French Word-A-Day

Yogurt cake recipe

I went hunting through my photo archives, trying to find a photo of the finished yogurt cake. This one, above, isn't typical (it is a marbré or marbled version (simply add chocolate powder to half the cake batter, after emptying part of it in the pan. Pour over the top and bake). Photo note: that's an old roof tile from our mas. You can see the handwriting which records when the tile was made, the 30th. The year is not indicated.


Uncle Jacques' Gâteau au Yaourt

The first French yogurt cake I ever tasted was made by my mother-in-law, Michèle-France. She explained that she had used her son, Jacques', recipe. I had no idea my brother-in-law could bake! 

The genius behind this cake is that there is no need to use measuring utensils. You need only reserve the yogurt container as a measure, once you've emtpied the contents into the bowl. 

Ingredients:
- one small (individual size) container of plain yogurt (reserve for measuring the remaining ingredients)
- flour
- sugar
- vegetable oil
- three eggs (or two, if you prefer)
- one package baking powder (about 2 teaspoons)

Instructions (Easy as 3-2-1...):
Fill/empty the yogurt container...
   ...3 times with flour
   ...2 times with sugar
   ...1 time with vegetable oil (if I'm out of vegetable oil, I'll add half a cup of olive oil or butter...)

Tip:
First combine yogurt, beaten eggs & sugar. Next, add flour and baking powder, stir. Add a pinch of salt... Pour in oil and mix well (Uncle Jacques recommends using "un fouet" (whisk) to mix the batter. Pour into a cake pan (or muffin tin) and bake for 40 minutes at 300°F

Extras: Jacques suggests adding sliced (canned) pears (drained from their syrop) to the top of the cake before baking. The pears will sink nicely into the cake for a sweet "second version". 

I sometimes mash up bananas and add them... or sneak in some grated zucchini or carrots. Kids will never know what hit 'em. Chocolate chips are great inside, too!

Help make this recipe even better: add your tips and experience to the comments box

Having trouble with the sound? View this video on our YouTube channel. Then look for the "speaker" icon in the lower left corner of the video.


You can use many kinds of cake pans, like this Bundt pan, for your yogurt cake. I like to toss in goodies, in the middle. Fresh strawberries are lovely there, too! In the first photo, a bread pan was used, and in the video, above, I used a round cake pan.

se tromper

A woman's work is never done. Personally, I'll take the job of hanging out laundry... and let my husband patch up the concrete! (Photo taken in Croatia, a few summers ago...)

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se tromper (seuh-trom-pay)

    : to be mistaken, to be wrong

tout le monde peut se tromper = anyone can make a mistake
si je ne me trompe = if I'm not mistaken
se tromper d'heure = to mistake the time
que l'on ne s'y trompe pas = let there be no mistake about it 

Mas la Monaque - rent this beautifully restored 17-century farmhouse! Click here for photos and availability.

 

 

 Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc: Download MP3 or Wav file

Tu te trompes complètement.
You are completely mistaken 

French Christmas Music: "Mon Beau Sapin", "Sainte Nuit", "La Marche des Rois", "Petite Ville Bethléem", "Il est né Le Divin Enfant". Order CD here. 

A Day in a French Life... by Kristin Espinasse

Tuesday. I am sitting on the edge of the bed, putting on my make-up. It is around 10:30 am. The washing machine is whirling; in the room beside me, I've hung out the previous load on the étendoir. There is homemade soup (potimarron) on the stove, downstairs. Just up the hall, in my office, my book manuscript is open. I left it moments ago, pour respirer un peu.

Just as I reach for my mascara, I hear my husband's footsteps in the hall. I roll my eyes and shake my head. It's just like clockwork! The minute I am sitting down, seemingly pampering myself, my better half walks in! "Better," because he's certainly been working harder than me this morning!  

Why is it that when I'm slaving away with the mop he's never around... and then, suddenly, when I pull out my mascara wand—poof!—he appears?

