I was very lucky this Christmas to be given some lovely wine! In fact my ex son-in-law sent me a
chocolate and wine hamper.

However I’m not going to discuss wine this month. I’m thinking about WATER!  What I miss most about not living in France is being near water. Our first property was on the Vendeen Corniche. It was called “Les Vagues” (The Waves) and was so close to the sea that, even in July spume like snowballs hit our windows! Then we moved south and bought a flat on the only part of France surrounded by the Mediterranean. Next we moved to Ste. Maxima on the Gulf of St. Tropez. Again fabulous sea views. When my husband was no longer with me I moved to Aix-en-Provence. No, it’s not on the coast, but it is a town built on thermal springs. Aix in Provencal means water!

Jean Cocteau said “Aix, un aveugle croit qu’il pleut. ( "Aix, a blind man would think it was always raining.”)

Why? It’s because wherever you walk you hear the sound of  splashing water.There are fountains everywhere. The beautiful main boulevard is called “Le Cour Mirabeau” It’s like a miniature Paris! I shopped there daily! Down the centre of the “Cour” are four fountains, the traffic moves slowly in order to negotiate them. The most famous one is a moss covered rock from which spouts warm water. People flock to Aix-en-Provence for the thermal “cures.” Supermarkets have whole aisles full of various bottled waters. Each “brand name” is bought  for different reasons: best for babies, good for slimming, etc.

Hotwells, here in Bristol, was of course a popular place to drink the waters. In the basement of our Post Office we had a well! As I had a vivid imagination, I thought that one day it would make our
fortune!! The four most popular towns for thermal waters in our country are Bath, Buxton, Harrogate and Matlock Spa.

As space is limited I’ll only talk about Bath. When I think about that city, I always remember Jane Austen. We can tell from her many novels how much she herself enjoyed visits there. Bath was said to have been founded in 863B.C. Then the Romans redeveloped it. It fell into decline but was rejuvenated by the visits of Queen Anne. Have you ever drunk the water there? I needed some chocolate afterwards to take the taste away!! The foundation stone for “The Royal Mineral Water Hospital” was laid in 1738 by the Rt. Hon. William Pulteney The hospital (known locally as “The Min”) is now called The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases. In 1978, the hospital was the third from last of the English hydropathic hospitals to stop offering hydropathy treatment.

NEWS FLASH

This year a new natural spa hotel is opening in Beau Street. “The Gainsborough Bath Spa” will use water from the thermal springs for a range of treatments. Tempted??

COOKERY IDEAS

With the weather calling for warming meals, why not make a “Beef and Dumpling Stew”?

I’m sure that many of you have your own recipes. Here is mine. For four people you need about 800grms of braising steak cut into small chunks. Vegetables are your choice but I suggest 250grms each of shallots and carrots. I cut the shallots into halves and slice the carrots. Brown them in a frying pan with olive oil until they have softened. Tip them into your casserole. I use a Le Creuset pot but perhaps you prefer to use a slow cooker. In the same frying pan, but adding some more olive oil, brown your steak on all sides. Don’t be impatient, do this slowly!

As each batch browns add to your vegetables, sprinkle with some plain flour and stir gently. Add good stock, tomato pureé and, if you are like me, two glasses of red wine! The better the wine, the better the dish! Now add a bunch of your favourite herbs plus salt and pepper to taste. I add some garlic. Cover your pot and cook VERY slowly for about 6 hours.

During this time, make your dumplings. Mix 200grms of self raising flour with 100grms of suet (I use Atora but there is a vegetarian version if you are making a non-meat stew) Add salt and enough water to make a fairly firm dough. Shape into “golf ball look alikes”. Take out the herbs and add the
dumplings for the last hour of cooking.

Please ask me if you would like to borrow my book (in English) about Aix-en-Provence

I wish you all a Fun Filled Fantastic February

Esmé

January... always a hopeful month! It’s the start of a New Year so it’s exciting and full of possibilities for change.

As regular readers know, I have a passion for France and all things French. I’ll explain about one of the January customs in France.

