Island life

Ile de Ré is one of this regions real treasures. A small island tucked away off the coast of La Rochelle only reachable via the sweeping 3km bridge, it is a popular place for Parisians, many of whom have a holiday home here. It is fairly flat making it perfect for cycling and is only 25 km from east to west yet it has something for everybody. Picturesque fishing villages feature along the coast and the long, sandy beaches with gentle waves are ideal for families and of course there are plenty of stylish boutiques and restaurants.
The capital Saint Martin-de-Ré is a must for shoppers but the island is also steeped in history, being the scene of a famous siege in 1627. The charm of the island is hard to resist and we return again and again only to discover new delight and taste the fresh Ré air.

La bonne vie

One of the best things about living in France is, yes, the weather!
Sunshine is plentiful in the Charente-Maritime and the mild climate, rich soil, and space afforded us here means that growing your own fruit and veg is a cinch.
All rural dwellers will boast a 'potager' usually consisting of, amongst other things, miles of leeks, lettuces so voluminous they would struggle to fit into your average supermarket bag and, without exception, rows of tomato plants laden with juicy, unlikely shaped fruit.
I am no Barbara, but a little bit of the Good Life has been created in my back garden plot whose petite size caused much mirth amongst the locals.
My 'skills gap' in home growing was quickly filled by my elderly neighbours whose welcome advice included 'grow what you eat'. Absolutely. No point in having 10 courgette plants each birthing at an alarming rate when you are the only member of the family that will go within a mile of them. OK, so I have made some mistakes as a novice and I have the jars of chutney to prove it. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall devotees will no doubt be familiar with his recipe for Glutney which is in fact the reason I DO grow one courgette plant every year. 
Tomatoes, however are a very different matter and are allowed to inhabit a much larger portion of the patch, having truly earned their prime, sun drenched position. From the misshapen ( read ugly) but stupendously flavoursome Marmande variety to the dainty 'bonbon' of the tomato world, the cherry. 
So what can't you do with a tomato? Not a lot, really. From soup to bolognaise, from pizza to pasta it has the versatility only matched by the potato. To achieve the elusive 5 a day for their picky children, many a Mum has blitzed them, sneaked them into and hidden them in dishes in a way that no other fruit or veg would forgive them for. A freshly picked tomato is poetical and must NEVER be kept in the fridge. It's why Cheddar was invented.
This roasted tomato salad by Delia Smith has long been a mainstay of our Summer barbecues and with a crusty baguette to mop up the juices, it is the food of gods.


Roasted Tomato Salad

8 large tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, chopped
olive oil
basil

Skin the tomatoes, cut through the 'equator' and place the halves in a roasting tin (cut side uppermost). Season with salt and freshly milled pepper. 

Sprinkle over the chopped garlic,and drizzle with some olive oil. Top each one with a basil leaf, turning each one over to get a coating of oil.

Roast the tomatoes for 50-60 minutes at 200 c. Allow to cool. 

Transfer them to serving plates making sure you capture all the juices, then whisk together 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 of balsamic vinegar and drizzle this over the tomatoes. Garnish with some extra basil leaves.They will keep for a couple of days in the fridge but remember to always serve them at room temperature. 

The old and the new

I stumbled across this unusual 'petite demeure' near Cognac and did a double take. This would have once been the gatekeeper's house for the beautiful lodge next door and a local architect had taken what was undoubtedly a rather forlorn looking building and transformed into an eclectic dwelling.

The typical Charentaise stone still forms the framework but with the addition of a quirky cladded roof it has become something that even Kevin McCloud would approve of. I did think it looked a bit like a mad hatter's house but would have loved a sneaky peek inside.

Plump, plump

This month I have been busy making cushions, something that I have wanted to do for ages but never seemed to have the time. Partly due to my ever growing pile of antique and vintage fabric which practically needs a room of its own, I decided it was high to time to get on with them.
The sewing machine has been going like the clappers and here are some of the results...

I only use vintage and antique fabrics and try if possible to combine them with trimmings from the same era - buttons for example,  so that the end product is pretty much totally upcycled and unique.
Textiles from a bygone age have a quality and look that just can't be reproduced today and if handled carefully and looked after will give years of use and are a far cry from a department store mass produced cushion.
So , there we are. I'll let good old Bernina cool down for a bit before I design some more.

Fields of gold

Apparently rapeseed oil or 'colza' as it is known in France is set to overtake olive oil as the oil of choice for top chefs. Nigella and James Martin are amongst its devotees and the health benefits are unfolding daily. One of the reasons it is becoming a favourite is that it has a subtle taste that does not overwhelm certain recipes - mayonnaise is a perfect example. Not bad for an oil that was originally produced to lubricate steam engines!


Here, in May and June the fields are crammed with tiny gold flowers which are so bright they almost hurt your eyes. The contrast with the blue sky and green wheat fields is breathtaking and the heady scent is a sign that the long hot days of Summer are nearly here.

Every garden needs a trug

                                          

Simple, rustic wooden trugs are part of country living and useful for carrying around tools, pots and holding cut flowers. No gardener should be without one. I have 4 now  - in various sizes and shapes. One is even stamped with the previous owners initials. 

Tulips in bloom

I loved the freshness of colour in this display. Under a huge tree in a Niort park, the sea of pink tulips and white narcissi was a wonderful sign that Spring had arrived.