A Comfy Wingback Chair, A Dozing Kitty, An Inviting Candle

As we begin the month of December in this crazy pandemic year, and amidst the holiday season, my gift to you is “find your own little” or put another way, “find your own simple.” It is the greatest gift I can whole-heartedly give you, one of the best gifts you can easily give yourself which might dramatically change your life, and if you let it— it can last a lifetime! Find your own simple, it is around you each and every day. You just need to recognize it, and be mindful of it.

In the October 2020 Victoria magazine issue, there is a beautiful article on the legendary illustrator N.C. Wyeth’s home in Pennsylvania’s breathtaking wooded Brandywine River Valley. Actually, it is an article on both N.C. and his also famous artist son, Andrew, Wyeth—their homes, studios, and neighboring Kuerner farm. Today these properties have been thankfully restored and are now protected as part of the Brandywine River Museum of Art complex through the concerted efforts of the Brandywine Conservancy. Reading the article and enjoying the photos, it is quite clear that N.C. and his family enjoyed simplicity above all, and a life of comfort over pretense. His quote really resonated with me, and is powerful.

A Wise N.C. Wyeth

A couple of months ago I posted Follow the French, writing about the same message. I think the French have the ability to live this way naturally, because it is ingrained in their culture, and their DNA. It is such an important gift and message, and interesting how it can be said in so many ways with the same meaning.

One of the silver linings in this unusual pandemic year, is the fact that we all have experienced a unique social and cultural filtering which has trickled down and changed our everyday lives. We started baking more, got into organizing and enhancing our homes, spending more time with our families, traveling less, and appreciating the “little” things in our everyday lives that bring us joy.

Finding the “little” in your life is your journey, and honestly, maybe some of you have already found it. What is my “little” is not the same as your “little,” but I think you will begin to recognize your “littles.” Making a difference in someone’s life, starting from a small loving gesture becomes great. Tapping into an “ah ha” moment and building from there can be greatness. Appreciating nature and wildlife in our own garden can morph into a beautiful and caring community.

Remember Sarah Ban Breathnach’s wildly popular book, Simple Abundance from 1995, and now there is an updated version. It might still be on your bookshelf. Her book and message is full of “little” suggestions to get reacquainted with, and she suggests “Joyful Simplicities” for each month to carry you throughout the year.

This is my gift to you, start with the “little” things that bring you joy, and watch what happens.

This year the holidays might mean even more, as we cope with less family and friends gathering socially, less hoopla, but possibly more meaning, peace, happiness, and gratitude. Here are five heavenly holiday menu tips to easily heighten your intimate holiday gatherings.

Find at Costco, Recipe on the Package

1) Add Seafood as a Starter. Adding a special seafood, such as lobster chowder, grilled mussels, oysters, or crab, set the mood and excitement for your holiday menu. Dear friends told me about this one, Phillips Premium Lump Crab, found at Costco. Listed on the container is a great crab cake recipe.

Shirley Phillips’ Crab Cakes

Ingredients: 1 lb. Phillips Crab Meat, 1 egg, 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 tsp. dry mustard, 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise, 1 tsp. lemon juice, 1 Tbsp. mustard, 1 Tbsp. melted butter, 1 tsp. parsley flakes, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1 tsp. Phillips Seafood Seasoning (or Old Bay Seafood Seasoning).

Directions: Combine all ingredients except crab meat, mix well. Fold in crab meat. Shape into cakes. Pan fry until golden brown or bake at 375 F. degrees for 12-15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 F. degrees.

This recipe makes 4-6 crab cakes for a first course, or shape into smaller meatball-size crab cakes for appetizers. Serve with champagne or a sparkling wine.

Celery Root, Ugly on the Outside, Beautiful on the Inside

2) Exchange Potato Dishes with Celery Root. Celery Root has a rich, nutty elegant flavor, which can be puréed, sautéed, or sliced. It is a bit of a chore to scrub, trim top and bottom, and peel skin with a vegetable peeler, but once done, it’s fIavor rewards. I like to use it in winter soups, or as a rich substitute for decadent mashed potatoes. Celery root is fabulous solo, but there is an alchemy when combining celery root and potatoes in your favorite recipe, use a 2 part celery root to 1 part potato ratio, or whatever ratio you prefer.

Celery Root Purée, Lovingly Adapted from Ian Knauer’s The Farm: Rustic Recipes for a Year of Incredible Food

Ingredients: 3 lb. celery root, peeled and cut into 1/2” cubes (8 cups), 4 small cloves garlic peeled, 1 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, celery root or sage leaves (optional).

