If you read this blog regularly then you'll remember that Sunday is often a day when I show my 'loot shoot', and tell you about the goodies I found in the fairs during the week.
You'll also know that until March this is the empty season for the fairs. But this morning, when I stopped off at an antique dealer on the way back from the farmer's market, I found something rather special that I just had to show you!
As I walked through the door of the shop, the dealer who is a good friend, turned around and " ah, I was hoping you'd stop by today. I found something in the back of a cupboard that I think you'll like!" How sweet is that!
He went to the back of the shop and emerged holding a few pieces of yellow paper, folded in half and covered in beautiful old handwriting. I quite often find old documents, in particular papers from notary offices, or other legal documents, and I thought he was showing me the deeds to a house or papers about a bank loan.
But when I took a closer look, I had a lovely surprise. These old pages are covered with recipes for traditional French cakes and patisseries. There is no date, but from the paper and handwriting I'd guess they are turn of the century - either late 1800's or early 1900's.
The recipes are succinct, written by someone who knew her stuff, to be read by another equally knowledgeable person. I'm wondering whether they were notes from the lady of the house to her cook, or from a mother to her daughter in law. There are notes explaining lemon tarts, almond creams, meringues and brioches..... No weights, measurements or temperatures, simple indications such as "a hot oven", a large bowl of sugar ....
A little thing to brighten my day and set me wondering. Don't you love it when an unexpected object sets you off dreaming!
Hope you're enjoying a lovely weekend ....
no doubt writing your list of good resolutions?!
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