Goats cheese, cherry tomato and caramelised red onion tart

A couple of weeks ago, I served a veggie dinner and instead of the normal “where is the meat?” or “that was nice but it would have been even better with a sausage” comments from “the husband” he said "that was actually quite nice"! Whoa, that is praise indeed from a meat loving man who is happy with a vegetarian dish as a side dish, starter or lunch but dinner equals some sort of meat, even if a small amount!
This is an open tart, with no quiche eggy mixture, easy and delicious to rustle up on holiday with the local Chabichou goats cheese.

Goats cheese, cherry tomato and caramelised red onion tart

You will need:
1 Packet of puff pastry
2-3 tblspns  green or red pesto
1 tblspn olive oil
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
1dstspn sugar
200g ripe cherry tomatoes, halved
1-2 red peppers, sliced
250 g goats cheese like Chabichou du Poitou (not soft)
Fresh basil

Method

• Gently heat the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the onions until soft and starting to caramelise, add the sugar and turn up the heat a bit. The onions should be soft and brownish but not burnt! Put to one side to cool.
• Pre heat oven to 190 degrees (fan) and lightly flour a baking sheet
• Roll out puff pastry thinly to an oblong, place on baking sheet, wet edges and roll over once to form an edge.  Score the pastry lightly inside the edge (not all the way through)
• Spread the pesto over the pastry, then cover with the caramelised onions.
• Arrange the tomatoes cut size up, interspersed with sliced peppers.
• Cube the cheese and sprinkle over, tucking into gaps
• Grind over some black pepper, a pinch of rock salt if desired, and tear some basil leaves
• Bake for 20-25 minutes
• Serve warm with salad

The Poitou Charente region of France produces two thirds of the country’s goats cheese, home to varieties like Bûche du Poitou, Chabi, Mothais and the famous Chabichou du Poitou.Unfortunately I made my tart in the UK so I didn't have access to Chabichou at my supermarket deli counter.

Chabichou is one of the earliest cheeses ever produced in France. Its quality has been controlled since 1990 and its distinctive label declares proudly AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) status. Of the rumoured 350+ cheeses in France only about 50 are protected, I was surprised I thought it would be far more!

Whilst on holiday at White Shutters you can follow the Route du Chabichou et des Fromages de Chèvre   tasting artisanal goats cheese as you go. Have fun pairing local wines, Sauvignon or Gamay du Haut Poitou are best with fresh young goats cheese, and white Pineau des Charentes (the local apéro)with dry goats cheese like Chabichou.

Have fun!

French Apricot Tart

Oh how I wish I was in France...the forecast for the next two weeks is pretty much high 20s and the markets will be brimming with my favourite fruits; peaches, nectarines and apricots. Like wine, the French keep all the best produce for their own consumption and export the rest! Well, that's what it feels like, of course it has to be picked under ripe to travel and never ripens the same as picked ripe and sold within 5 miles of the tree.

However, apricots are as good as they get even in the UK right now so if you're not at White Shutters cooking this in the big kitchen, then you can still enjoy! This tart, especially poaching the apricots gently, with the Amaretto, brings out all the flavour and makes a dozen go a long way.

You will need:

Sweet Pastry
500g plain flour
250g butter
175g icing sugar
1 egg

Frangipane filling
75 g caster sugar
75 g unsalted butter at room temperature
50 g plain flour
150 g ground almonds
2 eggs
1 tsp almond essence (optional)

Apricots
10-12 apricots halved and stoned
275 ml water
200g caster sugar
50 ml Amaretto (optional)

Glaze
3 tblspn apricot jam
1 tblspn amaretto (or water)

Method
Pre heat oven to 200 deg C (180 fan)

For pastry:
Sieve flour and sugar into food processor.
Add cut up butter cut and pulse  in small bursts until fine crumbs then add the egg and briefly pulse until it starts coming together.
Turn out and gently knead together and rest the pastry covered in fridge for 30mins +

Meanwhile poach apricots. Add sugar to water and amaretto (if using) in a large based pan.
Bring to boil and gently slide in apricots, cut side down, turn heat to low at simmer. Simmer for 4-5 mins, be careful they go mushy quickly!
Remove with a slotted spoon and allow to cool.

For the frangipane filling: cream butter and caster sugar, and add eggs, almonds and flour and beat together (easier to use the food processor that is already dirty!)