Directions: 1) In a large saucepan combine celery root, garlic, and 2 tsp. kosher salt. Add enough water to cover. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer, covered for 12 to 15 minutes, or until very tender; drain. 2) Purée mixture with the cream and butter in a food processor until smooth. Season to taste with additional salt and some pepper. If desired, top with additional butter and celery root or chopped sage leaves before serving. Makes 8 servings.

Seasonal Wild Rice at Chino Farm’s Pop-Up Store

3) Wow with Wild Rice. It is not always easy to find real wild rice. Chino Farm carries it for the holidays in their pop-up shop from a special Minnesota source. Wild Rice can be served warm or cold, but be sure and add some goodies such as dried cranberries, halved grapes, nuts, pomegranate seeds, or a hint of citrus.

Wild Rice Salad, Lovingly Adapted from The Cypress Hill Farms Cookbook by Marilyn Dronenburg and Ann Mellander

Ingredients: 1 cup wild rice, 5-1/2 cups chicken broth, 1 cup golden raisins, 1 cup pecan halves toasted, zest from 1 large orange, 4 green onions thinly sliced, 1/3 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.

Directions: Place rice in a strainer and rinse well. In a heavy saucepan bring rice and broth to a boil. Adjust to a simmer and cook for 30-45 minutes, partially covered. Check after 30 minutes. Rice should not be too hard, not too soft. Drain and transfer to a bowl. Add remaining ingredients and toss. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4.

Select Special Cheese

4) Cut The Cheese. Create a very special cheese board for your occasion, to be served before dessert. No need for crackers, just very special cheese. Start by selecting one blue, one soft, one hard. Remember, never cut the nose off the cheese, cut from the sides. Source cheese shops like Venissimo, grocery stores like Cardiff Seaside Market, or cheese makers like Cowgirl Creamery

A Burgundy Sparkling Wine is a Treat

5) Drink Something Special. It might be something new, or it might be a tradition. It could be an apéritif such as French Lillet, a traditional champagne, a new cocktail from David Lebovitz’s book Drinking French , or simply a refreshing Burgundy sparkling wine. Why not try a great Napa Sauvignon Blanc from Saint Supery or Spottswoode winery. The point is to enjoy this drink, and the present special moments.

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I am grateful, and thank you for all of your generous comments and kind words always!

Driveway and Sign for Domaine Tempier

My husband, John, and I visited Domaine Tempier winery on a stunning spring day in May of 2015. It seemed a bit surreal to be walking down the tree-lined driveway and to be on this hallowed ground making our way up to the tasting room. I had read so much about the story of Lucien and Lulu Peyraud, who founded Domaine Tempier, after Lulu’s father gave the young couple this property as a wedding gift.

With a lot of hard work, the exceptional vineyard terroir, the beautiful wines, and seven children later, the legendary life of Lucien and Lulu Peyraud grew and grew. Lulu was not only a mother, but a wine ambassador and marketed Domaine Tempier wines traveling extensively. Her cooking became legendary, pairing the simple gastronomic Provence flavors and foods found at her local markets, which perfectly complemented their wines. The Peyraud’s often hosted, cooked, and feasted with culinary royalty and friends such as Richard Olney, Alice Waters, Fanny Singer (Alice Waters’ daughter), David Tanis, and many more. For an up close look at Lulu’s kitchen and sharing of some of her recipes, David Tanis wrote a beautiful article for Saveur for their special France Issue, May 2016.

A young Kermit Lynch, in the 1970’s, out of Berkley began importing wines from small family wineries in France, also became a lifelong friend and ambassador of Domaine Tempier wines. Today, Domaine Tempier rosé is the gold standard for rosé in Provence, and also their Mourvèdre driven reds.

John Amongst One of Domaine Tempier Vineyards

When we visited Domaine Tempier in 2015, Lulu Peyraud was 97 years old. We certainly did not see or visit with her, but her presence was felt. Last month, on October 7, 2020, the world lost Lulu at 102 years young, just shy of her 103rd birthday. Her passing was felt all over the world, and you can read more about remembering her, and her life in The Washington Post and The New York Times.

I have always looked up to Lulu Peyraud, because of a similar heartfelt passion and connection with Provence, the wines, the food, the “joie de vivre,” celebrating the simple everyday life. How incredible to experience that much life over time, as well as the unfolding of so many generations of your family. She had recently become a great, great grandmother.

It is also Lulu’s story, her authentic self, humor, and sharing at the table, how one woman could make such a difference in this world, one dish and one glass of wine at a time. She is a shining example, that each and everyone of us is unique, have so much to offer the world, and can make a difference in the world.

