Well I'm still humming (see my last post!!) and I'm still talking about the weather....as are the majority of people!! The lady in the papeterie on Sunday was joking with me that it was like English weather, and the guy in the boulangerie was complaining it was too damp for his dough to rise!! That was probably just an excuse for his bread being under-cooked this week, but never mind!!We'd hoped that this last weekend our Diners Club guests could have eaten outside for a change. But no... we lit the fire to keep everything cosy and warm. We had some American agents for lunch on Saturday.... and it rained and rained!! They still seemed to like La Véronique, so hopefully will send many guests our way... so 'hey ho'!! Someday soon the sun will arrive and stay for a while. And in the meantime we'll think about food!!

We launched a 'members only' Diners Club at the end of January and it seems to have become very popular. We're fully booked for this weekend and we have several other bookings for future weeks. That's before we even publish the menu!! I don't know why I'm surprised really. Peter is such a good chef and Domaine La Véronique is such a special place people are bound to like it!! I hope it continues. Here's the menu we served this last weekend. Let's think about asparagus and Spring!!

Amuse Bouche

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Asparagus with Foaming Hollandaise, Quail Egg and Parmesan Crisp

OR

Smoked Trout & Beetroot ‘Trifle' with Avocado Custard

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Escalope of Veal with a Tagliatelle of Carrot and Courgette

With a Muscat and Veal Sauce

OR

Confit of Guinea Fowl on a bed of De Puy Lentils and Sautéed Potatoes

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A Selection of Three Cheeses

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Crème de Müre Jelly with Blackberry Ice-cream

OR

Bitter Chocolate Mousse with Ginger Crunch and Cappuccino Foam

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Coffee/Tea and Chocolates

I'm humming that the summer which is coming will be fun!!

For some reason I've been reminded of the poem (or hum!) called 'Noise' by Pooh. It has always conjured up Spring for me. Those early days when you realise winter has gone and everything is on the move towards Spring and Summer. But for some reason this year the Spring is not springing, and I haven't yet heard the Nightingale singing.... which he did in mid March last year. Wet weather here, and temperatures below zero in England!! What's happening? We had a lovely warm day yesterday, and then today it's turned wet and cold again. However much I love to sit in front of a cosy fire, I'm starting to feel the need for sunny days and fresh air! 

Spring might not have started but our season has. We've just finished our second week with two ladies from North Carolina who came for a six day cooking school. The weather was pretty awful for them, but with a lot of time in the kitchen it didn't really seem to matter, although we had a rather wet and windy trip to Carcassonne!! We did however manage to sit outside a café for a 'grande crème' at the street market in Pèzenas and in the main square at Narbonne... so not all bad!!

One of the recipes that always impresses our guests, and which is easy to do, is Peter's baked red peppers stuffed with feta and mint. It has a Moroccan influence and reminds me of summer lunches on the terrace with a chilled bottle of rosé!! So here's the recipe, and like Pooh, I'll carry on humming and hoping that 'the cuckoo will be cucking and ooing' very soon!! Enjoy!!

RED PEPPER WITH FETA AND MINT

Red Peppers halved horizontally

250g Feta

20g Mint

2 onions, finely sliced and chopped

50g pinenuts – toasted

Olive oil
Black pepper

1) Pour 3 tablespoons of olive oil in to a baking tin, and place the halved peppers so they sit on their skins.
2) In a food processor mix feta and mint.
3) In a frying pan sauté onions in a little olive oil until soft.
4) Allow onions to cool.
5) In a bowl mix the the cheese mixture with the onions and pine-nuts.

6) Fill the peppers with the mixture and bake for about 1 hour in a preheated oven 200ºC
7) Serve with the residue olive oil and mint sprigs.