Photo Gato AzulDifficile de s'imaginer en regardant le jardin hivernal qu'en fin d'après-midi, nous vivrons une autre giboulée. On dit les giboulées de mars, mais cette année ce sont les giboulées de février. Qu'est-ce qu'une giboulée (car je ne pense pas que ce soit un mot dont on se sert en France)? Averse soudaine de pluie souvent mêlée de neige, de grêle. Eh oui.
Difficult to imagine while looking at the wintery garden that, late afternoon, we'll be hit with yet another sleet and rain storm. In French (or at least in Quebec) they're called «giboulée» and they're usually reserved for March. Not this year. By definition, a giboulée is hard, driving rain often mixed with sleet and snow. Here we go again.
Difficult to imagine while looking at the wintery garden that, late afternoon, we'll be hit with yet another sleet and rain storm. In French (or at least in Quebec) they're called «giboulée» and they're usually reserved for March. Not this year. By definition, a giboulée is hard, driving rain often mixed with sleet and snow. Here we go again.
Photo Gato AzulUn arrivage d'Amazon, un disque compact de Lutz Kirchhof (c'est ce que vous écoutez en lisant mon blog) et un magnifique livre de Williams Sonoma qui contient six menus pour organiser cocktails ou repas entre amis ou en famille durant la période des Fêtes. Je m'en inspirerai sûrement l'an prochain et les photos sont, comme toujours, d'une qualité exceptionnelle. Puis une autre trouvaille à l'épicerie, un livre des producteurs agricoles de l'Île d'Orléans, cette île qui, au début de la colonie, s'appelait l'Isle de Bacchus, sans doute à cause des vignes sauvages qui y poussaient. Cette île a toujours eu la réputation d'être un lieu magique. Pour mes lecteurs Européens, elle se situe à quelques kilomètres seulement de la ville de Québec. C'est là que notre Félix Leclerc, poète national, a vécu jusqu'à sa mort. Or, l'Île d'Orléans est un terroir exceptionnel. Les fameuses fraises d'automne de l'Île sont réputées pour être sucrées, succulentes. Le livre propose un parcours pour visiter les différents producteurs, vignobles, vergers, microbrasserie, poissonerie, bergerie, et j'en passe. Une belle escapade gourmande dans un paysage féérique. Et des recettes absolument savoureuses. Un pouding aux framboises m'a fait de l'oeil.
A package from Amazon, some lute music by Lutz Kirchhof (this is what you're listening to as you're reading my post) and this wonderful book from Williams Sonoma with six menus to plan for cocktails or meals with friends or family during the Holiday Season. I'll no doubt use it as inspiration for next Holiday Season and the photos are simply exceptional, as always. Then another find at the grocery store, a book by the food producers at Île d'Orléans, an island that was called Isle de Bacchus at the beginning of the Colony. This island has always had a reputation of being a magical place. Where is it? Just a few kilometers from Quebec City. Our national poet, Felix Leclerc, lived there until his death. Île d'Orléeans is a blessed agricultural region producing exceptional produce. The famous Fall Strawberries are sweet and succulent. The book proposes an itinerary for visiting the various producers, vineyards, orchards, brewery, fishery, lamb producer, and much more. A nice trip in a magical setting. And there are delicious recipes. A raspberry upside down cake caught my eye.
A package from Amazon, some lute music by Lutz Kirchhof (this is what you're listening to as you're reading my post) and this wonderful book from Williams Sonoma with six menus to plan for cocktails or meals with friends or family during the Holiday Season. I'll no doubt use it as inspiration for next Holiday Season and the photos are simply exceptional, as always. Then another find at the grocery store, a book by the food producers at Île d'Orléans, an island that was called Isle de Bacchus at the beginning of the Colony. This island has always had a reputation of being a magical place. Where is it? Just a few kilometers from Quebec City. Our national poet, Felix Leclerc, lived there until his death. Île d'Orléeans is a blessed agricultural region producing exceptional produce. The famous Fall Strawberries are sweet and succulent. The book proposes an itinerary for visiting the various producers, vineyards, orchards, brewery, fishery, lamb producer, and much more. A nice trip in a magical setting. And there are delicious recipes. A raspberry upside down cake caught my eye.
Photo Gato AzulNe cherchez pas de recettes sucrées sur ce blog d'ici Pâques, il n'y en aura pas. Je fais Carême? Sûrement car le Carême était une manière de nettoyer le système avant Pâques et l'arrivée du printemps. Fruits frais, légumes, poisson, fruits de mer, volaille et viande, oeufs, quelques grains transformés et un peu de gras pour éviter que la peau ne se déssèche. Ça n'est vraiment pas le Carême. C'est tout simplement la mise en application du Guide alimentaire (5-10 portions de fruits et légumes par jour). Pour consulter le Guide alimentaire canadien et une foule de renseignements utiles sur une alimentation équilibrée, cliquer ICI.
Don't look to this blog for sweet recipes until Easter, there just won't be any. Lent? Perhaps, since Lent was a way to clean out the body before Easter and the arrival of Spring. Fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, shellfish, poultry and meat, eggs, some processed grains and a bit of fat to nourish the skin so that it doesn't dry out. It's really not penitence. It's only an application of the Food Guide (5-10 portions of fruit and vegetable a day). To read about Canada's Food Guide and get all kinds of useful information on a balanced diet, click HERE.
Don't look to this blog for sweet recipes until Easter, there just won't be any. Lent? Perhaps, since Lent was a way to clean out the body before Easter and the arrival of Spring. Fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, shellfish, poultry and meat, eggs, some processed grains and a bit of fat to nourish the skin so that it doesn't dry out. It's really not penitence. It's only an application of the Food Guide (5-10 portions of fruit and vegetable a day). To read about Canada's Food Guide and get all kinds of useful information on a balanced diet, click HERE.