Roll out pastry and line tart dish, carefully line with greaseproof paper and baking beans and bake blind at 200degc (180fan) for 6 minutes, remove beans and paper and bake for another 6 minutes.  It’s better to have a baking sheet if using a ceramic dish. Pastry should be dry but barely coloured.

Fill base with frangipane filling and smooth and carefully arrange apricots in concentric circles on top, cut side down starting at the outside.

Bake for around 40 minutes at 180degC (160 fan) until frangipane is firm but pastry not burnt, my pastry was turning!

For the glaze: heat the jam and amaretto or water in a pan or microwave, then sieve. Carefully drizzle on top of warm tart (or brush delicately with a pastry brush, I tend to slop it on) and allow to cool.
Serve with cream, ice cream, crème fraîche or as is!

Proper pro bloggers now have shots of prettily arranged ingredients, a portion of tart artistically presented for service....cream drizzled in a swizzle pattern, a sprig of something and a fanned apricot decoration perhaps?

Sorry if you're disappointed, we cook to eat it in this house, and nobody poses for photos if food is waiting!

Bonne App!

PS Yes this is basically a repeat of my post on my other blog...it's OK to pilfer/lift/copy/plagerise your own work ;)

Cognac Blues Passions Festival 3rd - 8th July 2012 featuring Sting, Hugh Laurie and The Cranberries

The wonderful  International Cognac Blues Festival  returns Tuesday 3rd to Sunday 8th July 2012  in sunny Charente, bigger and better but just as intimate as in previous years . White Shutters holiday cottage in France has availability for both weeks and is just 40 minutes from Cognac. The first week is June prices at just £1300 for the week to sleep 8-12.

The headline acts may be more famous this year, but what a location to see them in. The concerts are dotted around the centre of Cognac.  You only pay for the headline concerts, the plethora of acts (I counted 48!) from across the globe perform on stages around the park in the afternoons and are free. Find a spot on the grass and lie back and enjoy the family friendly atmosphere.  Bring the whole family, you can move on whenever you like if the little rascals, or Granny, start playing up!

This year the "head-liners" are The Cranberries, Hugh Laurie and Sting amongst others.  Their concerts are in the evening and ticketed, book your Cognac Blues accommodation at White Shutters and buy your Cognac Blues Passions festival tickets online.  Holiday sorted!  But be quick, others may have the same idea.

..and after a hard day enjoying the music, kick back with family and friends in the large 12m x 6m heated pool at White Shutters.

Roman City of Saintes

Just 40 minutes from White Shutters is the city of Saintes with its very well preserved Gallo Roman amphitheatre affording magnificent views of the city and cathedral. Saintes is very manageable in size;  walk by the river, enjoy a boat ride and visit the Roman Museum (included with your amphitheatre entrance), cool off in the cathedral and enjoy pavement cafés!  There are many good restaurants, perhaps stop off on the way back from the coast or islands?  We enjoyed an afternoon out here at Easter, the amphitheatre in particular would be a great picnic spot, a reasonable €2 for adult entry. Saintes Tourist Information

The tunnel above was a bit spooky, apparently this is where the dead bodies were hauled off to, not where lions were released from as we told our girls!

 Saintes Cathedral, an oasis of calm and coolness.

Recipe - Tartiflette or hammed up potato dauphinoise …

It’s January, and summer holidays in France are a little way off, so it must be time for a winter warming French style recipe.

I first had delicious rich creamy and very calorific potato dauphinoise in a mountain hut when skiing as a teenager.  When you’re skiing it’s OK to have a pound of potatoes to a pint of cream!  Now older, rounder and still a potato daupinoise lover I thought (as I had left over half-fat crème fraîche from Christmas, past it’s use by date) I’d try a slightly healthier experiment.  As I had boiled a small smoked ham yesterday and had leftovers, I decided to mix that in too to make a little go a long way and keep the meat lovers in the family happy.  To make it a one pot (well not quite) meal a large leek was also added.

So my doctored hammy leeky potato dauphinoise is a tasty, delicious, filling but not too fattening meal (if using half fat crème fraîche) for all the family in January or any time of year.  Leave out the ham, and substitute onion for the leek in the summer and serve as an accompaniment to barbecued meat or even just a crunchy salad. I do like a meal in the oven that can be left whilst you sip on a pineau des Charentes catching the evening sun. Often us Brits think cheese should be in this dish, traditionally it’s not included but it’s also very good with grated cheddar, emmental and/or parmesan cheese sprinkled on top, especially if hamless.

