Ok, Yesterday I promised to translate my Valentine's poster. Well, I was on strike. (it's France!) and with good reason. What would you do if your desk looked like this. I couldn't find the computer!

After organising at least two files I located the computer and am back on track! For those of you who are faithful enough to have come back today I will. For those of you more gifted for the French language than me can correct, but, please, with love and tenderness. It is the le fléau de mon existence (the bane of my life) that I continue, after 22 years here, to speak French like a vache espagnole (Spanish cow but more apt would be worse than Jane Birkin!)

For the Saint Valentine's menu I tried to have an aphrodisiac ingredient in each dish or drink. We will be starting with a Valentine's Kir,

It is actually my Thanksgiving Kir with a little Kirsch added. The recipe: l tsp Cranberry (or Raspberry) liqueur, 1 tsp Kirsch add 3 or 4 dried cranberries then fill the glass with sparkling wine. (for those who do not drink the Devil's drink may use Perrier)




I tried desperately to upload a video of the Kir. Because, I promise you, the cranberries dance!! It is magic! If any of you can and would explain how to upload so can you enjoy the dance!

As a starter, oeuf poché (poached egg) red & black
Ok, so this wasn't hard to translate; in fact this whole menu is easy! The red and black will be salmon and lump eggs. The recipe is one of the Christine's who has promised to give it to me afterwards.

The plat de resistence (main dish) will be roasted chicken marinated in a ginger, honey and mustard sauce. Recipe later as I haven't yet made it!
Safran rice (the safran comes from local producer just 6 kms from us!)

Endive salad with walnuts
Chocolate tart (see the posting "Chocolate for Lauren" to have the recipe)
wine and coffee

ALL THAT FOR ONLY 25 EUROS!!

You should think about coming over for the week end! The fire in chimney will be ablaze the whole week end long!

kristi anderson
bed & breakfast
15 place de l'église
45240 ligny le ribault

Snow, rain and she devils

The lovely snow is gone.


The rains came and washed it all away.

I haven't even had the courage to go outside and play!Sunday was beautiful and I did get out to the terrace. Then back in to organise the upcoming Saint Valentine's dinner. The Christine's came over and we decided on the theme "angels or demons". We are encouraging everyone to dress for the occasion.

I think it would be more fun if the guys dressed as angels.

I mean, really, does anyone know a male friend that could look this angelique? Not me, in any case.

All my male friends, when they decide to put wings on their backs look more like this guy.....
Then to be equal I needed to look for a she-devil.

I searched high and low, and, above all, on internet for a she-devil and, guess what, couldn't find one.. What do you think this means....?! We are not, after all, the DEVIL
However I did find a photo of my daughter's favorite and, I hope, beloved, she-devil.


This was taken two years ago, I am sure that I look much younger now!

Now that you have seen a preview of just a few of the demons and angels that are coming here is poster that I sent out today to my "Coin Perdu" list. I will be translating it tomorrow. So come again!





kristi anderson
saint jacques le coin perdu
bed and breakfast
15 place de l'église
45240 ligny le ribault
06.83.18.42.31

winter wonderland and the old pessimists

Last night's snowfall was really a winter wonderland!

But I cannot tell a lie. I was too warm and too lazy to put on my galoshes and traipse outside to share it with you by taking photos. Luckily for you my neighbor, Sylvie, is much more courageous.


Here is our church,. (It is so pretty it almost makes me want to be a catholic!)
If you been drinking a cafe or kir at Sylvie's last night.....

...this was the view
And, Syvlie was nice enough to take one of the house. (yes, that us, you can tell by the big street light)

Just another word about the French. And, yes I was watching television againlast night (very good for my French). From Tuesday's newscast we learned that the French were pessimistic. From last night's I learned that France has the most 100 years or older citizens in Europe.

I'm telling you. It is this eating, drinking and being merry!



kristi anderson
B&B
saint jacques le coin perdu
15, place de l'église
45240 ligny le ribault
TheAmericanFrog@aol.com

Christmas just left and Saint Valentine is coming!