All the Boulangeries (cake shops) sell their “Galette des Rois”. A galette is a cross between a tart and a cake. Each region has it’s own recipe. When we lived in the Côte d’Azur they had an almond flavour. “Roi” is the word for King and you will realise why it is in the title. In the galette, is hidden a “fêve”, which is a small china ornament.

It’s rather the same idea as our grandparents hiding a silver 6d in the Christmas pudding! It’s considered very lucky to find the “fève”. You become “King” and you wear the golden crown that is always sold with the galette. Now if you cut the slices, the knife might hit the fêve and the person doing the cutting could then choose to whom they gave the lucky portion. Therefore the youngest person sitting around the table has to sit under it. He or she then calls out each name so that it is pure chance who gets the lucky fêve!

I’m always pleased when readers share with me their thoughts on the things that I have written. My neighbour, Peter, told me that Jolly’s in Bath is still very much in business, they must have been trading for over 70 years! However, he said that the "Red House” where we always had afternoon tea after our shopping spree, is now a branch of Laura Ashley!

He also told me some interesting facts about Marmalade. I have  always supposed that it originated in Spain because Seville oranges are often used. No! The Portuguese made the first “orange jam”. Marie Antoinette was said to be very fond of it. Why was it called Marmalade? Peter told me that Mary Queen of Scots was often unwell. One of the few things she could eat was a confiture (jam) made of oranges. Her staff were French and when she asked for it they would say to each other “Marie est malade” (Mary is ill) which sounded to the English as though they were saying “Marmalade”!

As I’ve explained before, I use Bonne Maman jam in my cooking. I usually bring some back from France as it’s cheaper there. In September I brought back orange, blackcurrant and raspberry flavours. Why didn’t I bring back mandarin? You can’t buy it in the north of France, yet they sell it at Downend Co-op. Another mystery ... a friend of mine in Brittany was left a field by his Godmother in which he grew potatoes and cauliflowers. The latter cost more to buy in his village than the ones transported over here!

COOKERY IDEAS

Do you like Cauliflower Cheese? When I make it, I usually fry some rashers of bacon until they are crispy, and then I scatter little bits over the melted cheese. If you want to vary the dish you can add sliced potatoes to the cauliflower, make the cheese sauce using single cream and top with sliced tomatoes flavoured with nutmeg (or garlic).

FASHION TIPS

Now that the sales are in full swing, if you see a sleeveless dress that you really want, but you need sleeves, there is a solution. If the item is a real bargain, buy two. You get one in your proper size and the second in the largest size on sale. You then make the sleeves from the second dress. You can use the sleeves from an old dress that you no longer wear as a pattern. I often do this and there is usually enough fabric to make a scarf or pleated belt as well.

Finally, a story against myself. A character in “Emmerdale” was shot in the “Woolpack”. I saw her advertising a competition on TV and thought “She’s recovered quickly”. I was confusing the real person with her “soap life”! Perhaps I watch too much television!

I wish you all a true-life 2014. Enjoy each day.

Esmé

I love Christmas and hope that you do too. My one regret is that it doesn’t last long enough. It’s lucky that the New Year celebrations follow it so that the elated “buzz” is extended. This year we plan to welcome 2014 in France!

My son was here to visit me last week as it was “half term” and he comes to spend some time with me every school holiday. His general knowledge is far better than mine. On reading my article in the October about my young French friend thinking that Welsh rarebit was rabbit—Rowan told me that originally the English called it “Welsh Rabbit”. They were mocking the Welsh for using cheese as they couldn’t afford rabbit!

When he read what I wrote about Luke Howard naming the clouds (see previous post) he told me that  Luke named one special cloud — cloud nine — which led to the expression “I’m feeling on cloud nine”.

I feel on cloud nine when I buy new clothes! I’ve had a new dress for Christmas ever since I was born! Every December my grandmother, aunt, mother and myself went to Bath and we all bought our dresses from Jolly’s—a large dress store in Milsom Street. Then we had a cream tea in “the Red house”. I don’t know if these two establishments still exist! This year I’ve bought yet another L.B.D (Little black dress).

