A major part of family life in Périgord is centered on the traditional preparation of conserves, and family recipes are jealously guarded secrets.
Sunny mornings in early autumn, after a few days of rain, are the time for gathering basketfuls of cèpes. A few go into the cooking pot to be savoured straight away, but most of them are cooked and then bottled. December is devoted to the geese and ducks. After plucking, there is a moment of excitement as the liver is carefully taken out and weighed. Next the wings and legs are separated and used to make the best conserves. The fat is put aside and kept for conserving and for preparing Périgordian dishes, to which it gives their characteristic taste. November to January is the season for gathering truffles. These are preserved in their own juice and used to flavour omelettes, for example, transforming the simplest of dishes into a gourmet experience. These conserves prepared in Périgord's farms and country houses provide delicious meals cheaply and help carry families through the difficult seasons in the year. Winter is also the season when the pigs are slaughtered, while summer is devoted to growing asparagus and beans.
Sunny mornings in early autumn, after a few days of rain, are the time for gathering basketfuls of cèpes. A few go into the cooking pot to be savoured straight away, but most of them are cooked and then bottled. December is devoted to the geese and ducks. After plucking, there is a moment of excitement as the liver is carefully taken out and weighed. Next the wings and legs are separated and used to make the best conserves. The fat is put aside and kept for conserving and for preparing Périgordian dishes, to which it gives their characteristic taste. November to January is the season for gathering truffles. These are preserved in their own juice and used to flavour omelettes, for example, transforming the simplest of dishes into a gourmet experience. These conserves prepared in Périgord's farms and country houses provide delicious meals cheaply and help carry families through the difficult seasons in the year. Winter is also the season when the pigs are slaughtered, while summer is devoted to growing asparagus and beans. 
