An American in Sologne

WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE THANKSGIVING...

The fall has always been my prefered season. I love the spectacular displays of colours, from the deep dark green of the pines
to the shimmering gold of the Aspens. It is a joy to sit in our garden and hear the Stag’s plantif song wooing the lovely doe. 

And, for Sushi, our Springer Spaniel, it is the long walks at the end of the day, into the forest. The afternoon’s last rays of sunshine warming us as we continue, listening to first of the autumn leaves  loating towards the forest floor. Sushi, startled by a branch chases after it most likely thinking it a pheasant. And, I, I breath in and, smell the forest.  (The French has a lovely word for breathing and smelling “humer”, it is often used when appreciating the smell of a fine cigar or a vintage cognac.) 

The pungent perfume of dark moist earth,  mushrooms, pine and, I swear I can smell the coming of winter because as we head home, Sushi and I, evening has come and with it the first hints of winter and as a soft cold wind across my face , I do, I smell Winter.

Boy, did I get carried away there! But honestly that is how Autumn affects me.  It is natural because here in le coin perdu (lost corner or more aptly put “the middle of nowhere”) it reminds me of my childhood autumn. And while it wasn’t a forest and unfortunately no Stag’s Songs the colors and smells were the same. And, when the leaves started to fall it was when I,  and all the rest of the kids started getting excited. Halloween was coming! Halloween was       apples, pumpkins dressing up, candy, parties at school, parties at home, fall festivals!  And, right after we stayed excited, for then came Thanksgiving and after, CHRISTMAS.  The fall season was definitely an season to be excited for a kid! 

The French tried it in the ‘90’s;  I sold tons of Halloween products at my book store “Tea & Tattered Pages” and even here in le coin perdu  just until 2005 the local grammar school would dress up the kids in goblin costumes and they would parade around the village trick or treating never understanding what it was all about.  Although Halloween dates from keltic traditions and thus partly French, it has never been in their culture so for them it is just commercial. 
While I still feel nostalgic and disappointed that my children did not experience it I know longer carve pumpkins.  I do, however put them on my table as center pieces!)

So, no more Halloween for us here in Sologne Loire Valley but, don’t worry…

We’ll always have Thanksgiving! 

Kristi anderson

Bed and breakfast

Dinner

15 place de l’église

45240 Ligny le Ribault

06.83.18.42.31

[email protected]

When a Toadstool is not just a toadstool

   The trees are have started their annual fireworks here in Sologne Loire Valley.  Among the dark green leaves  the are bursts of blazing yellows and gorgeous reds and oranges.

 

And while  I am amidst such tapestry searching for chanterelles and ceps I keep finding those lovely red toadstools  so well known from our childhood fairy tales.  And, speaking of… while searching for a photo I came across some very fascinating information on Wikipedia.  Now we are talking about
a toadstool that every child and adult has seen once,  at least in some fairy tale or another.  

 

The Amanita muscaria  is known as the fly agaric in English or the “tue-mouche” (fly killer) in French.  Have you ever given thought as to why such a strange name; not me. I just always believed that it was mortal and not to touch.  I did always wondered why they choose this particular one for the fairy tales. Unfortunately Wikipedia doesn’t explain the fairy tale position.  However, what it does explain is “époustiflant”  (absolutely amazing).

The French name “tue-mouche” (fly killer) says it best.

Albertus Magnus commented sometime before 1256, “it is called the fly killer mushroom because, when sprinkled in milk it kills flies”. This was later refuted by French mycologist Pierre Bulliard in 1784 when he tried, without success to replicate its fly-killing properties.  So much for replacing the fly swatter!

 

But more astonishing, at least for me,  is the fact  it is thought to one of the most potent hallucinogenic mushroom on the planet! The practice of ingesting this entheogen during religious ceremonies  was introduced by the Siberian Shamans centuries ago and apparently still traditionally used today despite Government suppression.

 

 

But in spite of all this amazing knowledge I will keep seeing just this  and I will still not touch it!

 

By the way if you know why it used in fairy tales or winter scenes so often please let me know!

 

Kristi Anderson

Bed & Breakfast

Dinner

Saint Jacques le coin perdu

15 place de l’église

45240 Ligny le Ribault

06.83.18.42.31

[email protected]

www.TheAmericanFrog.com

French blog :  TheAmericanFrog.typepad.fr/lecoinperdu

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where or where have all the mushrooms gone?

The end of the mushroom season is coming upon us quickly now, but, where or where were the mushrooms? The fact is that this has been a terrible no-mushroom mushroom season.  I have been living in Sologne – Loire Valley since 2000 and this is the worst year for fungus lovers.