It’s made of lace, and no I didn’t go to Bath. I bought it from the comfort of my lounge - as I am a fan of Q.V.C. (television shopping). Little black dresses (or navy ones) are so useful as they can be dressed up or worn casually. If you want to change one of yours without spending much—why not buy a necklace/collar? Many shops have them this year. I’ve seen them in white pearls, black stones, rhinestones or in gold and silver colours.

Another idea is to wear a pretty scarf. I’ve made some wide floaty ones that can be spread out, then belted to look part of the dress. You need to feel confident so that you forget what you are wearing and just enjoy yourself!

You may already have planned what you will be eating on Christmas Day. If you will be on your own—SPOIL YOURSELF! Last year several people said to me “Oh, it was no different from every other day!”

MAKE IT DIFFERENT. If I was catering for myself I would have my favourite box of chocolates and not feel guilty if I ate them all! Breakfast would be mid-morning, probably some smoked salmon with champagne or rosé wine. I would eat it in bed as I am not fond of getting up early! There would be a good book waiting to be read and a pile of favourite magazines.

Lunch would be simple, no feeling of having to cook for one. I would open up a tin of M&S white crab meat to eat with some rocket, an avocado, mayonnaise and mandarin marmalade (Bonne Maman). Do I hear you gasp with horror? Mandarin is no more odd than the grapes that are often eaten with a salad—and much less “sharp”.

I would make certain that my dinner was prepared the day before. I’d just heat up a duck casserole and fry some sliced potatoes (already boiled when I made the duck dish) in butter, olive oil and garlic until golden and crispy. Then more chocolates and my favourite wine.

I like “Moulin á Vent” (Windmill) for several reasons. When my son and his friends did grape picking to earn some pocket money, the family who produced “Moulin á Vent” treated the young workers very well and they sat down with the family each evening to share the same meal! Actually, it also tastes very good.

Better still. if you find that your choice of TV isn’t enough company—invite someone to join you for dinner! Make it someone whose company you know you’ll enjoy. I’ve never spent Christmas on my own—but if it happens—I’ll follow my own advice!

Finally why not join us at Frenchay Church  on Sunday December 22nd (it starts at 6pm) for “CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT”? It’s a lovely start to Christmas and you would be made very welcome. A bonus—you could have a hot drink and mince-pies afterwards. I’ll be helping to serve—so if you don’t know me (or if you do!) please come and say “Hello”-

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas!

                                                             Esmé

OCTOBER—”season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”! It is also in our country the month for harvest celebrations. In my youth, every group in our church decorated a different part of the building. I was in the choir and we always “did” the window sills. We prided ourselves on making them still-life works of art! Les Davison told me that here in Frenchay when he was Scout Leader, the scouts ate the apples during the service—so the following year they only had onions on the window sills!

We always enjoyed the Harvest Supper on the Monday evening. People donated cooked hams which were sliced and served with the Harvest vegetables. The ticket money was given to charity. There are no such celebrations in France unless you count the meals at the end of the “grape picking season”. In Switzerland they have 7 course meals to welcome the return of the cattle from the high pastures. It’s not so much the arrival of the cows that cause the excitement, but having the men home again!! Russia has an apple festival and in Albania they celebrate the harvesting of egg plants. Perhaps you know of other events?

FASHION

Several gentlemen have asked me if I intend to include advice to them in this section! Pourquoi pas? Why not? Actually much of what I think about clothes applies to both sexes. There are no rules—if you feel comfortable and at ease you are probably hitting the right note! 

I think that most men look their best in a jacket (black, dark navy or deep grey) worn over a plain coloured shirt. The ties chosen are a good reflection of a man’s personality. With the subtle colours already suggested they can be adventuresome with colour and design.

My son loves his ties. He is a teacher and his students take an interest in his choice. Over the years I have bought him many—my favourite being a scene from a Monet painting! It was bought at a visit to Monet’s house and garden at Giverny.

My pet dislikes in men’s clothing are items in fawn or brown or “Grandad -type fair-isle cardigans. They really age a man! When we lived in the South of France we often ate at the Club House. This overhangs the Port and we went across the water in water-taxis. These were free!. At dinner time almost every man was dressed from top to toe in white or cream. Some of the more flamboyant wore gold chains around their necks and wrists. Not my husband!

