November 28, 2009

Thanksgiving in Gascony

How do three Americans celebrate Thanksgiving in rural southwestern France?

No turkey. No cranberry sauce. No green bean casserole (for that I am thankful!) No pumpkin pie.

For our Thanksgiving in Gascony, Kate, Carol and I spent the morning at the market in Éauze, spent the afternoon tasting Armagnac and after un p'tit apéro when we got home, whipped up a simple, yet festive meal of Chestnut Soup, Duck Legs with Prunes, cheese from the Pyrénées and Fromageon Gascon spread on toasted fig bread.
What a perfect day.






Fromageon Gascon
Mix the three ingredients together and spread on toasted slices of walnut or fig bread
Drizzle extra honey on top if you like it a bit sweeter

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8 comments:

Nanette said...

How very sensible of you to have cheese!

Happy Thanksgiving bella xx

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Duck legs and prunes sound like a wonderful turkey replacement! And if you can't have pumpkin pie, French cheese sounds like a delicious substitute :)

Ken Broadhurst said...

Are you going to give us the recipe for the duck legs with prunes? I hope you are...

Jennifer said...

Nanette
No meal is complete without it! :)

STK
It was a delicious regional interpretation of Thanksgiving. I couldn't have enjoyed it more!

Ken
We started writing the recipe as we cooked and got sidetracked by conversation (and eating)! As soon as we get it done, you'll be the first to know. :)

Jill said...

Any holiday is better than cheese! Which ones did you serve?

Jennifer said...

Jill
They were three cheeses from the Pyrénées - a vache a chèvre and a brebis. I'll be writing about them next week for La Fête du Fromage, so stay tuned! :)

Jennifer K said...

I like roast turkey. I even like that dreaded green bean casserole. But I would happily give all that up for the meal you just described.

Jennifer said...

Jennifer
It was a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving!
(My favorite part of the green bean casserole was always the onions on top!)