Sheesh. I am only sitting in bed putting on makeup because we have a visitor this morning, otherwise I might be doing something much more industrious, such as organizing the mud room (and isn't it high-time for that?!).

Mud aside, I do not like to be "caught" like this, seemingly whiling away the day. All that is missing from this incriminating picture is that proverbial box of bonbons. If I'm such a lady of leisure, then shouldn't the bed be littered with gold foil wrappers by now? 

By now the footsteps are getting louder and my husband has arrived at the bedroom door. I'm just waiting for him to react as he usually does, on seeing me grooming my lashes:

Tu vas au bal?

Only this time, I don't give him the chance to tease me. Instead, I blurt out:

"In case you are wondering, no, I am not going to the ball. You may not think I have anything better to do... but I can assure you...!"

Having accidentally stepped into the line of fire, my better half steps back:
"Chérie, tu te trompes complètement!"

He is right. I am sorely mistaken. The truth is each of us works hard and there is no need to explain ourselves or to keep a score board. I can let down my defenses and get on with dying my eyelashes... though the job might be a little less tedious had I a box of chocolates beside me. 

As for who does more around here, I imagine it is a hot topic in most households. Everyone from married couples to roommates to brothers and sisters (I hear my kids "mais c'est toujours moi qui le fait!") risks being accused of living the Life of Riley. Even if you are single and living alone, there's the temptation to blame the coffee machine for not living up to its side of the bargain.

Some believe in the Pull Your Own Weight factor, but we might do well to respect the other's idea of rest, whether that is watching a football game or sitting down for a cup of tea. I will try to remember this at the end of the day, after I've returned home from the one-hour school run only to rustle up dinner while my better half is now lounging before the crackling fire, listening to music while shelling walnuts!

How those shells suddenly remind me of so many bonbon wrappers strewn across the bed.... Ah là là, it looks like it's his turn to be mistaken for a lad of leisure!

 

Le Coin Commentaires 

Click here to comment on this story or simply answer this question: Who, besides you (of course!) does the most work at your home? Ever feel as my kids do: "c'est toujours moi qui doit le faire!" Read other's comments here.

Have a minute for another story? Read "Fluffy Dice" or "Trying to Wrestle a Sou out of You Know Who" !

 

Potimarron soup recipe? You can go all out and fancy it up (see Laura's delicious recipe), or you can do like me and let your lazybones bring out the best of the squash in three steps:

1. Scrub the potimarron.
2. Leaving the skin on (for a colorful, vitamin-rich soup) chop the squash into chunks (after hollowing out the inside. You might toast the seeds with sel de guerand or sprinkle them in your garden... the birds and the earth will love them)
3. Boil the cubes in water (around 20-30 minutes), with one or two cubes of organic soup stock. Use a blender-wand to mix the soup, et voilà. Garnish with parsely--it full of iron and good for la mauvaise haleine. Of course salt and pepper and a little bit of cream and some cheese (Jean-Marc loves to add roquefort to his soup) makes it even better!

 

French Vocabulary

un étendoir = clotheshorse (type of indoor clothesline)

le potimarron = a kind of squash

pour respirer un peu = to take a breather

tu vas au bal = are you going to the ball?

le bonbon = candy

Chérie, tu te trompes complètement = Dear, you are sorely mistaken

c'est toujours moi qui fait tout! = it's always me who does everything!

la mauvaise haleine = bad breath

 

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Smokey and the Sweet Potato (or "Pooch and la Patate Douce")

Nobody's looking....

How to say "busted" in French?

How to Learn French (Tip No. 58): Brush up on your English grammar... then learning French won't be so hard! Check out this book. English Grammar for Students of French. Read the reviews and order a copy!

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glander

A good place to glander... in a cozy room, flowers on the windowsill. Photo taken in Villedieu sometime last fall. 

