Last three days in France

Well its still raining and the ground is sodden.Good job we have plenty of books to read, as its just too damn miserable to go out. In fact we washed a bath mat the other day and its been in and out more times than l would like to remember. Each time l wring it out, but within minutes the sky goes black, the clouds open up and the heavens open.
Its great if you like mud wrestling.




Just one problem, its too cold to get down to your trunks, you would be seriously damaged in the nether regions.
To think lots of people pay a fortune to have mud spread all over them. 

On the bright side we are out socialising with friends every evening, either playing cards or sequence or just enjoying great food and wine along with excellent crack( Cumbrian word for gossip) . A great way to catch up with all the news and going ons. Who's leaving, who has arrived, the price they paid or received.

Met a couple who had just purchased a large brand new house near Montignac le coq, four large en suite bedrooms, central heating, good sized pool. It was on the market for well over €300k and they eventually bought it for the miniscule price of €220k. Its ludicrous. From all accounts the sellers just wanted a quick sale, to cut and run away from the impending financial French meltdown.

Managed to pop over to Barbezieu to do a little shopping. Initially it was to replace the prawns we had bought the other day which we found to be OFF. They were part of the ingredients for a Chinese salad l was making for our quarterly dinner. Originally purchased them from Intermarche, but it was too inconvenient to return them, and knowing what they are like we would have spent hours trying to get €5 back. Just wasnt worth it. The birds seemed to love them, so there was a benefit.

The quarterly supper went off superbly well, a fantastic evening of food, wines and brilliant conversation, putting the world to rights. 
The events are always very special with interesting food and matched wines. It gives us the opportunity to try out dishes we wouldn't always get to try.


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 some of the wines tried are fairly strong with dramatic results, especially on the ladies.

 

 

 As requested have placed the recipe below.



Chinese noodle salad


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Chinese noodle salad

Serves six as a starter
100g salted peanuts, washed
200g peeled prawns with the vein removed
100g smoked salmon
2 red chillies finely chopped no seeds
1 red pepper & ½ green pepper finely chopped
6cm peeled fresh ginger chopped finely
2 spring onions shredded
4 garlic cloves crushed
200g vermicelli noodles soaked and drained according to the packets instructions. ( l cooked them for 4 minutes in miso soup)
4 teaspoon soya sauce light
1 teaspoon fish sauce
4 teaspoon walnut oil
4 teaspoon white balsamic vinegar
Handful of fresh coriander

 Bring a pan of water to the boil, then add the washed peanuts, cooking them for 15 minutes until lightly softened.

Drain and dry. Crush or chop into small pieces, retaining a few whole as garnish.

Add the peppers, onion, ginger and garlic along with all the sauces mix well.

Fold in the cooled vermicelli noodles and combine with the contents of the bowl.

Roll a portion onto a fork and place on a plate, dress with some of the chopped pepper mixture along with some of the prawns, chopped smoked salmon and coriander.















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