I’m starting to feel like I’m settling into our new life in the French Alps.
I’d love to show you photos of where we are, the mountains, the village, the pistes, the beauty, the views down the valleys, the woods and walks, Mont Blanc. But it’s not been possible – the light levels are so low, the sun has barely peeked through all the time I’ve been here. The compensation for lack of sunshine is snow. Heaps of the white stuff. Every morning we wake up, we can barely see across the valley for the clouds and the falling snow. Which makes for fabulous skiing but lousy photos.
I’ve been skiing with friends, with my ski instructor and with my Mountain Man. All wonderful. Feeling my ski’s running, trying to remember what it is you are meant to do! Remembering the game that is getting on and off ski lifts and chairs without falling and crashing! Playing in some petit powder, mini whooping as the powder kicks up around your skis and boots. The joy of being up in the mountains, in the mornings when all is quiet, on runs where we are the only people out, all is stillness, the snow deadening and muffling any sound. The only thing you can hear is the sound of your ski’s running.
Sipping coffee in the cafes, watching the world go by, as the resort kicks into gear, winds itself up a notch for the coming ski season. All is activity. All is snow.
We’ve ventured down the mountain to the nearest town to go shopping. Shopping in resort is limited and pricey. We are having to adjust to the way we shop, cook and eat. Normally there is plenty of homegrown food in the cupboards and freezer. Then there are the local shops, a mere 2 minute walk away. So we have to learn to shop and stock up in a different way – the supermarket way.
I avoid supermarkets like the plague, but needs must. Grand Frais is our new discovery, a shop stacked with fresh produce, much of it locally grown or organic, and alongside that lots of goods from around the world – so we’ve stocked up. I just need to source a few more bits like mustard and onion seeds and we’re set for Curry au Alps 🙂
I think the big shop has helped me settle in, the store cupboard is looking healthier and happier for the spices, the lentils, the baking bits. And we’ve replenished the kitchen tools – a decent knife, a food processor, a rolling-pin and a lovely new pan, plus a mould for my planned chocolate mouse cake. Now I can play!
I’ve started to practice Yoga again, on my own in the apartment. Today I decided it’s like doing Bikram yoga it’s so hot inside. One thing I’m having to adjust to is the mountain air, at altitude the air is thinner and I’m noticing my breath control is more laboured. It will change in time. I’m hoping the yoga will help me out on the slopes, give me strength, flexibility and energy. Time will tell.
Walking to the village, with too many layers on to count, walking back from visiting friends, in the quiet of the night and all you can hear is the squeak of your boots in the snow.
I’m just waiting for some Big Blue Sky days, and I’ll be out there with the cameras. In the meantime, I’m happy with the snow. Afterall it’s why we are here!
And tonight’s dinner? I’d bought some decent looking tomatoes (I know they are not the same as homegrown summer tomatoes but I needed a tomato fix) and I’ve been umming and aahhing over what to cook, maybe a tomato curry or a pasta sauce, in the end Upside Down Tomato Tart with a green salad won the vote 🙂
Tomato Tart Tatin
Ingredients ~
4 large tomatoes halved, or lots of cherry tomatoes, some olive oil for shallow frying, 2 garlic cloves roughly chopped, a pinch of oregano, a dash or two of Balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste and shortcrust or puff pastry.
Method ~
Fry the tomatoes in olive oil (seedy side down) until they are turning brown, add your seasonings of salt and pepper and oregano, then the garlic and continue to fry a bit more. Now add a splash of balsamic vinegar and cook for a few minutes.
If you are using a heaving frying pan that can go in the oven, all the better, if not transfer your tomatoes to an oven dish. roll out your pastry and then cover the tomatoes with the pastry. Tidy the edges, cut a slit for the steam and pop the dish in the oven for 30 minutes.
If you are clever you can turn the dish / pan upside down so the pastry is on the bottom and the tomatoes are on top.