You will need (to serve 6)

About 1kg medium potatoes, peeled, sliced with a mandolin (be careful!) or finely with a knife, and rinsed in a colandar.  Keep in water if it is taking a while or preparing ahead.
A large leek sliced finely and rinsed, or use a large diced onion.
2 cloves garlic, chopped.
About 3-500ml Milk (will be discarded or use for a white sauce for another dish, doesn’t matter what type)
600ml half fat crème fraîche (or full fat or use double cream)
Diced cooked ham or lardons if liked
Butter
Salt and pepper, paprika if liked

Pre heat oven to 180deg fan (200 deg for WS non fan oven)

1 Put the sliced potatoes in a large pan and add the milk, which should just about cover the potatoes but if you’re a bit short don’t panic.  Gently lift the potatoes a bit with a slotted spoon to make sure they are separated and bring to the boil over a medium flame with the lid on, don’t disappear!
2 Simmer very gently for 5-8 minutes or so, stirring/turning very carefully half way through.  You only want to par boil them, they shouldn’t break up.
3 Grease a large lasagne type oven proof dish and layer up half the sliced potatoes.  Remove the potatoes from the cooking milk with the slotted spoon, carefully, no need to drain properly or dry. Then add half the leeks (or onion), ham and garlic and a good grinding of pepper and sprinkle of salt.  As crème fraîche is very thick, spoon half on now spreading evenly.  If using cream just add when assembled.
4 Repeat finishing with the rest of the crème fraîche, or all of the cream and dot the top with butter.
5 Sprinkle with paprika if using.
6 Bake for 30-40 mins on a baking tray to catch any overflow, the top should be starting to brown. Now turn down the oven to 160 degrees fan (180 non fan) and stir very gently/push the mixture down a bit to make sure it’s cooking evenly and the top isn’t drying out and the cream is throughout the layers and not just sitting on top.  Bake for another 20-30mins, cover with foil if too brown and the potatoes are not quite done.
7 When cooked a sharp knife goes in to the potatoes without any resistance at all, and the top is crispy but never burnt!  This dish will keep happily in a low oven for a while before serving, put a bit of foil on top if over browning.
8 I served with roast butternut squash cooked on another tray for the last half an hour, but any roasted veg would be delicious.

Bon Ap!!!!

Apologies for the photo, as is normal in this house I decided to write up the recipe once we had taste tested as it was my own take on various recipes.  The secret to getting the potatoes to cook without drying out is simmering in the milk first, even if it seems a little wasteful. I can’t remember which chef advocates cooking the potatoes in milk to reduce the starch, but credit to him/her, not me!

I try and add a French inspired recipe to the blog regularly that is easy to prepare on holiday at White Shutters in the large well equipped cooks’ kitchen, or at home if your French gite holiday is a while off yet.  All the cooking equipment and large baking dishes required for up to 12 are available at White Shutters to rustle this up on holiday for a crowd.

Edited to add that this is basically Tartiflette, I had no idea it had a proper name,and tartiflette does have lumps of cheese in it too!  Thanks to my friend Susan in Brittany for the culinary education.

Le Chateau de la Roche Courbon

Le Chateau de la RocheCourbon is a great day out from White Shutters.  It’s near the hamlet of Saint-Porchaire, the easiest way is to get there is via Saint-Jean d’Angély and then on to Saint-Savinien, a gentle run of about 40 minutes or so.

Before you set out make a nice picnic lunch, the grounds are lovely and as always there are picnic tables, and children can run around.  You can buy a chateau lunch, a delicious looking plate of charcuterie, cheeses, salad and a glass of wine to eat al fresco, but at €11 I thought a little expensive.  Ubiquitous saucisse frites, croquet monsuier etc are around €5.  In contrast the entrance fee to all the attractions (except chateau interior) was reasonable at €6 for adults or €9 to include a guided tour of the château as well, in September 2011.
The landscaping is magnificent, with a lot of renovation work on the waterways in recent years, but walk across opposite the chateau and climb the escaliers for a magnificent view back across the lake. There is a small archaeology museum but the “Jeu” room had lots of traditional wooden games that you could play which was much more fun than an amusement arcade, and interesting working out the rules!  I don’t think it’s called “shove ha’penny” in France!  You can also walk the pleasant 1km tree lined avenue down to the original habitation, the prehistoric grottes.

