You see, I love my old things, and this morning when Charlotte (my thirty year old VW Golf for those of you who are new to the blog) broke down, I had to decide if she was worth the money and effort to fix her.
The thing about old objects I have owned for so long, is that they constantly bring back memories and special moments like nothing else. Their presence makes me feel safe. Somehow I belong with them and they belong with me. I belong!!! The same goes with people of course. And so it does take a bit of work to keep these things and these special relationships going of course, but I will gladly put up a fight when I need to!
And so yes, my house is more than a century old and its 25 windows and 48 wooden shutters will have to be replaced soon. I’ll just sell a kidney! The stained glass windows are chipped, but I refuse to replace them with just plain glass. The master bedroom took several months to renovate on my own. My friend Ségolène helped me refinish the wooden floors by hand, and so I will keep that old thing too (Ségolène that is). And what about food?! YES I WILL put in the extra effort to prepare my home made crème caramel. It’s tradition! YES, I WILL stand above the stove to color onions in real butter for an hour when my nephews insist that we have onion soup in the middle of Summer when it’s 95° outside. That’s legacy!
We live in a society where everything and frankly everyone seems to be disposable. If it’s not easy, it’s out…
What’s wrong with making the effort for once to repair grandma’s leather chairs or reproduce one of her old fashioned recipes that takes forever to make? Why not keep the story going for a little while longer?!
Below is my aunt Nicole, who is 73 today, in one of the leather chairs I just mentioned. The next photo is the poor leather chair today.
And this is my uncle Jean behind old Charlotte’s wheel. The umbrella you say? Don’t ask! We’ll keep uncle Jean a little longer too. He makes me laugh…
Oh, and I forgot Sirus the cat, who’s soon to be twenty. How many times has my dad asked me why I fought so hard to keep him alive. That cat cost me more in vet bills over the years than it did keeping Charlotte on the road.
My dear Charlotte, here is to your next 300 000 miles!
By the way, it is a little too hot for onion soup these days, but here is Manée’s recipe for crème caramel. Still though, the soup recipe is here for our Australian friends who are in the middle of Winter ;0): French Onion Soup
Ingredients for crème caramel:
- 1 pound of sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 sticks of vanilla (or vanilla extract, but it’s really nice to have the little black dots inside the finished product. Looks and feels home-made)
- 1 pinch of salt
- 2 cups of milk (2% or whole)
Steps:
1. Batter eggs and 5 table-spoons of sugar until mixture gets whiter
2. Make caramel with sugar left (caramel is the easiest thing to make. Just add 4 table-spoons of water to a pound of sugar; but be super careful: first it gets extremely hot, second it turns really dark really fast so keep an eye on it at all times. Your caramel should be the exact color as in my pictures. Too light and it won’t taste like caramel. Too dark and it gets really bitter)
3. Cover the floor of a cake pan with the caramel while it is still in its liquid form. Be careful as caramel hardens really really fast. Make sure the cake pan is made of a glass or glass like material that will withstand extreme heat. Caramel is around 180°C!!
4. Boil milk with vanilla and salt
5. Add milk to egg batter while stirring constantly. You don’t want the hot milk to cook the eggs
6. Pour mixture into pan
7. Put in bain-marie in the oven at 180°C (360°F) for 30mn (center should not be liquid anymore and jiggle a little). Water of bain-marie should come two third up the pan. You can also use a pressure cooker. In that case, cover the pan with foil and put a plate on top so the steam does not get into the pan. Reduce the flame and cook 9 to 10 minutes after steam comes out off the valve ).
Serve ice-cold!!
MY FRENCH HEAVEN 
Old things are imbued with old family memories and that’s what you don’t want to let go of. Can’t blame you. Our roots shape the people we are.
You are so right dear Dorothy! Here is to our roots and our ancestors 😉
Old is gold. When my granny died, her house had to be demolished so that new apartments could come in its place for the children. I lived in it 17 years and I know the pain as I saw each wall coming down. Ouch…
I don’t think I could take this sort of chock… I really don’t! I am glad you’ve been able to live on sight though. I am sure the spirit of your granny is everywhere. She is watching over you. You know she is! 🙂
Yeah ! It was very sad to watch that
It’s a throw away age and I hate that. My house is old too and I mend and make do but that’s just how I like it.
Me too Marie! Old stuff has so much charm…
Stephane!!! Hello my friend, and yes you are right – we ARE in the middle of winter right now! Rain rain go away… 😀 Well you must have read my mind because I have been thinking about making that classic French onion soup for a few days now.
