Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

The Farmer’s Daughter’s Guys.

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"Mom, you won’t believe what we have been eating since you aren’t here cooking!" The tone in Sacha’s voice sounded far too thrilled for me to be concerned. Nevertheless I responded with a doubtful voice, "I cannot imagine it to be anything spectacular given that you two knuckleheads don’t cook. What are you eating these days?"

"Dad and I are on a white diet you might say."

With that I knew in a heartbeat that French cooking has been reduced to: Pasta, eggs, milk, baguettes, cheese, plain yogurt, garlic, rice, crepes, oatmeal….

Oh and don’t forget peeled apples.

photo: 18th century French engraving.

Comments

45 responses to “The Farmer’s Daughter’s Guys.”

  1. Donna O.

    Checking in on you, Corey. You ‘sound’ good tonight. Warm thoughts to you and your dad as always.
    XO
    D.

    Reply
  2. Valerie

    Your post made me smile…white diet doesn’t sound too bad! thinking of you,
    Valerie

    Reply
  3. stephanie s

    yes, it is good to hear you smile….
    i guess a white diet wouldn’t be white if they didn’t peel the apples… at least it is a little concession to balancing things out a bit.

    Reply
  4. Travelingmama

    Sounds like my husband when I’m away. He can barely make pasta!

    Reply
  5. Caffienated Cowgirl

    Oh, don’t fret…it could be worse. When I was little, my mom and I went on a trip without my dad and brothers. Upon calling home to check in, they confessed to driving into our little town and cleaning the small store out of frozen dinners. See, white isn’t so bad afterall 🙂

    Reply
  6. Marie-Noëlle

    Their white diet could be a sportive one…
    My (sportive) son would not mind living on it.
    He would probably add a little cream on his pasta in the winter time (when our herb corner is very poor)…
    (And he would certainly add meat or fish – There are some white ones for him to match the diet…)
    What about “flans” – or white “crèmes” and “mousses”, or “gâteaux de riz” … coconut?
    Sacha:
    Did you learn how to make “gâteau au yaourt” when at nursery school?
    The easiest cake to bake… all white ingredients… you would keep the white colour on !

    Reply
  7. Jeanne

    God bless you and all your darling loved ones both near and far.
    I love to hear everything~
    Love you.
    Luck of the Irish today for St. Patrick’s Day
    What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. —Martin Luther
    An Irish Prayer
    May God give you…
    For every storm, a rainbow,
    For every tear, a smile,
    For every care, a promise,
    And a blessing in each trial.
    For every problem life sends,
    A faithful friend to share,
    For every sigh, a sweet song,
    And an answer for each prayer.

    Reply
  8. Julie Ann

    Good for not staining their teeth at least ! jx

    Reply
  9. Mimi

    Now don’t worry mom, they can eat out once in a while..to get a balanced meal…meanwhile they seem to enjoy all the white items…so relax and do not worry..The same God that is watching over you as you are with your Dad…is watching over them at home!!!

    Reply
  10. French Husband

    Menu last night : Home made salmon quiche with zucchinis, tomatos and oignons… and Sacha liked it !
    FH

    Reply
  11. My Melange

    Very Funny!! Seems like French Husband is quite the good cook, though. I think I would have liked the dinner that he made 😉 You don’t want them to be too well taken care of….they should miss your cookin after all 😉

    Reply
  12. Beverly

    Too cute!
    (Did you tell them to eat something green?)

    Reply
  13. Edi

    A white diet – sounds pretty boring…perhaps it will make them all the more appreciative of your cooking when you get back.
    I’m not quite sure what my dh would cook up if I was gone for an extended time and I hadn’t prepared anything in the freezer ahead of time.
    I’d see chili…spaghetti and tacos. Hmmmm sounds like a messy red diet.

    Reply
  14. Dee

    Can you believe what family will do for food when the cook is away!?!
    At least you know they need you!
    That quiche sounds really good though.

    Reply
  15. ~Kim

    Oh, that’s funny! Those guys will be so glad when you come back and make all the yummy foods they are missing right now!

    Reply
  16. marcie

    There is nothing like “Mothers Meals”. That’s nice that FH has commented, and is cooking. It would be fast food here, and hotdogs by microwave…men….gotta love em!
    You are all in my prayers Corey.

    Reply
  17. Gail

    Dear Corey,
    I love it! Knuckle heads! I hear the love in your voice. God bless you all.
    xoxo
    Gail

    Reply
  18. Miss Sandy

    Corey,
    They will survive on white food, but FH’s meal sounds delicious.
    An Old Irish Blessing
    May love and laughter light your days,
    and warm your heart and home.
    May good and faithful friends be yours,
    wherever you may roam.
    May peace and plenty bless your world
    with joy that long endures.
    May all life’s passing seasons
    bring the best to you and yours!
    A blessed St. Patrick’s Day to you Corey.

    Reply
  19. Mo’a

    White diet sounds good to me…in fact I crave it. I am on a diet that almost all white food has been eliminated including apples…for health reasons…gluten and lactose intolerant…long story and ever so boring.
    French Husbands quiche sound delicious…and he makes crepes.
    That being said, I am sure they miss you a lot and not only your cooking.

    Reply
  20. mread

    What a wonderous blog you have created and what a boon. I lived in the France Comte region for 2 years and now that I am back in the U.S. miss so many things about it. I am reminded of so many memories when I look at your prose and pictures. I have been struggling with my journal about memories of France for the past year and believe your work will be a great help to me in jogging my memory to complete my journal. I took my prized Pentax and a huge case of filters lenses and other camera accoutrements with me to record my explorations through the regions of France, Switzerland, Germany, and also Tunisia, unfortunately investigations by European customs irretrievably scrambled the digital brain of my SLR and few photos came out. I too loved perusing the brocantes and flea markets for a view into French life. Do you know the name of the cooking show and host who is a little man with gray hair and steel rimmed glasses who comes on weekdays there? When he really likes what his guest hosts are cooking he always raises his eyebrows and peers intently into the camera lens. He covers alot of stories about cuisine du patrimonie. Best wishes for continued success with your forays.