Richard Olney Insisted Lulu Write Down Her Recipes

Richard Olney was an American expat neighbor who lived nearby Domaine Tempier, in a run down cottage, and did not drive. The Peyraud’s would gladly pick him up and return him home after their get togethers. Richard Olney was the author of eight books on French cooking, and was also the Chief Consultant to the Time-Life Good Cook series. The friendship he had with the Peyraud’s was special, and because of him, Lulu Peyraud shared her recipes with the world. You can find Lulu Peyraud’s cookbook on amazon.

Every time I have a glass of Domaine Tempier, or a bit of olive tapenade, or a slice of onion tart, I will certainly think of Lulu Peyraud, a life well-lived, and all that she shared with the world. Salut!

A Perfect Fall Appetizer

I speak and write so much about seasonal living. When we embrace the seasons, it helps us to live in the moment, capture the present. Seasonal living means embracing and celebrating all the unique activities, flavors, foods, fragrances, and visuals that each season brings. It creates a subtle awareness to enjoy all of this each day, as it will be another nine months before this season returns.

Curried Pumpkin Hummus is one of my favorite seasonal fall appetizers. It is a delightful combination of spices that have a little heat, yet a lot of flavor. Culinary Tip: Spice Islands Curry is regarded as the best overall curry powder flavor, concurred amongst my culinary friends. Keep canned pumpkin stocked in your fall pantry, and you can whip up this appetizer in no time. Easy to make ahead of time and always a crowd pleaser. I originally saw it in Victoria Magazine, October 2013 issue.

Curried Pumpkin Hummus

Lovingly Adapted from Victoria Magazine

Makes 10 servings.

Ingredients:

1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin

3 Tbsp. tahini

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 clove garlic peeled

2 tsp. olive oil

1 tsp. curry

1 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Garnish: pepitas (pumpkin seeds), paprika, olive oil and fresh thyme

Directions:

In the work bowl of a food processor, combine pumpkin, tahini, lemon juice, garlice, and olive oil. Pulse until smooth. Add curry, cumin, kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; pulse to combine.

Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Garnish with pepitas, paprika, olive oil, and thyme if desired. Serve immediately with toasted naan (an East Indian flat bread) or pita chips, or refrigerate, in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

What is your favorite aspect of the fall season? What are your favorite fall recipes? If you make this recipe, be sure and tag #bonniejomanion.

Basket of Fall Goodies

Last fall I was in the Toulouse, South France area with French General for a week long “France Getaway, Exploring Craft, Markets, and Food in France.” Since none of us can be there this year, I thought I would share with you a few photos from the trip. If you are interested in joining a week with French General, contact owner Karri Meng, as she will be offering these trips once again, when it is permissible. For now, sit back and enjoy a few photos, and imagine your are in France this fall.

Two Lucky Lovers Atop an Arch in Saint-Antonin

Walled Garden Below Toulouse Lautrec Museum

Learning the Fine Art of the Cheese Board

Impromptu Roadside Stop at Apple Farm

Completing One Craft, An Original French General Apron

Alfresco Lunch Setting at Local Winery

Cordes-Sur-Ciel Village, One Lucky Cat Lives Here!

Fields of Fall Sunflowers Before Harvest

Last Evening, Last Dessert

Simplicity is Key

If you have been to one of my “Lunch in Provence” culinary events, chances are you have heard me talk of how I embrace the French Country lifestyle in my everyday. Much more than a desirable lifestyle, it is a solid philosophy to live one’s life. Elevate Simplicity to Elegance. Live in the Present. Cherish Now. Live Seasonally. Combine Beauty and Function. Celebrate Each Day. Honor Family and Traditions. Appreciate What You Have. Re-purpose Rather Then Dispose. Be Kind to Others. Respect Mother Earth.

The French are masters of simple living! Thomas Jefferson is often credited with this quote, “Every Man Has Two Countries, His Own and France.” When you think of France, is it the natural beauty, the rural countryside, the markets, the food, the quaint villages, the people, the style, or all of the above? This is not about choosing one country over another, rather observing the very essence of what creates this very desirable and seductive lifestyle, and how you might adopt it for yourself too. You can create this lifestyle where ever you live, and not just when you are in France. You can keep the French Country lifestyle in your heart, and for everyday! Perhaps you already living the lifestyle without realizing it.

France is very rich, and I am not speaking necessarily monetarily, in quality of life. The French Country lifestyle which seems to be effortless and natural is often envied, and it starts with “simplicity” and the ability to live in the moment or present. Simplicity is really another name for sophistication and elegance. Imagine a beautiful vintage ironstone bowl filled with lemons, a pastel patina stone house accented with a happy olive tree and wisteria, or a table of close friends lingering over a fresh baguette, bowl of tapenade, and a crisp bottle of rosé.

