A Fig Tree,
Château de Villandry
and
Autumn Fig and Blue Cheese Salad
with Bayonne Ham
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| Fresh Figs with Bayonne Ham and Blue Cheese |
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| Villandry Château |
On our way back from the port of Zeebrugge (last time we drove back to France from the UK), we decided to have a night in the Loire Valley to break the journey; we stopped in the little town of Azay le Rideau, which is not far from Villandry Château and its magnificent gardens ~ a place that I have visited many times before but I really wanted to show my mum who is an avid gardener. Azay le Rideau also has a wee château, a mini one with a very pretty moat around it and some lovely shrubs and woods surrounding it…..but the gardens I was interested in lay a few miles down the road at Villandry, and that is where we made our way the next day.
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| Villandry Château |
The gardens at Villandry are world famous and they specialise in cabbages for some reason…….they also have a wonderful pumpkin festival in the Autumn and the gardens are lit up with hundreds if candles ~ it is truly magical. I could wax lyrical about the gardens here all day, but for a further more detailed “virtual visit”, just click on the live links I have posted……they will take you to the château’s website.
But back to my fig tree and my garden ~ I thought I had some photos of my fig tree, but I can’t find them……never mind, another time. When we moved here eight years ago, I fell in love with the garden as much as the house; the rear garden is completely walled in old stone and I am the happy and contented custodian of several old fruit trees ~ Fig, Quince, Pear, Apple, Cherry, Walnut, Mirabelle and Peach……I feel so lucky and the bounty that we reap every year from these old trees is humbling, as we don’t do much in return for the harvest we receive……just a bit of pruning, that’s about it. I use, eat, preserve all the fruit every year and what I can’t use I give away to friends and neighbours ~ that’s the way it works here and I love the fact that someone else will get the benefit of my lovely freshly picked fruit. The gardeners at Villandry often leave extra plants and seedlings out to buy ~ the honesty box way! And the last time I was there I was able to buy some borage, dahlias and lemon verbena plants…….all of which “took” after I planted them at home. They also have a shop where they sell the usual touristy stuff and more plants ~ expensive but with some amazing roses on display, TOO pricey for me at €25 to €35 a rose, but beautiful none the less, here is one that caught my eye.
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| Freshly picked figs from my garden. |
As you all know, I have been up to my ears in quinces lately ~ I will have recipes and photos to post next week about my exploits with them, but for now I want to share a simple and lovely salad that I make regularly when my figs are in season.
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| Fresh Figs with Bayonne Ham and Blue Cheese |
An Autumnal salad with a tapestry of colours and flavours, an elegant and yet rustic platter highlighting all that is good in life……fresh figs, lovely crumbly blue cheese ~ I used Bleu d’Auvergne here ~ walnuts from our tree last year and of course Bayonne ham, the final culinary flourish……all sitting or should I say lasciviously lounging on a bed of peppery rocket leaves……sublime.
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| Fresh Figs with Bayonne Ham and Blue Cheese |
The chickens love the figs too ~ some of you may remember me mentioning their Roman Orgy of fig eating last week…….well, they now follow down the garden when they see me with a trug in my hand ~ the wily little misses!
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| Rita and Mavis fighting over a fig! |
What I like about salads in Autumn and Winter is that you can be bold with them, I mean there are no “Salad Rules” or indeed “Salad Police” as far as I am aware, but you know what I mean, you can be generous with the ingredients and go a little over the top with robust and strong flavours……I like being over the top!
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This is such a salad ~ it works on all levels, taste and appearance and a cheeky little creamy walnut dressing brings it all together…..I am quite proud of this one!
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If you cannot get hold of fresh figs try this salad with pears, cut them into quarters and proceed the same way as if you were using figs. Let me know if you make this salad, I would love your feedback…….
I will be back tomorrow with more news, recipes and photos, have a great start to the week.
Karen
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Autumn Fig and Blue Cheese Salad
with Bayonne Ham
Ingredients:
(Serves 2)
Salad:
10 fresh figs
5 slices of Bayonne Ham
100g (4ozs) Blue Cheese
Rocket leaves
Walnuts
Dressing:
4 tablespoons walnut oil
1 tablespoon walnut vinegar
2 tablespoons crème fraîche
salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
Place the rocket leaves on a plate.
