Monday, February 24, 2014

Pain Du Jour~









Happy to have found  a clay baker..not unlike Henrietta..but better suited shape wise for baking bread..I made the dough in my bread machine and baked it in the oven..having pre-heated the baker as in the no-knead way..it came out with a beautiful crunchy crust and tender interior..
The pot was love at first site..the back says Roman Pot..
My bunch of tulips has given me great joy..in all their poses:)
And we tasted some of Jacques' cured meats..
Regular cured pork..Bresaola..and Lonzino..  the bresaola drizzled with a good olive oil..and sprinkled with Meyer Lemon juice..is my favorite I think..He's still got  a lot of items ..in the cold room strung up like a master curer..
I guess his love of this comes from his dad owning a small city grocery store when he was growing up and the dad being the butcher..
In winter..Jacques delivered the groceries by sleigh..and in summer by bicycle..he worked very hard..yet there is always a smile when he talks about growing up and helping out.
He has records of the days of curing and moisture degrees..and salting  and marinades and spices..
I think that's the chemical enginner part of him.
La dégustation..is wonderful..on bread such as up above..alone.. or on crackers..a treat:)
I love that he loves doing these things~


Thanks as always to The Graphics Fairy for the envelope stamp I used .♥

39 comments:

  1. Love Jacque's story of deliveries on a sled. You should take photos of the meat curing and write a post on how he does it. Jerry always thinks a butcher should be your best friend. He comments on well marbled meat that it is beautiful. The bread is beautiful. And I love your tulip photos, especially the last one.

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    1. Hi Terry..
      I did do posts in the past..for these it is quite similar..as the prosciutto.
      http://latabledenana.blogspot.ca/2010/03/its-ready.html

      http://latabledenana.blogspot.ca/2010/01/prosciutto-and-sausage.html

      http://latabledenana.blogspot.ca/2010/01/my-husbands-prosciutto.html

      Thanks Terry..hope your celebration was FUN:)

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    2. Off to read them all. I think my son in law might like to do this. I have a portion of my cellar that I am thinking might work. So glad I am not working and I am getting to do some fun things that always had to be put off. Agree? It was a fun celebration just like yours seemed to be.

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    3. Agree..I thought I would miss work.
      IDONT:)

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  2. Lovely week darling......love Ria...x !

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  3. What a beautiful post this morning! I love your photographs, and the clay baker is perfect!

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  4. The tulips look so beautiful, it is fun to watch them in all their stages of life, they change so much. Cured meat and bread baked in a clay oven, YUM!

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  5. beautiful pain and beautiful post Monique!!! xxx

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  6. Such treats for the senses, along with your stories. thank you!!

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  7. Oh my! I'd love to join you in a sampling of the cured meats. Accompanied by a glass of wine and a thick slice of bread.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  8. Oh, for a slice of that crusty bread this morning. My "chef" used to bake fresh bread for us on a regular schedule. Those days are no more. Better for our waist line. '-) But I do miss the aroma of fresh baked bread.
    Beautiful images as always, M.

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  9. Your clay baker is a wonderful find! I love a good crusty bread. Perfect to pair with that delicious cured meat.

    So interesting to know this little glimpse into J's family. Just another interesting coincidence - my J's father owned a store too :).

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    1. See..I never knew that:-)
      Welcome back:-) Welcome back:-)

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  10. How fun to have a husband that cures his own meat. I bet it's such a treat! Love you clay baker, that was such a "find" and the bread looks just like it came from a fancy boulangerie :)

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  11. Monique, nothing could be better than your homemade bread and Jacques cured meat. Our friend in the Sault, her husband made his own salami and it was amazing. How nice to have a cold room with your owned variety of cured meat.

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  12. The clay pot is very beautiful and rustic, I would buy it too.-) I hope you will bake many crunchy breads in your pot.

    Hugs,
    Yelena

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  13. A clay pot would be awesome for baking bread. I wish I still had mine. It has been gone for a number of years.

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  14. Love this story of J's deliveries on a sled ;o) The bread baker is beautiful, as are the tulip photos. Spring is just around the corner!

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  15. Like the others, I really enjoyed Jacques' stores of deliveries and working with his dad. I would love to know more about his process of curing meats. I'm not much of a baker, but your bread looks wonderful and I would have never thought of making it in a clay baker. What a great idea.

    Your colorful tulips really brightened my morning. Life is good.
    Sam

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  16. Ever gorgeous!
    And did youndo the script handwriting? So pretty too.

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    1. The Script is from The Graphics Fairy..under the Banner French Typography.
      In Pic Monkey or Photoshop..you add the typography as a textture by reducing the opacity..
      Pic Monkey.. anyone can have it is on the net:)

      Thanks Carol..but I can't take credit for the script:)

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  17. Have a great week everyone..
    That clay baker was something I couldn't resist..The price was $6.00 :)
    Sometimes.. we do get lucky in the bakeware..cookware dept:)

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  18. Home cured meats must be a very special treat. And what a lovely story about Jacques delivering groceries in the snow.I had to smile at your comment about record keeping. I know how an engineer's mind works too.

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  19. Superbes photos, comme toujours ~
    Passez une bonne fin d'après-midi

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  20. Such a beautiful post! I love the tulips, the bread and baker, and those meats are so intriguing!
    I would love to taste them....the color of your lemons are gorgeous! Like sunshine!
    Bisous xo

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    1. Gotta love Costco and Meyers when you live in QC..they certainly aren't falling off the trees here:)
      You are pretty sunshiney yourself:)

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  21. Oh, a thick slice of that bread would be perfect right now! It and the meats are wonderful things! I need to dig out my clay baker soon!

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  22. Gorgeous tulips that are never ending Monique...beautiful
    That cured meat and crusty bread look so comforting right now xx
    A post from your heart most definately.

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    1. It must be lovely at your home right now..we're having a blustery winter's day..still all white here for the next several weeks..
      Hope your day was grand.. :)

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  23. All of your photos are so beautiful Monique. I love that bread and J's meats look fabulous. I loved reading about his childhood too. I could not help but smile. It reminded me so much of my visits with my grandfather. He cured his own hams and bacon, and made his own sauerkraut. My sister makes her own kraut now too. I am planning on making some myself soon, as well as salting some beef. We'll see how that turns out! Much love to you! The sun is shining here today! Hooray! xxoo

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    1. I quite love sauerkraut..My favorite sandwich going to a little pub was Reuben:)
      I always ate the same thing..i should have it again soon..it must be 25 yrs at least..
      Seems like yesterday marie..
      Looking forward to hearing about your salting beef endeavours!
      I am sure it will be great.
      Thanks for all the great recipes you share Marie..
      Having your raspberry bars today and your Korean Beef:)

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  24. Oh, how lovely! The meats look amazing - tell Jacques I am impressed, and I will read your posts on his curing. I think his "hobby" is perfect ! And your clay baker reminded me of one I had at a time when it was very popular in the US, and disappeared (or probably broke) many years ago. And you and I both have tulips today! A blustery north wind and ice, ice, ice everywhere underfoot.

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  25. Beautiful tulips and mouthwatering bread! The meats looks delicious too....

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  26. Some nice shots.

    Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

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  27. Amazing photos. The tulips are so beautiful and the bread is my husband's downfall.

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  28. What a wonderful pan for the bread. I know, it is nice to have a slightly more oblong pan for the loaves. You always have such pretty pictures - can't wait for my tulips to come up. It has been warm but snow is coming again - it will confuse all the trees and the flowers.

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  29. I had a friend who made sausages and other cured meats but he would never share his recipes. Your tulips are lovely, they remind me of a sunny day.

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