Mont D'or creamy cheese lunch.

Today is one of those grey drizzly days.What should we have for lunch.

During the week I'd seen that Mont d'Or cheese was on the cooler shelves.

It's only in the shops for a short while and was on special offer

so naturally  I put one in my basket.

It's not something we eat very often , but when we do, 

I love it, especially with a glass of nice red wine.

I always have to check, how long to bake it . 

This time I followed David Lebovitz.

ooooh ......  so delicious, especially with home baked bread.

I won't mind having a cold rainy day
 if we're going to have Mont d'Or for lunch.

If you've never tried this,  it's a must.
You can do this with Camembert, but it doesn't have the same taste.

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

A Danish recipe for you

It was one of those days when I didn't know what to cook for dinner, 

I was wandering around my local supermarket,

all the essentials were ticked off  my shopping list and were in the basket,

 at the bottom was written something for dinner,

 I always put that when I need an inspiration.

Then I saw the sign promotion.  I went over to have a peep at the counter

and minced pork was on offer. 

So immediately I knew what we were going to have for dinner today.

Frikadeller.

These are a Danish speciality and we love them.

a bit like the Swedish meat balls. which are served in a fresh tomato sauce.

I first tasted these at our daughter in laws family home in Denmark.

I loved them, and would have loved to ask for the recipe, 

but thought they might think it rude if I asked.

I'm sure you all have your own way of making meat balls

but  thought you might like to try my daughter in laws recipe

It's  tasty and quick and easy.

It's not often I make a post giving a recipe.

So don't expect step by step instructions like Daphne

we became friends when we both started our blogs nearly 2 yrs. ago.

She shares her tasty recipes weekly and I know there will be something there that you will enjoy.

Tell her I sent you, Daphne will love it if you pop in for a chat.

Now for Ingredients to make 

Danish Frikadeller

Makes 14/16

depending on the size you make them.

500 gr. minced pork.

1 onion finely chopped

1 beaten egg

approx.100 ml. milk
3 or 4 slices of bread
2 tablespoons of flour

1 teaspoon mustard 

1 teaspoon oregano

a little salt 

& lots of  freshly ground pepper.
Oil and butter to cook


Method

Put the minced pork in a large mixing bowl 

In a separate bowl  beat the egg, mustard and  milk together
and add the bread, leave to soak until the bread has soaked up the liquid.
If you have a chopping mixer use this to chop the onion finely, then add to the soaked bread
Tip this into the bowl with the minced pork.
Add the oregano ( if you don't have this herb use any of your own favourite herbs.)
then season with salt  pepper.
Finally add the flour.and mix well.
You might think the mixture is a bit sloppy, don't worry ! I put mine in the fridge for a little while.
Then using two large spoons make oval shapes, place onto a floured plate,
roll the meat in a little of the flour, when you've used all the mixture
heat a little oil & butter in a large frying pan on a medium heat,
fry the Frikadeller in batches. for 5 to 6 mins  then gently turn them over
to cook the other side, they don't take long to cook,
so keep your eye on them.They should be cooked in about 10/12 mins. Don't overcook.

This is what they look like after 5/6 mins.

keep you eye on them as they soon need to be turned, 

Take out of the pan and place on absorbent kitchen paper.
 put them in a med. heated oven to keep warm,
till they are all cooked and you are ready to serve.

 Serve them hot with your own favourite accompaniment..
I serve mine with creamy mashed potatoes.

Bon appétit

In the summer they are also great served cold with potato salad  & a crisp green salad.

I would love to know if you try this recipe and what you served it with

also if you like them as much as I do.

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

Hello from La Petite Maison.

I'm almost back home,  I'm staying in my own holiday cottage  La Petite Maison for a couple of weeks while the last of the holiday makers are still here.

Mr France and I ( he's been reading my blog and  said he'd prefer to be called that, than my other half )  love this little cosy cottage, we always feel as if we are on holiday when we stay there and seem to sleep in till late in the mornings and spend the day pottering. I've even taken up doing my sketches and water colour painting again. Today we packed up a picnic and took a drive through our country lanes and found a lake we had never visited before. We had the place almost to ourselves as most of the holiday makers have gone home to prepare for the children going back to school. 

This was our picnic lunch 

Charentaise melon & Jambon sec... 

 

 

Roasted tomatoes & mozzarella cheese tart.

 

Chairs waiting for us when we arrived back at the cottage.

The colourful corner collection.

  A perfect day and now the sun going down.

 

   

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

Birthday and Daffodils

Today was my other half's birthday.

For the past few days we'd had beautiful  blue sky and warm sunshine.

 As it was the first signs of warm spring weather, we were looking forward to a nice day out in the Perigord region. about an hours drive from where we live, hoping to have lunch sitting outside at one of the many restaurants we love to eat at. It was not to be. We woke to grey drizzly weather.

Not a day to be driving, wanting to enjoy seeing the numerous Chateaux we would pass on the way.

We decided to put that visit on hold for the next sunny period. 

My other half who is easily pleased, suggested we should make a quick trip 

to the local supermarket and buy the ingredients for a nice lunch.

While I was waiting near the checkout for him to choose the wine 

I saw a glow of yellow from a huge bucket which was full of daffodils.  

I slipped a couple of bunches in with food items.

 We did end up with  a feeling of spring sunshine even if was only from the daffodils. 

I hope you'll enjoy them as much as we will.

As we had planned to be eating out, I hadn't made a birthday cake.

We don't very often eat bought gateaux, but French patisserie is delicious.

This is what he chose for his birthday gateaux.

I checked the name on the box and it was called

' Religieuse café '

Not sure why ! but the icing looks like a priests ruffle collar.

It was so delicious, the choux pastry was filled with a caramel cream

and the glaze was coffee.

A missed day out, turned into a day in, enjoying a nice meal and a house full of daffodils.

When we do take our drive into the Perigord region, I'll be taking  my camera with me,

so you will also be able to enjoy visiting this area of France. Which I know you will love.

So come back soon & take a peep.

à bientôt
Barbara Lilian

   

Easy one pot meal for Autumn.

This is one of my other half's favourite meals.

Sausage & Lentil Simmer

 I love this because it's a meal he cooks for me.

 I'll share his recipe with you, then maybe your other half can be coaxed into
putting a chefs hat on & cook it for you.

Maybe your thoughts of lentils, is food for the health freaks or maybe not to every ones taste.
 But if you've never eaten them give them a try, I did & cooked like this they are really tasty.

These are the best lentils, French of course.

But I'm sure any other green lentil would be just as good.

I'm not sure where the recipe came from. 

It's one I cut out from a magazine & added to my recipe file.

I hope you can read it.

 Why is it, scanned things come out with a blue tint ?
Maybe some one with 'hints on blogging' can help out on that !

Simmer nicely for about 40/45 mins.

 

Nice plump sausages.

An option,  add a little bit of colour to top it off.

et voila.

 

Bon appetit.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

A bientot

Barbara Lilian