Food Findings (+recipes)

Having a large and varying veg garden, as well as a variety of fruit and nut trees in and around the area, means we are lucky enough to be harvesting and foraging to add to what we eat. Add in French markets and our local produce artisans – butcher, baker, cheese maker – and our kitchen knows no bounds. Come and join in our food findings as we explore, harvest, forage, create, repurpose and simply enjoy cooking here in France (recipes included).

WIld Violets foraged for tea and syrup at PumpjackPiddlewick

I know spring is on its way when the yellows and purples start to show up in the garden. Daffodils start to show their sunny faces and purple wild violets peek up at me from the ground. Make Me Smile Flowers Violets are my favourite flower. Each year when IRead More →

I have a favorite french meal that I love to make. Let me share it with you from PumpjackPiddlewick

My favorite French Dinner is easy. Easy to decide upon, and to my mind easy to make. It’s a true classic, traditional, filling and even practical. Oh, and did I mention delicious? The Main Dish For the mains it has to be Boeuf Bourguignon (Burgundian Beef). This is the FrenchRead More →

Is it possible to be a vegetarian or vegan in France? We check it out here at PumpjackPiddlewick

France and vegetarian, let alone vegan, are not really synonymous. This is a culture that embraces all the food groups. Especially a lunch of the day (menu du jour) will include them all. So can you (easily) be a vegetarian in France? Well, I am not going to say itRead More →

A Croque Monsieur is the very French version of a ham and cheese sandwich. So is it better? Let's find out at PumpjackPiddlewick

One of the most popular sandwich combinations in the world is ham and cheese. For good reason, they go deliciously together. It is a sandwich you will find, in some form, in a goodly portion of places around the world. In France, the Croque Monsieur raises the humble ham andRead More →