03 November 2011

Fabulous feasts

The other day I was doing some reading in a cookbook called Mexican Everyday (2005), written by Rick Bayless, a Chicago chef and author. I like what he says in his introduction. Here's a quote:
“The world's most time-honored cuisines illustrate that: (1) everyday eating is best kept to deliciously seasoned simple preparations of natural ingredients (mostly unrefined and balanced among a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and meat) served in moderate portions, [...]
One of our recent “fabulous feasts” was savoy cabbage,
carrots, turnips, and potatoes...

    and (2) fabulous feasts — once a week, or, for special occasions, more often — are an essential part of our healthy nourishment.”
...served with pork belly, saucisses de Strasbourg,
and saucisses de Montbéliard.

[...] “cuisines that have healthily nourished generation after generation have a pretty brilliant — but basic — way of putting essential foods together in the right proportions for everyday eating. Call it their foundation dishes. Yet those same cuisines also realize that feasting is essential for a culture's aesthetic development, encouraging cooks to reach for new culinary heights.”
We didn't eat it all at one sitting, of course.

As Bayless says, “A feast can make our spirits soar for days, while our bodies are regenerating themselves on everyday fare.”

Morning...

...and afternoon.
Those are wind speeds in kilometers per hour on the maps.

I think I need to come up with a feast for today's midday meal. Look at the weather report. It's already raining here. Does this qualify as a special occasion? Let's see... broccoli? rice? chicken wings? Got it.

10 comments:

  1. We watch the same weather report :)
    A rainy day is a perfect day for a feast, for sure.

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  2. Are you really getting heavy rains in Provence, Meredith? The weather reports make it sound that way.

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  3. I love seeing your tv weather news. Guess I'm pretty happy chez moi today since the sun is shining. Our time falls back this weekend.

    Those sausages might be good with that extra HOT mustard from Normandy. I hope you are feeling better today.

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  4. I've been enjoying your entries on the trip to Champagne with Walt and Cheryl (of Champaign-Urbana days) and now your fall-preparing-for-winter entries. The food pieces have been great as well, and I'm especially envious of the wonderful comfort food in today's post.

    Too bad about your cold and Walt's issues, too, but I'm hoping you're both on the mend as we head into the shorter days of November & December. We leave daylight savings time this coming Sunday, and I'm not looking forward to driving home in the dark for the next 3 months.

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  5. Doesn't every day qualify as a special occasion if you make it so? That little feast looks incredible.

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  6. I love any dish made with sausages.

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  7. Those platters definitely look like healthy eating to me! Also, the type of food I like to eat on cold, rainy or windy days!

    Mary in Oregon

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  8. That feast looks delish !! Definitley good to cheer you up when you have a cold. I do hope you feel better soon.

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