Dinner at home

On friday night, we had a dinner party at home.  We had invited friends who have done many favours for us in the past, but because of my cough, the event had been postponed; however, I reached the point where, cough or no cough, I decided that we simply had to start living again!   I tried to make the menu as simple, but as tasty as possible.  As usual, the camera was forgotten at critical moments, but I did remember to take photos from time to time!!

The table ready for our guests. I have given up putting wine glasses on the table, as everyone seems to already have a glass in hand when we sit down to eat!!

We started with home-made celery soup; I used celery from the garden and the recipe I used was published HERE a few months ago. 


Of course, there was plenty of fresh French bread  to accompany the second course of fish mousse/pate, made to my recipe which I published very recently HERE.

The main course of beef casserole was not recorded by the camera!  I made up the recipe for 6 people, more or less as follows!  I fried up a few lardons, sliced onions and leeks, then added  2 kg of meat cut into chunks, together with a couple of sliced carrots. I cooked it all, turning the meat until it was browned.  Then I stirred in a couple of tablespoons of flour and  a bottle of red wine was added, still stirring until the mixture started to bubble.  I then seasoned with salt and pepper and some herbes de provence (mixed herbs); finally, I added a packet of quartered fresh mushrooms and a tablespoon of tomato paste.  I allowed the casserole to simmer very slowly, until the meat was tender.  It was just a case of adding what I felt it needed for flavour, very DIY!  We served the beef with mashed garlic potato, cooked chestnuts, peas and carrots.

This was followed by the cheese course, for which I again forgot the camera, but I have tried below to re-create the cheese board, with the some of the selection of cheese left in the fridge!

On the platter above are  (clockwise)- Emmental Français, Morbier, Coulommiers de caractère (mature), Petit Munster Géromé,  with  a morsel of Saint Agur in the centre.  The Comté was finished!

We finished off with a quince and apple tart.

Again, there was no recipe and it was very much DIY.   I lined the pie dish with bought pastry (I like saving time), and I blind cooked it for 20 mins.   I then filled the pie with quince that I had frozen last year, when I had so much from our tree.  I did cook it up lightly beforehand and I added a little sugar and cinnamon to taste.  I then sliced three large apples and cooked them very gently in a large non stick frying pan, in a mixture of lemon juice, a little butter, cinnamon and sugar.  When lightly cooked, but still holding their shape, I placed them on top of the quince.  The tart went into the oven  at 180C (350F) when we had our main course and by the time we had finished the cheese, it was ready to eat.

The dinner went well and it appeared that everyone went home more than satisfied!

I have also just updated My Life Before Charente.

Recipe : Salmon Mousse

Salmon Mousse   Courtesy of The Housewives League of South Africa 1978


2 tins salmon drained and flaked - about 400 grammes total
1½ Tablespoons gelatine
Boiling water to mix gelatine as directed on the packet. 
2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar (or plain white vinegar)
2 Tablespoons grated onion (this is an eye watering process!)
1 Teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon tomato sauce
½ Teaspoon fine table salt
½ Cup crème fraiche or whipped cream
½ Cup mayonnaise
Tabasco sauce to taste. 


Mix the gelatine as directions on packet.   Make up to 2½ cups of liquid, mix until dissolved.  Add the sauces and vinegar stirring well, then the onion, salt and Tabasco.  Stir well and then add the crème fraiche and the mayonnaise. Mix well; I used a wand liquidiser.  Add the flaked salmon and mix well again.  Put into wet mould and chill.  


When set, just run a little warm water over the outside of the mould to turn it out easily. Hey presto, you have a great starter, or it is fantastic served with bread and salad as a light luncheon.   


I did not use my fish mould as there was a lack of room in my fridge. Instead, I filled four medium size pate dishes and turned each out onto a plate, served  with a little parsley and some lemon twists.


P.S. This could also be made with tinned tuna.

Enjoy! We did!

What a Bargain and a Trip to Oxford.

Firstly, I would like to say my thoughts are with all those followers who have family and friends in Japan.  We seem to be getting bad news far too often these days. Yet another natural disaster; they  are  happening worldwide at the moment.

Last week I went to the supermarket to see if I could get some fish, as stocks in the freezer were running low . We are both very fond of all kinds of fish and would happily eat it in preference to meat.   When I got there, I was disappointed to find that there was almost no selection and nothing really of interest.  I was about to walk away, when a couple who had been standing in front of me moved aside, and I saw a whole salmon marked down from £21 to £13. I snapped it up very quickly, as I realised that I could fillet it and cut it into steaks, much cheaper than I could buy them pre-cut.  Salmon steaks here  are now generally around £6 for two!!

On arriving home, I set to work and somehow I must have cut one side of the fish into slightly larger steaks than the other, as I ended up with 15 steaks!!!  We had two the same night and I have frozen the remainder for Nigel to have when I return to France.  It is one meal he finds easy to cook in a hurry and he never has a lot of time when he returns from work in the evening. I was really pleased with myself, as 15 pre-cut steaks would have cost me £45; what a bargain.

 On Monday, Anne and I went to Oxford for the day.  I seldom go there, as I shop locally rather than struggle to a town where parking is very expensive. We went on the bus and as I have a free bus pass, it seemed like a good idea :-).  It was a fantastic trip, especially for me, as Anne knows her way around the town and took me to places I have never seen before.  I took so many photos that I am going to need time to sort them all out and try to remember where they all were!!  What I did think though, was as this post started out about fish, I would show you some of the photos  I took which were connected with food.

These were all taken in the covered market, which is an absolute delight to walk around.  Please note that some of these photos will not enlarge; Google is up to its tricks again!!

I did not buy any fish here, as I did not want to smell fishy going home on the bus!!!

This stand looked so fresh and colourful.

Mmmmmmm no comment!

Anne taking a look at the garden and flower section.

and Anne looking for Nigel's favourite French cheese

Well done Anne, she has found it - Fourme d'Ambert; Nigel was happy.

No, I did not buy any meat either

but I did buy some South African sausages here

Boerewors, which we had for dinner on Monday night with traditional pap (Maize or Mealie Meal) and sous (tomato and onion sauce) it was really yummy and an almost forgotten South African treat.  We ate it with great glee and I forgot to take any photos!

If you want your shoes fixed here, is the traditional cobbler.

We also made a visit to the old sweet shop, where Anne spent a bit of money. I carefully kept my hand in my pocket, thinking of what would happen to the scales if I got carried away here!  To see more on the sweet shop, Anne has some fantastic photos HERE 

Chocolate spoons - yummy

I loved that tin in the centre

Need I say more; whiskey fudge!

and, last but not least, whirly pops!