Among other minor blips this week, there was a bigger crisis: our rescue cat Domino, beloved member of our French family and cat-mayor of our village, passed away. You may have met Domino on this blog, as he has made several guest appearances in the eight happy years he has been our cat.
So in my weepy state, I took solace in the kitchen. Time to make a ragoût. Ragoût of course being the French word for stew.
I came across Martha Rose Shulman’s recipe this week for Mushroom Ragoût. Now we’ve cooked a mushroom mélange before on this blog, and it’s a meaty, go-to vegetarian dish for me. Her recipe is somewhat different, more of a stew or a gravy. What I really liked was this idea she offered: make a big batch of it on a week-end, and use it in recipes all week long.
Here’s what you can do with this versatile ragoût: serve it over grits or rice or pasta, as a sauce. Use it as a gravy for meats. Put it on toast and top it with a fried egg. You could make a mushroom tart. Or do what I did: make quesadillas.
And since we’re in French mode, why not French quesadillas? I stuffed them with the ragoût and some gruyère, then a simple topping of creme fraîche and chives. Excellent comfort food, in difficult times or any time.
RECIPE: French Quesadillas, with Mushroom Ragoût
I have tweaked her recipe a bit; I find a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a generous splash of soy sauce really brighten up a mess of mushrooms. Also she uses both fresh and dried mushrooms, but I’ve simplified mine with just fresh (if you want to use dried, follow her instructions, here.) I used a mixture of varieties, but use all creminis if you like. If you’re using this as a sauce for beef, try adding red wine instead of the white.
6-ish servings
For the Ragoût:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 shallots finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound white or cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 pound wild mushrooms, sliced
Salt to taste
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 cup or more of dry white wine
1 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
juice of half a lemon
1 tablespoon of soy sauce
Freshly ground pepper
a handful of finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
In a large skillet, cook the shallots in hot oil for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn the heat up a bit and add the mushrooms, garlic, thyme and rosemary and a good pinch of sea salt. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mushrooms will release their liquid. Stir in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes, then add half the wine. Turn the heat up and cook and stir for 5 minutes until the wine reduces and glazes the mushrooms. Add the rest of the wine and turn down to a simmer. Cook about 10 more minutes, stirring often(you may have to add more wine). At the end you should have a thick broth. Stir in the lemon juice, soy sauce and parsley.
For the Quesadillas:
Heat a bit of oil in a black skillet. Spread 2 corn tortillas with mushroom ragoût and place in skillet. Top with grated gruyère, then another tortilla. When brown (just a couple of minutes), flip them over carefully and cook until browned. Remove to a warm plate and top with creme fraiche or sour cream, and chopped chives or scallions.
Photo left: Bye-bye, my darling Domino! Thank you all for your comments on Facebook, I was really touched.
In the COMMENTS: Beth, glad the steaks turned out well! Chris, love the Romantic Tuscan cooking class; you and Bonnie share my thougts about beef, and I have to be a bit flexible, living as I do in a country where being a vegetarian is a bit strange. Varya, thanks for the ideas for other French sites and learning sites, and I think French Word a Day is everyone's favorite. And by the way, I don't use the P-word lightly (and never, before Trump), but, as in the women's march, to remind the world what a crude and crass president we have, and to disapprove of his language when he's talking about women. I'm not usually political, but I can't remain silent about this. To "Moi", I believe respect is earned, not automatic just because of a title. Thanks to all, for sharing your thoughts.
Resistance Notes, for those who are interested (and if you're not interested in politics, stop reading here!): I've been waiting for a resistance organization to emerge as a leader. I'm thinking Indivisable is in the lead, any other thoughts? It's a group of former congressional staffers, and they are modeling their approach on the Tea Party methods (except with progressive principles), who were effective in their efforts at organizing a resistance. They have an excellent website. There is also a good calendar of town hall meetings at the Town Hall Project.
16 thoughts on “In a Stew? Make a Ragoût”
Hi Lyn, from here in Australia, we struggle to understand president Trump. I find your comments heartening, to know that not all Americans support his policies. I know that we have our own problems in Australia with, for example, our immigration policies, But to follow the developments in the US with this new style of leadership is worrying in the extreme. It is encouraging to read your comments and those of your readers, to know that other, more rational views, prevail. Keep it up!
Lynn, we were so sorry to hear about Domino. We will miss his patrol of our garden and telltale footprints over the car to let us know he’s been keeping watch. Qu’il repose en paix. Rest in peace Domino xx
Lynn, again I applaud you for your courage to mention polotics in your blog. I agree that Indivisible is a wonderful resource and a worthy cause for donation as well as inspiring grass roots activism. And the ragout looks great!!
