Hello,
One of the lovely things about living here is that friends
and neighbours always generously share the fruits of their gardens when they
have a glut.
I was delighted therefore, when my friend called up to let
me know she’d left some fruit on my doorstep… and what a fruit it
was! This is an enormous 6 ½ kg melon d’Espagne. It is a late harvest melon and although
common in the Gironde is relatively unknown in the rest of the world. ‘You make jam’ was the only clue I had.
Frantic internet research followed and it’s true, the only
real use for this melon (also known as pie melon or jam melon) is indeed
jam! The inside is reminiscent of a watermelon
in smell, though the texture is denser and the colour quite different.
I have spent the day preparing the melon for jam making
tomorrow. Almost all the recipes
recommend leaving the fruit and the sugar together overnight before
boiling. I shall keep you posted on the results. Meanwhile, I have a huge amount of seed taken
from the flesh, so if you’d like some to grow your own melons d’Espagne send me
an email with your address and I’ll post you some. (see below for updates)
Whatever you do, visit or make this week in the Gironde and
Dordogne regions, have a great week.
Best wishes,
Helen
Week 5 2015
Monday 26 January
Tuesday 27 January
Wednesday 28 January
28 January : Weekly Pool Competition at la Cave des Chevaliers, Villefranche de Longchat. For more information call 05 57 19 10 78
28 January 21h45 : The
Imitation Game is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.
Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan
Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his
brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain's top-secret Government Code and
Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightly
and Matthew Goode.
Thursday 29 January
29 January 19h45 : The
Imitation Game is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.
Friday 30 January
30 January 13h45 : The
Imitation Game is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.
30 January : Weekly Quiz night at the Gensake in
Gensac. We're getting ready for FRIDAY!! Get swatting ladies and gentlemen. We
will have new teams and some stiff competition taking part in this Pub
Quiz Challenge. Our Bamber Gascoigne of the week is Phil Bussell, so
perhaps we'll have a few questions about Oz thrown in the bag..... errr
can you name the Australian Prime Minister? Heads down, pens at the
ready, a pint of beer and a curry with an onion bahji PLEASE!
Call ahead to reserve a table
and book your supper – homemade curry or fish’n’chips 05 57 47 41 04
Call ahead to reserve a table
and book your supper – homemade curry or fish’n’chips 05 57 47 41 04
Saturday 31 January
31 January : The
Theatre Family day is offering a selection of dates in MOuliets et Villemartin. Follow the link to show when you would be
interested.
31 January 21h :
Comic theatre at the Salle Leo Drouyn in Pujols. Entrance €5
31 January 20h :
The 2nd Edition of Match D’Improvisation
Theatrale organised BY Amicale Laique in La Reole. Entrance €5
31 January – 1 February
: Orchid Exhibition at the Salle Polyvalent in Ste Foy la Grande. If you like all things orchid related, then
this is the place for you. The varieties
of Orchid is amazing.
Sunday 1 February
1 February: The
Brocante at Place Cayla et place de la Mirpe in
Bergerac. I think this is held on the
first Sunday of each month.
1 February : Bourse au vêtements et Vide Poussette in Pujols.
1 February : Weekly flea market in
Rauzan. Still no proper restaurant, but
you can get soups and snacks and oysters and wine and there is a regular
organic produce stall just by the entrance.
1 February 15h30 : New Year concert given
by the Orchestres d’Harmonie du Pays Castillonais et du Pays de Bergerac at the
Centre Cultural, Castillon
1 February 15h30 : Le Choeur Voyagers perform at the Grande
eglise in Villefranch de Longchat.
1 February 20h30 : The Imitation Game is showing in VO at
the Grandecran in Libourne.
Coming up…
RNA Aquitaine will be holding their monthly lunch on
Wednesday 11th February. The time is 1200'
and the location, the Hotel du
Nord, Tombeboeuf.
Membership of the Royal Naval Association is open to all serving and former members of the RN, RM, WRNS and QARNNS, and their families. Contact Ken Napier 0553 017280.
Membership of the Royal Naval Association is open to all serving and former members of the RN, RM, WRNS and QARNNS, and their families. Contact Ken Napier 0553 017280.
And finally…
The melon jam story so far...
Day 1
Cut up melon (removing all seeds), add diced confit ginger, sliced lemon peel and lemon juice.
Pour over sugar and leave overnight
Day 2
The sugar has drawn all the liquid out of the melon and so I transferred it to the jam pan and switched on the heat.
Day 2
The sugar has drawn all the liquid out of the melon and so I transferred it to the jam pan and switched on the heat.
3 hours later the jam is showing no signs whatsoever of setting, I've added yet more lemon juice and grated in an apple and it's still runny. In desperation I put it into the jars hoping it would set as it cools.
Day3
The jam has cooled and is still completely liquid. I'm at a loss... sugary melon syrup anyone???
