Mr. Pig came to our house today!

Il était très bien habillé pour l'ocasion!

More on the Little Crooked Cottage. 

Our favorite spaghetti with sardines anchovy breadcrumbs lemon arugula golden raisins

Crunchy, salty and sweet, a little bitter. I first tasted a pasta with breadcrumbs at Hemingway’s Bistro in Matera, Italy last summer. It was orchiette and rapini with breadcrumbs. Back home, strung out on Puglian cuisine, I googled breadcrumbs pasta, then adapted this recipe from a little saffron and rachel eats. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made it since then. It's our favorite.

spaghetti with sardines anchovy breadcrumbs lemon arugula golden raisins 

serves 4 

10 anchovy fillets

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

6 slices of baguette (toast to harden a little if bread is still soft)

3 cloves garlic chopped

2 - 4.375 oz cans sardines in oil

1/2 c golden raisins

zest and juice of 1 lemon

3 handfuls arugula

1/2 box spaghetti (#12)

First I put the pasta water and salt on to boil because it takes forever. 

Pulse bread in food processor for coarse crumbs. 

Place anchovies in a large sauté pan with 3 T olive oil and cook over low heat, until the anchovies disintegrate into the oil. about 3 minutes.

Add the breadcrumbs to the pan, turn up the heat to medium and stir until they turn golden. about 5 minutes. Spread the crumbs onto a paper-towel lined plate to crisp up.

Wipe the same pan clean with a paper towel. Heat 2 T olive oil, add garlic and sauté until soft but not colored. Add two cans of sardines with their oil. Break up the sardines. Stir in the golden raisins. Turn off the heat.

Cook and strain spaghetti. Pour into the pan with the sardine/garlic/raisins. Add lemon zest and juice. Add arugula. Toss with tongs over low heat to wilt the arugula. 

Place in pasta bowls. Top with anchovy breadcrumbs. If you have leftover crumps, store in a sealed jar in the fridge to use on salad or scrambled eggs.

canal st martin

provence, je t'aime

First Reviews Are In ; )

“Try and resist the charm of this book. Go ahead, try. See? I told you it was <i>impossible</i>(French-accent required)...and that is only the cover! In each of Jackie's paintings the details ring true and the vibrancy of the colors perfectly reflect Le Midi. I just find this book wonderful.” <b>Lost in Arles</b>

“The drawings are absolutely charming and Hudson is a winning narrator.”  <b><a href="http://annmah.net/2015/05/19/tuesday-dinner-with-jackie-clark-mancuso/" target="_blank">Ann Mah, Mastering the Art of French Eating</a></b>

“This lovable pooch quits trying to imitate the other dogs around him, in time to discover what his own talent is.”  <a href="http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com" target="_blank"><b>Kristin Espinasse, French Word-a-Day</b></a>

“My kids love these books!” Mama Smiles 

“Wishing to be in the south of France? Mancuso takes our sweet pup Hudson on a trip full of color and romance in this follow-up to Paris-Chien: Adventures of an Expat Dog.… in a fun, crude style with gouache, which makes us think of Maira Kalman. A-!” Cleveland Plain Dealer 

“Hudson teaches readers that we lose ourselves when we try to be like others....Children as young as three will be happy to sit through the story to find out what happens next.… And rest assured, you’ll want to take a trip to France after you’ve finished the book.” Smart Books for Smart Kids 

“[B]right, colorful scenes provide a fantastic backdrop to the story. Eager to see what adventures the small dog will experience, children will take a journey through another country while learning a little French.” DogChannel 

“Hudson in Provence was a very funny and entertaining book.” French Entrée, May June 2015

“I have a special place in my heart for books that take place in other countries…an adorable dog from Paris travels to Provence and tries to be like the local dogs…the message: we should be ourselves and use our own talents to make the world a better place.” Geo Librarian 

“You will be enchanted by the charming illustrations of this little dog’s French adventures. A delightful story for animal lovers young and old alike!” Modern Dog

“Hudson heads to the countryside where he meets a lot of canine friends. Gaston herds sheep. Philippe is a truffle hunter! What can Hudson do to become a Provençal dog? He begins to paint doggy portraits and holds an art show!” Good Reads With Ronna 

castellamare again

I had to paint this scene again, because it changes all the time. 

Smokey's Book Giveaway on French Word-A-Day

Book Giveaway on French Word-A-Day

Pub Day!

Hudson, the lovable pooch who first appeared in Paris-Chien: Adventures of an Expat Dog, is back and thirsting for new adventures — this time vacationing in the glorious south of France. 

Escaping the sweltering August heat of Paris, he is enchanted by the beauty of Provence and eager to  become a Provençal dog. But this city dog discovers he's flat-footed when it comes to herding sheep, has no snout when it comes to sniffing out truffles, and can barely pedal his bike in the Tour de France. It's only when he stops imitating the other dogs and follows his heart that he discovers his own unique talent.

I love oysters

I started this little painting a while ago and never finished it. Until today. Thinking about eating oysters from the market in Paris.

olive trees puglia

Beautiful old olive trees blurring by driving our rented cinque cento down the road in Puglia.

november morning a'dam

Waking up to this blue view is why we ask for the same room in the same hotel on the Amstel when we go to international documentary film festival in a'dam.

Castellemmare Beach 2015