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glander (glahn day)

    : to loaf about, to do nothing (especially when you should be working)

Example Sentence
  On se sent un peu coupable quand on glande, n'est-ce pas?
  We feel a little guilty when we loaf about, don't we?
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A Day in a French Life... by Kristin Espinasse

Verbs in a 16-year-old Boy's Life

The following words will help catch us up on a few goings-on in a young Frenchman's life. I'm jotting them down now, via these verbs, in case my future mind conjugates the memories into fleeting units.  

Conduire

Conduire, or "to drive". Though I haven't written about it, Max is learning to drive via la conduite accompagnée. Living in the country has never had more perks than this: the ubiquitous wide-open country roads - perfect for practicing behind the wheel! But no matter how empty the roads are around here, a mother's heart still flutters like a country butterfly at every road bend. 

Rêvasser

Rêvasser, or "to daydream" - Max is dreaming about the future and yesterday morning he mentioned joining the Air Force! I had to speed-dial his grandfather on Father's Day to tell him the latest -- and to mention that his Air Force captain's shirt now fits Max to a T. (Now, will he choose the French Armée de l'Air or the American Air Force, should he follow his latest dream?) Update: Max would like to join the American Air Force....

Piocher

Piocher, or "to pickax" - Mr. Max planted seven willow trees (gifts from Dirt Diva Malou, who, along with Dirt Diva Doreen, is helping us camouflage an eyesore of a concrete fence).  Max still has cloques, or blisters, to show for his work driving that pickax, or pioche, into the cementlike ground. (That ought to teach the poor guy to wear a pair of gants!)

Glander

Glander, or "to loaf about" - (I think this is on Max's list of things to do, or "choses à faire"...) meantime...

Bosser!

Bosser, or "to work" - Our son is helping a lot with farm work... pulling weeds within the vine rows, helping to tidy up the cave, or cellar, and, his favorite, tasting some of the wines! He tells me his dad is paying him le SMIC (or was that le SMIG, with a "g": minimum wage, or what he would call, the minimum of minimum wage or le bas de SMIC/G!). ...And who wouldn't mind earning minimum wage for wine tasting?! Seriously, giving credit to Max, there is very little dégustation going on around here - and a lot of grueling weeding instead!

Speaking of work, this is our chance to share some very good news. Jean-Marc (alias "Chief Grape") has received another mention for his wines!!! Click on the image, below, to read the fine print and thanks again for all of your support in getting the word out on his Domaine Rouge-Bleu reds and rosés!
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Le Coin Commentaires The Comments Corner

What are some of the verbs in this season of your own life? Here are a few of mine: jardiner or "to garden", adorer, or "to love" (just watched and loved this film!), souhaiter, to wish (a very Happy Father's Day to all the pères out there!), and, finally, poireauter, or "to wait around a long time", patiently, for the fruits of daily effort to appear after all these years. There are little glimmers here and there, and doesn't this keep us following our dreams? Click here to comment.

French Vocabulary

la coinduite accompagnée = driving as a learner, assisted by an experienced driver

le gant = glove

la dégustation = tasting (wine), sampling (cheese)

le SMIC = Salaire Minimum Inter-Professionel de Croissance

    => also: le smicard (la smicarde) = minimum wage earner

le SMIG = Salaire Minimum Inter-Professionel Garanti

I forgot to make Mom these red peppers! Ever since Jean-Marc made them for her (in Marseilles, so many summers ago), they have been one of her favorites. 

Chief Grape's Roasted Peppers:

Take 3 or 4 red peppers (or mix, using green and yellow peppers). Put them in a baking dish, then into a piping hot oven. When peppers begin to blister or the skin blackens, shut off the oven and let the poivrons sweat. (Tip, cook them in the evening, then leave them to sweat overnight). When the peppers are cool, cut them open, scoop out the seeds, and reserve the juices in a bowl (adding half a cupful of olive oil). Chop up the peppers and add to the olive oil mixture. Add more oil, if needed, to cover the peppers. Add salt, pepper, pressed garlic, and herbs. Add fresh basil, if you like, or parsley. Delicious on crackers and bread, and a tasty accompaniment to grilled fish and barbecue. Leftovers are good in quiche, in this Provençal tomato tart, or in this olive cake!

