Soup's On

Plenty of vegetables

It's raining today-but it's not cold. It almost feels like Brookings, except for the buildings and the castle and the language, and the food.  I did venture out, after much prodding by my "conscience."  Mostly I wanted the Sunday paper.  And I wanted to do some singing, so I took myself off to the Protestant church.  I am so happy--I understood everything the woman who led the service said.  The bossy "shusher" was there-- she made some announcement about next week that I did NOT understand.  The singing wasn't bad--there was a man behind me with a great voice. I could actually sing alto on some of the verses. I am sure I butchered some of the words, but I don't care. I will say this much, however.  Go Down Moses does NOT work in French.

Yesterday when I was at the market, I wanted some courgettes-zucchini.  Finally I found a guy selling some. He informed me, to my great sadness, that those were the last.  When the season is over, there are no more. Yes, I can go out to Casino (a big box store) or Leclerc (another big box store) and get some that have been imported from Spain, but I am going to try to cook seasonally with what the vendors offer. I know it will be fresh and bio-organic.  That means I am going to have to learn what some things are...these funny-looking black things. And one vendor had a huge basket of chanterelles.  And little pumpkin like things--but much deeper orange than our pumpkins.  It will be more adventure and it will give me an opportunity to have the locals help me--tell me how to prepare them. People love to help.

As for now, there is a pot of vegetable soup with une tranche--a slice of Serrano ham for flavoring--simmering away on the stove. I am not the greatest ham lover in the world, but this Serrano ham is sooooooo good. I will add a can of haricots blancs--white beans-- for some protein and fiber when the veggies have cooked enough.  That and a baguette and a glass of Normandy cider and I have my dinner. Sunday soup supper, the Sunday paper and Mozart on the radio. Life is really, really good.