Remembering Normandy

Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of D Day and the world's media was focussed on the Normandy beaches and what went on there 70 years ago.

Everyone had a story to tell- family members caught up in the conflict- in one capacity or another. My own family was no exception, with my grandfather there in his cargo boat, carrying fuel to the American landing craft. It was incredibly dangerous work- and the risks taken by our merchant seamen should not be forgotten.




It was not until 2000 however that the Merchant Navy Association was allowed to march with their Service comrades past the cenotaph on Rememberance Sunday. An injustice which was righted - but a little belatedly.

Normandy has been on my mind for other reasons too: the first week in June was when I spent my honeymoon in Normandy, gorging on cream sauces, seafood and apple liqueurs - and 32 years later my husband is just returning from a week long cycle tour of Normandy, so I look forward to many Calvados-soaked stories of his adventures.

A very young Leftover Liz in Dieppe market 1982

I thought I would put together a selection of Normandy inspired recipes on the blog this week, to commemorate all of these things.

First I made some unusual savoury muffins using black pudding, apples and cider. They are very rich but would make good picnic food or a starter with green salad.

Ingredients:
100g self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
50 g grated cheese
75g of black pudding (I like Clonakilty as it is crumbly)
2 apples
1/2 cup each of cider and olive oil
salt and pepper
a splash of milk if needed

1. Fry the black pudding and cool it down in order to crumble it coarsely
2. Peel the apples, slice one into small pieces and grate the other.
3. Fry them in the pan too.
4. Put the flour, baking powder, grated cheese, salt and pepper in the bowl and mix well.
5. Beat in the eggs, black pudding and apple
6. Add the oil and cider and mix until the batter is spoonable. Loosen it up with a bit of milk if needed.
7. Spoon into muffin cases and bake at 180 degrees for 20 minutes or so until risen and golden.

Apple and Black Pudding muffins

Next I made a blanquette de veau : veal in a cream sauce.

You will need:

2-300 g of veal (cubed)
2 sticks of celery
3 carrots
1 onion (chopped)
1 clove of garlic (minced)
1 glass of dry white wine
250 ml of vegetable stock
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon of cream

1. Fry the veal lightly until it has changed colour but not browned very much
2. Place it in a casserole dish then lightly fry the onion, garlic, celery and carrot and add to the casserole
3. Deglaze the pan with the white wine and pour over the meat and veg
4. Top up the casserole dish with vegetable stock, season and add the bay leaves.
5. Stew (either in the slow cooker for 4 hours)or a moderate oven for 1 1/2-2 hoursuntil the meat is tender.
6. Allow to cool slightly before stirring in the cream.

Blanquette de veau

Cream sauces feature heavily in Normandy cuisine. Here are a few more from the blog:

Chicken Printanier and Pork in Mustard and Cream sauce.

Pork with Mustard and Cream Sauce
http://lizsleftovers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/saucy.html

Chicken Printanier
http://lizsleftovers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/week-23-pick-your-own.html

Seafood is however what I love to eat, when on the Normandy coast. I would eat mussels forever- and gave over a whole blogpost to them:

Moules marinieres
http://lizsleftovers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/mouclade-and-other-shellfish-dishes.html

As a change though, here is a clam dish which I also love: Linguine with Clams
This dish has become a storecupboard standby for me since Waitrose have started stocking vacuum packed clams in the freezer aisle. Lovely if you use fresh ones too.

1 pack of clams
1 onion finely chopped
1 clove of garlic - minced
1 carton of chopped tomatoes with chilli
linguine

1.Boil a pot of water and put the linguine on to cook.
2. Meanwhile, fry the onion and garlic in a deep saucepan until translucent.
3. Pour in the clams wth their juice
4. Heat through until bubbling and add the chopped tomatoes and continue to heat.
5. Drain the linguine, pour into a big warm bowl and add the tomato-clam mixture
6. Toss together and serve immediately.

Linguine with clams

Finally- to finish off - Normandy apple tart.

This is a sweet shortcrust tart, baked blind first. Then spoon apple compote onto the base.
Finely slice 3-4 dessert apples and quickly fry them in butter.
Allow to cool, then arrange on top of the tart in neatly overlapping circles.
Brush either with more melted butter or a glaze of apricot jam.

Bake at 180 degrees until the apples are golden on top.

Normandy Apple Tart

Perfect with a glass of cider or Calvados!