Cut the figs through the middle but not right through to the other side, keeping them together; then wrap half a slice of Bayonne Ham around each fig, like a little jacket. Place the ham and figs on the plate of rocket leaves (5 figs per plate/person) and gently prise open the figs where you have cut them.
Cut the blue cheese into neat chunks and place inside the figs, pushing the cheese down gently.
Scatter some walnuts over the salad and make the dressing.
Place all the dressing ingredients in a jar or bottle and shake vigorously until they have all amalgamated.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving.
Serve with crusty bread and wine.
Ingredients:
(Serves 2)
Salad:
10 fresh figs
5 slices of Bayonne Ham
100g (4ozs) Blue Cheese
Rocket leaves
Walnuts
Dressing:
4 tablespoons walnut oil
1 tablespoon walnut vinegar
2 tablespoons crème fraîche
salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
Place the rocket leaves on a plate.
Cut the figs through the middle but not right through to the other side, keeping them together; then wrap half a slice of Bayonne Ham around each fig, like a little jacket. Place the ham and figs on the plate of rocket leaves (5 figs per plate/person) and gently prise open the figs where you have cut them.
Cut the blue cheese into neat chunks and place inside the figs, pushing the cheese down gently.
Scatter some walnuts over the salad and make the dressing.
Place all the dressing ingredients in a jar or bottle and shake vigorously until they have all amalgamated.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving.
Serve with crusty bread and wine.
A Vintage Chic says
Oh, so much to love in this beautiful post, Karen! The fairy tale photos of the chateau (I need to go there someday!), the fig salad (my fig tree refuses to produce much…!), and the dreamy description of your garden…all so wonderful, my friend!
Wishing you the loveliest of Sundays!
Julie
A Trifle Rushed says
Oooh! One of my favourite salads and I love your presentation. I'm back in Richmond with lots of errands to run.
Thanks for leaving a comment on my give away!
Marie says
We were to Villandry once a number of years back when we were on holiday in France. It was breathtakingly beautiful to be sure. You salad is also breathtakingly beautiful! How lovely and delicious looking! I adore figs! xxoo
Debs @ DKC says
Hi Karen, those gardens look amazing, great post too.
Many thanks for your msg on my blog yesterday. You seem to be having trouble following. Go to your dashboard page, under blogs you follow, click on "add" and in the box that appears to add URL, add http://www.debskitchencreations.blogspot.com/ hope that helps, x
Great to meet you.
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Julie ~ I must take more photos of my garden and the fig tree if course too!
Karen S Booth says
Hello Jude ~ I bet it is all a frantic rush and with schools starting tomorrow too……stay calm and cool and I will see you on-line soon!
Karen
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Marie ~ it is my favourite Loire château although I also love Amboise too…..it's the gardens, I love them!
Karen
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Debs ~ I usually add to followers on the actual blog page, but of course I can so that too, I forgot thanks!
Karen
La Table De Nana says
Your figs are a most gorgeous color!
The pumpkin festival..I love that..Magical pumpkins and castles..like Cinderella..
Salad looks delicious..
Inspired by eRecipeCards says
Oh my, Karen your blog has fast climbed my list of absolute must reads. I so appreciate a slice of life post. The gardens of course are wonderful, but that ham/fig/blue cheese/ nut salad has absolutely got mu cockles in an uproar!
A perfect post!
Dave
Heather says
What a gorgeous garden and what a delicious looking dish! And your so lucky to have such old and reliable fruit trees! I'd like to have some fruit trees some day, it seems so nice— you get to see them flower and then eat the fruit later in the year!~
Karen S Booth says
Merci Monique ~ the château at Villandry is indeed magical!
Karen S Booth says
Thanks SO much Dave, you have made my day, I am glad that you enjoy my ramblings!
Karen
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Heather ~ I LOVE my garden and always appreciate my flowers, fruit and herbs…..I feel very lucky!
Karen
Maya Russell says
It’s so funny that those wonderful gardens specialise in cabbages. LOL! The recipe looks great and light too.