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Saffron: the sunlight in your kitchen and medicine cabinet
Saffron, or ‘red gold’ Saffron, which is often referred to as ‘red gold’, is one of the most precious and sought-after spices in the world. Derived from the dried stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower, saffron is renowned not only for its beautiful golden colour and earthy aroma, but also for its rich cultural, culinary, and medicinal significance.
Native to regions of Southwest Asia and cultivated primarily in Iran, India, and parts of the Mediterranean, saffron has been treasured for thousands of years. Its labour-intensive harvesting process (it requires over 150,000 flowers to produce just 1 kilo of spice) contributes to its high cost. Beyond its culinary uses in dishes like paella, biryani, and risotto, saffron has been used in traditional medicine, cosmetics, and even as a dye.
I love saffron because it’s a ray of sunshine in my kitchen. It complements sweet and savoury dishes alike, adding a warm depth impossible to replicate. A pinch in rice or a dessert transforms the dish into something luxurious; a thread in tea and you have a cup of something almost sacred. Its flavour and aroma are delicate yet unmistakable: earthy, rich and floral, with hints of honey. It enhances and elevates any food it touches. But saffron isn’t just delicious; it’s medicine too and its benefits are endless:
Antidepressant and anxiolytic effects
Saffron has well-documented antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. Several studies have shown that it may be as effective as some prescription antidepressants (like fluoxetine) for treating mild to moderate depression. The active compounds crocin, crocetin, and safranal are believed to increase levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain.
Antioxidant powerhouse
Saffron contains powerful antioxidants including crocin, crocetin, safranal, and kaempferol. These help protect cells from oxidative stress, reducing damage caused by free radicals, one of the key factors in aging and chronic disease. Its antioxidant action also protects against oxidative damage to heart tissue.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Saffron has natural anti-inflammatory effects, helping to reduce inflammation at a cellular level. This makes it potentially useful in conditions where chronic inflammation is a contributing factor, such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease.
Cognitive support and brain enhancement
Research suggests saffron may improve memory and cognitive function. It shows promise in delaying the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
PMS and menstrual support
Saffron has traditionally been used to ease menstrual discomfort and regulate cycles. Clinical studies have shown that it can reduce PMS symptoms such as irritability, cramps, and bloating.
Sexual health and libido
In traditional medicine, saffron has been used as an aphrodisiac. Modern studies back this up, showing improvements in sexual function, particularly in individuals experiencing antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction.
Eye health
Saffron may help protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of vision loss. Crocin is believed to improve blood flow to the eyes and protect retinal cells.
Weight management and metabolism
Some studies suggest saffron can help curb appetite and reduce snacking, possibly by enhancing serotonin activity. It may also assist in regulating blood sugar levels.
Immune support
Thanks to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects, saffron helps support the immune system and protect the body from infections and environmental stressors.
Digestive health benefits of saffron
Saffron’s bioactive compounds contribute to its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties that help support a healthy gut in multiple ways:
Saffron has mild carminative properties, meaning it can help reduce gas, bloating, and cramping. It helps relax smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract, which can ease general digestive discomfort. Saffron aids digestion and nutrient absorption by stimulating the secretion of digestive enzymes. It may also support healthy bile production, which is essential for breaking down fats.
Recent research suggests that saffron has prebiotic effects, helping support a healthy gut microbiome, which is so crucial for digestion, immune health, sleep, and mood regulation. Animal studies suggest that saffron protects the stomach lining and reduces ulcer formation, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mucosa-protective effects.
I have been using these saffron drops for about six months now. The quality is second to none, grown and produced in France, and they are now shipping overseas.
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Kickstart your health in September
The storks arrive On Saturday evening we were visited by scores of noisy storks, as they took a pitstop on their migration route. Storks fly from Alsace to Africa for the Winter, leaving France between the end of August and September. They hung out for about half an hour in the setting sun, on a couple of oak trees close to the house, seemingly unfazed by the chaotic dinner party taking place on the terrace beneath.
