Quand le chat n'est pas là...

(image courtesy of fanpop.com)

... les souris dansent.  Or as we say en anglais, When the cat's away, the mice will play.

The Ex-Ex is off with the other school administrators plotting out the school year.  They went to the coast for a couple of days.  Son #2 is here with me for the week, but even he disappeared to see Son #1 when I announced (24 hours notice) that I was having three friends over for dinner.  Two of the friends,  Iron Woman (the former Ms. Sunshine-- I can change names if I want... it's my blog) and Arles Lucy, are former teachers of his and the third, the BFF, is one of his best friend's mom.  He wouldn't have had to hang out downstairs with us, just put in an appearance to say hi, but he opted for hanging out with his brother.  Go figure.

The BFF had announced that she was in need of a Sabbatical Chef dinner-- (French) Southern Comfort Food and some girl time.  So, invites were sent out to the other two and the dinner party was on.  An emergency menu-planning meeting was called -- Foster's Market here in Durham was chosen and over a glass (or two) of lovely white Bordeaux

a shopping list was drawn up.  It has been a tough summer for the BFF, losing her brother to cancer, and for Arles Lucy, losing her house to a Texas-sized tree limb.  Iron Woman finished her little race in Kona, Hawaii with a medal, and I am still riding high on my teaching award.  So, a little party, some good food and wine, and plenty of laughter is just the thing, n'est-ce pas?  Just the girls, celebrating the good and the bad.  No ugly allowed.

I started the day with a shopping trip to Harris Teeter, where I ran into Iron Woman, mouth numb from a trip to the dentist.  She then ran into Arles Lucy at Wine Authorities.  They stocked up on Picpoul de Pinet and rosé, specifically Vénus de Pinchinat from (adorable) Alain de Welle of Domaine Pinchinat.

(I served as Alain's translator one Saturday at WA.  Quite a thrill for me!  I was paid in wine!!)

Iron Woman arrived early to help, bearing two loaves of still-warm-from-the-oven bread.  (See recipe below)

She also brought along Tigger, feeling that I had unjustly maligned him in one of my latest blog posts.

I let him stay.  I was afraid if I kicked him out she would leave, too.  Couldn't chance that.  She is an excellent sous-chef, peeler, chopper, and dishwasher.

The other girls arrived and we had a lovely, much needed evening.  We ate, we drank, we laughed, and just generally enjoyed each other's company.  That, my friends, is what makes a meal memorable.  Not necessarily the where or the what, but the who.

(If you click on the names of the recipes, it will take you to the blogpost where they are found.)

We ate tapenade à la Fanny (I think she would have been proud)--

(I made it in the KitchenAid mini food processor that Son #1 gave me for Christmas.  Worked like a charm!)

tarte aux tomates--

salade de chèvre chaud--

gratin dauphinois-- (I cannot find a photo of it!  Imagine thinly sliced potatoes cooked in cream and baked with gruyère cheese in a garlic-rubbed baking dish...)

haricots verts au persillade--

Iron Woman's bread with Irish salted butter--

I had Brie and St. André cheeses, but no one wanted to risk not having room for... dessert.

However, I had to provide just a bit of comic relief before the dessert course, of course.  I had stashed the potatoes and tomato tart leftovers in the oven since counter space was now non-existent.  But... I forgot about them and turned on the oven to preheat it to bake the tarte tatin.  Until I smelled a strange (awful) odor--

This is what happens to a spatula with a plastic handle if you leave it in a 350˚F oven...

I started to throw it out, but Arles Lucy convinced me to keep it as either an objet d'art or a reminder to always check the oven before you turn it on.

Comedy over, we proceeded to have our dessert.  The BFF is very proficient at this recipe and she also has a pan and glass dish exactly the proper size.  She fell in love with this when she visited me in Arles in 2007.

Tarte tatin--

It was a lovely evening.

Iron Woman brought her bread recipes.  She is thoughtful like that.  I am going to post the knotted one pictured above.