I must also say sorry for being absent from all blogging activities (reading and writing) for several months now as I have settled into a new job and a new home over here. I have a feeling you would love our new home – it’s one of the oldest houses here in Perth (1908 built – this is VERY old for Western Australia) – it’s our gorgeous little cottage with it’s original wooden floors and I ma busy setting up my little herb garden all around the courtyard at the back, and moving aside some unnecessary plants out the front to make way for some vegetables (garlic, leeks and beetroot to start with and see how I go).
I hope you have been well, and I would like some more pictures of your home too! 🙂
Oh it is so so good to hear from you again! I got so excited when your avatar popped up! Your new home seems like an absolute dream!!!! Please do share some pictures as soon as you can. 1908 is indeed quite old for Australia. Do you have one of those benches under the kitchen window? That’s how I picture it… Anyway, I know you will enjoy living there and creating the lovely garden you’ve already planned in your dreams. Do be careful not to get bitten by one of those nasty spiders when you do the garden!!! 😀 I am so so glad you are back!!
Thank you! 🙂 I don’t have a bench under the kitchen window, I have pots of herbs hanging up the fence in the little back yard, which is like a courtyard. As soon as the rain stops, I’ll take some nice photos 🙂 I haven’t seen any spiders yet (it’s a bit cold at the moment) but as it’s an old area, our cat Nemo is having a great time catching rats! Her tally is 1 per week for the last 8 weeks, haha 😀
ps this means no rats in our house – and she is gradually clearing the neighbourhood, I think!
If she continues she’ll get the keys to the city from the mayor himself 😀
Go Nemo! 😀
Great post! Hope Charlotte is back on her wheels soon. We too have a house that is over a 100 years old. None of the windows are standard size and fingers crossed the stained glass stay in one piece! We have nearly 50 windows and are in the process of having storm windows put over them to keep out the cold. Love old things as well but it’s not always easy.
Wow, that is going to cost a pretty penny… I saw a guy on TV the other day who owns a castle in the Moire valley. He had to renovate 200 windows. Each one cost 10 000€. So you see, we are not the only ones who have to suffer 😉
We have curved windows and we got a preliminary quote and they said $12000 a window and we have 6 of them! On to plan B for those. We save up and do a few, save up again. They make a huge difference in the heating bills.
Oh my god!! That’s what I’d call an expensive renovation project. Mine are much cheaper than that… It’s all worth the effort though!
My husband warned me it’s a lifestyle not a house with these old homes. He’s not kidding!
I’ll pick a lifestyle over a new building anytime 😉
Yeah me too. 😊
Oh, your post made me smile 🙂 Why thank you, I will use your french onion soup recipe, because it’s freezing here in Australia and I can’t feel my toes. Probably because we are renowned for inadequately heating our houses because we are in denial about winter 🙂 As for your love of old things – I was thinking about my husband’s attachment to old things, particularly items of clothing. being an unsentimental person myself, I don’t get it, but maybe i do, a bit more now after reading this 🙂
You know what they say about clothes Sara: if you keep them long enough, they’ll be back in style…
Yeah…not the clothes I’m talking about 😉
😉
Wow. What a beautiful post. I love this recipe too. My mom taught me how to make flan and how to make a bonne Marie to cook it in.
You should thank your mom for such a useful skill! Bain Marie is so important when making anything with chocolate or custards, even paté…
Oh yes. I know it in Spanish as a baña maría. I wish I knew more french. But yes a great skill in any language.
Old cars, old cats, old leather chairs, stained glass, wood floors; lovable old houses and relatives–you’ve hit in one concise blog so much of what makes life beautiful! And on top of that, good food!
As the brakemen would say on the railroad, while switching cars–“keep ‘er commin’.”
Oh thank you for such a kind comment!! I am so glad you liked the post!!!
you have that finesse. beautiful food. I wish my kitchen didn’t get so hot in the summer!
Sorry to hear that Josh! Come on over, I’ll make you dinner!
We have an old house (built 1850), an old cat adopted from a friend and an old car. Separated at birth? Old things are fab and need keeping and looking after. However much they might irritate us at times! :0)
You and your kids are much too good looking for us to be related in any way 😉 I adopted Sirus as well in Atlanta Georgia when I lived there. So technically he is an illegal American immigrant 😀
Your house sounds like a dream! And sirus looks fab!