A pitstop in the oak tree While the storks migrate, September offers a natural opportunity to reset, refocus, and adjust our routines; the arrival of Autumn is a great time to implement changes that support physical, mental, and emotional wellness.
My written recommendations following a natural health consultation are obviously different for everybody, but there are few things that are fundamental for good health and vitality that I recommend to almost everyone, with very few exceptions.
Sunlight!
One of the most powerful, yet underrated, ways to optimise your health is to expose your eyes and skin to natural sunlight as soon as possible after waking. Morning sun anchors your circadian rhythm, helping to regulate sleep, hormone production, and mood.
Natural light in the morning tells the brain to reduce melatonin (the sleep hormone) and boost cortisol (in healthy amounts), which helps you feel alert and energized. Just 15 minutes of morning sunlight, ideally before 9am, can set the tone for your day and night. The morning light also assures that your body is primed to start producing melatonin later in the day, in preparation for sleep.
Avoid sunglasses and allow the light to enter your eyes indirectly (never look directly at the sun), and if possible, combine your morning light with gentle movement such as a walk, stretch, or breathing exercises. Stepping outside in the morning might be the simplest, cheapest yet most significant change you can make to get better sleep.
In northern latitudes, at this time of year, you don’t need sunscreen. In fact, at any time of year, you only need it if you’re going to be exposed at peak burning times. Too much sunscreen not only prevents the skin from producing vitamin D, it also disrupts the skin’s microbiome. I realise this is controversial, but don’t take my word for it, instead listen to what the dermatologist, Dr Véronique Bataille, has to say.
Replenish!
Mornings can be taxing on your adrenal glands, especially if your body is running on stress hormones. An adrenal cocktail, a simple blend of vitamin C, sodium, and potassium, can help nourish and support your adrenal health. This is my recipe. Failing that, a good electrolyte supplement will also do the job.
Move!
Move regularly throughout the day, and try to do some form of sustained exercise (at least 30 minutes) five or six times a week. This can be anything from walking, cycling, swimming to dancing, strength training, or yoga. Do whatever you enjoy and feels sustainable for you.
Frequent movement throughout the day helps improve circulation, reduce stiffness, and boost energy levels, especially if you spend long hours sitting. And regular sustained exercise strengthens the heart and lungs, improves muscle tone and flexibility, supports healthy weight management, and plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of chronic conditions.
Exercise also has great benefits for mental health; it reduces stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression, while enhancing mood, focus, and sleep quality through the release of endorphins and other brain-boosting chemicals. Consistent movement and exercise are among the most effective and accessible ways to support both physical vitality and emotional well-being.
Eat!
One of the most important steps you can take for your health is to prioritise whole, unprocessed, nutrient-dense foods. While modern medicine has its place, many chronic conditions can be improved, sometimes even reversed, through dietary changes. Include some form of protein at all meals, especially breakfast. Focus on seasonal vegetables, wild-caught fish, grass-fed meat, organic fruit, and fermented food (kimchi, kefir and sauerkraut).
As obvious as this sounds, eat only when hungry! So often people reach for food as a crutch when they’re bored, tired, stressed or in need of comfort. And remember that you will only stop feeling hunger when you have satisfied your protein requirements.
Highly processed seed oils (rapeseed, corn, sunflower…) are inflammatory and contribute to oxidative stress in the body. Replace them with traditional fats such as extra virgin olive oil, butter or ghee, coconut oil and duck fat.
The Mediterranean diet, rich in healthy fats along with vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish, and herbs, is one of the most researched and beneficial dietary patterns. It supports heart health, cognitive function, and longevity. Your diet doesn’t have to be perfect, but you should really move away from ultra-processed and industrial foods.
Breathe!
The way you breathe directly affects your nervous system. Mouth breathing contributes to stress, poor sleep and dental issues. Nasal breathing, on the other hand, supports proper oxygenation, nitric oxide production, and nervous system regulation. Aim to breath slowly through your nose, with your lips sealed. Methods such as box breathing, alternate nostril breathing, or mouth taping can help retrain your breathing. See the Buteyko Method.
