Such a different French wines
Cecile, a friend of mine 74 years old French woman lives now in Jerusalem.
We are friends at about 10 years. She likes to have a supper with me and to tell stories of her life. All my knowledge about France, all my love to French cooking and wine – everything is her evening stories.
She is from Bourgogne, Dijon, from the area of famous French wine, French musturd, asparagus (also French) and escargot. They say there – The good dinner is better than a beautiful dress.
For ten years I eat the dishes which names are sounds like music for me.
- Beuf a la bourguignonne – Beef in the bourgogne manner – beef in sauce of red wine ,cognac.
- Lapin a la moutarde – rabbit in musturd sauce (famous dijon)
- Jambon persille – Boiled ham in jelly with parsley , coq au vin – cockerel in wine.
I tried everything except escargot – Cecile doesn’t like it.
I became a specialist in Franch cuisine and different sorts of wine – Chablis – white Chardonnay – it’s for fish; Montrachet, Nuits- St Georges – red, for beef; Clos Micot , Clos de penaux , Le Rugiens , Pouilly – Fuisse – golden yellow, green wine – for white meat, fish and cheese.
But it’s not a matter; the matter is there was something I didn’t know yet. It was something strange, not Bourgogne, but still French.
The matter was evening with Fat Bastard.
It was really unexpected. It was really against all the classical knowledge about French taste. Still it was good, it was French, it was Chardonnay wine. Some friend brings it from south as the funny present and it obtained my hart more then all the famous sorts of wine. I began interesting in name history and found out a lot of stories and a lot of unusual wine names. So it was the end of my snooty history, now, I think I really interesting in wine.
Add comment June 29, 2009
Coffee Machines
There is a great choice when it comes to buying coffee machines so make sure you spend some time looking at the different coffee machines on offer. When I went out and looked at coffee machines, I wanted a few things from my coffee machine. I did however want it to make many different types of coffee rather than just your average normal coffee; I wanted espressos, lattes and cappuccinos. This did bring the price up quite a bit but I thought it was well worth it as I would not need to go to the local coffee house everyday from my coffee fix, also another good thing about owning my own coffee machine is I can offer my guest fine quality coffee whenever I choose too. Of the many different coffee machines the coffee machine I bought recently has a 6 month guarantee with it, however I will probably not need this as these machines are designed for coffee houses and use on a regular basis, so hence I imagine this coffee machine will last me forever. These are however a luxury product and don’t fool yourself into thinking it will save you money as it will not. You can however go for the cheaper option when it comes to coffee machines, these coffee machines will not cost you half as much as a professional coffee machine but it will definitely produce some lovely coffee for you. Anyway that’s my advice, hope I could help and have fun choosing your new coffee machine.
Add comment June 18, 2009
Asparagus
Do you like Asparagus as I do?
Asparagus has been used from early times as a vegetable and medicine.The asparagus is difficult for growing up, and it is considered one of delicacies of the vegetable world, with intensive taste and the high price. Asparagus is low in calories, contains no fat or cholesterol, and is very low in sodium. It is a good source of folic acid, potassium, dietary fiber and rutin.There is about 100 kinds of an asparagus, among them a French asparagus of violet color, English and American – green. The Spanish and Danish asparagus white as it is grown up underground and is cut off more often as soon as arrows appear over the earth.
Traditional way of cooking asparaguses – to put a bunch in a high pan and to cook in several centimeters of water. However, the special pan for this purpose is required. I prefer the more simple way – quickly to boil in salty boiling water and to wash out in flowing cold water. Thus the asparagus remains crackling.
In water the asparagus cooks 3-5 minutes, and steaming – 4-5 minutes.
Serve it with Dutch sauce. As this is one of the best sauces ever made for asparagus.
I’ll give you one of recipes.
The egg yolks ( 2 big eggs ) must be beaten thoroughly first with salt and pepper .
After that boil 1 desert spoon of lemon juice and 1 desert spoon of vinegar. Let it cool.
Then add the liquid to the well-beaten eggs , also with 4 ounces ( at about 100 gr) of good butter . Set the stew – pan on a very slow fire , and stir the liquid until it is about as thick as cream , immediately remove it . Now add 2 beaten whites of eggs stir all well with the whisk .
Add comment June 16, 2009
Wine cellar for everyone!
It is believed that only very rich people can afford having a wine cellar in order to keep there their wine collection. The majority of people think so just because they have shallow knowledge about wines and the methods of their storing. Many people think that a special cave is necessary where there is always a definite temperature that doesn’t allow wines to turn sour. Actually, this is true but not always a necessary step in building a cellar. Everything depends on the wine itself and what kind of wine you are going to store there. That is why usually two kinds of wine cellars are differentiated: collectors’ wine cellar that contains the most expensive wines, like Warre’s Port 1977 Vintage Port and just a wine cellar where you store your favourite wines.
So if you decided to organize a wine cellar – there are some rules to remember. If you do not want to spoil the most expensive wine you should remember that it must always be within the contact of the cork. This is important because otherwise even the most exclusive wine will be destroyed by the oxygen. Also keep the bottles horizontally and not just place them vertically. You must keep all the bottles in the dark as ultraviolet will spoil the ingredients and the wine will start to go sour.
Cellar where such exclusive wines as Ferreira Vintage 1997 Porto Wine will be kept must be free from any type of smells. The latter can easily sneak into the bottle and the cork will not be the problem for this. Clean environment is what should be presented in any wine cellar. So you see it is not difficult to organize your own wine cellar that’s why you just need to buy wine online and place it there.
