Celebrations and Resolutions

As the new year approaches, I (like everyone else in this country) feel the desire to make a resolution.  Then I read my blog post from last new year's and reconsidered.  There are a couple items on that list that didn't get accomplished...hmmm.  Maybe the year wasn't as long as it used to be?  Maybe I've changed a bit and it's not quite as important as it seemed last year?   I was feeling guilty, angry at myself and then my friend, Aimee Weeber, posted this on her Facebook:

Sometimes we need to be reminded: "Today, you should celebrate what an unbelievable life you have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make you stronger. Just as a gem cannot be polished without friction, nor can a life be perfected without trials. Take a time to acknowledge your life and to praise yourself." (anon)

This coming from one of the most creative, kind, hard-working woman I've ever met!  I forgot to mention she's also beautiful and FUN!  

Summer at Lake Michigan with the family

Our Jamie turns 16

Our puppy "Pierre"

Andy and Erika on FOX2 News

So today I will be doing just that!  John and I have had tremendous joys and blessings this year and trials that are best left in 2010.  I can keep last year's resolutions rolling into 2011 and celebrate what has been accomplished in 2010.  

I have planned our New Years Eve of looking back at 2010 and remembering the incredible year we experienced! 

Paris France 2010

Julia Tecumseh High School Graduation 2010

Lenawee Business Leadership Award; Tecumseh Trolley took us in high style!!!

Possibilities of Duck Fat

I'm using this space as a way to work through the possibilities swimming in my brain. I bought a ball of duck fat today...for $3. I am too excited about using it tomorrow. What to make first?

Every time I went into a store in Paris in April, I was so irritated that I couldn't buy duck fat in a can to bring home (pesky customs and all that) so you can imagine my pleasure in finding this "ball o' fat"!

I'm off to soak in the tub and peruse cookbooks...will let you know how it all works out! I also purchased a plethora (do you not LOVE that word!) of other meats, one unidentifiable, so will be burning up blogspot with some new recipes this week!!!

French days I'm remembering...

We are still in "Post Paris Bliss" and now that I'm not sharing a computer with 3 daughters, 6 hours ahead of America, I am able to put memories and photos in order!

If you are thinking of visiting Paris these are a few out of the way spots we really loved! There will be no particular order to these posts. ENJOY!

On our last full day in Paris we met up with a fellow Tecumseh-ite and friend, Mel Dickerson (he traveled France for a MONTH-LUCKY!) at Jardin du Luxembourg. It was a beautiful walk from our apartment thru the 6th Arrondissement passing sights like Sainte Chapelle, Saint-Germain-des-Pres a beautiful fountain at St Michel and of course some major sites too! We loved the outdoor booksellers, corner bistros and and as we got closer to Sorbonne and the gardens, the vitality of students! I especially enjoyed a fountain erected by Catherine de Medici at Jardin du Luxembourg. We decided to eat near the Sorbonne campus and passed the Pantheon without going in. I will have to see Victor Hugo on my next trip! We ate at a lovely bistro with fantastic food!

Mel and I enjoyed Quiche Lorraine, John and Jamie weren't quite as keen on their "meat patty", but the potatoes were yummy! Julia got a vegetarian platter with the most delicious salads that (I am working on replicating) were cold and beautifully presented!

I will finish up the day another time...lots to talk about! Au revoir!

Sunday Sights; Eiffel Tower

Sunday Morning we braved the metro, it was very simple and we listened to a man playing his trumpet for a bit of change! On our way to Paris' most beloved sight of the Eiffel Tower. It was magnificent! We entered from the south and walked up through the grand gardens, with people having picnics, walking dogs and hanging out. The closer we got, we realized the structure is absolutely huge! We decided not to go up, as the top floor was closed and the lines were tremendously long, so we wandered around the perimeter, enjoyed a beautiful garden with a waterfall and soaked up the sun!

Lunch was at a small cafe several blocks south of the tower, on a lively street with a market and throngs of people! I was in the mood for pasta, but you can imagine my surprise when my "Carbonara" was delivered to the table! What to do? I stirred it up and ate it! In the wise words of my 15 year old daughter, Jamie, "MOM, they are probably from a farm!"

The carbonara was delicious, and I forgot about the raw egg as soon as I had a sip of the Sauvignon Blanc sitting to my left!

Don't you want to try this at home?!?!?!