Thanks Flora! 😀
Lovely caramel colour theme – the beautiful restored floor, the old leather chair, the sun through the stained glass, the onion soup, the cat, and (of course) the crème caramel. I appreciate the love of old things and the need to restore as I live in a house built at the end of the 19th century. Everything has a history, everything has a story.
If walls (and floors) could talk… 😉
How lovely. As a virtual antique myself I’m a great believer in keeping and caring for old treasures. You are blessed in your friends, family, home, pets, cars, home and cuisine!
I do feel blessed indeed dear Linda! Antique indeeeeeeed…
What I mean by “antique indeed” is that you are certainly not an antique!!! Just imagine Brenda Blethyn saying it. I am watching secrets and lies for the hundredth time right now 😉
Ha, you should hear my joints creak! I could give your antique furniture a run for its money. But thank you for the vote of confidence. 🙂
You are most welcome dear Linda. I think you’re only as old as you feel in your head. Sometimes I feel like 100 😉
Awesome post Stephane, I too am sick of this disposable society. I love love love the leather chair, Sirus and Uncle Jean…definitely fix Charlotte you won’t regret it 🙂 Can’t wait to try the crème caramel it sounds delicious!
Oh please try the crème caramel!! It is so simple and such a perfect dessert for any occasion… Charlotte is being repaired as we speak. She’ll feel so much better 😉 😀
I read your post and laughed. Our terrace home is over a hundred years old too and the maintenace is never ending. Not too long ago we refinished our parquetry floors (oh the dust) and tomorrow a builder is coming over to quote on repairs to a leaking chimney. In our study we have my husband’s grandfathers favourite leather chair which is in dire need of recovering. It’s simply ages since I last had creme caramel, 1990s perhaps. Now I’m suddenly craving it. So much more sophisticated than its trendy cousin creme brûlée.
We really are kindred spirits aren’t we?! I just replied to a comment, and stated that I really didn’t understand how creme brulée became the dessert of all desserts and did not understand why, when crème caramel is so much more sophisticated. Those were not the exact words, but I was trying to make the exact same point… I love this!
Exactement. Oh the disappointment of cracking into a perfectly blow torched creme brûlée to find an overcooked and sometimes curdled custard. With creme caramel there is nowhere to hide. Yours looks divine; silky smooth with a slight wobble, drenched in a glorious caramel syrup.
Oh please stop it!! You are making me drool now…
I absolutely love what you mentioned about nearly everything being disposable in today’s society. What happened to things you own or eat, having value and sentiment? Currently, nearly everything is mass produced and frankly, nothing is appreciated that much anymore. I think everyone should take a moment, as you have, and acknowledge how wonderful it feels to see things (and make things) that are not simply disposable.
Absolutely right dear Amanda! 🙂
Very much my view….although slightly enforced by financial straits…I hope I’d be the same without them…lovely post.
Finances are an issue for me as well to a certain extent. I do believe I’d feel the same even if I had more money though… I’d just have more old cars 😉
Every one adores creme caramel- it never goes out of fashion.
It really is a classic isn’t it Francesca?! I’ll make you some if you come visit me one day 😉
You’re on!!!
I am in love with all your recipes and photos you post! Wonderful blog! I might even try the French Onion Soup. I live in Arizona so it will be a challenge! High today was 110! 😦
Just crank the AC way up and get to work my darling. You are so lucky to live in Arizona! It is one State I’ve always wanted to visit! Soon I hope…
Exquisite post Stephane – beautifully written and I agree with your sentiments. Keep the story going! Love your fabulous Uncle with his umbrella in the car (!) and your elderly cat. I have an 1840s limestone house – with the original floor and beams and interior limestone walls. And I have an old cat! But alas, no Uncle Jean. Do you know about the Japanese design concept of Wabi-sabi – about the beauty in old and broken/worn things. I think you’d love it.
Thanks for your lovely comment! I did not know about Wabi-sabi, but I cannot wait to Google that!!! I am going to Japan in November and I am quite interested in anything Japanese (mostly the food though I must admit…)
I know you will fall in love with Japan, it’s fantastic on every level. The food is out of this world delicious. On our last couple of trips we followed this article for our foodie hits and werent disappointed, so i thought i would share it with you. http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/travel/travel-guides/2010/3/tetsuya's-tokyo/. Hope it whets your appetite. Are you traveling to the ancient capital of Kyoto too? It’s famous for Japanese style French food.
I will spend most of the two weeks in Kyoto actually! I am planning this trip so carefully. I want to see and eat EVERYTHING!! First time in Asia too, so it’s a big deal for me. Especially since Asian food is my favorite! Thanks for the link. It will help a lot!!!!
