
Written on Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Iris
One of things I really look forward to in late spring are the banks of majestic purple irises proudly standing tall in the front garden. We do have a few lilac coloured irises too but they literally pale in significance beside the deeper richer hues of the others. No wonder the Romans considered purple a royal colour. Somehow I never have the heart to cut them for arrangements in the house.
Irises
But you have to pay for such beauty! Irises must be one of the most work intensive flowers that exist. Not only do you have to cut back the spent blooms and stalks but later in the season as the leaves die back they too need clearing out. And if you want to maximise your blooms the tubers need to be lifted and separated from time to time.
Written on Saturday, April 9th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
garden, market
The weather here has been glorious and with all the sunshine everything in the garden has gone beserk. I love this time of year – not only do all the established areas of the garden miraculously burst into life once more, but it’s the perfect time to visit a ‘pepiniere’ (garden centre). When I first bought Chateau Colombier French garden centres were a scarcity but over recent years more and more have appeared, and flower gardens are becoming as common as potagers here. Of course, the local market in Nyons is another great source for all types of plants from the smallest alpines to huge olive trees. It’s one of the parts of the market that I find it most enjoyable to just wander around.
Seedlings or bulbs, flowers or vegetables I can’t resist them. Someone once told me that gardeners divide into two types: the planter and the pruner. Which are you? I’m sure you can guess which I am!
I’m also looking forward to the annual flower market, the first weekend in May. Glad that Jean will be with me to help decide on what to buy (and to help with the planting).
Written on Tuesday, April 5th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
swimming pool
One of the problems of dividing one’s life between a flat in London and Chateau Colombier is finding people who can help with maintenance. With a large property there is always something that needs attention, apart from the ongoing tasks like cleaning and pool maintenance. Guests naturally expect sparkling clear water and a pristine pool to swim in. As I am not always here to be hands on in this department I set about finding a company that would provide said maintenance.
Now, you would think that in an area of Provence where pools are pretty common this would not be a problem! Think again! Two of us were on the case for several weeks before finding someone willing to take it on. Same goes for finding help with cleaning or routine DIY tasks – you find someone, get it all organised and then after a few weeks or months it all falls apart and you have to start looking again. And surprisingly this type of work doesn’t come cheap in France. Fingers crossed I now seem to have a great team of helpers set up for the season. Watch out for more details on the CC team – coming soon on the main page.