Our best friends were Opera singers—their main home being in Paris. Saturday evenings were themed nights such as Russian or Spanish. Our friend Claude often sang! He also sang when we dined on their terrasse. His voice was so powerful that people walking around the port would stop and listen…..and then applaud. We had some fabulous times living there and would you believe that it cost less to live there than at Marshfield Park in Downend?! Why? There were over 900 yachts in the harbour and although many of the owners were only on board for a few months of each year—they all contributed to the charges!

I planned to “talk” about Royal Fashion but space being limited—I’ll do this next month. Just one more fashion fact—all the magazines and T.V. fashion shows have stressed that the most popular dress length is the maxi. Not true. On our three visits to France this August we saw only four maxis! Two were worn by teenagers on the ferry. One was white cotton and looked like a nightdress, and one was attractive and worn by my daughter-in-law. I think I’ll shorten mine and thus get more occasions to wear them!

COOKERY

I asked my French friends about “Le Welch”. They said it started to be eaten in France about ten years ago. They make a cheese sauce and add beer before pouring it over the toast. This morning I watched a chef make our Welsh Rarebit by putting mustard and Worcester sauce plus grated cheese into a sauce. By the way, my young friend thought that we called it Welsh RABBIT. He said to me that he was surprised because he thought the British don’t like eating rabbit!!

MY THOUGHT FOR OCTOBER

If the escalator of your life isn’t taking you fast enough to your dreams—try using the stairs.    ENJOY EVERY DAY
Esmé

This doesn’t sound like my usual subject matter does it? I’ve chosen it because it links to the person I’m featuring this month.

My father loved motor bikes and before I was born my parents would visit the Isle of Man for the T.T. Races. My grandfather had an engineering factory in Kingswood. He invented many things, one of which was a drain that enabled rain water to flow away more easily. As a young child, I loved to see our name GREGORY on every drain cover. My mother said that it slowed their progress as we walked along the pavements! His inventions were not as lucrative as the ones of the Douglas family who also had an engineering works in Kingswood.

In 1907 the first Douglas motor bike went on sale. My Dad was one of the first men to buy one. He had a wickerwork “side seat" on it. Taking my uncle for a ride to Weston they went over a humped-back bridge at which point his brother flew over a hedge  and ended up in a field. He was bruised but not broken. Obviously there were no seat belts in those days!  Douglas supplied around 70,000 motorcycles for military use. In the 1920’s came the first disc brakes. The firm were then awarded a Royal Warrant for supplying their product to the princes Albert and Henry.

My husband, Ron, enjoyed his motor bikes and I liked riding pillion. Ron said that I often urged him to go faster, but I don’t remember that! The week before our engagement party he was in Newport Hospital after being knocked off his bike by a car. I teased him that it only happened so that we couldn’t dance at our party - dancing not being his favourite thing!

Both my daughter and grandson have had motor bikes which worried me in today’s traffic conditions. My son never has - perhaps because he was knocked down by one whilst walking across a zebra crossing. C’est la vie!

To find out more about this subject, I’ve bought the book “The World of Motorcycling” which I will happily lend to you if you are interested. Apparently Daimler developed the first motor bike in1885 - a far cry from today's super bikes. In the south of France we lived in the place where they held Harley Davidson Conventions. Police motor cyclists use a variety of bikes including Harley Davidsons. Actually one of them gave me his key ring and told me to show it if I ever got stopped in France by the police!

Now from Harley to Les and from Davidson to Davison or to give him his full title Dr. Leslie Davison.

I first met Les about ten years ago when with Kate, his wife, they hosted a Choir party in their lovely garden. As you will have guessed one of his great interests is MOTORCYCLING! At the age of 16 he had a “two-stroke”. I quote “I think that my lawn mower has more power!” A Yamaha followed and then a 1100cc BMW. One day Les left Zürich at 9am  and was in Boulogne sur Mer at 9pm - 857 miles in one day! A few months ago he rode through France, Italy and Greece to their holiday home in Turkey. His return journey was through Austria and Germany. His comment, “A great ride!” Their son Nick follows in his father’s footsteps, or should I say tyre tracks. The two of them have had some exciting rides together. Les’s next trip? It will be to Turkey via Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria. Les asks, 'Would anyone like to join me?'  What a challenge!