I feel a frenzy attack coming.
The Christines (I will explain them in a later note) and I have decided to organize a Saint Valentine’s dinner for Saturday, February 13th. I organized one for 2007 and 2008 but I was recovering from hip surgery last year so the Christines did one by themselves. Now we are back in business.

The theme this year is , what else?, Angels & Devils, Red & Black. Can’t wait to do the deco.
But I am frustrated. I use a simple software called Printmaster, unfortunately all the versions don't mix together and my favorite angel is on the old which I can't get up on the new version. So here are some that I have found, along with devils, but I am not thrilled with any of them!




BUT.....at least I have the menu.

Raspberry kir

Ginger and honey roast chicken
Safrane rice
Endive and walnut salad
Peppered Olivet cheese
Dark chocolat tart


And, all that, with a 1/4 wine and coffee for 25€!

kristi anderson
saint jacques -le coin perdu
15 place de l'église
45240 ligny le ribault
06.83.18.42.31
TheAmericanFrog@aol.com
French Blog: http://theamericanfrog.typepad.fr/lecoinperdu

Oh, those French

On last night's news presentation (I think it was FR2) it was announced that France is Europe's most pesimistic nation. I don't think I would go so far as to say pesimistic, I'd rather say that the French are resigned. Resigned to life as it is.
Maybe that is why they know how to eat, drink and be merry so well!







Vive la France!

Just another snowy day

I did manage to get out and take a few photos.



Everything looks pretty when it is covered with freshly fallen snow, even my garden.

That lovely snow hides the fact that I didn’t finish cleaning up the garden before the snows came!



Quickly returned to the house and the fire. I had last minute guests for dinner last night and wasn't very inspired for the dessert. These were guests who come often and thus, had already enjoyed (at least I hope they enjoyed...) many of my recipes. I also knew they loved to try new dishes.

I looked around, the cupboard was almost bare. Then I noticed no one was eating the rosy red apples that I had bought, not even bunny!



Soooooooooooooo I sliced them up, put them in a frying pan with a couple of tablespoons of butter and brown sugar, fresh ginger slices,and a pinch of cardamon.
While letting the mixture carmalize I toasted some slices of "pain d'épices" (spiced bread). I served the apples over the toasts. The marriage between the spiced toasts and the apples was lovely! And, if you really want to let yourself go, add just a splash of Calvados to the apple mixture before serving. Delicious!

kristi anderson
Saint Jacques le Coin Perdu
15 place de l'église
45240 Ligny le Ribault

Chocolat tart for Lauren

The day after Thanksgiving was leisurely to say the least.

But I haven't yet talked about Friday night's dinner. The fun thing about this week end is that I try to blend the French and American cultures. After all I am a
Frenchifed American. I enjoy giving an American touch to French things, such as my Thanksgiving Kir and a French touch to American things,
I make a delightful crème fraiche sauce with Calvados for my apple crumble.

For the Thanksgiving weekend, Friday evening I cooked a typical French game dinner. Sologne is the hunting heart of France. Besides
the Tarte Tartin, white aspergus, mushrooms, it is the game cooking that is internationally known.

The menu for the evening was:

Brie fondu with dried tomatoes and herbs
Faison Chasseur
Pheasant in a red wine mushroom sauce
Herbed noodles
Goat cheese (speciality from this region)
Tarte au chocolat

Now, as I have said, I mix the cultures. And, Lauren has asked especially for the tart recipe. Here it is. It is a typical French chocolat tart, rich beyond imagination but....I have put it on the closest thing to a graham cracker crust...specaloos!

Ingredients

Crust
240 grams speculoos
2 1/2 tablespoons melted butter

Preheat oven to 350°F, 175°C
Crumble the speculoos, add the melted butter, mix well. Put the mixture in a pie mold (22cm diamter) and press down firmly. Bake 5 minutes. let it cool

Filling
200 grams dark chocolat
20 cl cream (crème liquide)

Crumble the chocolat into a microwave proof dish, add the cream and microwave for 2 minutes. Mix until thoroughly blended. Pour into mold.

Let cool.

And, Lauren, that is it!