Birthday Supper

Whoops...we are moving at the speed of light in Paris to experience many things and ensure everyone sleeps well! I forgot to show you photos of my birthday supper. We decided on a tiny bistro in the Marais, about 25 seats and a lovely Prie Fixe menu and wine list called Le Petite Curieux. Our French is pretty shabby, but we could discern most of the foods on the menu, but not necessarily how they were prepared....hmmm, interesting! Our waitress/hostess knew very little english.

I went with the foie gras as an "entree" (appetizer) and got 2 half inch thick slices with tiny piles of salt and pepper. Indescribable and melt in your mouth! You have got to love a country that eats as much foie gras as France!

My "plat" was Tartare de Boeuf...Beef Tartare prepared with cornichons, capers and onions, lightly held together with a delicate mustard sauce! It was absolutely perfect! Add some tiny fresh potatoes brushed with butter, and a mixture of greens with vinaigrette, VIOLA!

John, Gina and Jamie had a duck confit with a sort of North African flair of warm spices and potatoes all wrapped in phyllo...so good! The chef made Julia a special plate of all vegetables with an aioli sauce...it was fresh and delicious as well!

A nice, young Cabernet Franc was the perfect wine pairing for these dishes!

We had stopped at the boulangerie earlier and picked up my birthday cake! Opera cake and Tarte Limon...we are full, but theres always room for dessert and coffee!

It was a special birthday to be in France with all of the family...I feel very grateful.

Making due ...

On Friday, our original 9am train from Paris to Amboise was cancelled and we were across town from the apartment...so we made the best of 5 hours, by walking across the street to Paris' Musuem of Natural History and Zoo! We meandered thru the grand gardens and visited the zoo. The zoo was an interesting blend of leopards, snakes, birds, etc...and a huge donkey! The donkey didn't say a word until a group of preschoolers came over and then he went nuts! It was adorable! The whole time was chill and natural and beautiful with trees and flowers in bloom.

At Gare d'Austerlitz we finally started the journey to Amboise. I had never had the opportunity to purchase a train ticket that didn't guarantee you a seat (?!?!?!) so it was a bit chaotic boarding the trains.

On to Amboise!

Photos...

I LOVE PARIS! Surprisingly friendly, always a "Bon Jour" and "Merci", even on the streets...not at all what I had heard people talk about. the French have been very patient with us and willing to help us order, give directions, cut cheese and pate and give us room on the sidewalks. I like that all prices are displayed in the windows with the items for sale (easy to know whether it's affordable or not!) and the window displays are absolutely so beautiful! I have been inspired to make my windows at the Market lovely too! We picked a lovely Vin du Pays from the Savoie (white) from this wine merchant and Gina picked out a lovely white bordeaux. Julia selected the nasty-ist, gray skinned goat cheese (delicious!) from the fromagerie and we have been frequent patrons to the cafe across the street, note my cappucino from this am!

Bon Jour!

We arrived in Le Marais yesterday at 1pm local time and LOVE the apartment! French, tiny and charming! As we were completely jet lagged, yet not too tired to find some fromage (cheese) and baguettes we set off to explore our neighborhood. The Marais district is a lovely neighborhood with many bakeries, fromageries, wine shops and cafes. We explored the local grocery store, florist and Enfants Rouges, Paris' oldest covered market. While many vendors were not open, we found some beautiful produce, homemade ravioli ( from a Napoli native) wine, tangines dinners, cheese, mushrooms and more! (See photo of our dinner, and more on Facebook; The Boulevard Market) While jet lag was making monsters of us all, we had a lovely cheese/baguette supper in our apartment complete with Cahors Malbec. Magnificent! Raw milk Vacherin Mont d'or, tiny, creamy, Brebis, hard, green/grey nubs of goat cheese and garlicky Gaperon. Meat and vegetables consisted of Fresh Mozzarella rolled with arugula, proscuitto, sundried tomatoes...

I have to say, I'm surprised at how many cheeses are the same as we carry at The Market! I am so excited that we can procure such great stuff for Tecumseh-ites!

I am looking forward to breakfast at our local Boulangerie, tomorrow is on to tourist sites of Notre Dame, Bastille, Place des Vosges and the Jewish area of the Marais.

If you haven't had cheese for supper, still on the paper, broken baguette and a slice of pate...do it today and experience Paris through flavor!