Enjoying Galettes at Creperies Les 3 Fees

Walking the Cobbled Streets of Locronan

The wonderful gem about driving through the French countryside is that one never knows what may be waiting for them after the next crest in the road.  Locronan was one of those gems that takes you by surprise as you enter the village. 

I drove through miles and miles of rolling hills gently peppered with fields of yellow mustard.  The colors were spectacular. 

Locronan is a beautiful little village that is sure to wow anyone fortunate enough to walk its streets.  Located in western Finistère occupies a long-sacred spot named after a revered Irishman who settled here in the Dark Ages, but the place’s spiritual roots go back much further. St. Ronan who was supposedly a hermit founded the town in 10 B.C.  From the late Middle Ages, sail-making brought prosperity, and an exceptionally handsome architectural legacy.  In the 16th century the village had the East India Company as one of it's customers for sails.

St. Ronan's Church

St. Ronan's church is an example of the Renaissance architecture that comprises most of the buildings.  The stone is all granite.  St. Ronan's tomb is inside the chapel.

Above is a collection of buildings around the town center.  The beauty of visiting in the spring is all the flowers are starting to bloom.

I just love the blue on the windows and trims.

Once I found this path I could not resist a walk down it.  For me this is the path of storybooks with its rock wall and rambling trees and shrubs.  Can you imagine where it would lead you?

Char Crust Bar-B-Que Rub Giveaway

When is the last time I hosted a giveaway-you cannot remember-neither can I.  The kind people at Char Crust have provided me with two of their rubs to giveaway.  Their flavours include All American Bar-B-Que, Roasted Garlic Peppercorn, Ginger Teriyaki and All Cajun, Original Smoked HIckory and many more.

Here is a brief description of the flavours:

• Roasted Garlic Peppercorn features the robust flavor of roasted garlic and onions with the zing of peppercorns and a hint of Worcestershire and lavender. Its versatility has made it a best seller. It complements steaks, lamb, seafood, pork, poultry, and potatoes.

• Ginger Teriyaki is a balance of sweet teriyaki, fragrant ginger, plus a tingly touch of wasabi that lends a new dimension and creates a modern teriyaki interpretation. It complements chicken, fish, and steak.

• Amazin’ Cajun is a spicy-sweet blend of piquant cayenne pepper, onion, garlic, oregano and a mélange of other Mardi Gras flavors. It brings the sublime heat of New Orleans to catfish, chicken, shrimp, and even “dirty” rice.

• All American Barbecue takes the best flavors of American barbecue and blends them into a tangy-sweet, slightly spicy rub. It has rich molasses from Memphis, tangy tomato from Kansas City, mustard, pepper and vinegar from the Carolinas, plus a wisp of smoke from Texas.

I am giving away the Ginger Teriyaki and All American Blend.  I have two samples for myself and must say that I am quite enjoying them.  The possibilities of how you can season your food and endless.  I have already used this on chicken, in burgers and on fish. Their seasonings are rich and flavourful.  I am sure that you will be excited t try them out.

Here is a recipe to get you started:

Pan-Seared Tilapia

Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: about 20 minutes

Ingredients: Tilapia fillets -- about 6 oz per person Char Crust® Amazin' Cajun -- about 1/2 Tbsp per fillet A little oil, canola is good A little butter (optional), at room temperature

Heat a cast iron pan on the stove until very hot. Season one side of the fish with Char Crust® Amazin' Cajun Dry Rub Seasoning, generously covering the surface. Drizzle a little oil all over the seasonings, using your fingers to rub in and distribute evenly. Seasonings will look moist and darken a bit. Place the fish, seasoned side down, into the pan. It should sizzle immediately, and you may get some smoke. Cook a few minutes until just cooked through. Transfer to plate with seasoned side up and place pat of butter on top.

Option: We actually prefer this recipe with catfish, but tilapia seems to have more fans.

Given that I am shipping this out, the giveaway is international.  The giveaway will be open until May 30th.

To Enter:

1.  like Char Crust on their FB page.
2.  Feed the kitties in the upper right hand side
3.  Tell me what you like bar-b-queing
4.  spread the word and leave me a link-it can be your blog, twitter FB where-ever you please.

How to Eat Cupcake by Meg Donohue Review

It only seems fitting that I would read How to Eat a Cupcake as I was on my way to France.  The French are apparently obsessed with cupcakes and we are obsessed with their macarons.  Why not read a book about the love of baking as I was headed over to the pastry capital of the world.  I am proud to say that I gave this book to the front desk clerk at my hotel in Paris and she was delighted by it.  You would think that I was giving her freshly baked cupcakes.

How to Eat a Cupcake is a book after my heart.  I wanted to be Annie.  The book had me wearing an apron, bringing out my kitchen aid and just tasting one batter after another.  Okay not really, remember I was in France.  I was either reading late at night all tucked in my hotel room or dragging the book out to dinner with me.  High on French pastries and wine, laying in a bed in France, what better way to enjoy the book.