Generally speaking from May to November Sologne Loire Valley is a Mecca for mushroom enthusiasts. In a “grand cru” year I have found not just the stellar  standards such as “girolles” (chanterelles) and “cepes” (ceps) but also “pieds du mouton”  (hedgehog fungus),  “rosé des près” (field mushrooms), “coprins” (shaggy ink caps), “trompettes de mort” (black trumpets), “coulemelle” (parasol mushrooms) and the list goes on.

Just to name a few of the more exotic species that I have had the luck to find and savour:

“langue de boeuf” (beefsteak fungus) – this mushroom is well named in both   languages.  Beef’s tongue in French and beefsteak in English it is, indeed, shaped like a cow’s tongue and the size, roughly the same.  And I cook it like a beefsteak, sliced thickly and grilled quickly.

“Chou-fleur” (cauliflower fungus) This large sponge-like mushroom is delicious cut into morsels, dipped in batter than lightly sautéed.

“Pézize”
(orange peel fungus) The great thing about this funny looking one is that is lovely to see it’s brightly coloured orange on a drab winter’s in the forest!  I throw it into whatever mushroom dish I am making to give colour and add just a bit of difference to the taste.

As for recipes here is one of my favorites, it is unusual, easy and parasol mushrooms (“coullemelle”) grow all over France!  Collect just the caps of this mushroom after they have flattened out. They usually need very little cleaning. Depending on how many you will be cooking you will need one or two beaten eggs in a shallow dish.  In another shallow dish mix breadcrumbs, herbs of your choice and Parmesan.  Dip the whole caps first into the egg then into the herb cheese mixture.  Lightly sauté them in olive oil.  I serve them like small pizzas as an appetiser or as a side dish with dinner. In the French and English reference guides there are marked differences in the culinary appreciation of certain mushrooms. 

It may not be too late this season, who knows, with just a little rain and sun…we might still have a season.

If you can’t find an expert to go with you take a reference book.  I usually take both a French and an English one with me. Do not go racing through the forest picking every mushroom you see, most will be of no culinary interest or toxic.  Pick only those that match what you find in the reference book. If you are picking ones that you do not know be sure to put each type in different bags so there will no contamination from a potentially toxic mushroom.

 Here in France each pharmacist is equipped to be able to confirm your pickings during the season.  This service is offered free so remember, if the pharmacist is busy please go back later. Michel, our pharmacist is very knowledgeable but once in awhile one of my finds has searching in his  mushroom enclypedia and sometimes even then there are times he is not sure!

 But remember not all mushrooms are edible and never never eat one if there is the least doubt.

Kristi Anderson

Bed & Breakfast

Dinner

Saint Jacques-le coin perdu

15 place de l’église

45240 Ligny le Ribault

www.TheAmericanFrog.com

02.38.45.41.54

 I am not even seeing those lovely red toadstools so well known from our childhood fairy tales. And, speaking of… while searching for a photo of one for this article I came across some very fascinating information on Wikipedia.

 

There are more than just Castles in Loire Valley Sologne

The days are still warmed by the last rays of Summer's Sun, and the cool nights are heralding Winter's arrival. It is Autumn in France. And it is not too late to enjoy an Autumn Week end in Sologne/Loire Valley.  The "brame" or the Stag's Song is still going strong.   You can hear it from every window in our B&B. Find out more at the "Maison du Cerf" (Stag's House)  www.coeur-de-france.com/maisonducerf.html  

 

But that is not all, don't forget the RENAISSAINCE BAL at Chambord.  Saturday, October 10th come and dress as one of François Premier's queens, ducs, or jester.  Dancing and feasting like him will be the order of the evening! The evening is sold out but we still have tickets left just call 06.83.18.42.31.

  www.cameleon45.fr/.../BAL%20RENAISSANCE.doc

 

Another magical moment to be spent here i n Sologne is to take a full day or half day learning about FALCONRY. Brigitte and Francis Cohu share their passion for this centuries-old art.  You will learn the history and have hands-on experience working with their wonderful hawks, owls and eagles.  http://www.fauconsolognot.com ; And Brigitte is bilingual!

 

 

But there are so many things to do and see year around here in sologne/loire valley.  Visit my blog:  http://TheAmericanFrog.typepad.fr/an-american-in-sologne to find out more!

 

kristi anderson
Saint Jacques - le coin perdu

Bed and Breakfast

Dinner possible
15, place de l'église
45240 Ligny le Ribault

02.38.45.41.54
www.TheAmericanFrog.com

French blog:  http://TheAmericanFrog.typepad.fr/lecoinperdu
[email protected]