Life in the Deep South of France - Midi-Pyrénées

Anyone who starts her blog with an article about Lardons and Croutons has got to be a pretty decent person in my book!

To follow that up with posts on Cascades, Pork Chops and Peperonata and Precisely Planned Chutney and Impromptu Duck Confit before finishing at The Friday Night Market in Léran shows pure genius.

Or have I just found a blog by someone who is as much of a piggy as me?

So, with the strong feeling that I was about to embark on a culinary adventure,  I loosened my belt, put on my bib and sat down at the table and began to tuck in to Life in the Deep South of France.

The first thing that I learned was that the author of this blog is none other than journalist and food writer, Angela Murrills.

And it comes as no surprise that this blog is filled with mouthwatering advice from what to do with Lentils and More Lentils to  How to Stuff a Courgette.

Fancy some snails?  Me too…..

There’s even an article about Small Dogs and Snails – the latter are simply cooked with parsley and garlic (or prepared with tomatoes, Catalan style.)  I must have missed the recipe for the former!

Talking of snails, there’s a fantastic article about Cargolade.  Definitely not for the squeamish, my take on the whole matter of eating snails roasted over charcoal is… they shouldn’t taste so nice, should they?  If they tasted horrible people wouldn’t do it!  Another one in the eye for you, Mr Darwin (and your evolution theory!)

And, on a non-culinary note, in Vive l’amour we learn that snails are hermaphroditic, shoot “love darts” at each other and can enjoy l’amour for up to six hours!  I hope the Girlie doesn’t read this or she’ll be trading me in for a handsome escargot!

Anything to eat that doesn’t involve snails?

Of course there is!

On the menu tonight, sir and madame, we have… Anchovies and olives, Chicken and Garlic and, might I remind you that tonight is Cassoulet Night!

Well, Bite Me!  I’ll have the lot!

And for afters, how about some Aiguillettes?

Or, if you don’t fancy fillet of duck’s breast, what about a Truly Impressive Paella?  Yes, that’ll do me.  I’ll have one of those and one to take away, please!

And perhaps a few moules from the nice always smiling man at Lavelanet market?  Just a kilo or two.  No, best make that three!

Surely there’s something that doesn’t involve food?

If you’re getting a little bit full up (and I do have to admit to having changed from my weekday overalls into my weekend, 10 course lunch, elasticated waist ones myself!), you may be glad to hear that there are plenty of non-food posts on this blog as well.

In an article about La Poste, Angela surprisingly doesn’t rant and rave about the queues at La Poste.  Instead she speaks really rather nicely about Sylvie who always has a bowl of candies on the counter for her customers and looks like she might have had the occasional second helping of cassoulet, once every now and again (that’s the only way I can account for her cheeky smile!)

And there are also some Van Gogh moments to take you mind off the food, should you so desire.

I know we’re not talking about food here but, having read Embroidery (and What to Do With a Dead Pig) all I can say is that I know only one thing to do with a dead pig… put it on a spit, roast it till sizzling and then eat the bugger! But perhaps that’s just me?

And especially for anyone who shares the same taste in hats as me; there’s A Fashion Moment at Mirepoix Market!  Just in time to get all togged up for Carnival Time in Limoux!

Did you say that Angela is a writer?

Oops, almost forgot her book – just click on the image for purchase details….

An unabashed celebration of the joys of food and cooking, Hot Sun, Cool Shadow follows the story of award-winning food-writer Angela Murrills and the artist Peter Matthews, who travel together to the southerly French region of Languedoc. The Languedoc is famed for its landscape, legendary gastronomical pleasures and rich culture, stretching from the Rhone to the Pyrennees, it is one of Europe’s oldest provinces and one of it’s most fertile regions. Hot Sun, Cool Shadow, is a vivid account of their quest for the finest wines, cuisine and characters. Along the way they discover ancient houses, take in the scenery that inspired great artists like Henry Matisse, retrace the steps of Toulouse-Lautrec, and recreate typical dishes of the region; finally settling themselves in this staunchly independent agricultural region, where life moves at a steady pace under the mellow sun. Hot Sun, Cool Shadow includes over eighty illustrations by renowned artist Peter Matthews.

Well, I’m absolutely full to bursting so it might be a good time to sum up?

As you may have guessed, this is a gorgeous, belt-burstingly, delectable and scrumptious ten course meal (and that’s just the starters!) of a blog!

I’ve only just scraped the surface of this blog; there’s so much more to read about, so much more to see and… SO MUCH MORE TO EAT!

So, why don’t you loosen your belt a notch or two and dive right in to Life in the Deep South of France and pig out and then join weightwatchers!  You’ll need to!

And me?  Well, I’m going to head off to see The Return of the Night Market.

You see, not only is there (to use Angela’s delicious own words)… “magret of duck, frites and that lethal mixture of equal parts garlic and parsley called persillade. And moules. And snails! And little Camemberts to cook whole over the charcoal barbecue which is also where you take the steak or fat chops or sturdy saucisses you buy from the butcher’s van (which also sold chocolate mousse)” but, there is also a sexy, gorgeous picture of that epitome of French style and chic… A citrus-yellow Citroen 2CV!

All the best

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