    Reply
  21. Rosemary

    It could be good for awhile Corey!
    I’m sure they miss you and your cooking.
    Thinking of you,
    Rosemary

    Reply
  22. Teresa

    The “white” diet is my favorite! Wishing and praying your day is a blessed one for you and your family.
    Teresa
    xo

    Reply
  23. martina

    If they like the white diet, they’d love church basement summmers. I read a book ages ago called something like Scandinavian Humor and other Myths. Comment was anything was okay to serve at a Lutheran church basement supper so long as it was white. Been to enough to know that is partially true!

    Reply
  24. Alina

    What,no bananas? Sounds like my kind of diet.

    Reply
  25. beachy

    Sounds like a lovely diet to me! I continue to send my prayers to you and your dear family. =)

    Reply
  26. meredith

    Ah, I see that french husband has riposted in his own defense. I am sure that a lot of color goes out of the menu when I’m not around, too.

    Reply
  27. clarice

    Yeah my hubby wold be living on eggs and pasta xoxoxo Clarice

    Reply
  28. Colette

    At least they’re getting lots of calcium!!!
    xoxo

    Reply
  29. marybeth

    well.. at least it is not MCDONALDS and PIZZA
    An Old Celtic Blessing
    May the blessing of light be on you—
    light without and light within.
    May the blessed sunlight shine on you
    and warm your heart
    till it glows like a great peat fire
    An Old Celtic Blessing
    May the blessing of light be on you—
    light without and light within.
    May the blessed sunlight shine on you
    and warm your heart
    till it glows like a great peat fire
    holding all of you in prayer
    xx

    Reply
  30. stephanie

    Checking in here and see that your humor is in tact…all white food! love it!

    Reply
  31. Carolyn

    I check in on your journey every day but don;t always leave you a comment to read. The wonderful thing in all this is the love and unconditional support by FH to understand and appreciate your time with your Dad now. Strong marriages survive these sorts of things as well all marriage should be able to and some just aren’t made of the right consistency of mortar to hold it all together. Its so good you don’t have to give that a thought as you are where you want and need to be. I loved FH’s little insertion of comment Menu last night. Made me amile. He’s got it going on afterall in the meal dept. when my father was dying my husband understood and appreciated also that my life was surrounded by a love I needed to see through until the end came of earthly life, and our marriage was only made stronger by his understanding where I needed to be and why…I will always look at it as a gift of time he gave me with my Dad, a gift of time I had with my Dad, and a gift of time that I don’t regret one minute of spending or giving to myself. God Bless you all real good!much love

    Reply
  32. mary ann

    xoxoxoxo corey!
    thinking of you, your dad & your family (both here & at home)…
    wishing you strength, courage & faith.

    Reply
  33. Cre8Tiva

    good thoughts are still coming even thru my trying times…i have missed so much lately…thank you for being so supportive…hugs and happy st. paddy’s day…rebecca

    Reply
  34. Tammy

    At least you know you are missed and needed. They will survive. Wishing you much love and prayers.

    Reply
  35. Di Overton

    Ah it’s nice to know that us women bring colour into our men’s lives. Love to you all.

    Reply
  36. Betty

    Corey,
    Just to let you know that you, your Dad and family are in my thoughts frequently…..
    I thoroughly enjoyed the Victoria story…..your home is lovely…..
    Happy St. Patrick’s Day ……Betty

    Reply
  37. tut-tut

    I’m hoping the tone of this post means things are looking up?

    Reply
  38. Pat

    Hello Corey, just checking in to see how you all are doing.
    Unfortunately…the white diet is one of my favorites!! Ah well.
    I continue to think of your dad and you and your family, daily.
    Pat

    Reply
  39. cheeky

    Too funny! I was feeling all alone in that my husband doesn’t cook. I’m glad to know FH doesn’t either. Although my boys would be going out for take-aways, and that’s even worse than the white diet! Yikes.
    Thinking of you Corey and hoping you and your family are fairing well.
    xo

    Reply
  40. blueVicar

    Happyy St. Patrick’s Day, dear Corey. Thinking of you and your family…glad you can be there even if it does mean a “white diet” for those back in France. It won’t hurt them…
    Meilleurs voeux!!

    Reply
  41. Lea

    I can just imagine the two of them…
    But Yann, I bet the kitchen is spotlessly clean????

    Reply
  42. Marva Plummer-Bruno

    This must be terribly hard for you, the health of your father and I’m sure you’re missing your family terribly. You’re in my thoughts and prayers…. Marva

    Reply
  43. susanna

    *grin* Leave it to boys to fend for themselves in the kitchen with a strand of spaghetti and a bagette! My husband and I have a joke that he makes the best 3 minute dinners (that is, anything that can be unwrapped and microwaved in 3 minutes!).

    Reply
  44. Morgan Carney

    Hello Corey,
    My mom and I were sitting here reading your lastest blogs. We wanted you and the family to know that we are thinking of you all and are in our prayers. Hang in there!
    Alma & Morgan

    Reply
  45. Sue McG

    Ha ha, my own son is on an endless ‘white diet’ – it’s a running joke in our family 🙂 Summer is coming, and with it the tomatoes, asparagus, peas, courgettes, beans, peppers, herbs – I know you’ll make up for lost time when you get home, in the interim rest assured those boys will survive on their ‘white diet’ just fine.

    Reply

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