If you've never tasted Belgian endive, you're in for a treat! It has a unique, earthy, invigorating flavor and crisp texture that lends itself perfectly to salads. Especially hearty, composed...
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I was drawn to this Butternut Squash Curry I found online the other day on Champaign Taste and decided that this month's Four Ways With... post should showcase one of my favorite autumn...
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In addition to the numerous fig trees and blackberry brambles growing wild around the village, almond trees dot the countryside, just waiting for someone to come along and harvest their gifts. We have...
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One of the benefits of living in the country in a Mediterranean climate is the unbelievable number of fig trees that grow out of almost every nook and cranny in the village. With numerous trees come...
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Whether it is the spicy, peppery bite of nasturtiums, the herbal tang of lavender or the soft, velvety texture of pansies, edible flowers are a whole new world for your taste buds to explore. Most...
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Les prunes Reine-Claude's. This plum deserves its royal sounding name. These diaphanous green plums, also called greengage plums, are at their peak right now. Their juicy, richly perfumed flesh...
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Humble parsley. So often taken for granted and often considered merely window (or plate) dressing. What a shame. Have you ever really tasted flat leaf, Italian parsley? I mean, have you ever put a...
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It's peach season! These sweet, juicy stone fruits are low in calories and a good source of potassium and vitamins A & C. Their season is short, only a few months, so they must be enjoyed in...
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The Piment d'Espelette is a deep red colored, flavor-packed pepper that grows in a small area surrounding 10 villages in the Basque region of southwest France. Piment d'Espelette has a sultry,...
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One of the big concerns these days is about the rising cost of food (and fuel of course). I hear it on the news and I hear it when I talk to my friends and family in America. I can......
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Zucchini, zucchini and more zucchini. We're enjoying it in abundance this week after the delivery of our first very green and zucchini laden CSA basket. This zesty, shredded zucchini salad is an...
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The lavender is in bloom! Which means that it is time to cut some stalks and take advantage of their aromatic little flowers and leaves in my cooking. I wrote last summer about Lavender Sorbet and...
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Fresh and peppery watercress! I love it! But I don't come across it very often. Strangely, it isn't often available in our little southern corner of France. When I found some at the store the...
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Sweet, luscious cantaloupe comes into season in June. Their delicate, perfumed flesh is a wonderful treat and can be enjoyed in both sweet or savory dishes. Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Vera...
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The sour cherry season is in full swing here. And that means we'll be the happy recipients of many gift bags overflowing with the tart little treats from friends and neighbors. The first thing I...
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Rotisserie chickens are as ubiquitous to France as a daily baguette. They are the perfect thing to tuck into my market bag and bring home for lunch after a busy morning of buying fruit, vegetables and...
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Rhubarb adds a zippy flavor to recipes that is unlike any other. When combined with strawberries, cherries, apples, and other fruits, the flavor only gets better. On the savory side, rhubarb makes a...
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You would think that with all of the cheese I eat, I couldn't possibly crave any more, but lately I've become obsessed with feta cheese. © avlxyz Feta is a well known, tart and creamy, brined...
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A Saturday outing to la Fête de la Bigarade in la Caunette, a small village just up the road from our small village, yielded several kilos of bitter, Seville oranges, also called bigarades. How could...
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pome·gran·ate n. 1. A deciduous shrub or small tree (Punica granatum) native to Asia and widely cultivated for its edible fruit. 2. The fruit of this tree, having a tough reddish rind, and...
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Every time I'm in a foreign country I make it a point to go into at least one local grocery store. I love looking at all the different vegetables, drinks, cheeses, meats, crackers, etc. I was in...
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Smoky, zesty Spanish chorizo is a wonderful, flavorful and versatile ingredient. When looking at recipes that call for chorizo, it is important not to confuse Mexican chorizo for Spanish chorizo....
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I'm rather neurotic particular about raw oysters. I love them, but must have three things available when that platter of briny, salty, sea-tasting creatures is set down in front of me or else I...
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