You will definitely need to visit ‘Kyoto’s kitchen” the centuries old Nishiki Markets. Many, many years ago I spent a whole day on a wonderful sake tasting tour. It is worth checking out Michi Travel for inspiration. http://www.michitravel.com/kyotogourmet
What a wonderful destination Stephane. There are something like 17 World Heritage Sights in the Kansai prefecture.
This is so perfect! I saved the link in my favorites 😀
Mmmmm, I think I’ll make both! 🙂 Lovely thoughtful post Stéphane.
Thanks Margot! I think you love them both! 😉
I fully understand how you feel about your old things. I still keep my old diaries and letters and cards which I exchanged with my friends from my elementary school and the cassette tapes in which I myself recorded original sound tracks while listening to radio. Now I don’t have an equipment to play the tapes, but I cannot throw them away because they are my beautiful memories. ^^ Have a nice weekend!
I still keep my old diaries as well. I go through them sometimes and it feels like I’m reading somebody else’s story…
I am a fan of your photographs, I just enjoy seeing them, amazing stories…yumm creme Caremarl…good luck on your Charlotte…you have a beautiful home as well…
Oh Natasha, you are so very kind. Charlotte is getting a new clutch as we speak… She’s going to feel like a teenager again. I hope she don’t run away! Dear god it’s late and I’m tired. Sorry for the shitty sense of humor!!!
Ha ha funny part is I had just read your comment…late at 3.00 a.m. After putting my son to bed…don’t worry Charlotte shall be like an Indian girl who stays with her father till he marry’s her off…
I’ll have to keep her from boys then, which will be quite hard as she is quite famous and beloved in my town 😉 It seems every man from 5 to 75 wants an old Golf convertible… What do they say again? Boys will be boys? 😀
🙂
Beautiful kitty! I love your home! I adore things old too! More character than new or contemporary things in life! I can’t wait to try your recipe out, looks delicious, have a wonderful weekend! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Thanks Lisa! I hope you have a wonderful weekend too!
Wow, this post is chock full of fantastic details. The car, the cat, Segolene (and I do think you should be very careful around her after she has read this post), I also noted how she was dressed for working on floor refinishing as another of your readers did. And what a wonderful thought to keeping old things to keep the story going. I agree! And the most incredible thing…..I have those little soup tureens you picture your onion soup in!!!! I feel special now for sure, and I will call them my French Heaven bowls from now on.
So in summary: keep the car, keep the cat, keep the chair, keep Segolene, and keep on cooking.
I’m not worried. Sego has a great sense of humor! 😉 As for the bowls, I love them to. They have such a traditional old France look… Here is to our French Heaven bowls 😉 😀
I lament that we don’t have buildings here in Australia that have the character of Europe and I think the same goes for our value of things with memories. I know that I am more likely to choose a home from the feel than the look, and I am an avid collector of things attatched to memories. I loved reading about some of yours.
The feel of a home is what really matters. I have lived in places that felt really really wrong… I am convinced that walls retain energy, good and evil… Anyhow, the feel is what matters most, then it will be the memories one creates in his or her space. I believe in intentional happiness!
A beautiful post and sentiments I completely agree with. I love your house, your car, your 20 year old cat and that creme caramel. I also think that Segolene is lovely and your Uncle Jean looks like quite the character. I live in a house that was built in the mid 1800’s and I have a deep appreciation and love for relics and such from the past, They should be cherished and cared for to preserve them for generations to come.
Such an old house in NYC is quite special. Is it one of those classic brownstones I’ve always dreamed of?!?
There are many old homes in NYC, I live in Brooklyn in a historic neighborhood. The house is not a classic brownstone it’s a brick townhouse with brownstone trim, Queen Ann style architecture. My home is not pristine, some of the ornate details were destroyed many years ago in a fire. I love these old houses, thats what my day job is I sell historic homes.
Oh wow! What a fabulous job! Maybe you’ll sell me one one day 😉 One can dream right…
I love my job and I would love to show you some of the beautiful homes in the area. I love your home, at least what I have seen of it. It just kills me to sell someone a beautiful historic house with original details only to have them rip it all out to replace with something sleek and contemporary. That has it’s place but why buy an old home and do that. I just don’t get it, I love it when people incorporate the old with new, maintaining the historic integrity.
I so agree. A nice classic home is something you must deserve. It’s a responsibility… Oh well, not everybody can be as perfect as us I guess… 😉 😀
Lol, well just a pet peeve of mine.