Relate!
Loneliness is as detrimental to health as smoking. Humans are wired for connection, so try to establish meaningful connections with people who uplift, challenge, and inspire you. Make time for proper conversation, shared meals, acts of kindness… Health isn’t just about what you eat or how you move, but also how supported and seen you feel.
Banish!
Just as some people feed your soul, others drain it. Emotional vampires (people who constantly criticise, manipulate, or demand) can sabotage your mental and physical health.
Make a conscious effort to distance yourself from toxic dynamics by setting boundaries, reducing contact, and prioritising people who respect and support you.Avoid!
If sunlight is your friend in the morning, then darkness is your healer at night. Exposure to artificial blue light from screens (phones, TVs, laptops) in the evening suppresses melatonin production and interferes with your body’s ability to wind down and subsequently sleep.
Ideally, aim to turn off screens at least 1–2 hours before bed. If that’s not practical, use blue light-blocking glasses or switch your ‘phone to ‘night shift’ to reduce blue light exposure.Sleep!
Try to be in bed before 11pm and aim for at least seven hours of sleep. It’s during sleep that your body repairs tissues, detoxifies, regulates hormones, and consolidates memory. The hours before midnight are especially restorative due to the natural circadian biology of melatonin and growth hormone production. Shortchanging sleep is like trying to run a race with no fuel; you may function, but you won’t thrive.
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Pineapple and strawberry cake and Quasimodo returns from London
Pineapple and strawberry cake Earlier this month, I drove from my home in southwestern France to St Malo, took the ferry to Portsmouth, and then headed to London. This was part experiment, part necessity: would I rack up as many fines in a French-plated car as I usually do in a hire car? Watch this space, they’ve yet to arrive!
Driving in the UK is like playing a complicated video game on nightmare mode. While trying to dodge potholes the size of small craters, you’re squinting nervously at speed limits that flicker up and down like bonus levels. One minute it’s 70mph, the next it’s 40, then 20, then 70 again, for absolutely no obvious reason. Perhaps just someone having a bad day? And the radars! I stopped counting at 42 between Portsmouth and London.
Roadworks pop up like surprise boss fights, and redundant cones stretch to infinity. Then the ultimate challenge: the giant roundabout, where hesitation is weakness and eye contact is a full-blown declaration of war. Throw in numerous one-way systems, a bit of rain, fog, and enough traffic to make you question your life choices, and you begin to wonder why you left home.
And don’t get me started on smart motorways. Are they sentient? Do they want to chat about philosophy or mathematical theorem? I’m not convinced by their intellectual credentials, but they certainly intimidate me no end.
After a hot, heavy, and emotional week of clearing out my mother’s house, it wasn’t just driving that was in nightmare mode; my poor body was too, and I seriously wondered whether I’d manage the return drive.
Wholewoman holistic pain relief
Enter Sarah, my guardian angel! Sarah is a lovely lady who came to collect a piece of furniture. She noticed me hobbling, groaning and wincing when I helped her move a piece of furniture, and said she thought she could help. She generously made time for me a couple of days later, and worked with me for nearly three hours. I was amazed by the transformation: from a limping, lopsided wreck to upright, mobile, and pain-free for the first time in months.
What I really appreciated about Sarah’s therapy is how holistic and empowering it is. As a former chronic pain sufferer, she really understands. She’s empathetic, skilled, and committed to helping people help themselves. Her approach is multi-disciplinary and in my case, she used massage, lymphatic drainage, red light therapy, breathing and movement exercises, and gave me practical tips to stay on track. I will be following up with her online very soon. You can find her here: www.wholewoman.club.
This is a perfect summer dessert. It’s light and fresh and the rum makes it deliciously decadent!