He uses his riding skills in working for the Community as he is involved with the Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Charity - this being a courier medical service. Last year they made 3,648 deliveries riding more than 20,000 miles - the cost of £33,500 yearly is met by fund raising not by the NHS. Dolores Dale, known to many of you told me that her husband Brian was the first volunteer to do this in Bournemouth. 

Les enjoys tennis and rambling and has grown to admire the countryside around Bristol even more than his native Yorkshire! He was an enthusiastic Scout leader here in Frenchay, was on the Church Council and finally became Church Warden. Then his construction background  and expertise came in very useful. He was there during the making of our present Church Room, and also dealt with problems with the Spire. Les even involved some of his students from Bristol Polytechnic in re-analysing stresses as part of their course work. Well done, Les and thank you. I wish you and Kate future years equally full of exciting projects.

Food

Now that summer salads are taking a back seat and winter warmers not yet needed - let’s talk “Autumn Dishes”. I will suggest a meal that is good for vegetarians and excellent as a side dish with meat or poultry.

In England we call this vegetable CHICORY - in France it is ENDIVE - in America it is called BELGIAN ENDIVE! There are many ways of cooking it but I only have room for one here.

Gently heat some butter and olive oil and brown the halved chicory on each side. Now sprinkle with your favourite herbs (the French use thyme) and add your choice of white wine. Choose one you will enjoy drinking with the dish, as you’ll have half a bottle left! Turn the heat down. Now add stock - I use a vegetable stock cube, but you could use chicken flavoured. Add sugar, salt and pepper checking the taste. Cover with a lid and leave for 15 minutes. Now remove the lid and leave for another 10 minutes. Add double cream.

I don’t give exact amounts because it depends on how many chicory bulbs you are cooking. You need to cover them with their sauce but not drown them! Now tip them into a serving dish and decorate with herbs. You could top with sliced hard boiled eggs. As a main dish allow 2 chicories each - as a side dish probably one each. Enjoy…

My thoughts for September. We are all either DRAINS or FOUNTAINS. Let’s aim to be the latter - I love fountains!!

Take care,
Esmé

I expect that most of us have a favourite season. Summer is my choice.

When Ron and I lived near St. Tropez our friends and neighbours headed inland to escape the heat, but it was never too hot for us. In fact the breeze from the sea made the temperature idyllic.

I’m writing this in April because I’ll hopefully be in France in early May. We write one month in advance. Until now I’ve always mourned the lack of foliage on the trees, but today I changed my mind. Lying in bed I saw through my window the tree that grows between Marshfield Park and Cleeve Wood House. Suddenly I appreciated the pattern of bare branches—really black against the leaden sky. It was a thing of beauty and so symbolic.

The first oil painting that I did has a similar theme, but I used primary colours. It hangs in my Guest bedroom. Do you know the name for the latter in French? It’s “Chambre d’amis” (Friend’s bedroom) - a much warmer phrase! Talking of lovely words—a mother in law is “Belle maman” (Beautiful mother) and “Belle fillle” (Beautiful girl) is daughter in law!

In my painting, the roots are the most important part of the tree. I think of them as God from whom all goodness flows. The trunk of the tree is like Jesus—reliable and there for us to lean on when we need support. The branches? To me they are the angels forming a link between us and heaven. In our Church Bible Study group  we heard that the Holy Spirit is like the wind. It’s invisible in itself, but we can see the results it brings. Even bare branches move on windy days!

Perhaps we could think of the roots as our Family history and the trunk as our present family. We want our children to be strong branches and hopefully produce some twigs and twiglets (grandchildren and great-grandchildren)I won’t give you any other analogies—I’m sure that you have your own ideas. I’ll never look at a bare tree in the same way again. As I was getting up a little white cloud drifted behind the tree. It had an oval break in the middle through which I could see a patch of blue sky. It looked just like an eye—Big Brother was watching me!

Cookery Ideas

In the April magazine I mentioned the trend for “Surf and Turf”. Well there’s another idea that’s growing in popularity. Remember you read it here first! It’s not a new thing , Peter and I ate it in France , as a starter about three years ago. It was a savoury crumble with a tomato and mushroom filling.