If you want to do the tour of the chateau check the times on arrival, as in September there was only one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  Refreshingly you can arrive at any time; the ticket office isn’t shut at lunch time.

Lazy hazy family days...

No one holiday suits everyone; we all want different experiences from different holidays too. If quality time with your family and friends is your goal, time to kick back and enjoy extended casual meals outside, trips to the beach and a gentle cycle ride through sunflower strewn countryside, then White Shutters will suit you perfectly. If watching your young child, grand child or great grand child learn to swim with the sound of uninhibited laughter drifting across the garden as dad gets soaked again in your own private heated pool is your idea of the perfect family holiday, then why not book White Shutters? Sit under the gazebo with a good book from the gite library, a glass of chilled wine and the BBQ on standby then White Shutters will be your two weeks of bliss. I haven’t even mentioned the moules frites, pineau and weaving down the lane on a bike for the morning crusty baguette nor perusing the local Sunday morning market.

Recent guests, did all of that and more We were delighted to host 4 generations of the same family in June, and from their review I think they all got a lot out of their two weeks of kicking back and winding down.

Hi Fiona - just to let you know that we had an absolutely fabulous holiday at White Shutters. What a lovely villa you have and we feel privileged to have stayed there. Everyone enjoyed themselves from the very young (Jacob - 10 weeks old) to the very old (my Dad - 89 next birthday).

Apart from the beautiful setting, one of the real bonuses for us was the pool. Joshie, our 4 year old grandson took his first real swimming strokes and we were so proud. He has been having lessons for a little while and having the pool at our disposal he grew in confidence every day to the stage where he was happily jumping in and going under and resurfacing. The only problem was the little tantrums when he was told he had to get out and get ready for bed.

We thought Aulnay was really lovely. My sister lives in Rostrenen as you know, and by comparison Aulnay is such a buzzy little town.

It was handy to know that Sharon and Steve were there if we had any problems - but happy to say there were none.

I do hope that we left the villa in the good order that we found it in. We were conscious it was your home and what a home from home it was. We felt so relaxed and settled it was a wrench to leave.

Sadly we have to get back into work mode as Monday morning looms unfortunately.

Thank you once again for sharing your home with us. I am attaching a picture of my daughter and family on the bikes, you can just see my Dad sitting in the shade behind them.

Kindest regards

Gill & Simon

The photo sums up what we try and offer!  We hope to welcome you to White Shutters soon, now booking for 2012!

Shabby Shutters are no more!!

White Shutters finally has white shutters!  We had recently been feeling we should have named our house "Shabby Shutters"as les volets needed repairing, stripping and painting and there was also one brown pair.  Although the dream was always blue shutters, in true Charente-Maritime style, we kept the original "blanc"colour as they are pretty big, and we have called our dream White Shutters, they look so fresh against the dark green Virginia Creeper.  Changing colour and name is just too complicated now......wooden shutters are authentic but my goodness they take a lot of repair, prepping and painting 2-3 coats on each, I have a secret inkling that the very authentic looking uPVC ones would have been so much easier, but traditional wood is still best. 

They are made of hardwood and very heavy, it was interesting getting them off their hinges upstairs, and even more interesting getting them back on 10 days later. Three people, one climbing rope and an awful lot of choice language. Thank goodness the weather has been stunning this Easter.

White Shutters is well and truly ready for the 2011 season now, the pool is sparkling, geraniums planted and a wood burner looks quite stately in the salon.

The pool is gorgeous, as we were swimming in it Easter Weekend, once it had been opened up and cleaned and heated up for the husband.  We do have limited availability in May, one week in early July and September/October is available, please see the website for up to date availability.  Variable length holidays are no problem in May and September.

Can someone please let me know if the hammock is comfy, I never did get to try it out!



French style Sausage and Puy Lentil Casserole

I adapted this classic French style dish from a recipe in Good Food magazine, September 2010.

Three cooking ingredients I always bring home from our holidays at White Shutters are lots of the cheapest wine for cooking (red and white), chorizo sausage (Intermarché in Aulnay do a fantastic budget one for €1) and big fat garlic bulbs.