(From the author)Free-spirited Annie Quintana and sophisticated Julia St. Clair come from two different worlds. Yet, as the daughter of the St. Clair’s housekeeper, Annie grew up in Julia’s San Francisco mansion and they forged a bond that only two little girls oblivious to class differences could—until a life-altering betrayal destroyed their friendship.

A decade later, Annie bakes to fill the void left in her heart by her mother’s death and a painful secret jeopardizes Julia's engagement to the man she loves. A chance reunion prompts the unlikely duo to open a cupcakery, but when a mysterious saboteur opens old wounds, they must finally face the truth about their past or risk losing everything.

Seriously the book had a little about friendship, a lot about betrayal and the best descriptions of ingredients that I have read about in a long time.  As a young adult Annie is at the St. Clair residence catering a party with her yet to be famous cupcakes.  She has not spoken with Julia in many years.  After tasting one of her wonderful cupcakes Julia decides to finance a cupcakery for Annie.  Opening a cupcakery with the person who was once your closest friend and you feel betrayed you is not an easy task for Annie.

The opportunities it presents to Annie are endless.  For once Annie can indulge in the high quality ingredients she has always dreamed of.

I would usually think of a book like this as my fluffy beach read.  This book is anything but a fluffy book read.  Donahue did a lovely job of developing both the young women's characters.  You understood their personalities and the decisions they made.

For me the highlight of the book was the process of both opening the cupcakery and Donahue's descriptions of the cupcakes and their recipes.  Throughout the book she had me wanting to be in my kitchen baking alongside Annie.

If How to Eat a Cupcake is any indication of Donohue's talents I hope that she comes out with another book soon, maybe about a woman who runs a chocolate store perhaps.

Thank you to William Morrow Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book to read.  

It's Monday What are You Reading?

It's Monday What are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey.  My reading has been rather slow given that I have just returned from vacation.  I did read while I was over there but more my travel books.  On the flight home I had the entire middle row to myself so I indulged in both reading and watching movies on the IPAD laying down-there is something decadent about that.

So what I have I read?  How to eat a Cupcake, which I loved.  I am currently reading both The French Gardner and The Rose Garden along with listening to Burnt Mountain in the car.  My review for How to Eat a Cupcake is coming this week.

What are you reading?

Chocolate Creations from Les Caprices des Manons

To me the French are unbelievably creative with what they do with their creations and sweets. May 1st is a public holiday in France. The day is celebrated with children selling Lily of Valley floral arrangements on the streets. (that is another post). On May 1, I was in Vannes, a beautiful town in the district of Morbihan in Brittany. I had forgotten that today was a holiday. Walking through the old town I was impressed that I was there with so few people strolling about. And then I remembered, it was a holiday. That is why no-one was around and the shops were closed.

Les Caprices des Manons was one of the few shops open in the old town. All the floral creations in the store are made out of chocolate dragees. The dragees in France that I have seen are always chocolate and delicious. What initially caught my attention was the simple beauty of the arrangements. Les Caprices de Manon is located next to a flower shop. One moment I was admiring gorgeous live floral arrangements mostly in white and then I spotted these brightly colored ones.

The store owner was a kind, gentle man. He was very happy to let me sample the dragees. How could I say no to that. They came in different flavours and were just delicious. Not that you would want to eat these beautiful flowers. Apparently the creations will last for two years.

I could never have one these little pots of flowers on my desk. I would be picking off a petal hourly and savouring the flavour.

I was truly astounded with all his designs. Can you imagine these as your wedding bouquet. The entire party would be at the altar enjoying little nibbles.

Do visit the website for Les Caprices des Manons, you will be amazed at all of his creations.

In France, you just never know what delight store windows have waiting for you.

This is my contribution to Weekend Cooking, hosted by Beth Fish Reads and Saturday Snapshots hosted by Alyce at At Home with Books.

Fields of Yellow

Hello, It is almost mid-May and I have not posted once. Why? Because I have been off in the land of chocolate and croissants again driving through these beautiful fields of mustard. On this last trip I spent time in Brittany and Paris. The weather was a little overcast, a little rainy, a little sunny and a little hot. Yes, I have returned with color on my arms, face and a little less weight according to husband. Not sure about the little less weight when I was enjoying lots of these.

I also did lots of walking and biking. One day I enjoyed a very French day, taking the train out to Vernon and then renting a bicycle to ride along the Seine to Monet's home. Oh la la that was fun. I stopped for tea and a croissant, visited the Saturday marche (market) and then enjoyed the gardens. I also learned how to make these.

Yes, the macaron shells are covered in gold fairy dust, which I just had to buy. Imagine how you can decorate your pastries with that coloring.

I bought the pastry tip, have the books and now let the baking begin. Oops I forgot, I even brought home a bag of flour so I can make the crepes I enjoyed in Brittany. Now it is time to sit down and enjoy my Parisian croissants.