French Apple Cake

Because I've always been a Francophile and this dessert recipe had the word "French" in it, choosing it from a long list of Apple Cake recipes was a no-brainer. The fact that the cake batter is infused with a healthy splash of Calvados (or Cognac) helped make the decision that much easier!

This is one of those special recipes that I stumbled across about 10 years ago and have held on to ever since. It is buttery and rich and truly divine. And it is a dangerous cake to have around, because once you have a bite, you'll want another.
And another. And another.

So unless I feel like living dangerously, I only make it for special occasions, when I know there will be friends and family around to help eat up every last bite. When I offer second helpings I am often met with mild protests, but they always cave in eventually!


French Apple Cake
from Bon Appétit magazine
serves 8

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 large Granny Smith apples (about 1 1/4 pounds), peeled, cored, thinly sliced

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large egg yolks
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons Calvados, applejack or other brandy (I use Cognac)
  
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Coat pan with sugar; tap out excess. Melt 1/4 cup butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in 3/4 cup sugar, water and cinnamon and bring to boil. Add apples and cook until apples are just tender, turning frequently, about 15 minutes. Remove apples, using slotted spoon, and arrange decoratively in bottom of pan. Continue boiling liquid in skillet until thick and syrupy, about 4 minutes. Pour over apples.

Sift flour, baking powder and salt into small bowl. Whisk remaining 1 cup sugar, egg yolks, eggs, Calvados and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Gently stir in dry ingredients. Fold in 1/2 cup melted butter. Pour batter over apples in pan. Bake until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool cake in pan 5 minutes. Run small sharp knife around side of pan to loosen cake. Turn cake out onto platter. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Summertime Sangria

Our local co-op sells Minervois rosé for the bargain price of €1.30 a liter.
We enjoy its thirst-quenching, refreshing qualities all summer long, and like to do all we can to support our local vignerons!

Husband recently decided that we should try to make Sangria with rosé instead of red so I happily mixed up this concoction late this morning and left it to sit and infuse in the fridge for a few hours. At lunchtime we poured ourselves a couple of icy cold glasses to taste.
What a wonderful flavor!
Tangy, not too sweet, invigorating and delicious. I'm so happy with the results!


Loulou's Summertime Sangria

• 1 bottle of dry rosé
• 1/4 cup Cognac* or brandy
• 2 lemons, cut into pieces
• 1 orange, cut into pieces
• 3-5 tablespoons sugar
  

Put all of the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir until the sugar dissolves. Taste and add more sugar if you like your Sangria a bit sweeter.
Leave in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight to allow the flavors to blend.
Serve over ice.

¡Salud!

*no need to use your best Cognac for this recipe

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Photo du Jour - Cognac Tasting

Une petite dégustation.

The tasting room at Roullet-Fransac in Cognac. Pin It

Cognac Centre Ville

Cognac. I love this place. We've visited this charismatic town three times in the last five years and plan to go again next year.

The fabulous Chinese food and innumerable Cognac tasting opportunities are reason enough to go back, but we also appreciate the sophisticated atmosphere, the fact that it is easy to get around and to park in, and think that Cognac is generally, an all-around, delightful French town.




One of the best things about Cognac - it is people friendly.
Its small size (population around 20,000) means that it is easily navigated on foot. The medieval quarter is a maze of little streets that you can't resist exploring and a stroll along the river offers scenic views and shady spots to have a picnic or relax. In the summertime there are boat rides along the Charente river to consider.


You will be spoiled for choice when it comes to fresh seafood Le Marché Couvert, which is open every morning except for Monday. Other open air markets take place around town every Saturday and Sunday, offering a wealth of fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, charcuterie and seafood. There are also Marchés Bio (organic markets) held the 3rd Sunday of the month and every Tuesday and Friday.

If you're looking for places in France to visit, put the town of Cognac and the surrounding area on your list. The Charente and Charente-Maritime offer vast, gorgeous Atlantic beaches, quaint islands, some of the most succulent oysters you'll ever taste, world renowned Cognac, music and art festivals, Roman and Romanesque architecture and a beautiful landscape of rolling hills dotted with vineyards and picturesque fields of sunflowers.
What more could you ask for?