Recipe (serves 4)

1 tblspn Olive oil and extra for roasting veg if using

8 good quality pork sausages (or Toulouse!)

1 red onion sliced

2 cloves garlic crushed

1 red pepper sliced

50g chorizo finely diced

250g Puy (green) lentils

300ml veg stock

250ml red wine (cheaper the better!)

Optional Courgettes and aubergines (or similar veg) for roasting

Le Creuset or similar heavy hob to oven pot (provided at White Shutters!)

Serves 4

Pre heat oven to 180 degrees (160 fan)

1 Brown the sausages in half the oil in the Le Creuset on the hob, put to one side (1 pan meal, less washing up!)

2 Add the rest of the oil with the onion, garlic, chorizo and pepper to the pan and sauté for 5 mins

3 Add sausages (chopped if desired), lentils stock and wine and bring to simmering point, stir, cover tightly and put in oven for about an hour, stirring occasionally. Do not add salt at this stage as this stops pulses cooking properly.

4 Chop veggies for oven roasting (if using), toss in a little olive oil and roast on a pre heated sheet for about 30 minutes.

4 The lentils should be soft (not crunchy) when cooked, but this isn't a saucy dish either.

5 if cooked on the hob (very low heat) it will take 30-45 minutes but keep an eagle eye on the pan and add a little more water if necessary. I prefer oven so you can go off and have a sneaky aperitif, or another dip in the heated pool before dinner!

6 Add the roasted veg to the pan, adjust seasoning and stir through and serve. Don't forget a baguette for mopping.

Verdict

I loved it, definitely a "rustique" style dish as the picture shows. The family still prefer sausage and chips, Toad in the Hole or sausage and cauliflower cheese....ungrateful lot, but give it a go. At least they can eat the sausages leaving a beautifully smoky lentil concoction for my lunch the next day.

Bon appetit!

Attractions of the Poitou Charente near family friendly gite with heated pool

There is so much to do at White Shutters. Swimming in the large pool kept at 26 degrees for your comfort, cycling the quiet sunflower lined lanes from the house on the bikes we provide. Perhaps a game of pool in the games room, or enjoying a long lazy lunch under the gazebo may be more your style. However, you will also want to explore some days, and all the attractions in this video are a 4o - 90 minute leisurely drive away.

http://youtu.be/GNlCYqhX5FM

Cognac Blues Passions Festival July 5th-9th 2011

The famous Cognac Blues Passions Festival has changed it's dates this year, and is now being held from Tueday 5th - Saturday 9th July 2011 in various locations around Cognac centre. Last year it was the last week in July and co-incided with our holiday, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Most of the sets are free! There is a headliner act each day, culminating with Jamie Cullum on Sat 9th July.

It was easy to drive into Cognac (about 40 minutes leisurely drive through the vineyards from White Shutters)and parking is free in the side streets about a 5 minute walk from the centre. Enjoy lunch in a pavement cafe and wander between the different venues in the park, stretch out on the grass in the sunshine and enjoy the atmosphere. Very definitely a multi generational affair in the daytime. Unfortunately we are unable to go this year, but highly recommend the experience on one or more days of your holiday. White Shutters is still available Sat 2nd-Sat 9th July or treat yourself to a fortnight with friends and family and add a June week when the weather is perfect and just before French schools break up for summer.

More Guest Reviews

Our guests are so generous with their reviews, we were delighted to receive two more in the last two weeks.

The first one is from a one week stay 15th May 2010, 4 adults and three children aged 2, 2 and 1:

"My family and friends stayed at White Shutters in May 2010. There were 6 adults and 3 small children in total, all of us wanting a break from hectic working life and that is exactly what we got. White Shutters feels like it is in the middle of nowhere, in a really good way, although there is a town with all you need less than 10 minutes drive away. We spent our days by the pool, knowing the children were perfectly safe. We spent our evenings cooking in the amazing kitchen, very rustic and a "cooks Kitchen", or having barbeques on the terrace. There are beaches nearby and plenty to see but if you just want to relax and feel like you are really living rural French life then this is the place for you. We had a wonderful time and have some cherished memories. Thank you to Fiona and Helen who looked after us so well
Love
The Roses, Brighton

PS Can you let us know what availability you have for late june/Early july next year, before summer holidays start."

...and the second one from a two week stay 31st July 2010. 4 Adults and 4 children aged 8, 6, 3 and 2, 2 additional friends stayed for a few days in the middle.