New reader here … I love this post and couldn’t agree more. Vintage, well loved & cared for items have a beauty and history all their own. I cherish my mother’s fine silver, my grandfather’s stock pot and my grandmother’s antique linens – they make every meal feel that much more special! Love your writing and photographs! I’d love to visit someday.
I love antique linens, and not just for the table, but also for my bed… I like heavy sheets 😉 Welcome to my little blog and thank you so much for taking the time to write your lovely comment!
Gorgeous creme caramel, a favourite here too, but in a bain marie in the oven. I’ve never used a pressure cooker. It’s rare in this disposable age to buy anything new that lasts, the old stuff is irreplaceable.
Bain Marie works! 😉 I don’t know where the crème brulée craze came from… I like crème caramel much better!
Quelle belle maisonnée (soupe à l’oignon incluse) 🙂
Je dois avouer que même en été, je ne peux jamais dire non à une bonne soupe à l’oignon 😀
😀
C’est drôle, je ne suis pas étonné …
😉
You are right again Stéphane! It seems so sad to me that the world has become obsessed with instant this and instant that – how can anything good and real be instant?! (Instant coffee is horrible isn’t it? ) Only the things that take time and effort, thought and care seem to last – we are nothing without our history are we?!
Indeed my dear Jane! Indeed.
P.S. Ségolène on the other hand looks spectacular….no restoration needed!
Some cream here and there 😀 She’s going to kill me…
I agree with you on all points, but I don’t like keeping old things if they fall into disrepair. They make me feel old and “seedy”. So, I tend to spend on restoration; I love old things that have been either lovingly preserved, or meticulously restored. I would give Charlotte a ground up restoration, fresh paint and leather if needed. Vintage is in….old is out! 🙂
A clutch is all she needs… for now 🙂
I totally agree with the sentiment of this message. My house is full of some beautiful old furniture the type of which you will never see again. My couches are leather and I encourage the dogs to lay on them wet to dull the patina. Old adds character. Yes you should fix Charlotte. I love to see the photos of her here and there. And I’m thinking the kitten you found might be the next cat you keep for the next twenty years!
I love old dirty leather too 😉 As for the cat, I brought it to my dad who brought it to the local refuge. I could’t bare to do it myself… Keeping it wouldn’t have been very responsible. To much going on in my life… 😦
Your friend and your floors are both beautiful! And I love your Uncle already. All keepers! 🙂
I am blessed indeed! 😉
Great post, as always. Only the French would dress up to refinish floors! A beautiful creme caramel!
Ha ha, I’ll tell her. She will laugh. She used to be a model, so I think dressing up is part of the deal for life… She doesn’t need to though. She is beautiful inside and out 🙂
The creme caramel looks amazing.
Thanks! It is so so tasty. Truly one of my favorite desserts if not my favorite…
Need to try your recipe 🙂
I hope you will. Please let me know how it goes 😉
I will
How wonderful to see someone who shares, and lives beautifully, my sentiments and aspirations. I’m most un-fond of new, pretty much, anything. My car is just about to have its 18th birthday, and it will be a terrible day if I ever have to replace it – Charlotte is gorgeous. Our house was built in the 1930’s – not a thing is level and it’s well lived in but as the G.O. says, the roof doesn’t leak and it won’t fall down, which is the main consideration. Like yours, it has the character of its age. It’s contents, reflect my Dad’s (he’s 72 – l’d like to keep him for a lot longer too) description of it as “the museum” furnished mainly with hand-me-downs and found, rescued stuff. The G.O., he’s been my friend for 24+ years and in-situ as living partner for 9. I adore old cats and dogs – Sirius’ face is the reason why – and still miss my own. And yes, nothing and no-one will ever better the types of food cooked by our grandmothers. The onion soup recipe is most welcome, it’s chilly, and later I’ll be having crème caramel dreams 🙂
Apologies – ‘Sirus’ – the spellchecker is quite annoying…
😉
What a lovely lovely comment Ella (or should I call you Ella Dee?). I am always so happy when fellow blogger are able to connect with what I feel… I am so happy you found my little blog and I look forward to reading more of your posts! 😀
Happy to answer to either variation of my online nom de plume 🙂
Alright then, it will be Ella from me for now on 😉
Yum to all!
Wow! Definitely going to try this recipe.Absolutely keeper!
