"I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills." Karen von Blixen wrote that. Its the opening line for the movie and for the book. The movie is playing while I form and bake my fougasse. Karen was 28 when she went to Kenya. Maybe its natural that as I approach 60 I'm looking at my life and wondering what will I do, who will I be when I grow up? Am I finished with the challenges of becoming someone and doing something? Is the only challenge left to me that of figuring out how to gracefully watch others work through their challenges?
Sorry, Out of Africa makes me introspective. Don't we all have a little Karen von Blixen in us waiting to do something daring?
Yes the fougasse......I forgot that's why you're here. This weeks French Friday challenge was Provencal Olive Fougasse. Its delicious and I felt quite sophisticated in my own backyard! There I was sitting on the patio sipping my wine out of agrown up juice box pretty pink can with a straw, eating my home baked olive fougasse and brie. This is what spring evenings are made for!
The dough mixes up quite easily in the Kitchen-Aid. I was tempted to use canned olives but very happy I went with the $8.99 a pound oil cured variety from the deli. The olive flavor is quite pronounced. And quite delicious! The recipe calls for 4 cups all purpose flour but I used 1 cup of white, 2 cups white whole wheat and 1 cup of regular whole wheat. I love the rustic quality a bit of whole wheat gives bread dough.
I baked one fougasse and saved one to bake tomorrow for guests. This is the kind of bread you want to show off. The other French Friday cooks are sure to have some interesting things to say so check them out!
Sorry, Out of Africa makes me introspective. Don't we all have a little Karen von Blixen in us waiting to do something daring?
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| Provencal Olive Fougasse |
Yes the fougasse......I forgot that's why you're here. This weeks French Friday challenge was Provencal Olive Fougasse. Its delicious and I felt quite sophisticated in my own backyard! There I was sitting on the patio sipping my wine out of a
The dough mixes up quite easily in the Kitchen-Aid. I was tempted to use canned olives but very happy I went with the $8.99 a pound oil cured variety from the deli. The olive flavor is quite pronounced. And quite delicious! The recipe calls for 4 cups all purpose flour but I used 1 cup of white, 2 cups white whole wheat and 1 cup of regular whole wheat. I love the rustic quality a bit of whole wheat gives bread dough.
I baked one fougasse and saved one to bake tomorrow for guests. This is the kind of bread you want to show off. The other French Friday cooks are sure to have some interesting things to say so check them out!
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| Butterfly enjoying the coreopsis while enjoy my fougasse:) |
Guy and I love that movie! It never gets old.
ReplyDeleteI totally want to go buy cans of wine now! Do they really make them?! I'm going searching today. :P I bet brie was delicious witht he fougasse. I wish I had some now!
ReplyDeleteOh that looks delicious! Sitting on the back patio in spring is one our favorite things to do. Love the butterfly photo - gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLola...that looks delicious and eaten with olive and cheese ! I love it and shall be making it again . It is easy and doesnt need much kneading :) and just have to leave it overnight in the fridge and tada we can just make it in 30 minutes the next morning :)
ReplyDeleteLola...that looks delicious and eaten with olive and cheese ! I love it and shall be making it again . It is easy and doesnt need much kneading :) and just have to leave it overnight in the fridge and tada we can just make it in 30 minutes the next morning :)
ReplyDeleteOh! Awesome idea to mix in some whole wheat flour! I am so doing that next time :)
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of homemade bread. Your fougasse looks absolutely perfect.
ReplyDeleteTotally didn't know you could get wine in a can...
ReplyDeletePerfect patio food - especially with the cheese & olives!
Being introspective especially while forming a loaf of fougasse is a good thing, it happened to me while I was chopping onions for soup the other day!
ReplyDeleteWe loved this bread and will be making it again soon. I have to snap some pictures of flowers in my yard, you've inspired me with your lovely photo!
Great job with the bread, it is the perfect patio with wine food;-)
Nice! And I love Sofia wine... pretty pink can, straw and all! :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful post. I have the same thoughts. These days I'm enjoying my kitchen as a hobby...I used to cook for my big family because I had to...mostly enjoyed it, but sometimes got into ruts of cooking similar foods over and over. Now, the kitchen is a fun place and I have lots of tools and books and this group, etc...and sometimes I wish I could go back 30 years...just for the kitchen stuff. But I also think ahead 20 years and wonder if I'll be around to use all my acquired toys or if I am, will I be in good enough shape to still play with them...so maybe I should spend my resources,including time, on other things. Maybe I should work harder on who I'm supposed to become? I decided Heaven will need good bakers...how can we have eternal joy without lots of great food? Somebody will need to make it? Might as well be me! Anyway, your bread is beautiful and yes, I agree, that the flavor is wonderful. I'm sure your guests will enjoy it today too.
ReplyDeleteYour fougasse looks so delicious - the idea with the white whole wheat and regular whole wheat flour sounds so tempting that I will definitely follow your suggestion next time because I happen to enjoy really rustic bread as well and so does my husband. Great idea! Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteWine in a can? that's a new one for me. Sounds interesting. I haven't gotten use to the box yet. Hubby and I have brought back so many
ReplyDeletewines from France over the years, but then he saves them all. For what? I think Tricia and her hubby are going to have a rollicking good
time in the years to come. Just saying. Your bread looks great and both Tricia and I enjoyed this one.
Your fougasse looks delicious with the brie and the Sofia! I love those things!
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious. Happy to hear that this still works with some whole wheat flour mixed in. Might have to give that tip a try if I ever get around to making this one.
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing! I so enjoyed this one, too! I found I was eating it for lunch…and a little more for snack…and so on until it was gone! The brie was a great accompaniment for this! I really enjoyed this post! Happy Mother’s Day, Lola!
ReplyDeleteGuyla, I hope your second loaf of flatbread looks as good and tastes as delicious as your first. And, what is wrong with enjoying wine, bread, and song (I'm sure the birds were singing) on your patio. I liked the fact that you used whole wheat flour - it changed the color to making it even more rustic. I think I'll give that a go next time I make this. I also want to replace the olives with sundried tomatoes next time. Going to go a little more Italian with the French fougasse. Liked it also.
ReplyDeleteGuyla, Your fougasse looks delicious and I like the relaxing idea of your sitting on the patio with wine, bread and brie, and song (I'm sure the birds were chirping). Next time I make this bread (and, I really enjoyed the process as well as the result), I'm going to use a ratio of whole wheat flour also. I liked the color you got - made it even more rustic. Glad you enjoyed this week's recipe as much as I did.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Guyla! Time just got away from me this week, so I need to make this one up!
ReplyDeleteKneading and baking bread just lends itself to introspection. Your fougasse looks so pretty and I like your choice of pink can drink with this. :)
ReplyDeleteI used some wheat flour as well, and I agree that it made it all the more rustic!
ReplyDeleteI loved that movie and book, Guyla! I think I've had a Karen Blixen fantasy for over 25 years, since the movie came out. Or maybe it's also fueled by a bit of Robert Redford fantasy. No big daring moves though. I always think, later. You sum up the fougasse perfectly, perfect to accompany the cheese and wine and dreaming. I used half white whole wheat and half all-purpose flour and loved the rustic color. Can't wait to make this again. Happy dreaming!
ReplyDeleteYour bread is definitely show-off worthy!
ReplyDeleteI bet it really tasted good with the brie!
ReplyDeleteOh, what a wonderful story about your mom's birthday. And I want more fougasse so I can it it with brie :)
ReplyDeleteYour bread looks great! I often have the "dinner" you described.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen the movie, I'm going to have to add it to my list. Your bread looks excellent. I added some whole grain flour too, it does add a nice flavor.
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