Add comment June 9, 2009
Living Easier Recipe
Everybody knows the definition of any good wine is it should start and end with a smile:-) Actually there are so many reasons you have got to gladden yours and your loving friends, family or colleagues’ hearts with an excellent French wine, which, no doubt, makes this daily living easier, less hurried and more tolerance. Even the Bible refers to wine as having ability to cheer human hearts the same way as olive oil makes faces shine and bread strengthens human hearts. Do we need any more proof to?
Everyone has his own individual taste – someone prefers the quality reds, someone – whites. But everybody knows that a bottle of fine Spanish Wine is not only perfect companion with many kinds of meat or cheese but also can turn your evening into charming romantic getaway to say nothing of various cooking recipes where wines can be used as a flavoring.
Here is the recipe of red wine jelly you can try:
2 cups dry red wine
1 Tablespoon shallot, chopped
1-1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper
1 clove garlic, split
12 ounces red currant jelly
However a bottle of good wine is great think discovering
all the “notes” of everything under the sun and warming our hearts in happiness as well as in sorrow.
Add comment April 15, 2009
Tomatoes
There is a time for everything, everything in good season. What is tomato? This is fantastically beautiful and useful fruit that come to us in a range of colors and sizes – from white, pink and yellow to bright orange, deep red and green, from Grape, Cherry or Plum to Beef (slicers) and Burpee Big Boy and we use it practically at every step in preparing soups, salads, pies, sauces and more.
A tomato is richen in vitamins every person needs mostly – vitamin A and one of its precursors, beta-carotene, vitamin C, many other vitamins, it contains much iron and other minerals, a little fiber, and a very small amount of protein. All those are good reasons to start to grow your tomatoes from the seed and if you want to get really the best tasting or the earliest tomatoes you can try to get a jump on the growing season to become one of those tomatoes growers who is enjoying the best of gardening.
Tomato plants grow very rapidly, doubling their size quickly just be sure they get enough sunlight because tomatoes are sub-tropical plants and therefore require a full sun position. So, the more sun the better. Also they love water then don’t forget to water regularly to keep them well. There are great number of tips and practical advices from experts on growing tomatoes you can learn and choose to use. But as always the main rule is we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give, right? Then no doubt when you give tomato plants what they like you get the best result.
Add comment April 1, 2009
Planning a Fort Lauderdale Wedding
I’m going to talk to you about planning a Fort Lauderdale wedding. A wedding is a very special day for any couple. It is the official public showing of uniting two people under the symbol of love. For the bride, this is more than just a wedding, but a rite of passage that every little girl has dreamed of since they were small. The planning of this very special event is something that requires meticulous care because you’re only going to have one wedding with your significant other and want this to be perfect. I’m going to share with you the information necessary for planning a Fort Lauderdale wedding.
There are a lot of important parts of planning a wedding that need to be properly executed. You’re going to have to send out the necessary wedding invitations on presentable cards. You’re going to have to find a place to hold the reception, if it be at your local church or out at in an open area. Another important aspect of planning your wedding is to make sure you know exactly how many people are showing up. I’ve seen too many weddings experience shortages because they simply couldn’t decide on the number of people for the wedding.
With all that said, a Fort Lauderdale wedding needs to have the best caterer to handle your needs. People come to a wedding to celebrate your love of each other and to show their support for your union, but they expect to be entertained and they expect to be fed. The difference between a good wedding and a great wedding is the catering service. Your wedding cake has to look like a million dollars. You need to have food that is going to make your guests go “oh wow” and continue to talk about it.
If you’re planning on having a Fort Lauderdale wedding, than the only caterer up to the standards of providing a wedding people will talk about is Alexander Catering and Event Planning. They have the team to make sure wedding runs perfectly, so your day is bliss. Chef Alexander will prepare dishes that will make your guests grow with excitement.
This wedding is your celebration of your love and your union. This is the one-day in your life where you’ll be uniting with your spouse in front of your family and friends. Putting on an event that blows everyone away is an important way to celebrate your love. With Alexander Catering and Event Planning, you’ll be taken care of.
Add comment March 28, 2009
How to Keep your Knife Sharp
Knife sharpening again is very important isn’t it? So here is a few
advices on how to keep your knife extremely sharp without a visit to the knife shop.
My grand mother taught me: A sharp knife is a safe knife. So
1.after work a knife must be wiped carefully with a fresh sliced potato,
2.dont wash a knife with a hot water
3.and keep it separately from the rest of kitchen utensils of course.
Add comment March 17, 2009
Pro and Con Organic Food
Buying food for your dinner do you really select products taking into account its organic or not so birth?
What is this, organic food? You can find easily that organic food is a food which has been produced to standards designed to keep the production more ‘natural’. No doubt each of us prefer more natural food, but does organic food fit all natural standards and who decides if a food is organic?
Actually there are various bodies and organizations are called to certify food and producers as organic, they are to check food, educate public and help farmer to switch to organic farming. No doubt each of us prefers more natural food. What about quality of food it has definitely gone down since the second world war. For instance, the levels of vitamin C in today’s fruit bear no resemblance to the levels found in wartime fruit. And today do you really know what goes into your food? Did you know that if you consumed an average apple you would be eating over 30 pesticides, even after you have washed it? And such facts surprise nobody today. What is a way out the situation? Perhaps people must be more informed taking a closer look at what they are eating.
Add comment February 25, 2009