I usually watch ”Saturday Kitchen” on television. I always hope that one of the films of Keith Floyd will be shown. He is often called “the Chef’s Chef “as most of them, like me, really admire his style of cooking. I’ve got his autobiography if you would like to borrow it! He often said “a splash and a dash”. He didn’t use a measuring jug or scales and I don’t either. Of course you have to be precise if you are baking cakes or bread which I don’t!

When Keith bought our flat on Clifton Downs (the day after we put it on the market) - we thought he must have admired our kitchen. No!! It was really lovely—well, we thought so! The counter tops were like dark green leather with curved edges and there were 6 hobs—3 gas and 4 electric etc. He had it all ripped out and replaced with black marble imported from Italy! The headlines in the Evening Post (which our friends posted to us in France) read Keith Floyd buys luxury flat in Clifton with NO KITCHEN. Never believe everything that you read!

Last week Saturday Kitchen was followed by 30 minutes of Nigel Slater. Guess what he suggested—why not make a Savoury Crumble! To accompany his roast lamb he added grated cheese to finely chopped apples. He topped this with crumble made in the usual way plus breadcrumbs and ground almonds. Left in the oven on a medium heat for 15—20 minutes, he then dotted it with butter and more cheese and browned it with a blow torch. If your lamb is resting under foil, you could use the already hot oven to make the crumble. Don’t just think apple and cheese!

What about a pineapple crumble with roast duck or a mandarin one with chicken? To the latter I would add mandarin marmalade to the softened fruit. “Bonne Maman” make a good one—I eat it on toast for breakfast most mornings.

Now my thought for June! “Be passionate about the things you believe in. Never creep when you could soar” We’re back to clouds again!

Please tell me if you would like to be featured in these pages. Everyone has an interesting story to tell!

Be Happy!

Esmé

When I see television adverts for Haven holidays, I remember with great pleasure our nine years working for that company in France. Although I enjoyed teaching and we had a rewarding time running the Wells Post Office—working in the holiday business was most fun! Everyone arrived intending to have a wonderful time, so we did too.

The year before we retired, and moved to the Côte d’Azur, we won the prize for the best Camp Site managers. How was the decision made? It was determined by how many of your holiday-makers rebooked with Haven. We had many customers who became friends and followed us from site to site. Some of them still keep in touch with me.

I think that in our Churches, other places of worship, organisations and clubs, the same criterion exists. Newcomers fall into three categories. A few people never return. Some people still attend, but don’t really want to be involved or join in. Luckily, there are those folk who become regular members and are a great asset because of the amount they contribute.

The couple whom I am featuring this week are definitely in the third group! Diane and Derek West own and run the Riverside drive residential mobile home site in Frenchay Village. Derek’s father bought the quarry there and developed it to it’s present day use. Before that the family lived in Birmingham. After some years Derek stopped driving heavy goods vehicles and followed in his father’s footsteps!

How did he meet Diane—a Bridgwater lass? Well— after leaving the Grammar School there—Diane came to Bristol to train as a nurse at the BRI. However, most of her career took place at Frenchay Hospital where she became a ward Sister. Whilst at the BRI, one of her patients happened to be a friend of Derek’s and he arranged a ‘blind date’ for the pair of them—another case of love at first sight! They were married in 1964 and two more “Ds” arrived! Donna and Deborah have since given them the joy of three grandchildren.

Diane often came to ‘St John the Baptist’ with her mother Olive. When Olive died Derek came With Diane. An Alpha Course followed and in 2010 Derek was confirmed. Like me they appreciate the friendly family  atmosphere we share. One post has quickly followed another—they work together as Sidespeople. With their smiling faces and approachable manner, they are well Suited to this task of welcoming people as they arrive for services. They are also joint Secretary and verger for the Churchyard. This is a job needing compassion and understanding so they ’fit the bill’ again. Derek assists at Communion and has recently become a Server. He’s also on the Fabric Committee which involves many tasks—such as chopping down trees.

