My husband and I were in France together twice. Once when he came to visit me during my junior year abroad, and again for our honeymoon. As a French Lit. major and later a French teacher, I tried for years to teach him to speak the language. I was not successful. He had a really hard time saying un (one) or deux (two). He hated being in the position to have to answer with those, so he often would order three of something because trois came easily to his tongue.
Among the many wonderful eating traditions in France is the beautiful simplicity of petit dejeuner. Literally, it means "little lunch." But, at our house it represents some wonderful morning memories.
We still laugh over one honeymoon morning when he went down to the bakery while I slept in. An hour or so later, as I came to the table and my cafe au lait and croissant, he remarked, "Gosh. They were really good. They were still warm when I bought them."
"And you didn't wake me?"
"Well, I figured you lived here for a year. I thought that was how they always were and that you ate them like this all the time."
Au contraire, mon ami. I was dumbfounded. Not only had he eaten a hot croissant without me - but he'd also eaten a second! After all, he had ordered three to start with!
A typical French breakfast consists of a hot beverage, like cafe au lait, hot chocolate, or tea and bread. The true continental breakfast, if you will, the bread can be baguette, croissant, or brioche.
I've never attempted homemade croissants, but I do bake up my own baguettes. And we love petit dejeuner with homemade baguettes. They're not as good as the ones in France, but they're a good cheap eat.
Petit Dejeuner
Simply, cut a 4-5 inch chunk off the baguette and then slice it lengthwise. Butter it generously and then slather with jam, preferably homemade. Serve with coffee and milk for dunking.
C'est bon!
Got a great food memory? Share it with us.
9 comments:
I love a good petit dejeuner! I also loved the crusty bread, brie, and fresh fruit I'd eat for lunch everyday... and pain au chocolat. Ah, c'est fantastique ca! :) It would be fun to hang out in France with you! Maybe not will all nine kids in tow though... ;)
So thats what it is! Love the photo!
I think your husband looks like Jack Bauer in that picture. Love it!
I love bread with butter and jam! I guess I'd be alright over there in France! LOL
How's the sicknesses going? Getting better I hope.
Blessings,
Kim
My five year old, LOVES bread and jam. But not because of France, but because of FRANCES:)
I'll take the challenge and answer your question!
One of my favorite food memories would be when we would visit my grandmother. She would always fix us a meal that included her homemade biscuits. I can't tell you how many times I sat on the counter and watched and/or helped her mix those biscuits with so much love. She would use a pie tin and put a little ball of dough in the tin then ball her fist and press the dough down with her fingers. I could always tell Grandmama's biscuits by the love prints of her fingers on top. She would also make me cafe au lait (although then we just called it coffee with lots of milk) and we would eat those warm biscuits with jam. Sometimes she would give me Nilla Wafers to dip in the coffee. I would always get a tin of biscuits to take home to cook later. Sad to say I still can't make biscuits like her even when I use lard.
I'll have my first grandbaby in June. I want to make those kinds of memories with my grandchildren.
JessieLeigh, you're back in full commenting swing - yeah! We would have a great time en France. Maybe we can plan it for, like, 10 years from now??
April, I'm not sure who Jack Bauer is. I'll have to look him up.
Kim, we're doing fine. Must be all your prayers! Thanks.
We love Frances here, too, Miranda.
Southern Gal, those are sweet memories!
Oooh, I'll have to make some now...a latte, toast with butter and blackcurrant jam. Maybe that will put me in a better mood. Too bad I don't have an actual baguette.
This looks so delicious. I was in Paris when I was in High School - I miss those breakfasts! Also- Jack Bauer the guy on 24. In real life his name is Kiefer Sutherland.
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