Garden Herb Bread

from Taste of Home  www.tasteofhome.com

makes one loaf

4 to 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

1-1/2 teaspoons dried marjoram

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter, divided

1 egg, beaten

Additional dried marjoram, thyme, and rosemary, optional

In a bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, salt, marjoram, thyme, and rosemary.  In a saucepan over low heat, heat milk, water and 1/4 cup butter to 120˚-130˚.  Pour over the dry ingredients.  Add egg and blend well.  Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes.  Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.  Turn onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.  Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top.  Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes.  Punch dough down.  Divide into three equal portions.  Shape each into a 28-inch rope.  Braid ropes; pinch ends to seal.  Tie braid into a knot.  Place on a greased baking sheet.  Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.  Bake at 375˚F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown; cover with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent overbrowning.  Melt remaining butter; brush over bread.  Sprinkle with additional herbs if desired.  Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

Bon appétit, mes amies! Je vous aime.  Bisous!

Vincent 2

In Les Baux de Provence, there is a place called La Cathédrale d'Images, an underground stone quarry.  For 31 years, it has been used to project audiovisual masterpieces.  In 2008, I went to see Van Gogh.  I brought home a program.

The cover of the program is made up of small pieces of his paintings put together.

Projected on the huge walls of this quarry were Vincent's paintings from his time in Provence and Auvers-sur-Oise, the period considered to be his best.

This visual feast was set to music.

I bought the CD and I listen to it often while working at my desk.  I can close my eyes and see the swirls and bright colors projected on the stones.  It was a near religious experience.
The Van Gogh spectacle was put together by Régis Prévot, an author and film maker.
The Cathédrale d'Images website:  www.cathedrale-images.com

I've just read about a theory put forth by two German art historians, Hans Kaufmann and Rita Wildegans.  They claim that Gauguin cut off Vincent's ear with a sword.  Gauguin was supposedly an excellent swordsman and the two argued on December 23, 1888, with Gauguin threatening to leave the yellow house.  This made Vincent very unhappy, his dream of establishing an artists' colony in Provence dying.  The historians claim that Vincent was "infatuated" with Gauguin.  Supposedly Gauguin drew his sword, cut off Vincent's ear, Vincent took it to a nearby brothel to give to a prostitute/friend, Vincent returned to the yellow house, Gauguin threw his sword in the Rhône and then spent the night at a hotel.  The art historians say that Vincent and Gauguin made a secret pact not to tell anyone what really happened so that Gauguin would not get into trouble.  Vincent's brother, Théo, was Gauguin's art dealer, to further complicate the relationship.  From all that has been written, by both Vincent and Gauguin in their letters, as well as by historians, theirs was a volatile relationship.  Who really cut off that ear?

Vincent painted The Potato Eaters in 1885 while living in the Netherlands.  He wanted to paint peasants eating with the same hands they used to work the land.

Quite different from the sunflowers and his bedroom in Arles.
In honor of this painting, though, I will post my favorite potato recipe.

Gratin Dauphinois

2 1/2 lbs. potatoes (russets work well)
1 c. milk, whole or 2%
1 c. half and half
1 1/2 tsp. salt
Ground nutmeg, to taste
1 clove garlic, sliced lengthwise
3 Tbsp. finely chopped chives (optional)
1/4 c. heavy cream
5 oz. grated Emmental or Gruyère cheese

Peel potatoes.  Slice thinly and evenly, about 1/8 inch thickness.
Combine potatoes, milk, half and half, salt and nutmeg in saucepan.  Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and simmer 8 minutes, stirring and scraping the pot to prevent potatoes from sticking and milk from scorching.  Milk will gradually thicken.
Preheat oven to 425F.  Rub bottom and sides of baking dish with cut sides of garlic.
Transfer half of the potatoes into the baking dish, sprinkle with chives, if using, sprinkle with half the cheese, and drizzle with half the cream.  Add the rest of the potatoes, pour cooking milk over them, drizzle with the remaining cream and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
Bake 35-40 minutes, until bubbly on the edges and browned on top.
Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Bon appétit, Vincent and the Potato Eaters!