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Ramblings of a retiree in France
Category: Food and Wine
One from the vaults: Postcards from Pays Basque III
This is the third in this series of posts about our maiden trip to the Basque Country in 2010 which was specifically to watch what has become one of my favourite cycle races. Sadly, I wasn’t be there this year but hopefully next. For… Continue Reading “One from the vaults: Postcards from Pays Basque III”
The Musette: Pasta Salad
When I think of pasta salad, I think of summer picnics and barbecues. This chilled dish is often served as a side but is rarely the star of the show. As a pasta-lover, I’ve often wondered why. Is it because we’re all serving subpar pasta… Continue Reading “The Musette: Pasta Salad”
One from the vaults: The food in Italy
Rather than repost an Italian recipe, I’ve reposted about Italian food. I’ve previously waxed lyrical about the food in Spain, now it’s the turn of our nearest neighbour Italy. Who doesn’t love pizza and pasta? Exactly! I’m so old I still remember eating in… Continue Reading “One from the vaults: The food in Italy”
The Musette: Pizza rossa
One of our many local Italian restaurants used to make an epic one of these which I absolutely loved adorned with a bit of spicy olive oil. Sadly, their Roman chef has moved on and it’s no longer on their menu. Consequently, I thought… Continue Reading “The Musette: Pizza rossa”
The Musette: Ligurian Foccacia
The pillowy Italian flatbread makes the perfect starter, side or sandwich base, and celebrates classic Italian flavour combinations through its lavish use of olive oil and toppings such as rosemary, olives and tomatoes. Making it is relatively simple, but imbuing the dough with layers… Continue Reading “The Musette: Ligurian Foccacia”
The Musette: Pasta with prawns, chilli, lemon and rocket
This is a perfect summer dish and one I make regularly from produce I always have to hand in the freezer and store cupboard. Ingredients (serves 4) 400g (14oz) dried pasta, either spaghetti or tagliatelle 2 long red chillies, finely chopped 100ml (approx. 7… Continue Reading “The Musette: Pasta with prawns, chilli, lemon and rocket”
The Musette: Miso-caramel apple crumble
What do you do with wrinkly but still edible apples? You turn them into dessert. As you all know my beloved adores dessert, he believes a meal isn’t complete without one. I tend to store the apples in the fridge until I have enough… Continue Reading “The Musette: Miso-caramel apple crumble”
The Musette: Prawn curry
This dish is based on Atul Kochhar’s recipe for Sandho No Patio which I adapted as I couldn’t find fresh fenugreek leaves. It’s unusual for me to tamper with any recipe from a Michellin-starred chef, but needs must. It’s a Parsi recipe from the… Continue Reading “The Musette: Prawn curry”
The Musette: Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
I’ve previously shared a recipe for a chocolate cake made with red wine and olive oil. This time I wanted to make one more reminiscent of that wonderful marriage of hazelnuts and chocolate, and this is it. It’s a cake with the intense flavour… Continue Reading “The Musette: Chocolate Olive Oil Cake”
One from the Vaults: I should be there
We’re heading back to May 2012 when I was once more too busy with matters at the cycle club to just pop up the road and over the border for a few days to watch a couple of stages in the Giro d’Italia. I’ve… Continue Reading “One from the Vaults: I should be there”
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