"We spent two fabulous weeks with our two families at White Shutters during August 2010, we were joined by another friend and his daughter during the second week . It was a spacious and extremely well equipped gite with everything we could ask for. The bedrooms were spacious and comfortable with loads of space for our boys to play in.

The children thoroughly enjoyed using the toys and bikes that were there, the large garden and gravelled area added to their freedom and enjoyment. The kitchen was well stocked and the cook books came in very handy, especially when we where not eating bread and cheese or using the BBQ. We enjoyed the pool and the gates made it far more relaxing for the grown ups, knowing that the children were safe . We spent many happy evenings chatting and dining on the patio or around the kitchen table .

We sampled lots of local foods, including the odd bottle of wine !! The market at Alnay was great for fresh fruits and veg, and the occasional kilo of mussels ! Helen was really helpful and gave us really good ideas on places to visit. The local area was great to explore and we ventured to Cognac, La Rochelle and the beaches. You definitely need a car, but it was really nice to return to a quite hamlet at the end of the day. It was a great two weeks and definitely a great place for a relaxing family holiday.

Thanks Fiona for making the process so easy. The Griffiths/Savory Family (Wilts)"

I cannot say how happy we are that everyone is having such a great time this summer...thank you for taking the time to write reviews, they are appreciated! We have the best guests!!

Moules Marinieres - Summer in the Charente Maritime - defined!

To feed everyone staying at White Shutters (10-12) which is what we did on our own holiday last week with extended family!

• Take 5 kgs of fresh local mussels, wash under running water debeard, scrub and discard any that don't shut after a serious shake in the colandar under running water.


• Gently sauté 2 onions and up to a chopped bulb of garlic in butter and olive oil (large knob of and a good lug) in the largest pan White Shutters has (catering size.)


• Add a bottle or so of cheap dry white wine, bring to simmering point and carefully tip in all of the mussels. Put the lid on.


• Bring back to the boil and shake gently at intervals to redistribute the mussels so they cook evenly. Steam for 5-10 minutes until they are all open, discard any that stay shut when eating.


• Carefully stir in a bunch of chopped parsley and serve in bowls with ladles of juice, frites and hunks of bread for dunking.

Moules Marinieres, summer in the Charente Maritime defined!

Guest Reviews!

We are well under way with the 2010 "season". I think our guests have been having good holidays as reviews received so far indicate! Thank you so much for taking the time to write them!

We spent a week at White Shutters in mid June. Our family consisted of 6 adults and 3 children aged 3, 1 and 6 months and we had a really wonderful holiday. The house is the best equipped I have ever stayed in, comfortable, beautiful with an enormous heated pool safely enclosed and there were enough toys, games, bicycles etc to keep everyone happy without any need to venture further. We did spend one day at the beach which was fun and explored nearby markets and countryside which by now must be stunning with field upon field of sunflowers and poppies. Helen arranged food for our arrival and made us most welcome. We would definitely recommend it to anyone with small children who needs a hassle-free haven.
Joanna
JN - East Sussex Date of stay 19th June 2010 7 nights

Just a quick email to thank you. We had a great holiday at white shutters, weather was hot and sunny and we enjoyed the pool and sitting out late into the evening enjoying the peace and quiet. Dad and Andy enjoyed cycling round the local area and Mum and Paul went running each morning.
We were really lucky to see two tawny owl chicks fledge while we were there. There were nesting behind the brown shutter outside the poppy room window. We watched the adults feeding them and then finally just before we left they fledged. Dad got some video footage of each chick the next morning, they were lovely. The house was well equipped with lots of space for us all. We couldn't fault it really the only suggestion we had was possibly a bigger kitchen bin as we were emptying it a lot and possibly some bathroom scales to just check the weight of our cases before leaving - as Andy bought so many local goods and bottles I was trying to guess weights of cases as we only had 20kg limit.
We had a couple of lovely meals in Cognac and Aulnay and thoroughly enjoyed La Rochelle and the beach at Royan. It was by far the best property we have stayed at and we loved the area, the french locals were really friendly and the sunflowers came out just before we left.
Thank you again, Louise.
LW- Cheshire Date of stay 26th June 2010 14 nights 6 adults and 2 children age 4 and 18 months

Please note, there is now a bigger kitchen bin, and there are scales in the bottom drawer in the Bathroom next to the kitchen, I'm sorry you didn't find them and I hope no precious supplies had to be given to the douanes!

