Asperges, fraises, jambon, et une brioche

Last Saturday, Walt went to the open-air market in Saint-Aignan, which is back in business but in a larger space where vendors and shoppers can spread out and respect the coronavirus distanciation guidelines. He said there were a good number of shoppers, spaced out (as it were...), and all the regular vendors were present too. He found our asparagus and strawberry grower's stand, where he bought a kilogram of white asparagus and two trays of fine Charlotte strawbabies. We had strawberry shortcake for dessert on Saturday and Sunday.

As our main course on Sunday, Walt made one of his classic ham and asparagus tarts. He bought ham from a charcutier's stand at the market, and it really was quite tasty — better than the supermarket equivalent. The tart is what the pictures here show, and here's a link to a description Walt posted years ago to explain how he makes it.

The weather here is very warm, sunny, and dry right now. I did some more tilling in the vegetable garden on Monday, after Walt pulled up the tarp that protected part of the plot over the winter. I'll do one more tilling today and we'll start setting out the tomato, squash, and pumpkin seedlings Walt has been growing in the greenhouse for a month or more now.

I ordered groceries from Super U on Monday and went to pick them up yesterday. I got yeast! It's just one package — six little sachets — but that will go a long way. Walt is going to make pizza crust this evening, let it rise overnight, and then make pizzas for lunch tomorrow.

First, I put diesel fuel in the Peugeot. That's something I have to do once every two or three months. I was the only person refueling my car at Super U, which has 6 or 8 pumps. I had my gloves on. Then I got my groceries — broccoli, steak, a chicken, mushrooms, potatoes, Brie and Comté cheeses, ham, Ricotta, fruit juice, and wine. I had ordered some baking powder, but it was en rupture (out of stock). Chicken wings and pot au feu beef were en rupture as well. Tant pis. We're in good shape for a week or so.

Then I went to our village bakery, where I bought two baguettes, two round boules blanches, a brioche au miel (honey), two strawberry tartelettes like the ones we had last week, and deux parts de flan (two wedges of French-style custard pie). Only one customer entered the shop at a time. Others waited their turn outside (spaced out...). I spent 20 euros at the bakery. Most of it was for the little tarts (nine euros) and the brioche (six euros... photo below). Paiement sans contact, bien sûr.

Here's my new mantra, in rhyme:

« J’ai mon masque, j’ai mes gants,

J’ai mon gel désinfectant...

Me voilà un homme content. »