Serve with a glass of Domaine Rouge-Bleu rosé :-) 

 

"Love ya, Baby!" (Je t'aime bébé). In my day we celebrated the last days of school by signing each others yearbook (or we might sign a T-shirt, if we felt risky). How times have changed! (Pictured, our 13-year-old daughter, Jackie). And, yes, bra straps are still "in".

And now for the best photo tip in the whole wide world (and it's no secret so let this be a reminder): Always, always have a camera on hand! For this reason, pocket cameras are ideal! Here is the one I use daily.

                    La sauge, or sage, from the garden. Thanks, Dirt Divas!

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Check out the latest prices for Kindle, click here and consider ordering today! Your purchase helps support this free language journal. Merci beaucoup!

 

badinage

This photo has nothing to do with today's story (apart from its eccentric main character--the one with the bougainvillea in tow!). Picture taken in Costa Brava, Spain. Still using and loving my pocket camera! So handy - and there's no longer any excuse to leave home without one's appareil photo! If you are in the market for a digital camera, thanks for ordering this one (or another) via this link. Your purchase will help support this free language journal.

le badinage (bah dee nazh)

    : bantering, repartee

Also: badin, badine (adj: lighthearted, playful) and badiner (to banter, to jest)

sur un ton de badinage = in a bantering, or jesting, tone
Je ne badine pas! = I'm not joking! 

Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce these French words: (Download MP3 or Wav file)

Le badinage ou la taquinerie - c'est bon pour la santé!
Bantering and teasing - it's good for one's health! 

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A Day in a French Life... by Kristin Espinasse

Le Badinage Prolongs Life!

My mother, my son, and I are sitting in la salle d'attente. Mom needs a refill on her medication, Max needs a refill on his prescriptions for asthma and allergies, and I need a booster shot. Doubtful, I open my purse and root through its contents, checking to make sure that I have brought along with me the vaccine. In France, one brings one's pre-filled syringe (sealed and packaged) with one to the doctor - a requirement that still seems outlandish to me. 

Next, I reach up and pat my arm to make sure the EMLA patch (which looks like a big Band-Aid with a creamy, medicated disk in the center) is working. Poking again and again at the patch, I am uncertain. "Strange... my arm doesn't feel numb..." I say to my mom.

I notice that rascally gleam in Mom's eyes that tells me she is about to take this latest whinging -- and run with it. And all it takes is an emphatic "PFFFFT!" for me to understand her feelings about the prissy patch. After having two breasts removed (one in France, the other in Mexico) and a steel plate put into her leg, Jules is not going to let me get away with fretting over a mamsy-pamsy piqûre. Indeed, the woman who pulled out her own troubled tooth while deep in the jungle of Mexico is not going to give too much sympathy to her over-protected daughter.

In my defense I point out that it was the doctor who offered to prescribe the numbing patch, that it wasn't anything I requested. But any explanations were met with rolled eyes and another exclamatory "PFFFT!".
 
Witnessing the taquinerie between his mother and his grand-mère cherie, Max lights up, always game to join in and pull my leg. Only, this time, he shifts his attention to his grandmother, who is ever ready to join him in another round of plaisanteries.

I listen to the two spar, giggle, and poke each other and when the playfulness gets a little disruptive, I butt in--

"Hey, watch the plants! You'll knock them over!" and "Max! Put that chair down!"

My attempt at controlling the grandmother-grandson duo is met with more Pfffts! and more clucks of the tongues as the two look at me beady-eyed and cynically - only to resume their bantering.

Mom grabs a revue from the stack of magazines and paddles Max with it. Max responds by running circles around Jules until she is dizzy with laughter. (Thank goodness nobody else is around.)

