Are They "French" Fries?

There is much talk about the origin of the French Fry...

This photo is of French "French Fries"... frites

On one of our outings to Sarlat, we stopped for lunch and Monsieur Honey was craving a burger and fries... he was served the above "frites" with his "Hamburger".

The photo below are Belgian "French Fries" frietjes... prepared and served by my Belgian Connection friend, Madame M.

Depending from which part of Belgium you come from they are called "Frietjes" in Flemish and "frites" by the French speaking Walloons... but I think the word "frites" is universal.

Delicious and just like what my mother and her sisters, my aunts use to make. 

The potatoes once sliced should be soaked in cold water (to remove some of the starch), rinsed and dried before placing in the deep fryer.

The trick is to cook the potatoes once quickly and let them cool for at least a half hour and then deep fry them a second time ... and don't forget to serve them with home made mayonnaise.

While we were in France, I decided to try my hand at making home made mayonnaise again.

I have made it before but it has been many years.

As I drizzled in the oil, I was transported to the kitchen in my childhood home and could hear my mother and aunts chattering in French amongst each other... oh the memories.

Below I've shared the recipe that I used.

It was delicious with Msr. Guy's fresh leaf lettuce from his garden that he so kindly shared with us.

Belgian Mayonnaise Recipe from the De Vlaamse Pot by Marie Cattoor 

Ingredients

2 egg yolks

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard*

2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Salt & pepper

1 tbsp. cold water

400 ml. Salad oil i.e.canola

- In a medium sized bowl, place egg yolks, mustard and 1 tbsp. water 

- Beat with hand mixer until well blended 

- while continuing to beat the mixture slowly add / drizzle the salad oil in bit by bit.

- if the mayonnaise becomes too thick add some more water

- still beating the mixture, add the lemon juice and, 

- taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed.

*The flavour can change by using different kinds of mustard or no mustard at all ... personally, I don't use much mustard if any at all.

Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

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And as my nutrionist daughter-in- law would say ...  "everything in moderation".

Monsieur Honey just said .. 

"Why did you show me those pictures of the "frites" now my mouth is watering?"

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden... Will a White Garden Do?

The white wild orchid that I saw on one of my last walks in France inspired me to look at the different white flowers in our garden.

Our garden in one word could be described as "eclectic" and crazy with colour ... so it was amazing when I took the time to really observe and look at the many different "white" flowers that were making an appearance.

    White lavatera ...

    The many Hostas in flower in different shades of white ...

    One with a mauve tinge.

    Another in a creamy yellow white tone.

   ...Undertones of grey smoke.

    White goose necks ...

   White daisy with yellow centers,

   White obedient plant

    

It has been a busy week since our arrival home... the normal daily household chores, sorting of the mail, plenty of yard work to catch up with...the weeding of the jungle, grass cutting (twice), edging, fertilizing, dead heading and container planting, cleaning the courtyard and setting up the outdoor furniture ready for all that "Ontario's" summer has to offer.

Finally a bouquet to decorate our courtyard table for "apéro" hour ... now we're home!

The French Structures

There are many rural structures in France. 

One that is easily recognizable is the the "pigeonnier" or dove cote.

I would say that they are traditional French buildings with an unique architectural style.

Their original purpose was to house pigeons for breeding and/or raising them as a food source for their owners, and I have also heard that the pigeon droppings were in demand as a fertilizer.

When first built, they were constructed on legs made of stone or wood (similar to stilts) so the building would sit above the ground to provide some protection from moisture that could deteriorate the wood structure and more importantly to keep out unwanted visitors such as foxes, rats and other vermin from preying on the pigeons and stealing the pigeon's eggs.

It has small openings like windows or doors for the pigeons to enter and exit their home.

    Peek a boo, I see you!  Do you see the pigeon?

Some are stand alone towers, but others are adjacent to and/or form part of the main house.

I also think the farmers raised pigeons as a hobby for racing ... atleast, I am aware this was the case with people from my father's home country of Belgium. 

Even some of the immigrants to Canada had pigeon coops built in their backyards, but they were not elaborate structures like these.

Many of these buildings have now been abandoned but some have been reinvented or repurposed and given a second chance.

Once a home for pigeons, many pigeonniers have been lovingly restored and made into "homes for people" or gîtes (rental cottages), and I even know of one that is now a restaurant. 

  

                    

The Creperie Restaurant in Puy l'évêque, France.

A pigeonnier in Dégagnac converted to a gîte.

I have not seen the interior, but the setting and location is great for visiting the Lot and Dordogne regions.... You can find more info on this web site:

Www.topictravel.nl         (ref.FLQ.149)

Here are examples of the holes (doors that the pigeons would use to come in and out).

Even new builds are adding the towers ( pigeonniers) ...not for the pigeons but added living space and a design feature.

There are many other structures that have found new purposes... Old bread ovens being used as pizza ovens or converted to small cottages.

At Domaine Gaury, the proprietor Yves makes and bakes pizzas in the old bread oven for their guests.

An old bread oven .... not sure if it is used anymore!

I think it would make a wonderful outdoor oven/ barbecue/fire pit ...  don't you?

Many of the old gariottes which once provided shelter and protection from inclement weather for the farmers now are abandoned and are mere stone outcrops in the fields... I won't talk too much about these, see my previous post... "French Gariottes" 05/18/2013.

What would you do with your stone treasure if you found one on your property or purchased one?

Maybe build yourself a "pied a terre" in the French country side,  a potting or garden shed, a playhouse for the kids, a guest house, an outdoor barbecue... 

the possibilities are endless!