French Culinary Challenge Day 1 - Part 1

Well day one of the French Culinary Challemge is here and I am up early, hungry and eager to embark upon the trip to the bakery for my fresh croissant! I guess I could have gone last night, but that wouldn't have been very French(visits to the bakery occur daily) nor as fresh. So where did my croissant come from today? Deganni's bakery in Fairfield (there are few of the around, but good quality stuff and interesting range of cakes) most importantly they make their croissants with all butter. I have found that many Australians make their croissants with margine or a mixture which results in a very different taste and texture and the French would never dream of using anything but butter!
Now for the important details I didn't heat up the croissant (when they are fresh there is reallly no need to...) I enjoyed it with homemade plum jam and a cafe au lait.(A large milky french breakfast coffee)I have never worked out with it is ok to dip your croissant into the coffee or whether that is the height of rudeness (I did) maybe someone can let me know the etiquette?
So by about 11 o clock I am starving ( I have not yet adapted to filling up on white flour pastry only...) so I decide a classic nicoise salad might be the trick to get me through the day. Ok so these are my best tips....use tuna canned in olive oil (you can drain off the excess oil so the salad is not too oily) the texture and flavour is far superior...Boil the potatoes in stock to add some extra flavour...use the smallest sweetest tomatoes you can find and don't over boil your egg....!The recipe goes like this....

Nicoise Salad

1 small can of tuna in olive oil
1/2 punnet of cherry tomatoes or a couple of small sweet tomatoes,halved
a small handful of green beans
1/4 red onion, diced
a small handful of black olives
1 egg, soft boiled
1 large potato
fresh Italian parsley, roughly chopped
salt and pepper
balsamic, olive oil and little mustard to dress the salad

Method
1.Wash and cube the potato and boil in stock(optional)until soft. Drain and set aside.
2.Boil the egg in fresh water until soft boiled about 5 mins.
3.Top and tail the beans (cut off the ends) and halve them if they are large. Steam them over the top of the boiling egg. Refresh with cold water once they are tender.
4.Now time to compile. Toss the potatoes in the bottom of a large bowl and mix with the onion. Toss through a teaspoon of your favourite mustard and parsley. Season lighlty.
5.Arrange the beans and tomatoes on top and drizzle with a little balsamic and olive oil. Again lighlty season.
6.Drain the can of tuna and break up with a fork, arrange on the top of the salad. Top with egg slices (obviously this means you have to slice the egg!)and finish with the olives and some extra parsley. You can add a little more balsamic and oil if you think you need it.
Enjoy......
So next instalment...dinner....

Nan's Bracelet

Hey again its Laura, just a note saying that Nan's Gold Bracelet has had lots of outings as Mum wears it everywhere, she loves it!

I am still waiting for a chance to wear some of the jewels i got, I can't wait to tell you about it.

Nan's Pearls

Hey guys
Laura here, I dont know if this is the right way to do this but I hope it works.

Bron's pearls have had their first outing, but only to visit the jeweller. Mum took Nan's earings in to the jewellers to get them converted for pierced ears, the jeweller tried to get the pearls off but couldn't, he said normally they fall off! The pearl necklace was successfully restrung and is ready to wear.

Nan's Jade Beads

Nan's jade beads took their first outing on the plane back to Victoria. It left me wondering whether Nan had travelled with the beads before and if so where to? There was something rather amazing about wearing Nan's jewellery with so much intention and consideration, it made even the simple journey of returning home, one I have done many times, seem like an adventure. I was wearing them over a white silk Japanese style wrap around top that really made the jump out and not surprisingly they were the first thing Darrin noticed. Dan and I made a last minute request upon the beads - a 6 month on 6 month off arrangement, they had stayed in both our minds till the day following the girls afternoon and we couldn't bare to see them lie dormont in a draw. Further tales shall follow

 

Nan's First Cyber-outing

Welcome to the first entry in Nan's Outings; a journal of the journey's of Nan's jewellery as told by her daughter, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren.