I’ve been on one of my periodic murder-mystery splurges, with a couple mysteries this month that take place in France.
Books about France should never be read on an empty stomach — there is always wonderful food.
The author of The Crowded Grave actually went overboard, I thought, stopping urgent action to prepare elaborate meals. I think The Bookseller mystery will maintain a better balance. So far the hero has only had pastries and lovely coffees on route to something actually related to the story.
Thinking about France makes me want to point out a website where my friend Ronnie Hess blogs, My French Life. Ronnie lived in France for years working for CBS and more recently wrote a guidebook called Eat Smart in France that taps her her deep knowledge of French food.
Ronnie was already a fine cook as a teenager, when I recall making a Scripture cake at her house:
- 3/4 cup Genesis 18:8
- 1 1/2 cup Jeremiah 6:20
- 5 Isaiah 10:14 (separated)
- 3 cups sifted Leviticus 24:5
- 3 teaspoons 2 Kings 2:20
- 3 teaspoons Amos 4:5
- 1 teaspoon Exodus 30:23
- 1/4 teaspoon each 2 Chronicles 9:9
- 1/2 cup Judges 4:19
- 3/4 chopped Genesis 43:11
- 3/4 cup finely cut Jeremiah 24:5
- 3/4 cup 2 Samuel 16:1
- Whole Genesis 43:11
Her mother helped us think through what was meant by leavening and certain more arcane references.
Do check out Ronnie at My French Life, here.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 