Recipe for pineapple and strawberry cake (serves 6-8)
For the sponge base:
- 3 eggs
- Vanilla essence
- 150g granulated sugar
- 150g flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 80ml rum
For the topping:
- 500ml milk
- 1 soup spoon cornflour
- 2 egg yolks, beaten
- 70g sugar
- Vanilla essence
- Fresh pineapple, cut into cubes
- Strawberries (or other red fruit) to decorate
Prepare a 28cm cake tin and preheat the oven to 180°C. Combine the eggs, vanilla essence and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for 20 minutes. Pour the rum over the cake and set aside.
Begin the custard topping by incorporating the cornflour into a small amount of milk and then adding the egg yolks. Pour the remaining milk into a large saucepan, add the sugar and vanilla essence, beat and bring to a simmer. Combine with the cornflour mixture and beat until the mixture thickens.
Pour the custard topping over the rum-soaked cake, and garnish with the pineapple and strawberries. Chill for at least 12 hours before serving.
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Kombucha, bossy, big brother Britain, and dead moles
Lemon and ginger kombucha 
I lived in London for the first 22 years of my life, and managed to dodge arrest. Admittedly I resorted to mild flirtation on occasion, but still, my point stands. In the past five years, every single time I go back — which is very frequently — I seem to break at least one law, more often several, and mostly inadvertently.
I’ve always considered France to be far more authoritarian than the UK; in reality it’s bordering on a police state. Having said that, in France, it is generally accepted that laws are made to be broken. By comparison, in the outwardly-welcoming UK, you are likely to be breaking ‘stealth’ laws without even knowing. And these ‘stealth’ laws have a life of their own and multiple at an alarming rate.
Every single time I am in London, in a hire car, I get at least one parking ticket, and one speeding ticket. Even using Satnav/GPS, it’s far too easy to break the speed limit. WTF is it with all the 20mph zones splattered everywhere? It’s dangerous too; I spend more time nervously glancing at the speed limit on Waze than I do looking at the road! And the so-called ‘smart roads’ emit very uncomfortable, tyrannical vibes.
When I went in June, I outdid myself with a parking ticket, two speeding tickets and a threat of a £1,000 fine from TV licensing (totally unwarranted — they just didn’t believe there were no televisions in a five bedroom house). The worst thing is, the parking fine was for stopping, not even parking. What happens if you break down? Do you get fined for that too?
I start to feel guilty before disembarking from the plane now. It’s unnerving and I hate it. Next month I’m driving to London. Watch this space for details of the havoc I’ll create with French number plates and a left-hand drive car!
I know of several laws I’ll be breaking before I even get there: It’s apparently illegal to carry a plank of wood along a pavement, and it’s illegal to be drunk in a pub. I’ll certainly do the former as I’m in the process of emptying the garage of my mother’s house, and possibly the later when drowning my sorrows over all the fines I’ll be accumulating!
Another thing that is unnerving me at the moment, is Java’s insistence on trailing a dead mole everywhere with her, like a security blanket. It’s not too bad when she and her ‘cuddly toy’ are outside, but the other night she brought it into bed with her (I want to point out that I hadn’t realised, or I’d have confiscated it!). Still, luckily for Java I’m very easy-going and won’t be arresting her for molicide. That said, I am trying to wean her off the dead mole with something a little less putrid!
Health benefits of kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented tea that offers health benefits, primarily due to its probiotic, antioxidant and bioactive compounds.
Gut health is improved as kombucha’s probiotics help balance your gut microbiome, benefiting digestion, and aiding constipation, diarrhea and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Kombucha also supports immune health as it contains antioxidants and B vitamins that help protect cells from damage. The fermentation process increases antioxidant levels in the drink and helps protect against cell damage linked to chronic illnesses.
Compounds that are formed during the fermentation process can help combat harmful bacteria and may help liver detoxification. Kombucha also helps regulate blood sugar levels, and reduces fat accumulation.