Go for it! You’ll like it very much and it will become one of your own classics 😉
This is how I feel about my shoe collection! Sometimes a small repair, a shine or wash is all that’s needed to keep a trusty old pair going. Keep up the good fight! And, that onion soup looks delicious.
Thanks Erin! And you are right, I have pairs of shoes that are 30 year old and they still do the job quite well. They were really good English shoes though… 😉 Thanks for taking the time to comment Erin!!
I know it’s hot, but I’m craving your French Onion soup – hopefully, the weather will cool down soon 🙂
It’s not too bad over here actually, for now at least… We have lots of wine to cool us down anyway 😉 😀
Great post! Old things just have more character. As usual, the food looks amazing.
Thanks a lot Ben! Try the crème caramel. You will love it I’m sure 😉
ce soup a l’onion semble delicieux!!! I have no problem eating hot soup in the summertime… 🙂 Merci pour le pourtage!!
It is absolutely delicious Rebecca! I hope you try the recipe and let me know what you think… Thanks for dropping by!
Our cars, our houses, our pets . . . all worth the effort! Friends and food, too! ;->
Oh, yesssss! Much adored as chocolate is around the world . . . give me caramel any day. The “dots” from the vanilla bean gives it the perfect touch of character!
Pressure cooker? I’d be too afraid to try that! With a bain-marie you can see what is happening. I have a wonderfully wide SITRAM pressure cooker that could hold such delights, but too risky for me.
Virtual hugs,
Judie
I do have a love affair with caramel myself 😉 As for the pressure cooker, we were talking about that the other day with one of my American guests. There seems to be a phobia over there. I assure you that I have never heard of an accident and almost every French cook uses them. When you come visit me, I will make you a delicious stew using it and you’ll be convinced I promise dear Judie!! 😀
No phobia – I’ve used one for half a century. I was just skeptical about doing a custard in there. Always willing to try something new, though.
WOnderful! Then you can help me spread the word about how wonderful they are 😉 😀
They are, indeed! Mmmmmm – flageolet beans come to mind!
Oh stop it! I’m starving. I only eat fruit in the evening and I must say I’d trade for meat and beens in a heartbeat!!
Must mind your heart’s needs these days. Stay well to enjoy many more days of life!
😉
Judie, I’ve used a pressure cooker often and they’re very safe. Just keep an eye on them as you would anything else that cooks on the stove. My mom used one regularly when I was growing up and never had any problems, either. They can be such a blessing to use.
janet
I think we both misunderstood Judie’s first comment J. She happens to be quite a connaisseuse of pressure cooking 🙂 Go Judie!
Right! I just thought the pressure would be too much for a delicate custard, but maybe not. ;->
No, no, it’s a great point!! As soon as the pressure is on, I put the stove on low. I do this for everything I cook in the pressure cooker…
Stove must be on low, or steam FIZZLES everywhere, depleting fluid in the cooker, oui?
OUI OUI OUI!!! And even then, when I make stew, I still open it every hour to check on the level of fluid… like a car 😀
Definitely keep Ségolène!!
I think I will 😉 😀
Ah, my grandmother made creme caramel! She’d been taught by her mother-in-law who’d been a cook for the Hungarian royal family. I loved it although I’ve never made it myself.
Oh you should definitely share that story. This is fascinating!!!
If I knew more of the story I would tell it! I only know bits and pieces. My grandfather died when my mom was just a child. His parents also died young. I do know my grandmother made everything from scratch. We frequently cooked together. I have some of those ancient great-grandmother recipes as well. One of these days I’ll find the time to put together a cook book. My family is a little unusual– American for many generations on my father’s side but we were never allowed store-bought food, only homemade and homegrown or farm-grown. My parents did not believe in processed food so I guess they were ahead of their time. On my father’s side his grandmother- Native American- did not believe in indoor kitchens so my grandparents built her an outdoor kitchen with a wood-burning stove/oven. My father says she made the most heavenly breads and pastries out there, even in the freezing Iowa winters.
This is just wonderful! When I was really young, my grandmother still owned the family farm we had in the Dordogne. Once a year, the farmers would invite us all for a big dinner party and the lady still cooked everything in the fireplace in a huge cauldron! She also went to the spring in the forrest to fetch the water… I’ll have to post about that one day. I have tons of pictures…
The creme caramel and the onion soup look divine!
Thanks a lot. Two of my absolute favorite French dishes 😉 Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment! 😀
That sweet kitty was worth every last cent of money you paid!
He really really was Colleen. He’s been following me everywhere for 19 years. I adopted him in Atlanta back in the day…