Cognac Tourism
Charente Tourism
Official site of la Charente-Maritime (in French)
Poitou Charentes Tourism Pin It

Photo du Jour - Scallops and Sardines

Scallops in le Marché Couvert in Cognac were only €7,90 a kilo. Down here in the Languedoc they cost more than twice that.
And check out those enormous silver sardines! (on the right) Pin It

Photo du Jour - Cheese Tasting

Some of the goodies I found in les Halles in Cognac. Pin It

Le Hong Kong in Cognac

Two things lured us back to Cognac; Cognac (of course) and Chinese food.
A strange combination, I know.

After almost six years in France, the best Chinese restaurant we have found in this country is, of all places, smack dab in the center of Cognac.

We met the owners of Le Hong Kong on our first trip to the Charente almost five years ago. A drive into town for some Cognac tasting serendipitously led us to this charming restaurant where we feasted on dishes such as Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Steamed Shu-Mai, Chinese Five-Spice Duck Breast, Chicken with Black Mushrooms and Fried Rice.

We vowed to return.


The dishes that come out of the chef 's kitchen are authentic and fresh, exactly the kind of Chinese food that we have yet to find down here in the Languedoc. Add to that the warm welcome you receive from the owners, comfortable seating and a nice dining room, the surprising addition of sushi to the menu since our last visit (yes, I know it's not Chinese, but when it is this fresh and delicious, who cares!), and you've got yourself the recipe for a perfect restaurant.



We gorged ourselves silly ate here twice on our trip last week. In three days.
Hopefully that will keep us satisfied until our next visit.


Restaurant le Hong Kong
15 boulevard Denfert Rochereau
16100 Cognac
054 536 8925 Pin It

Photo du Jour

A beautiful sight. Pin It

Photo du Jour - Les Halles

Fresh seafood in les Halles in Cognac.
I was drooling! Pin It

Photo du Jour - Cognac

We're currently tasting our way through the great Cognac houses. Be back Saturday! Pin It

Saturday's Apéro Evening

I think the highlight of the evening, for me, was watching an 8 year old as he expertly opened the fiddly little valve on a box of Les Trois Blasons wine. Teach them young, that's what I say! My husband's was singing with our neighbor then tasting some homemade Cognac liqueur. Cognac liqueur. Talk about gilding the lily!

It was a much bigger event than last year, with about 45 of our neighbors bringing everything from quiche Lorraine, pissaldière, tomato and olive tapenade, potato salad, poached salmon, raw tomatoes stuffed with tuna salad, pizza, melon and mini savory muffins to share. Drinks included whiskey, pastis, white, rosé and red wine, homemade cartagène and muscat. We gathered at 7 p.m. and finally cleared everything away at midnight.

I, of course, embarrassed myself by mispronouncing the word "l'alcool" (alcohol-I was trying to describe how an English trifle is made) in front of my sweet, 80+ year old neighbors. Apparently, in French, it sounded as if I was trying to "put my butt" on genoise sponge cake then cover it with fruit and whipped cream. Definitely one of my finer moments.

We continue to be amazed at how lucky we were to have ended up in this beautiful village that is full of such kind, wonderful people. Can't wait until next year! Pin It

La Charente-Maritime

The Charente-Maritime did not disappoint.
An alluring landscape of long, sandy beaches, salt marshes, rolling hills, vineyards and forests punctuated with stunning, Romanesque architecture and quaint villages made for a delightful three day visit.

The little chambres d'hôtes that I found last minute on the Internet was a mere five minutes from the most charming little seaside town, Saint-Palais-sur-Mer. We spent both evenings here, soaking up the sun, breathing in the salt air and enjoying a glass of Pineau de Charentes while watching the residents stroll by with their dogs.



Beach Burger, on the main street, made us laugh and we almost tried it one night, but ended up at a little restaurant with a view of the sea, eating delicious little steamed mussels instead. (I think that was a wise decision.)




Cognac was just an hour away so we drove over to visit our favorite producer, Roullet-Fransac. They were as warm and welcoming as the last time we visited and invited the dogs in to join us. They have a very comfortable tasting room with big couches and wing back chairs. After several tastes of cognac and Pineau, it is a difficult place to leave!


They also make several liqueurs using cognac, the Pomegranate was my favorite. Served chilled, it tastes a bit like a cosmopolitan.


We meandered around, visiting Saintes, Pons, Jonzac, Royan, Marennes and driving up the Gironde estuary to Saint-Georges-de-Didonne. We put a lot of miles on our little car and the dogs were incredibly well behaved. They were welcomed into every café and restaurant we stopped at and offered nice, big bowls of water.