Recipe for kombucha (makes 1 litre)
Ingredients:
- 1 litre water (preferably filtered)
- 2 tablespoons black or green tea (loose or in tea bag form)
- 80g cane sugar
- 1 SCOBY (kombucha culture)
- 100ml previously fermented kombucha (starter)
Equipment:
- Large glass jar (at least 1 litre capacity)
- Clean cloth and rubber band to cover the jar
- Airtight glass bottle (optional for second fermentation)
Bring the water to a boil, add the tea and steep for 15 minutes. Remove the tea (either using a tea strainer, or by removing the teabags), and dissolve the sugar in the hot tea. Allow the tea and sugar mixture to cool at room temperature. Pour the cooled tea into the glass jar, and add the starter kombucha and SCOBY. Cover with the cloth and secure with the rubber band.
Leave the mixture to ferment at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, for 7-10 days. Taste after a week and leave to ferment longer if you want more acidity/less sweetness. When the kombucha is ready, remove the SCOBY for your next batch. Pour the kombucha into bottles and ferment a further 2-3 day for added fizziness before refrigerating.
The kombucha will now be ready to drink. If you would like flavoured kombucha, you should add the desired fruit, herbs or spices just before bottling.
Ideas for flavours:
- Lemon and ginger
- Strawberry and basil
- Raspberry and lime
- Peach and thyme
- Mixed herbs
- Mojito
- Apple and cinnamon
- Orange and mint
- Vanilla and orange zest
- Pineapple and raspberry
- Chai spices
Use fresh fruits and herbs for the best flavours, and bear in mind that these should be added after the initial fermentation, during bottling, for best results.
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Naughty but knife at the airport, and reclaiming your health in midlife
The Gironde Estuary and Médoc vineyards I’m writing this from Bordeaux airport, where once again, my flight is delayed five hours due to technical problems. Get your act together BA!
My son, Léo, who always mocks me mercilessly for getting stopped by airport security (I fit the drug mule profile to a T), got his comeuppance today. The x-ray machine flagged a knife at the bottom of his computer case. It wasn’t an innocuous penknife either; it was a really heavy-duty ‘don’t mess with me’ sort of switchblade, the sort you would expect to come across in a dark alley at three in the morning. Security took him aside and asked him about it—interrogated him really—and he explained that he’d forgotten it was there, and that he mostly used it to trim the grapevines and slice his lunchtime chorizo sausage! They confiscated the knife and let him go, presumably having reached the conclusion that a potential terrorist probably wouldn’t spontaneously roll out the vine and chorizo excuse.
I exchanged my Mother of a Terrorist hat for my Natural Health Coach hat and had a conversation with Tamsin Jardinier of Unfolding Conversations, on the topic of reclaiming your health during midlife.
Tamsin offers whole-centered coaching to support high-achieving women, leaders, creatives, and entrepreneurs who are ready to reimagine life and work to create success on their own terms, and live a life they truly love.
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White fish with lemon and parsley sauce and Ikea for turtle doves
White fish with lemon and parsley sauce I adore doves and the gorgeous turtle dove lovebirds from last year are once again back on our terrace. They’re beginning to make their nest for the summer, but it’s not without complications. They seemed to bicker (quite loudly) for a few days about where the said nest should go; location, location, location isn’t just for humans!
They now appear to have agreed on the right place, and enjoy twig shopping while we’re sitting on the terrace eating. As their future nest is perched in the wisteria directly above the table, it means that our plates end up seasoned with bits of twig and dead leaves. Luc took pity, because more twigs were dropped than positioned, and placed a small plank of wood under the soon-to-be nest, moving fallen twigs from the floor onto the plank. I think he might add some nuts and bolts, and perhaps some simple instructions Ikea-style, because so far, things are looking very precarious.
Turtle dove taking a rest from his construction works This lemon and parsley sauce works well with any white fish. I used hake.
