So here I am.......

France is another universe. I'm in a land of friendly neighbors, cute puppies, stanky cheese, and - people obsessed with rocks?

Not just any rocks. Broken rocks.

Rocks that are fractured, burned, chipped, etc. seem to be preferred. I know I took some anthro/archeo classes waaaay back when, but I don't remember being this excited about chunks (and very small bits) of mountainside. I guess cooking was the right way to go for me.

Which brings me to the other part of my new universe - my kitchen. Land of the Belching Berthas: my three enormous propane burners that occasionally spit fire at me from every available gap in the gas lines.




I think this trip will be, aah, memorable.


Upside-Down Sticky Apple Cake
Apples, sliced/pared 3
Butter,melted 2 sticks
Cinnamon and sugar mix 4 T
AP Flour 2 C
Sugar 1 ½ C
Baking Powder 2 t
Salt 1 t
Egg 2 ea
Milk ½ C
Honey 1 C
Chopped Walnuts ½ C

Spread apple slices on the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with butter and cinnamon-sugar. Mix the other ingredients (not honey and nuts) and spread on top of the apples. Pour the rest of the butter over the cake. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. When cooked, Flip over and pour honey and nuts over the apples. Toast under a broiler a little to caramelize the honey if you want.