View from the Back
Ramblings of a retiree in France
Category: Food and Wine
Virtual afternoon tea: still (just) sitting in the sunshine
Don’t you just love virtual events? Where would we be without them in these difficult times? Today I’m joining Sue from Zimmerbitch – isn’t that a fabulous blog name? – in New Zealand. So, of course, Sue’ll be tucked up in bed fast asleep… Continue Reading “Virtual afternoon tea: still (just) sitting in the sunshine”
The Musette: easiest vegan banana cake ever!
This recipe was inspired by the wonderful 3-ingredient banana cake on Violet’s Vegan Comics. I was intrigued. Could you really make a tasty cake from just three ingredients? Turns out you can! Having made the original recipe, I started to tinker with it and… Continue Reading “The Musette: easiest vegan banana cake ever!”
The origins of the BBQ
Our BBQ at the Chateau got me thinking about the origins of barbecue culture. Because humankind has no doubt been cooking meat since the discovery of fire, it’s impossible to point to any one person or culture that “invented” the barbecue method of cooking.… Continue Reading “The origins of the BBQ”
The Musette: vegan “butter” cauliflower
One of my beloved’s favourite Indian dishes is butter chicken but could I make a vegan version that would satisfy us both, since neither butter nor chicken figure in my regime? Instead of chicken, I’ve used a whole roasted cauliflower and then made appropriate… Continue Reading “The Musette: vegan “butter” cauliflower”
The Musette: vegan green pie
This is a quick and easy recipe which uses (vegan) pre-prepared filo pastry sheets, plenty of greens and some vegan cheese. Of course, you can also easily make a non-vegan version. Ingredients (serves 4 hungry cyclists) 1 tbsp olive oil 1/2 yellow onion, diced… Continue Reading “The Musette: vegan green pie”
The Musette: vegan baked orzo
Friends recently invited us to dinner at a restaurant in nearby Monte Carlo which is run by a friend of theirs. I would describe the food as modern Mediterranean with an emphasis on wonderfully fresh seafood – our kind of restaurant. We had the… Continue Reading “The Musette: vegan baked orzo”
The Musette: pecan crumbles
I found some pecans in the cupboard close to their suggested expiration date which prompted a spot of experimentation – my favourite type of cooking. The end result was these buttery, crumbly, heavenly bites. Yes, my beloved managed to snaffle a couple before the… Continue Reading “The Musette: pecan crumbles”
The Musette: maple caramel pears
Yesterday evening we had a crowd of friends round for dinner. As we’re still enjoying wonderfully sunny and warm weather, I wanted something light which would appeal to everyone and could be served at room temperature outside on the terrace. We started with an… Continue Reading “The Musette: maple caramel pears”
One from the vaults: Postcard from London
Since moving to France I have made infrequent trips back to the UK. Far fewer than I originally anticipated. This was my annual flying visit to the dentist and hygienist. Yes, they have those in France too – well not hygienists. My dentist is… Continue Reading “One from the vaults: Postcard from London”
The Musette: real men do eat quiche
Quiche has an unfashionable reputation, and if it’s badly made or it’s been hanging around for too long then it loses its charm quickly. But if it’s made well and eaten fresh, it’s a dish that defines moreishness and a recipe that’s filled with… Continue Reading “The Musette: real men do eat quiche”