To serve sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese on top
I’m so happy that you are having good skiing weather. We will wait for your sunny weather photos. I love your tomato tart, it looks yummy.
Hi Karen and thanks the skiing conditions are amazing so I’m very happy 🙂
I think I might manage this even with my crumbly gluten free pastry. It looks so wonderful! And might I add, so does your vacation! ~ Lynda
Hi Lynda and thanks 🙂 I’m sure any kind of pastry would work. I think the trick is to try and get as much flavour into the tomatoes as possible
Reblogged this on Inspiredweightloss.
Thanks 🙂
I love this, where were you when I had ten million tomatoes in the summer! It is so easy though that i will remember but do repost this in the summer.. YUM! and i am thrilled that you have lots of snow! c
Ah the 10 million tomato issue ! I know, I forgot to post it in the summer when homegrown tomatoes are abundant and TASTY! I’ll try and remember to do another version and write about it next summer….
What a thrilling new life! Although I’m not a fan of snow, I must admit — it looks much nicer in the Alps. Enjoy the holidays!
Hi Kevin, yes it is a BIT (read A LOT) exciting), if not a bit daunting at times, I have to sort out the house insurance this week… in French…. wish me luck 🙂
You really did move to a Winter Wonderland, didn’t you? Sounds really beautiful, with or without the Sun. You tomato tart is really a simple dish but I bet it tastes wonderful!
Hi John, it really is a winter wonderland, it is positively magical. Glad you liked the recipe, I think it would be good served with a a few basil leaves too
Wow…sounds spectacular!
Hi there, oh it is! I can’t wait to see Mount Blanc, it is truly stunning!
love reading about you in the snow …. it will be beach weather over here when the clouds and drizzle clear …and those tomatoes look just perfect ….our tomatoes are just ripening now 🙂
Thank you, I appreciate you popping in for a snow fix 🙂 And oh to have some homehrown tomatoes, nothing beats the taste does it.
Wishing you a happy holiday on the beach!
I love reading about your adventures in the Alps. Sounds like so much fun! 😀
Thank you 🙂 and it’s only December, several more months to go!
I’m so glad your shared some pics of your getaway! Sounds so wonderful, truly, even from someone that doesn’t like the cold! I do like to look at the snow! And definitely stay indoors cooking – which leads to this amazing tart! What a great, great idea!
Thanks Spice, I know what you mean about photos of snow, it always looks magical. I reckon as long as you are kitted out properly snow can be real fun.
Mind you I have so many amazing dishes to cook I will definitely be spending some quality time in the kitchen 🙂
You’re lucky I think – it was only a couple of weeks (days?) ago they were reporting no snow in the Alps?
You’re right, until a couple of weeks ago there was zero snow, so that does make us incredibly lucky! Hopefully it will be a good season all round 🙂
everything sounds positively divine! and that tomato tart dish has me salivating!! definitely showing my daughter your recipe! she’s a huge tomato lover and i know she’ll want to recreate it! I’m curious…. is this your first winter in the alps or is it a yearly thing for you guys?
Pleased you like the recipe 🙂
as to the Alps, we’ve visited lots over the last few years, but usually for 2 to 4 weeks. So this time, being here for the season is a new things for us. So far so good!
Thank you for the “peak” into your days and nights! (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!)
Merry Christmas to you.
Ha ha ha ha ! Peak! I’m snow going to get you back for that 🙂 Happy Christmas Stacey 🙂
I’m wandering through your blog looking for something for dinner tonight. This looks delicious…and easy. I really like the photo of the brown night with snow flakes.
🙂 you know I saw your comment and couldn’t for the life of me think what the recipe was 🙂 Tomato pie!!
snow at night is always magic to watch
I’m off to make it right now. Will let you know how it goes. Those tomatoes of yours look particularly nice, Claire. I hope mine are tasty – bought, not grown.
Delicious! Thanks, Claire.
Phew !!
Good luck! Those were shop bought ones too, back in winter in France, – the cooking adds flavour