The Basket

Did you ever think of scaling down your basket size? I recently did just that. I used to carry an over the shoulder tote-like market basket, and sometimes my back hurt if it got too heavy. Not only that, but sometimes we'd buy that kilo of this or that at a special price on a whim and then have to figure out what to do with it. I have changed to a small one, and it suits our needs well. I can carry it without hefting my weight to one side, saving my back. My thought is, if it doesn't all fit in the little basket, I'm overdoing it.

Just 1 or 2.

They are well prepared for the Sunday rush.

Early is better. If you go even as early as 9am, you can be reasonably sure to have elbow room, a good choice, and time to chat with the vendors.

After last weeks capricious blustery weather that brought rain and fog, the sun is out and the air is brisk. The church bells sound here and again. The book sellers are setting up. Just walking down the quai gets me in the mood to make a soup.

You can buy one leek. Just ask.

I should knock on wood when I think nobody will see me. A friend I met just the other day at a social gathering came up and said hello. I got a strange vibe from her for a second. Then I remembered my hair was up in a bun held with a chopstick, I had no makeup, and I had wrinkled turquoise colored yoga pants sticking out from the bottom of my coat. Please note: When you go to the market, you should probably look presentable. You never know who you might meet!

Specialty shops sell soissons, and man, they cost a pretty penny. They contain enough beans to last about a year! You don't need to buy very many of these beans because they swell up to nearly 4 times their size and remain extremely flavorful. One small handful, taking me back less than a buck, will provide enough Soisson power for a glorious soup for four.

Loic's only request this morning was clementines.
I didn't buy these particular ones, but they were pretty.

There are certain things I buy from the same person all the time, people I have gotten to know. Each producer has his own product, sometimes several that vary throughout the year.

There was a man from Dieulefit, Mr. Vidal, up to sell truffles today. He isn't at the market but a couple of times a year. He may not even be back next week. I have a special guest coming on Thursday so I indulged in a little one. Wow, do they smell great. A 20 gram whole truffle took me back 12 euros. That was the indulgence of the week, it took more than 30% of my budget!

More common fresh mushrooms are for sale, shitake and oyster, both freshly cut this morning, and flavorful. I bought a couple hundred grams of oyster mushrooms that I will use to finish the soup today.

This gets sealed up tight with the eggs.
Over the next few days, the eggs will absorb the flavor of the truffle.

The basket was nice and full when I got home with eggs, fresh oyster mushrooms, 4 clementines for Loic, winter greens, a leek, a truffle, a small bundle of radicchio, bunches of fresh sage, chervil and sorrel, a handful of soissons, 2 small turnips, a small fresh celeriac, a rutabaga, two potatoes, 80 cents worth of guinea hen necks for stock, and a couple of quail to flatten and roast for Sunday's supper.

Some special things to see us through the week.

I will slip out in the neighborhood with the same basket throughout the week to supplement what I got today with fresh bread, maybe fresh greens here and there, a lump of bacon, dry goods when I don't have them in the pantry. I don't ever need to buy more than I can easily carry back home on foot. Why should I?