Bonjour everyone!
It’s been a bit since my last newsletter and I am so sorry about that. Life gets away from you sometimes especially when you have SO much going on. Our first yard sale did well and we are already preparing for the next one. This time it will be on a Saturday and we will have lots more to choose from.
We have also officially applied for our French visas and have an appointment on August 14th (one month from TODAY!) at the French embassy in Boston. We’re both nervous & excited at the same time but we’re glad that we have the month to gather and prepare everything we will need for the meeting. It will then take a few weeks up to 3 months to be approved for the visa so we are keeping an hopeful open mind about the process.
I’ve also been working on various projects inside the cottage these past 2 weeks. The guest room walls & ceilings got repainted, curtains got hemmed and hung, painted the hallway, started painting the bar cabinet and prep work has begun in the bathroom for the backsplash install. Lots of little projects in here that need to be finished before we put the cottage on the market. But we are getting there… slowly but surely.
Another thing I have started…. French language lessons. I do speak a bit of French (Je parle Francais un peu) but I will need to get better especially since one of the conditions of the visa is to assimilate to the culture & language. We will actually be given a language skills test at some point during our long stay visa and they will determine if we need to go to classes or if online support is a better tool. So what I am using? I started using Babbel which has gotten great reviews. I’m only a week into using it but so far I have mixed reviews. But I will give a full review once my trial month is up.
Speaking of France, today is Fête nationale or as us English speaking peeps call it: Bastille day. It is the French Independence Day which is celebrated in similar fashion to how we celebrate July 4th. There are parades, fireworks, and every village has a community party to celebrate. Sourdeval- the village next to our cottage was having a “moule et frites” picnic for everyone. We are celebrating Bastille Day here with some French favorites: ratatouille with a poached egg, tomato tarte, crudite plat and a yogurt gateau avec limon et myrtille. Mais bien sur- St Germain spritz is must with the humidity lately. I’m sharing the ratatouille recipe below but the tarte is coming this week for my paid subscribers.
SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday July 27th 9am to 12pm: July pop-up at Mount Hope Farm with my shoppe Blanc & Bleu. Shop my vintage finds, French lifestyle essentials and more.
Saturday August 3rd 8am to 12pm: Our 2nd Yard Sale! (reply back to this story for address details)
Hope you enjoy what I have gathered for you this week! xo- Jenna
Ratatouille
Considered a peasant dish, this hearty French recipe of summer’s bounty is one that is on rotation here each year. When the gals from Long Lane Farm brought me a basket of freshly harvest goodies at our yard sale, I knew this was exactly what I needed to make. It’s simple ingredients cooked low & slow- extracting all their flavors to create this lovely dish. You can serve it as a main course with a poached egg on top or as a side dish with some lovely grilled fish. Whichever way you choose, make it with farm fresh ingredients. the tomatoes, eggplants & onions were from the farm where as the courgettes, herbs and garlic were from my own potager. Try and cut all your veggies to about the same size so this way they call cook evenly. In this version, I added olives for a bit of a kick.
Recipe
one quart of cherry tomatoes (sliced in half)
one pint of fairytale eggplant (cut into small slices)
one onion (diced)
2 courgettes (diced)
one yellow pepper (diced)
one 12 oz can of crushed tomatoes
1/2 of kalamata olives (halved)
2 cloves of garlic (minced)
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
fresh parsley, rosemary, basil, lemon thyme, oregano
salt & pepper
dry white wine
Mis en place: have all your ingredients chopped and ready to go. With the eggplant, add a pinch of salt & let sit for 30 min to exract the juices. Rinse with water & drain. Also create your bouquet garni: ad a few stems of each the herbs together and tie with kitchen string.
In a dutch oven, melt the butter & olive oil on medium heat. Add in onions, pinch of salt & pepper and cook until soft. Then add in the garlic. Cook for a few minutes until fragrant. Then add the courgettes & eggplant. Cook for 3-4 minutes to soften. Then add in pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Then add in all the tomatoes. Stir. Reduce the heat to low and add a splash of white wine. Nestle your bouquet garni into the mix and reduce the heat to low. Cover with lid and cook on low for 30 min. Remove from heat, take out the bouquet garni and add in the olives. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Serve with a warm crusty baguette to soak up all the juices.
Bon appetit!
Fête nationale
Today is the French Independence Day! (Vive la France) With the Olympics only a few weeks away, there are changes to where this year’s activities will be held including the parade. Did you know that originally one of the days that was considered for “Bastille Day” was August 4th? Which also happens to be my hubby’s birthday LOL. August 4th was the day that marked the end of the feudal system in France. Feudalism was a system in which people (peasants) were given land and protection by people of higher rank (aristocracy), and worked and fought for them in return. However, the government decided that the very first victory against the old regime (royalty) was the way to mark the official French people’s independence.
Here are some great links to learn about this main holiday in France:
La Fête Nationale: 14 facts about France's national holiday July 14
Bastille Day: A brief history of France’s July 14 national holiday
Symbols of the Republic: The 14th of July-Bastille Day
Sunday Saves
Lots of great finds for you this week! Enjoy- xo Jenna
The Devil Wears Prada Is Officially Getting a Sequel After 18 Years . I’m reserving opinions on this considering how good the original movie was. Sequels never tend to be that good- well at least not lately. Although Meryl Streep has never been in a bad movie that I can think of.
Why Are Properties So Cheap In France? I have been getting this question a lot since we started our house search and this article does shine a light on why. But it should be noted that most of the homes that fall in the “cheap” category need work. Some need ALOT of work. Bare that in mind if you are house hunting in France.
We are putting the finishing touches in our dining room at the cottage. You can shop the look here. *
My friend Molly is sharing 10 TRADITIONAL FRENCH DESSERTS FOR BASTILLE DAY that you can easily make at home. PS: next year’s tours will include a workshop at Molly’s studio in Versailles. Join me in France next year for 5 days/4 nights…get on the waitlist to learn more details.
France's own Excalibur-like legendary sword disappears after 1,300 years wedged in a high rock wall
The key to easy summer entertaining, according to those who do it best
The bugs are rampant in the garden right now. I just got this insecticidal soap to help with the leaf hoppers on my dahlias and aphids on the roses. *
The French Wink has some really cute things in their Bastille Day collection.
*Please note that some of the links are affiliate links including my Amazon shop where I do make a very small commission at no additional cost to you when you shop my links which helps me continue to provide this free weekly newsletter.
As always….Merci beaucoup for your patronage! xo- Jenna