Sunny Family Room Upgrade

Our multi purpose Family Room is huge, with exposed beams and stonework and a large Velux window with blackout blind, yellow of course! The Super King bed can separate into singles if you need a Teen Dorm....or smaller children can sleep in with their parents, and there is room for a cot too (either the wooden or travel cot we provide)

We have replaced the black metal bunk bed with a lovely cream day bed that can also be a full size single....Sunflowers meet the sunny seaside....and hopefully soon I will finish a sunflower quilt that is cut out but not sewn!!

Some more eating out recommendations...

Although we were very busy over Easter we found some time to try another restaurant. All work and no play and all the rest of it, anyway, it is our duty as caring owners to test out more eateries for our guests' benefit!

Le Moulin des Saules is just 10 minutes away from White Shutters in Pouzou near Les Eglises d'Argenteuil, although the mill is a little tucked away outside the village so take a map. We booked a table for two, although children are welcome this is nice for a more refined meal out in the evening. We booked for the last night of our holiday at Easter, although the moulin is open for lunch too at the same prices we believe.

Although a la carte is available, as ever in France the fixed price menu was far better value, a choice of 4 courses for €27, €33 or a discovery menu around €45 from memory, 3-4 choices per course. We had the €27 version, and very tasty it was too. The starters were amazing and huge portions too, thankfully the main courses were not proportionally larger. Everything was imaginatively and elegantly served, with nice touches like amuse-bouches. The cheese board was outstanding, and left on our table. Our only criticism was that the wine menu starts at €20 a bottle, a house carafe at a more reasonable price would have been appreciated! after all I cannot cook like that, but even I can open a bottle of wine in seconds....no skill required for that!
It was a relaxed evening, we had a window seat overlooking the mill race, meadows and terracing area around the swimming pool. The sunset was very dramatic. The mill workings have all been restored and visble inside the restaurant.

So persuade other members of your party to babysit the children and take it in turns to have a couples night out here.

Le Moulin des Saules is open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch and Friday and Saturday nights for dinner, although check as it may be different in high season.

05 46 59 98 53

Somewhere else that comes highly recommended as great value for a week day lunch is in La Paille, a nice cycle ride on quiet roads from White Shutters, unfortunately we tried a Tuesday lunchtime when they are shut, duh. Hopefully next time!

Shower Rooms and Bathrooms!

There has been a bit of debate recently amongst other gite and B&B owners/friends on the advisability of having bathroom pictures on rental websites. A bathroom is not what you go on holiday for is it? On the other hand a grimy dingy bathroom with limited facilities for the number of people a property sleeps does have a large negative impact on your precious week or two in the sun! Some owners think only boutique hotel/spa standard bathrooms should be photographed. Other successful rental owners have had high bookings for years with no bathroom photos on their websites, and no complaints either! Perfectly formed "normal" clean bathrooms are so hard to photograph!

We're somewhere in the middle, we have stayed in gites where the photographed rooms have reached or exceeded expectation, only to go upstairs to hideous time warp bedrooms and a dingy bathroom to serve 10. So we are showing you our clean and functional bathrooms, not boutique with mood music or adjustable lighting, but clean and fresh (and not staged) and they do what they say on the tin....

White Shutters is set up to be spacious and accommodate 8 people in 4 bedrooms (1 downstairs), but for a more economical holiday there is still plenty of space to sleep 12 (6 adults + up to 6 children/babies)....... and those 4 bedrooms are served by 4 bathrooms, so there is no scrum if the house is fully occupied, and 2-3 family groups have use of their own bathroom for privacy and convenience. One bath/shower and one shower room are upstairs and two shower rooms are downstairs.

The bathroom next to the kitchen has been refreshed and is now a very spacious shower room, we call it the pool shower room as it's very convenient for a post swimming sluice down. We have removed the old tiled bath and moved the large shower cubicle. It's all very fresh and clean and functional now. The pool towels are also kept in here (another included extra at White Shutters but please wash and dry them before you leave!) It goes without saying that a fluffy white hand and bath towel per guest is provided each week, and a bath mat per bathroom!

