Yesterday was the last day of Ramadan, and today we are celebrating the breaking of the fast by getting dressed up and... what else... EATING! Traditionally, this is a day meant to be spent with family, but because it's a Tuesday and we work, this wasn't really possible. We were going to have breakfast together but the guy's were at the mosque for so long that it was time for lunch and work when they finished. So my guy and I shared a baguette with butter and jam before he headed off to work. So here I am, sitting in my apartment, all dressed up with nowhere to go! Okay, that's kind of a lie... I swapped out my pretty blouse for a cozy sweater.
With the extra energy from uninterrupted sleep and food, I successfully swept, mopped, and dusted this apartment. I've caught up on all my favorite blogs and on today's news. And, now here I am writing to you.
I will be alone again tonight as my guy will be in Paris for some meetings. I think I'll snuggle up with some mint tea, a good book (currently reading the sequel to Eat, Pray, Love - Committed), and maybe even some take-out!
Have a nice day everyone!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Tour de France: Besançon
Last week my guy and I spent a lovely day in Besançon. It is the capital of the region we live in, Franche-Comté. It also happens to be where he spent a big, significant (thus far) part of his life. He went to high school and 2 years of college there. As I've previously mentioned, he went to his high school on a scholarship and lived there during the week. Leaving a teenager on his own, without his mother and father, means that he has plenty of stories from this time and place! I enjoyed seeing where he used to go out or sneak out of the dorms. He showed me his favorite restaurants and other places he would frequent. I really enjoyed getting to see a little bit more of "his world." While in the states, he saw so much of my world. It's nice to turn the tables and have him share his memories.
Besançon also happens to have a rich history. The town was first recorded in the journals of Julius Caesar! It has always had a significant military importance since the 1st Century BC as countries fought to call it their own all the way until WWII. In 1668, during the reign of Louis XIV, plans were drawn up to create a massive fortress surrounding the city with a complex pattern of moats. I thought the fort here in Belfort was impressive but the fort in Besançon is larger and older! It is so big that it now has a zoo inside. We didn't splurge for the paid tour (we might another time), but we walked around the exterior and were able to see baboons, llamas, and birds - in addition to the amazing view of the city.
There is a river running through the whole city called Les Doubs and nicknamed "la boucle," meaning the curl. The river quite literally runs through the city like a curl, winding and twisting. At different points throughout the river we saw boats, rapids with kayakers, young boys swimming, people fishing, and dogs cooling off. We drove along the river, stopped to pick apples, and enjoyed the sights.
There was so much more to see and do, and I am sure we will return soon. The little bit of Besançon I did see was very beautiful and serene. I hope you enjoy the pictures!
There is a river running through the whole city called Les Doubs and nicknamed "la boucle," meaning the curl. The river quite literally runs through the city like a curl, winding and twisting. At different points throughout the river we saw boats, rapids with kayakers, young boys swimming, people fishing, and dogs cooling off. We drove along the river, stopped to pick apples, and enjoyed the sights.
There was so much more to see and do, and I am sure we will return soon. The little bit of Besançon I did see was very beautiful and serene. I hope you enjoy the pictures!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
home.
I think I lack the design gene. I have no sense of how to make a place look good. When I see blogs about creative spaces and beautiful homes and how to make the most of a small space, I love it... but it's not something I've ever tried to replicate. I don't go out thrifting. I don't see a chair on the side of the road and instantly create a before and after image in my head. My apartment came furnished, and that made my life easy. It was somewhat of a relief.