Recipe for white fish with lemon and parsley sauce (serves 4)
- 15g butter
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 1/2 fennel bulb, chopped
- 480g fresh white fish
- 150ml dry white wine
- 150ml vegetable stock
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the sauce:
- 50g butter
- 40g plain flour
- 500ml milk
- Small bunch of parsley, finely chopped
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Melt the butter in a pan over a medium-low heat, then add the flour. Stir for a few minutes until a paste forms. Gradually pour in the milk, stirring continuously until all the milk has been incorporated and the sauce coats the back of a spoon. If the sauce is lumpy, stir rapidly a few minutes more. Bring to a simmer and bubble for 1 min. Remove from the heat and stir through the parsley. Add the lemon juice and seasoning.
Place the butter in a medium frying pan and melt, add the chopped shallot and fennel and cook until translucent. Add the fish, white wine and stock and bring to a gentle boil for about five minutes, or until the fish is cooked. Strain the fish and season, then serve with the sauce.
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Shiitake mushrooms on sourdough toast and a wildlife update
Shiitake mushrooms on sourdough toast After an absence of 100 years, there are wolves again in the Landes area, presumably having migrated from the Pyrenees. One was spotted a few weeks ago, not very far away, in fact alarmingly close-by. Meanwhile, Java, our own little wolf, has been busy keeping the wild pigs at bay, although it’s not clear who has been chasing who; yesterday she took off after some wild piglets, only to be chased back into my arms by their mother.
Traumatised removal men
Java is not the only one to be intimidated by the local wildlife. We had a furniture delivery the other week, and the removal men asked if they could park their lorry in the grounds overnight, as it was nearly midnight. The next morning, as the burly, six-pack-sporting chaps deposited the furniture in the house, they looked somewhat ashen. I asked if they had slept well, and they admitted they hadn’t slept a wink due to horses galloping, pigs squealing, deer barking and owls hooting. They had arrived in the dark, and hadn’t appreciated quite how off the beaten track we were. They gave me a very odd look when I said that I often wandered around outside at night, unarmed. I didn’t dare mention our new friend the wolf – I thought they were sufficiently traumatised!
Cowering from the wolves and pigs The birds
A bird has made her nest in our letterbox. In view of the size of the letterbox, and the comparative size of the bird, this means that she’s basically nabbed herself a palace. As she seems determined to stay in her palace, I wrote a note for the postman, asking him to deliver directly to the house until the chicks have fled the nest.
Another bird, an Eurasian hoopoe, has taken a violent dislike to our kitchen windows, which he keeps attacking with his long, pointy beak. Or at least that’s what I thought until I looked into the matter; it turns out that whenever he sees himself in a reflection, such as glass or water, he thinks he’s looking at a rival and launches himself into attack mode. He’s very beautiful, but none too bright!
The Eurasian Hoopoe attacking the windows Shiitake mushrooms are bursting with nutrients and impressive immunomodulating properties. They are also absolutely delicious!
Recipe for shiitake mushrooms on sourdough toast
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 300g shiitake, sliced
- 2 slices sourdough bread
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Splash of white wine
- 100g crème fraîche
- Parsley, chopped to garnish
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and add the shiitake mushrooms. Sauté the mushrooms for about five minutes, until golden brown, add the garlic and continue to cook for a minute. Toast the sourdough bread. Add the seasoning, the splash of wine and crème fraîche to the shiitake and cook for a further minute. Place the mushrooms on the toast and garnish with parsley.
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Méli-mélo mushroom pie and holding the straight line
Méli-mélo mushroom pie My new functional mushroom page
I am very enthusiastic about mushrooms at the moment, which explains this méli-mélo mushroom pie, and also my new page on functional mushrooms. Please take a look!
Luc has fixed ideas about how a shopping caddy should be filled, emptied onto the conveyor belt, and transferred into bags. And also about how the surrounding people in the shop should behave while he is performing these actions. My charitable self thinks this is very useful as I have no brain space whatsoever dedicated to these matters; my uncharitable self thinks he’s a bit of a pain in the arse about it.
During our last shopping trip, the cashier watched him scold the lady behind us in the queue for ‘conveyor belt harassment’, only to be scolded herself a few seconds later for disrespect towards his orderly packing. I just stood by, watching, enjoying my bubbling-up internal hysterics. As we were leaving, the cashier said to me: ‘I’m willing to bet you don’t ever get bored!’
