Stories Collected While Living in France
Sunday morning, stringing green beans around the kitchen table. The simple act of being together, talking about nothing, sitting in our P.J.s, stringing green beans from the local market, and preparing lunch while still having breakfast.
That is what I love best about being a family… the daily simplicity of not having to do anything but living together easily.
TRUE !!!
This reminds me of my childhood, when we (grandma, cousins…) podded peas or sorted out lentils around the table …
My children used to love it too, just like playing a family game !
Good memories, thank you !
I’d give anything to sit around the table with my family like this….or a rainy day for that matter.
Sounds so good to me. Happy Sunday, Corey.
One reason I always plant peas in the veggie garden is memories. Mom and I sitting on our front porch, shelling peas and singing or chatting. Our dog at my feet, Mom’s cup of coffee by her side and the two big red Pyrex bowls-one for the shells, one for the peas. Just like with berry picking, not every pea made it to the bowl 🙂
I bet the haricots verts were très delicieux!
This time of year if we have extra green beans from the garden, we steam a double batch, then marinate the leftovers in a glass or ceramic container thus:
oil/vinegar (or lemon juice) (3:1 ratio)
1-2 cloves of chopped raw garlic (go easy, I learned the hard way!)
S&P to taste
Mix marinade. Place beans in container, pour marinade over them, toss gently, cover, then refrigerate 16-24 hours (for tomorrow, typically). This works well with chopped cooked Swiss chard (or other vegetables as well, e.g., sliced boiled potatoes (with lots of chopped fresh flat parsley, too), or broccoli if you like it).
It makes for a different type of cold salad when beastly hot temperatures are forecast for the next day, when you wouldn’t want to run the stove.
P.S.: Corey, I imagine you’d want to sprinkle some of your dried Provençal herbs over the marinated veggies!
Please do share what you made with those green beans. I happen to have an abundance of them at the moment, and could use some new ideas. I’ve got Japanese style with sesame, stir fry, Indian curry spice, and marinade recipes. How do you eat them in France?
This is the perfect thing about family. Treasure yours dearly, it is so special.
love your blog…found it today through Stampington. We are the same age…I was in Angers in Dec. visiting my daughter who was doing a semester in France. She just graduated this spring with a French/International Studies double major. I am an assemblage artist that loves old flea market finds. I have yet to go to a French Flea Market but it is on my list to do someday!
I also LOVE time together like that!
Do I spy a new kitchen table? 😉
Lovely post! I remember stringing the beans at my grandparents home, it was always busy with needful things…such love in the labor!
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