I don’t feel politics belong on your blog. I’ve enjoyed receiving your blog for a number of years now. I enjoy reading about your life in France, which I thought the blog was about, not about politics in America.
I’m so sorry and very sad to hear about Domino Lynn. It’s one of those difficult parts of life to lose a sweet little friend like this.
On another note, I’m going to send you a photo of the crazed pussy-man today,(slightly altered) Oh dear, did I say that awful P word? I guarantee it will make you laugh.
So sorry for your loss. Domino was a beautiful kitty and I so enjoyed reding about him. Sincerest condolences, Kerry
Dear Lynn, I have been a silent reader of yours for several years, enjoying many commonalities with you. I too am a Southern transplant (Alabama to Califirnia), love France (come every year), and love cats (RIP, Domino). I want to thank you for your frankness in speaking out about current US politics. We must speak out and speak out again, especially those of us who lived through the civil rights era in the South. There is something happening here, and we must be informed, vigilant, and active if we care about our country, and more importantly, our world.
So sorry to hear about Domino, Lynn. Losing furry family members is terrible! Your recipe looks great! Thanks.
Margaret, PLEASE be assured that not all Americans support Trump!!! Remember that several million more people voted for Hillary than for T. And the resistance movement is strong and ongoing.
Lynn,
So deeply sorry to hear of your loss. Domino had a wonderful life. We understand the significance of losing a special furr friend. Bravo for your political comments! We just saw a segment on Indivisable on TV here in France last week. We are very much with you in your search for organized and positive resistance. Merci. Take care.
RIP Domino. We do love our cats! Lynn, I’m glad you’re expressing your dismay with our current administration. They seem intent on dismantling our government and institutions, terrifying vulnerable citizens and immigrants, and spooking the international community. Many of us believe it is important to speak up, resist, advocate for damage control at minimum, and work for change for a better future. Wish you’d been here for the Women’s March on Jan 21 – it was an amazing experience full of energy, joy, community. I like Indivisible, too, and donate to Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. If 45 starts a Muslim registry, I’m signing up in spite of being unaffiliated. It’s going to be a long, difficult four years for America. Your mushroom ragout sounds delicious!
Bonjour Gail in AZ, Like Lynn, I am an Expat spending the last 17 years in France and San Diego. In case you have missed it, the world is very concerned, read worried, about trump and his off the cuff comments, his vulgar language, his racism, shall I continue? As an American, voter, retired Commander in the US Navy, I am also very worried about America’s placement in the world order. Being an isolationist only opens the doors for the likes of Russia, North Korea, ISIS, and Syria. In my opinion, and every American has a right to express it, each of our citizens has the right AND responsibility to address discrimination in any form and particularly from your president! Of all people, he/she should be above hatred and discrimination, and I am very sad that he is not. I depend on a strong media to protect our democracy and our free speech. This is what I fought for during my 20 years in our country’s service AND yes, I fought for your right to disagree with me but not for your attempt to shut down or limit a person’s freedom to express their views, in any media or capacity. Nuff said.
Two days before leaving for a four-week trip to France and Italy with my youngest two (then 12 and 18) in 2000, I received a call at my office from the youngest–innocent Sam. He and his brother had gone to the pet store to get food for the three cats at home so my oldest would have food on hand while we were gone. He let me know that he had gotten two kittens in a box in front of the store and was that o.k.? Too late to say no; too annoyed to say yes. While we were not happy to have them under the circumstances, they have been wonderful pets. I dread the day when we must bid adieu. I so understand and appreciate your need to turn to a comforting recipe in response to your loss. I will put that Ragout recipe to the test and pull it out again when the time comes. With respect to your rabble rousing ways, keep it up!
I was wondering about the phrase” trumped up” as in charges. It appears that it comes from the French verb tromper, to deceive, which couldn’t be more apt!
This stupid man’s aide has refused entry to a White House briefing to the BBC and other quality news outlets on the grounds that they are disseminating ‘fake’ news. His favourite media outlet is Fox News. Say no more.
Lynn, sorry that you have lost Domino. It is always difficult when you lose a companion.
Gail, whether we like it or not politics is inserting itself into our lives and we ignore the present proceedings at our peril.
There is so much uncertainty at the moment with Trump in the USA and Brexit for us Brits retired here in France.
We would dearly like to live a quiet life down our lane here in the Clunysois, but we need to speak up for ourselves, via one of the pressure groups, because no one in UK will do it for us. We may lose our health cover, which means that whatever our status with regard to nationality, it will become too expensive to continue to live in France.
Divine comfort food for difficult times… so very sorry to hear about le chat. Take good care and no trumpery here! 😉