Their voices rise and I am obliged to give another warning or two:

"Shhhh! There are patients in the doctor's office. Max, baisse le ton. Mom, keep it down! The doctor is never going to give you your anxiety medication, Mom, if she sees you are THIS GIDDY!"

Only, it's too late, the door to the doctor's room swings opens and out walks a confused duo: doctor and patient.

The patient exits cautiously... and I stand to greet the doctor. I introduce my mother and quickly offer an apology for all the racket.

The doctor studies our family (two grinning faces and one sour gueule) and gives her diagnosis -- only mania is not the conclusion.

Lui, the doctor explains, pointing to Max, il est en train d'ajouter des jours à la vie de votre maman.

Noticing my dear mom, who was glowing with youthful entrain, I could not argue with the doctor.

Le Coin Commentaires

To comment on this story, click here. Many thanks in advance!

 

French Vocabulary

la salle d'attente = waiting room

un appareil photo = camera

EMLA patch = a dermal anaesthetic in the form of a medicated, cream-filled patch that numbs the skin prior to a shot

une piqûre = injection, shot

la taquinerie = teasing

baisse le ton = lower your voice 

la gueule = face

Lui, il est en train d'ajouter des jours à la vie de votre maman. = He is adding days to your mother's life.

l'entrain (m) = spirit, liveliness (and "avec entrain" = with gusto)

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The book I took with me, and enjoyed, on break last week. And my little carnet for jotting down vocabulary, stories, recipes, uplifting words and more! Re My Antonia, by Willa Cather: the writing, especially the descriptions of the countryside in Nebraska, is beautiful. For those of you who need a page-turner with a plot, this isn't it. For those looking who enjoy pastoral writing and a little history, give this book a try. Several anecdotes within the book were eye-opening and I enjoyed the botanical and culinary notes which are scattered throughout. Thanks to those in the "Nebraska Invasion" group*, who gifted me this and another book. *Anne & Lang Anderson; Vikki & Terry Ferris; Steve & Teresa Plamann; and Doug Richard

Check out the latest prices for Kindle, click here and consider ordering today! Your purchase helps support this free language journal. Merci beaucoup!

Those goat cheese and mint tarts I told you about in a previous story... Want to make one? Just take fresh goat cheese (or the log-shaped version found here in France), cut in slices and place in the bottom of the tart. Next, add plenty of mint leaves. In a bowl, beat two or three eggs and sour cream (or liquid cream). Add salt, pepper, and herbs (thyme, rosemary...). For extra goodness, sprinkle on some gruyère. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes (not sure about temperature...) The pie crust is store-bought (it unrolls and voilà--is ready to go!). Update: I forgot to mention toasted, sliced almonds! Throw some of these onto the tart, too!

chance

Quelle chance! We have a story and a recipe and photos--including the still life, above--for you today by guest blogger Lynn McBride. 

chance (shons) noun, feminine

    : luck

une chance = a stroke of luck
avoir de la chance = to be lucky
Bonne chance! = Good luck!

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French Tartes or Southern Pies?  Oh, the dilemma…

by Lynne McBride

Here’s a favorite quote from Michelle Obama.  When asked what it was like to suddenly live in the White House with an army of staff, she admitted it was great, then said, with wonder:  “If you want pie, there’s pie!”  Hey Michelle, that’s my idea of paradise too.

OK, so what about French pies?  Well, the French  do things a little differently, no surprise there.   Bye-bye American pie.  The difference?  In addition to the sloping shape of the edge of the dish, an American pie is plump and indulgent, and can be piled exuberantly high with whipped cream or meringue, or topped with a decadent crust or crumbs.  Is that American or what?  A French tarte, alternativement, is in a dish that’s shallow with straight, fluted sides.  It’s thin and refined, understated and elegant, most often just a divine crust topped with beautiful fruits.  Oh so French.

Must we choose between the two?  Oh let’s not.  I’m proposing two recipes this week, the best of both worlds.

As you may know...