30 Juin ~ St Martial
One of the joys of living where I do in SW France is the abundance of sunshine! Yes, it DOES rain, but then that is a Godsend for the garden, and it is the garden that guides me and my cooking for today. I wandered around the garden before anyone else was up ~ that special feeling of being at one with nature; the dew was still heavy on all the plants and the fragrance was rich and heavy from all the herbs and flowers. I love the fact that my feet were wet from walking through the wet grass on my way down to the wild flower meadow at the bottom of the garden. (Meadow may be stretching it, but it is a large area devoted to beautiful wild meadow flowers, some common and some quite rare ~ a haven for all wildlife and birds, as well as me first thing in the morning!)
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| The Wild Flower Meadow at the bottom of my Garden. |
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| Wild Meadow Flowers. |
This is the time of day that is perfect for collecting any herbs that I fancy or need for the day; today, my eyes linger on my potted basil ~ it has not done terribly well this year due to lack of rain, but there is enough to gather for today’s menu. I am thinking of the classic salad of basil, mozzarella and tomatoes, or maybe a basil sorbet to be served with a charcuterie and cheese platter………..decisions, decisions!
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| A Bunch of Basil on the Bird Table! |
I also see that my borage is flowering, time for Pimm’s I think! I do love a jug of Pimms in the summer ~ in full attire of course ~ strawberries, cucumber, lemon, orange, mint sprigs and of course borage flowers……..that HAS to be on the menu for today I feel. Sipping it in the haze of a hot afternoon and after a long and lazy lunch………….the day is already shaping up well in a culinary sense, or is that greed perchance?
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| Borage in my Herb Garden. |
I also remembered as I walked around the garden, that I “rescued” some Le Creuset yesterday, from a local Brocante; sad and forlorn, they sat in sad silence under the more “commercial” shiny copper pans on the shelf above ~ life had been reduced to the “bottom shelf” for them. I had to have them, my relationship with Le Creuset is complicated and deep ~ but the ultimate result is always the same, I must possess them! I left them out overnight on the garden bench ~ my plan is to rinse them outside before bringing them in and washing them with tender care and respect……..I think of all the meals that have been prepared in them, the laughter and joy that they will have brought to the family table……..they are back in loving hands once more and I will select them for a recipe very soon, I whisper to them! They seem to bristle with culinary pride, or is that the gleam that has been restored to their enamel?
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| Before – my “rescued” Le Creuset Pans and Gratin Dish. |
I must away to my kitchen now, there is lots to do…….plotting and planning, cutting, poaching and simmering ~ recipes to be planned and prepared! I will be back later on today with recipes to share with you and all my culinary photos of the day………….don’t go away, I have a place set for you at my table!
Karen
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