Gentle insanity
On the subject of gentle insanity, it struck me the other day that visiting neighbours, at least our neighbours, is not something for the faint-hearted. One neighbour greeted me recently with an enormous hammer in her hand. When I pointed out that the hammer was unnerving, she said: ‘you’ll be fine as long as you don’t annoy me!’ I held a long conversation with another neighbour who was wielding an idling chainsaw, and yet another neighbour swung for Luc (who ducked successfully) and ended up on his knees.
I morphed into an annoying mechanical wind-up toy
I am only able to walk in very straight lines for the time-being. After a three-year hiatus, I went skiing last week with Léo, in our favourite Pyrenees resort. My ski boots were too loose for optimum control (according to the ski-hire man, my calves are unusually dainty compared with my big feet), which was fine until it wasn’t. On a steep icy run, I ended up going head over ski, and poor Léo had to extricate my limbs and skis from improbably chaotic positions. (Funnily enough, I opened The Times this morning to an article entitled ‘Skiing: Should you give it up at 50?‘).
When I eventually managed to stand up and put my skis back on, I realised that I could only ski in straight lines (I later found out I had injured the cross ligaments in my knee). As we were as far from the hotel as we could possibly be, this made for a long, straight, torturous trek back. Now, with my leg in a splint, I can only walk in straight lines, like one of those noisy mechanical wind-up children’s toys that you have to physically pick up to turn in another direction, or a city-dwelling pigeon. Why do pigeons in towns always walk, really fast, in unnaturally straight lines? My current ambition is to be able to navigate corners within a month or so. The bar is low.
Intact, before the fall 
My saviour Recipe for méli-mélo mushroom pie (serves 6)
- 400g puff pastry (here is my recipe)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 30g butter
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 700 grams mixed fresh mushrooms (I used shiitake, porcini, pleurote and button mushrooms in equal parts), roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh sage, thyme and parsley, chopped
- Freshly ground black pepper and sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 100 ml dry white wine
- 150mg crème fraîche
Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a 25cm non-stick tart tin with the pastry, setting aside enough pastry to make a top.
Heat the olive oil and butter in a large frying pan and add the shallots and mushrooms. Cover and leave to cook for about 15 minutes, or until the mushrooms have softened, then add the garlic and seasoning and set aside. Add the white wine to deglaze and then the crème fraîche, mixing well.
Distribute the mushroom mixture on the pastry in the lined tart tin, cover the tart with the pastry top and brush with egg yolk. Cook for 25 minutes. Delicious served hot or cold!
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Happy new year 2025 and seeing the light
The sun setting on 2024 I would like to wish everyone a happy 2025 filled with peace and happiness, health and vitality, abundance and joy!
Léo and I went to London for Christmas, leaving Luc in charge of the animals. If it weren’t for my mother in London, I wouldn’t choose to travel at Christmas because it always ends up being some version of overcrowded, sneezing, snorting, drunken, vomiting, foggy, stormy bedlam. Last Christmas both our outbound and inbound flights were delayed by named storms. This year, our return flight was delayed for five hours due to fog. When we finally arrived home at 3am, I felt as if I’d been run over by herd of rhinos, and hadn’t seen natural light for days.
Something that always strikes me is how early it gets dark in London in the winter; it’s not surprising there’s more SAD/depression in the northern latitudes. I recently read an enlightening book, ‘Change your Diet, Change your Mind’, by Dr Georgia Ede, a psychiatrist specialising in nutritional and metabolic psychiatry.
Back in France: Super windy, but at least it’s still light at 6pm! Metabolic psychiatry sees mental health challenges as problems rooted in brain metabolism. This perspective is gradually changing how doctors address mental health conditions and offers powerful, practical, and safe nutrition-based solutions, accessible to everyone. The approach also often ends up reducing or eliminating the need for psychiatric drugs.
