What are you cooking?

Maquisard83 wrote: Speaking of wine

Beaujolais Nouveau - a symbol of freedom, equality and fraternity

Following the attacks of 13 November 2015, the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 has never been symbolic. The Beaujolais Nouveau festivities represent friendliness to the French, culture share the many cultural and sports events, international influence by the presence of Beaujolais Nouveau in the 4 corners of the world. This time of sharing this year will be a strong symbol to show that France remains standing, proud of its values.

Beaujolais New 2015 comes and will be on tables the 19/11/2015.
Two days of waiting

I totally agree with Maquisard. This tradition, for me, is not so much about the wine itself, which i personnaly consider as, well, let's say a "commercial" product.

But this is an opportunity to festivity, to meet people, in the streets or in the bars, enjoying life together, with a glass of wine, a piece of sausage or, why not, a couple of olives or peanuts or whatever. Just a moment of friendship, of conviviality, of "living together".

And that, this spirit, as the rest, these primitive savages they will never take it.

We have the "Cantine aperte" (literally "open cellars") in this period, Nik
In many towns ppl open old cellars (often unused and abandoned), in the night between Saturdays and Sundays of November. You can drink wine (usually 1 euro per glass) and eat, just like you say. This year I went to one of these and I had a lot of fun. Fortunately my gf drove for me lol.
It would be just great to try the French version!

PS: there were 62 cellars (sigh). I tried just 5...the 2nd one had a very good vine and I got drunk lol

Another episode in: what to make for dinner if you can't really cook?
Disclaimer: I do eat fruit and vegetables

Today I made some pancakes. Or better said: flapjacks.
A pancake is rather large and thick, a flapjack smaller and thinner and the French crepes are the smallest and thinnest in the pancake family.

In my "emergency storage" I usually have some "ready to use" pancake batter, the just add milk or water variety. This batter was close to expiring so it was time to eat it.

I am sure most of you know how to make batter and how to bake a pancake so will leave no instructions, Google is your friend.
But maybe I have some tips you never thought off.

Cheese!
Bake one side of the pancake, flip it over, put cheese on one half, fold other side over (like a calzone pizza) and bake on both sides until done and cheese is melted.



Also very tasty is bacon on a pancake!
You can see in the background a way to keep the pancakes warm when you are baking them (I don't have an oven).
Put some water in a pan, let it boil and keep gas burning low. Put a plate on top, put baked pancakes on it and cover with another plate. Keeps them nice and warm!

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One of these days I'll have to make a post about Breton crêpes and galettes ...

Maybe you don't know it lads but, about this stuff, Brittany is the Mecca in France







Well, just one of my favourite, off-the-cuff :

Just prepare the best basis of crêpe Suzette that you can, but without adding orange/tangerine perfume.

Gently roast some sliced almonds. Drop some honey on a warm crêpe, add the almonds, pour some drops of fresh lemon juice. That's it !

So I made it too.... Pretty good!!
I used 3 eggs instead of 4, but I pumped up the cheese intake .... oh and I made it a bit spicy.