The Charente-Maritime is an enchanting region with natural beauty, impressive sights, wonderful food and drink and delightful, friendly people. We're definitely going back. Pin It

Top 100-21 Through 30

21. Barilla Whole Wheat Pasta. It took me a while get up the nerve to buy this but I'm glad I did. I wouldn't pair this pasta with just any sauce, but I thought it was excellent with a hearty, rustic, mushroom, ham and tomato sauce I made last week.

22. Wine Sediments Blog. A great collection of writing that keeps me informed with what's going on in the wine world.

23. La Vache à Carreaux wine bar in Avignon, France. Tucked back on a little street in the center of town, they serve an array of dishes made with cheese. The menu is written on a big chalkboard and the friendly wine guy suggests which wine to drink depending upon your order, there is no written wine list. The food was excellent and we really enjoyed the ambiance of this little place.

La Vache à Carreaux
14 rue Peyrollerie
84000 Avignon
FRANCE
+(33) 4 90 80 09 05

24. Tarte au Citron. This is a recipe I found years ago in a cookbook by Sheila Lukins, of the Silver Palate fame. I've had All Around the World Cookbook since 1994 and this tart was the first thing I cooked from it. It is a very tart tarte, the way a proper tarte au citron should be!

Tarte au Citron
For our tarte au citron, freeze or chill the pastry before baking it. This gives the gluten a chance to relax after you roll it out. And watch the lemon custard carefully as it cooks so that it doesn't curdle. Don't let it boil! To serve, carefully cut with a sharp knife, then remove slices to dessert plates with a pie server.Dough
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt

Filling:
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons heavy (whipping) cream
3 large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks

1. Place the butter in a food processor and process a few seconds, until creamy. Add 1/4 cup sugar and process until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 20 seconds, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice. Add the vanilla. Combine the flour and salt, then add to the food processor. Process until the dough comes together around the sides of the bowl; scrape the sides of the bowl and process for a few seconds more.2. With lightly floured hands, press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press around the bottom edge of the tart and make sure that the dough is not too thick.3. Trim any excess dough at the top of the tart pan with a knife. Lightly press the dough around the inside of the rim with your thumb so that it extends about 1/8 inch above the pan. Prick the bottom of the dough all over with a fork. Chill the dough in the freezer at least 30 minutes or overnight.4. Preheat the oven to 375°F.5. Bake the partially or fully frozen tart shell until fully baked and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.6. Whisk the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the lemon juice together in a bowl. Gradually whisk in the heavy cream, then the eggs and the egg yolks. Combine thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until the filling thickens and the whisk leaves a trail, about 4 minutes.7. Strain the filling into a bowl, then pour it into the baked tart shell. Bake for 4 minutes.8. Cool thoroughly on a rack and serve at room temperature. Before serving, carefully remove the sides and bottom of the pan and gently slide the tart onto a decorative plate.

25. Piment d'Espelette. A long, red pepper grown in the Basque region of France. After harvesting they are threaded in bunches onto heavy string and hung out on the sides of buildings to dry in the sun. They were granted Appellation d’Origine Controlee (AOC) in 1999, giving them protection from imposters, the same way Champagne is protected. Ground up, they are delicious sprinkled on grilled meat or vegetables, eggs, etc.

26. Mirliton Festival in New Orleans. The mirliton, or chayote, a funny looking pear shaped vegetable belonging to the gourd family, is celebrated every year in the Bywater neighborhood at a festival featuring art, music and dishes made with the mirliton by local chefs. Takes place in November.

27. Maison Roullet-Fransac, makers of Cognac, Pineau des Charentes and liqueurs. We discovered them two years ago on a spring trip to explore the Poitou-Charentes region. Their charming tasting room is easily overlooked, as it is next door to the better known and much bigger Hennessy house. The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their products. (I wrote about them in November)

28. Duralex Picardie Bistro Glass. Definitely a classic, the Picardie is suitable for cold drinks and hot beverages, stackable for convenient storage, chip resistant, and microwave and dishwasher-safe. Of course we don't have a dishwasher, so the chip resistant quality helps when they are accidentally dropped in our ceramic sink

29. Teuscher Champagne Truffles. Each little piece of heaven consists of a dark chocolate ganache center that is enriched by Dom Perignon Champagne and an outer layer of milk chocolate that is sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar. Did I mention they are heavenly?



30. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. A beautiful story that includes recipes and was also made into a fabulous film.
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