In her book, Dr Ede says that for so many years, mental health issues were viewed as ‘chemical imbalances’ to be treated with medication (often SSRIs, tested on mice. How can you tell if a mouse is depressed?). While these drugs have helped many, their efficacy is often limited in both scope and time, and come with side effects like fatigue, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction.
A pasta-loving mouse
Talking of mice, there is a mouse that visits our cupboard to snack on raw tagliatelle (the tagliatelle is in a very noisy plastic bag, which now has lots of mouse-size holes). He always visits when I’m on the phone, and this morning I was on a very complicated call with the bank. The mouse was making so much noise burrowing amongst the tagliatelle in the noisy plastic bag that I had to repeatedly kick the cupboard door, really loudly, as I didn’t fancy a face-to-face confrontation. The bank employee ended up asking what the loud banging noise was, and I was forced to explain the rodent situation. The good news is that the bank conversation was delayed until I was ‘less preoccupied’; the bad news is that the mouse has become immune to my kicking.
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Yuzu roast chicken with garlic and herbs and all sorts of disobedience
Yuzu roast chicken with garlic and herbs While I was last in London 10 days ago, Luc was forced to stage an intervention when a procession of seven armoured vehicles, containing AK 47-toting soldiers got lost and ended up in the garden. If I’d been alone in the house, I think I might have been intimidated by the sight of a battalion rocking up in front of the house. Luc, not so much; he went outside, scantily clad, and escorted them off the property in reverse, to avoid damaging the lawn. He then sent them on their way, gently mocking the fact that they’d managed to get lost, despite their state of the art navigation systems. It takes some nerve to take the piss out of a bunch of soldiers with loaded machine guns, doesn’t it?
Escorting the army off the property While Luc handles a battalion with ease, I struggle with a single naughty puppy. The puppy in question belongs to our neighbours and I have been taking him, their other dog and Java out during the day while they are at work. I thought, proudly, that I had everything in hand, and even convinced myself that I could easily manage a couple more dogs, when the little minx leapt up and grabbed the trailing cord my keys were on from my pocket. A frenetic, zigzagging chase through the pine trees ensued, culminating in me having to throw myself over the over-excited wriggler, rugby tackle-style. Dignified it was not, but I did regain possession of my mud-covered, dribble-splattered door keys.
Unbridled black and white mischief 
Pine-scented chaos Recipe for yuzu roast chicken with garlic and herbs (serves 4)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 5 garlic cloves, 1 of which should be crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped rosemary, plus 2 rosemary sprigs
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme, plus 2 thyme sprigs
- 1/2 teaspoon finely grated yuzu zest (or lemon zest)
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 chicken, gutted
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 yuzu, cut into wedges (you can use a lemon instead)
- 1 cup chicken stock
Preheat the oven to 180°C. In a bowl, mix the butter with the crushed garlic, chopped herbs, and the yuzu zest, then season with salt and pepper. Rub the herb butter all over the chicken, piercing the chicken skin with a fork to allow the butter to seep in, then place in a roasting tin. Add the sliced onion, remaining garlic cloves and the yuzu to the top of the chicken, as well as the remaining sprigs of herbs. Pour the chicken stock over the top and roast in the oven for an hour.
Delicious served with butternut purée and green beans.
Yuzu health benefits
Yuzu is a citrus plant and fruit that belongs to the the Rutaceae family. It is often described as a cross between a grapefruit, lime and mandarin orange. It has a distinctly sour flavour, which is much more intensely fragrant than lemon. Its oil is extracted and revered for its therapeutic effect.
The yuzu is highly nutritious, particularly high is vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin A and copper. It also contains powerful plant compounds such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and limonoids, which act as antioxidants in the body. In addition, hesperidin and naringin act as anticoagulants and antioxidants which protect the brain.
The scent of yuzu oil is particularly soothing, potentially helping reduce tension and anxiety. In one study it was shown to decrease stress markers, such as mood disturbance, tension, depression, anger, and confusion.