The major part of our bathroom improvements have been to the Poppy Master en suite bathroom. This now has a dedicated shower bath, designed for showering without flooding downstairs, the old bath was a daft shape!. We were also keen to keep 1 bath in the house for dunking small people in at the end of their busy day. We have also re tiled the floor and walls and redecorated. Again, an efficient extractor fan has also been installed.

Thank you to Dave (our builder) for working hard on the Poppy Bathroom over Easter!

...enough bathroom talk!

NEW Angouleme Flights for June 2010 on...

Great news, City Swiss have started flying London Gatwick to Angouleme (Mon, Weds, Fri) from June 2010, and we have just two weeks available in June. Sat 5th to Sat 19th June, we know a delightful B&B near Angouleme/Cognac for your first night (or several nights!) Au Belle Fleur has 4 B&B rooms and a family suite too. We also have available August bank holiday week and mid September on!

Just finishing our 2 weeks improving and freshening and cleaning for the new season, heated pool already open , we're having beautiful weather! Why not drive out for some early precious sun in May....we are open from 1st May, and that pool is heated! Only 4-7 hours from all channel ports, and the second sunniest region of France.

Will blog next week with what's new and improved for 2010 at White Shutters!

Raymond Blanc's Apple Tart

When not in France the next best thing is another French recipe try out, Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Secrets is a very inspiring BBC series, not stuffy or and and the great man is just so chearful and un pretentious, I am sure he washes his own burnt on milk pans occasionally, then again he would never burn a pan would he?! I can have a bash at his dishes, and he is a multi starred Michelin chef, and I am not!

So here is my Raymond Blanc "Maman Blanc" Apple Tart, just google for the recipe!! I'll be back in a bit to report if the creme fraiche was a good substitute for double cream, and whether it tasted as good as it looks. Will be making proper creme anglaise too.

The reason for the impatience, it has to cool for an hour before eating, it's murdur having to wait........dog walk time! Well it's a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the Cotswolds. The great man is so cruel making us wait....

A little while later...... dog walked and back home to make Creme Anglaise a la Julia Child, worked perfectly with semi skimmed milk, dash of single cream, warmed carefully in saucepan, no messing with water baths. Birds has been ousted in this house, in 44 years except perhaps in the odd restaurant, I had never knowingly known how divinely good proper home made custard is!

I used half fat creme fraiche, instead of double cream, in the egg mixture poured over the apples part way through cooking. It was fine, not watery or curdled at all. I also realised why my open tarts always seem dry, Raymond advises each apple cut into 10 slices, far chunkier than my usual, and far tastier and moister as a result. That's why he is a master, lots of simple tips that make all the difference to us ordinary cooks! The apple is brushed with a melted butter/sugar and calvados glaze before the first part bake, and then egg custard added and finished for 10 minutes. All the cooking times perfectly calculated so the result is light, apply tasting and not at all dried out or sickly. The calvados glaze tasted very good out of the pan too!

I am afraid to say I forgot the "dressed" photo with tart dusted with icing sugar and home made creme anglaise dribbled artfully. We don't do delicate portions, and all 4 of us had seconds and the whole tart has vanished. I do like my Portmeirion pottery though! There was a tart there not long ago.

I blame the dog myself... I think we should go out for another walk now, the dog will think it's died and gone to heaven, eventhough he got no tart. Merci Maman Blanc.

Carrot, Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup

This recipe is not "very French", but it's turned cold again in the UK...so until we can get out to France and some warm rays of sunshine at Easter, I devised (with a little help from some nice twitter friends) a warming winter soup, around the ingredients I had in the house!

Carrot, Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup

1 large sweet potato (grated in food processor)
4-6 large carrots (grated in food processor)
1 large onion (white or red) chopped finely
2-3 garlic cloves crushed
3cm cube ginger skinned and chopped finely
1tblspn olive oil
2 tsp cumin
1 litre vegetable stock (cheated I made using Marigold Swiss Vegetable Bouillon)
0.25 l orange juice
Grated zest of an orange
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• Sweat the grated vegetables, garlic and ginger in the olive oil over a low heat with pan lid on, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes.


• Stir in cumin and orange zest and plenty of pepper.


• Make up the stock and add to vegetables with the orange juice


• Simmer gently for 15-20 minutes


• Blend carefully and adjust seasoning to taste (for me I add even more black pepper and little salt as the stock has salt in it)


• Serve with a swirl of low fat yogurt, creme fraiche or cream and sprinkling of paprika.