Universities across Canada have a special exchange program to accommodate English students who wish to become more fluent in French and French students who wish to do the same in English.  Daughter #1 spent a summer of at Universite Laval in Quebec City a couple of years ago.  Sister #3 has hosted two of these students in her home-Emilie last year and this summer Gabrielle.  We celebrated Gabrielle’s last weekend of the program with a pitch in supper last Saturday night at the cottage.  “Pitch in” meaning that everyone took on a dish or a course:

Sister #3 and I shared the appetizer course:  Mushrooms Neptune and Mussels whith bread to sop up the mussel juice.

D broiled the strip loins and shrimp kebabs

and Sister #2 made an artichoke & zucchini salad, a brown & wild rice pilaf,

sauteed mushrooms & feta and local asparagus. 

The guest of honour made the dessert course-a special treat of sugar pie!

Quebecois recipes must be handed down by verbal tradition because Gabby had never written this one out.  I noticed the same thing when I’ve asked the “Frenchman’s” Mom for a favourite recipe and when his sister-Vanessa stayed with us this Christmas.  She had made us crepes and when I requested that recipe she told me that you started with one egg per person and that you added milk, flour and sugar according to look and feel. 

But without further adieu…Tarte Au Sucre

Combine 3/4 c brown sugar with 1/2 c milk, 1 beaten egg, 3 heaping T flour & 2 t spoons melted butter.  Pour into a prepared pie shell and bake at 375 degrees until set.  Topped with ice cream or whipped cream as we choose to. 

Happy Belated Saint John Baptiste Day.  I love that Canada is such a mosaic and people and cultures and food traditions!

Kath’s quote: “Food is a central activity of mankind and one of the single most significant trademarks of a culture.”-Mark Kurlansky

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