Saint Saturnin-les-Apts

Tandem with simplicity is the very powerful “living in the present.” It is not easy to keep your attention and thoughts in the moment, especially if you are not used to focusing on your present. There is a certain magical sweet spot of living in the moment, which once you experience and keep it with you, unfolds in many surprising ways.

You can experience true happiness and the joy of life—joie de vivre, living in the present. With that comes gratitude. Time for others. Time to enjoy. Time to pause, for you will never have this powerful present moment again.

Simple is Elegant

“Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.” —Leonardo di Vinci

“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” —Coco Chanel

“Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.” —Audrey Hepburn

“Creativity is maximized when you live in the moment.”—Anonymous.

“Living in the present, refreshes and renews your energy.” “Change happens only in the now, triggered by self-awareness.” “When we feel the connection to our simplicity of being, we have hope as well.” “It may be challenging to see ourselves as ageless beings that grow in wisdom and spiritual fulfillment in each passing moment, but living in the present enables us to literally stop time.” —Deepak Chopra

“Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.” —Mark Twain

“Listen to the signals or whispers, always to guide us.” —Oprah Winfrey

“If you are depressed, you are living in the past, if you are anxious, you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.” —Lao Tzu

“Learn to live with an attitude of gratitude.” —Sir John Templeton

These reflections on two of the main pillars of the French Country lifestyle regarding simplicity, and “living in the present” are what I have observed as an expat high school student living in Europe and my many trips to France as an adult. If you asked someone from St. Remy or Bonnieux, Provence, they might think otherwise, but I firmly believe the French Country lifestyle is firmly rooted in elevating simplicity to elegance, and the uncanny ability to live in the present effortlessly.

Do you love simplicity? Please share how you stay in the moment, and if wonderful things have happened to you.

Happy Domaine de Manion Grapes

This year has certainly been a time of reflection at Domaine de Manion. It seems like while the outside world has been ever changing and experiencing unchartered territories, our vineyard has been constant and steady doing what it likes best, growing a great Syrah grape for us!

We, being my husband John and I, first planted our vineyard in 2006, dropped the fruit the first two years, so 2020 will be our twelfth harvest. It promises to be a great harvest with a high yield, and gorgeous clusters that give us reason to smile. Some of the grapevines are yielding more than 25 grape clusters per vine. It is often said that the best fertilizer for a vineyard is the vineyard manager’s footsteps, and this year we have been in the vineyard even more following shelter in place.

In the beginning it was one big experiment. Whether we had a good location for a vineyard? Could we grow a good grape? Could we find vineyard experts to help us get started? Could we learn to manage a vineyard? Could we make good wine? All unknown.

We pushed through the unknowns, being ahead of the curve as far as backyard vineyards go. Now backyard vineyards are prolific in San Diego County with all of their great attributes: 1) four-season beauty and interest, 2) drought tolerant, 3) capability to make wine, 4) becomes a wonderful lifestyle, 5) attracts great people and friends domestically and internationally.

It is a lot of work, and time consuming at times, as farming is. Some years are better than others, and we learn something new each year with our vineyard. It is a constant reminder that life is unpredictable. For now this year, our grapes and harvest promise to be an especially great one.

I encourage all of you, if you have an idea, dream, or goal, go for it! Even if you hear a few naysayers, and especially if it something that sticks in your mind. Follow it, and don’t stop at the first “no.” You never know what fruit it will bear!

I heard distant rumblings about Sharon Santoni from her first book, My Stylish French Girlfriends, then she was featured in the May/June 2018 Victoria Magazine, sharing with us her just-released second book, My French Country Home, and her gracious taste in French country living in Normandy, France, and I was hooked. 

Sharon Santoni grew up in England, fell in love, married a Frenchman, raised their four children in a rural dream home and cultivated garden, and embraced her French life. Soon to be an empty nester, Santoni got the idea to start a blog, My French Country Home, sharing her daily life in rural France and all that it offers.

Fast forward, her blog is now read by thousands all over the world, two beautiful books under her belt, and an accidental entrepreneur with her quarterly subscription mail order Stylish French Box. From spark to fire, sometimes life is like that! She muses frequently  about reinventing oneself, lessons we can all learn from her.

If that is not enough, Santoni loves to troll nearby brocante flea markets for unique treasures for her home, garden, and entertaining. She is my kind of girlfriend!

Victoria Magazine, May/June 2018