It is not only the big things that count—the zimmer frame of the lady I bring to Church wouldn’t fit into the boot of my car. What happened? Diane found one in their garage, so they brought it to Church  and Derek brings it out when we arrive and helps Iris into Church.

However it’s not a case of all work and no play. They are widely travelled—their best holiday being a month in Australia visiting extended family. They enjoy good food! Diane especially likes brown shrimps, so I hope to bring some back for her when I go to France next. Derek prefers a roast beef dinner. Talking of food—they are loyal members of my Lunch Club. After our Christmas Lunch at Tortworth Court for the last two years, they have stayed overnight. Who says that romance is dead? How lovely it would be if everyone used their talents for the good of others!

THANK YOU Derek and Diane!

Cookery Ideas

What do we enjoy eating in late Spring Time? Probably less stews and casseroles but nevertheless something tasty. Why not stuff some large field mushrooms? In the supermarkets you can buy 3 or 4 for £1. Clean them by brushing them—never use water as they are very absorbent. I often buy these large mushrooms in preference to button mushrooms as they have more flavour.

Slice some finely—fry in half butter and half oil until golden and scatter them over scrambled eggs or cheese on toast. The latter is now very popular in French Basseries. Instead of “Croque Monsieur” advertised in the windows, it says “ Le Welsh” or sometimes “Le Welch”. It differs from our version as they often add beer to a thick cheese sauce and pour it over the toast.

To make stuffed mushrooms pre-cook the mushrooms while you make the stuffing. Just sprinkle them with a little olive oil and cook gently. For the stuffing use some good quality sausages which you skin and mash with a fork. Add some very finely sliced shallots and your favourite herbs. I would add some garlic, but some of you may prefer chilli (That’s my worst thing)  Now fill the cavities in your mushrooms. Don’t pack it in too firmly. Scatter the top with breadcrumbs, dot with butter and cook gently in your oven. Watch carefully as you may need to protect them with foil. Usually they take about 20 minutes. They make a good starter with toast fingers. As a main meal I would add a cheese sauce, chips or rice and perhaps some baked beans! Enjoy!

My thought for May: Try something new. If your dreams are to come true  - you must wake up!

Have fun,
Esmé

I expect that most of us know those words of Robert Browning “Oh, to be in England now that April’s here!”. I always think “Oh, to be in France now that April’s here!” I’ve celebrated my birthday there every year, except one , since 1981. It’s the last day of April—yes I know it would be more appropriate if it were the first day. I’m often very foolish! Did you know that instead of “April Fool” the French have “April Fish”? You can buy pastry ones in the Boulangeries!

I always appreciate it when people talk to me about the things I write. Only a few people wanted to know why I had links with the Mafia but several  were interested in Dyrham Park.

I was delighted to talk to Paul, the new tenor in our Church choir, because he knows more about it than I do! Why? His grandparents worked for Lady Islington (the tenant there during the war). Paul’s grandma was her cook and her husband was the factotum.

Last month’s question was asking what I have in common with Lady Islington. Well—one day she asked Paul’s granddad to paint the beautiful staircase white! This was a difficult task for him as, being a carpenter, he loved the natural beauty of  wood. If you’ve visited my flat—you’ll realise that I love white furniture. I only have one valuable piece—a dresser. We bought it for our house on the Verdeen Corniche. It was hand-made by craftsmen at Niort in the Poitou Charentes. In our large entrance hall it looked magnificent. Now that it stands in my small dining area I would love to have it painted WHITE! I know that like Paul’s granddad, my husband would feel that I’d ruined it , but I may do it one day!!

Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time? It happened to me last month. Usually I am in bed at 8.45am, that morning I’d taken a friend to Fishponds surgery and went on to Lydl’s supermarket to buy some flowers. In their car park, someone drove into the back of my car. I only noticed the damage when I reached home! No. that car park doesn’t have a CCTV camera, so I don’t know who did it!

However, how lovely it is when you are in the right place at the right time, which has happened to me countless times. At a party, aged 14, I met my husband to be. It was love at first sight—yes, it does exist! I came to the right place when I left France and decided to live in my birthplace again. It was the right place when I chose St John the Baptist Church where I’ve made really true friends. One of them likes France too, so has joined me there for many lovely holidays. My wish for you this Spring is that you’ll definitely be in the right place at the right time!

Cookery Ideas

Paul Bocuse—a renowned French chef, based in Lyon, always advises “Never choose your menu in advance, shop first, then be inspired by what you buy.”

Have you watched the TV drama Mr. Selfridge? I loved it when the salesgirl took the man in charge of window dressing to the food markets in London—to get display ideas. The fish counter in Harrods is as colourful as a Picasso! Food should look as good as it tastes.

The fashion in “chic” restaurants is for “surf and turf” - fish with meat in the same dish. Steak with lobster is the rich version! You can try cheaper alternatives. In any case, I prefer my lobster served with plenty of butter and a glass of Chablis! Why not roll some streaky bacon around some mackerel? Why not scatter some chopped up crispy back bacon over some scallops? Both of these things work well. My husband liked gooseberries with his mackerel—so we were surprised to find that mackerel in France is called maquereau aux groseilles (groseille is a gooseberry!)

Remember…….  Spring is Nature’s way of saying  “LET’S HAVE A PARTY!”

Enjoy yourselves

If you have never seen our Easter Cross at St John the Baptist—why not come in to admire it this year? It is always really beautiful. The base is made from our Christmas tree and on Easter Sunday everyone puts one flower on it. Every year it looks different. Several years ago it was very pink, because so many people brought a pink camellia!

To say in French “I’m a chocoholic” it’s “Je raffole de chocolat”. Are you one?? I suppose I am as I eat it every day, and when I wake up at night! Should I feel guilty? - No—as you will realise if you read to the end of this subject. It first came to Europe via Spain in 1528. Before retiring and moving to France we owned Hotwells Post Office. We were always late getting up and as I had to get the children and myself to school breakfast had to be quick and easy. We always had bread and butter with chocolate (there were shelves full of it downstairs!) Have you ever wondered what happens to unsold Easter eggs? Well, we ate them from Easter onwards until they were all gone.

A survey revealed that 9 out of 10 people admit to loving chocolate and the tenth one is lying! On average women eat 5 kilos a year. In France they sometimes say “Je deprime donc je chocolat” or “When I’m feeling down I turn to chocolate”. Scientists have proved that it does help to lift depression possible because it contains serotonin and theobromine. It gives you energy and is believed to be an aphrodisiac. It is certainly good for your heart because it has more antioxidants than red wine plus iron, potassium and magnesium. I should point out that you only get these benefits if you eat good quality dark chocolate and it is a complex labour intensive art to make it.

Unfortunately I have no room to explain about this. I’ll just point out that sweetness, saltiness, acidity and bitterness should all be evident. Brillat -Savarin (a great food connoisseur) said “Chocolate is health”. There are many specialist chocolate shops in France. Perhaps you have read “Chocolate” by Joanne Harris or seen the film? There is even an ‘Académie du Chocolat’ Have you heard of the Chocolate tasting club? If you want it—I have the telephone number!

Food Ideas…..

Now for a few recipes for this ‘Food of the Gods’! None of them take long and are even quicker to eat….

Chocolate Rice Pudding

Make your normal rice pudding and whilst hot pour it into little ramekins. Break up some 80% dark chocolate into tiny pieces and using a teaspoon push some down into the centre of each dish. Leave at room temperature so that the chocolate will melt into the rice. You could vary this dish by adding vanilla extract into the rice, or some finely chopped mandarin slices or even a few sultanas—as well as the chocolate.

Mousse au Chocolat

Everyone has their own method of making this pudding—but this one, I think, is the easiest. It is also one of the lightest as it has very little sugar and more egg whites than yolks. To make 4 small dishes put 125 grams of dark chocolate to melt over a pan of simmering water. Be careful not to let the bowl containing the chocolate touch the water. Then add one tablespoon of sugar, stirring well and add 3 egg yolks slowly. Beat 5 egg whites until the mixture forms stiff peaks and fold it into the chocolate mixture. Pour it into one large dish, or individual ones and leave overnight in your fridge. You could decorate by grating over some white chocolate and orange zest.

Finally—my thought for March….

Reach for the moon if you want to be amongst the stars!

Happy Easter            Esmé