But, I long to be able to create a place that's really mine. I feel home here, but I want to add touches that are mine. With how much I have moved in the past few years (see below), I have been reluctant to really delve into the creative me that yearns to try (and perhaps fail) at creating a beautiful home. I'm tired of the sleek, black IKEA furniture. I want different shapes, different textures, different colors. I want an apartment that looks lived in, rather than rented. I want to replace this "painting" on the wall (the one that came in the furnished apartment, the one that says "rock it punkrocker... yeah....). I just don't know where to start. We don't have the money to do a total apartment overhaul, and I'm afraid if I buy one piece then by the time I have the money to get something else, I'll be over that first purchase. And then, there's always the thought of moving... yet again. We chose this furnished apartment because we didn't know how long we'd be staying here, and it was SO easy to move.
Since graduating from Penn State in May of 2009, I spent 15 long weeks living in hotels around the Northeast while doing field training for my job. I was finally put at a permanent location and moved to Long Island, NY (specifically the sleepy town of Commack). After receiving a promotion three short months later, I moved to the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, followed by a short stint in Jersey City, and then here to France where we lived in a hotel for two months before moving into our apartment. Needless to say, I loathe moving and it has forced me to cut down on my belongings each time.
Do you totally move into a place? What I mean is, for you renters out there: do you paint? do you make the space your own? Or do you keep it simple knowing you'll be moving out in a few months or a year? I don't like this anxious feeling of not knowing where we're going next. Some people thrive off of that kind of excitement, but me, I just want to start nesting!
But, I long to be able to create a place that's really mine. I feel home here, but I want to add touches that are mine. With how much I have moved in the past few years (see below), I have been reluctant to really delve into the creative me that yearns to try (and perhaps fail) at creating a beautiful home. I'm tired of the sleek, black IKEA furniture. I want different shapes, different textures, different colors. I want an apartment that looks lived in, rather than rented. I want to replace this "painting" on the wall (the one that came in the furnished apartment, the one that says "rock it punkrocker... yeah....). I just don't know where to start. We don't have the money to do a total apartment overhaul, and I'm afraid if I buy one piece then by the time I have the money to get something else, I'll be over that first purchase. And then, there's always the thought of moving... yet again. We chose this furnished apartment because we didn't know how long we'd be staying here, and it was SO easy to move.
Since graduating from Penn State in May of 2009, I spent 15 long weeks living in hotels around the Northeast while doing field training for my job. I was finally put at a permanent location and moved to Long Island, NY (specifically the sleepy town of Commack). After receiving a promotion three short months later, I moved to the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, followed by a short stint in Jersey City, and then here to France where we lived in a hotel for two months before moving into our apartment. Needless to say, I loathe moving and it has forced me to cut down on my belongings each time.
Do you totally move into a place? What I mean is, for you renters out there: do you paint? do you make the space your own? Or do you keep it simple knowing you'll be moving out in a few months or a year? I don't like this anxious feeling of not knowing where we're going next. Some people thrive off of that kind of excitement, but me, I just want to start nesting!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
a quick and easy chicken recipe
As someone who spent the majority of my life as a vegetarian, I don't have many meat and poultry dishes. My guy sacrifices a lot when it comes to eating and eats what I make - which is only ever vegan or a fish dish. I never cook with eggs or milk. I'm only just now starting to add cheese to dishes. The smell of meat cooking in a frying pan makes me gag. However, I know I need to start somewhere if I want to compromise. Until now he's been very good at cooking his own meat, but I know he would love to come home to a carnivorous meal prepared for him.
On Sunday, I began searching for a chicken recipe I thought he'd like. I really wanted to impress him, too. I found a recipe for a creamy pesto chicken and incidentally had almost all of the ingredients (just my luck because nothing is open on Sunday here). I knew it would be a winner and was excited all day for dinner time. I am not used to cooking creamy items as I have always been a fan of fresh ingredients. I much prefer my pasta with a light, flavorful, homemade tomato sauce than with a heavy cream-based sauce. In France, this just doesn't fly. People like creamy sauces and then add a kilo of cheese to the top as if it weren't already heavy enough. To each his own. And, after so much of eating food the way I like it, why shouldn't I cook something the way they like it here?
I felt all prepared for dinner. I had made homemade cupcakes and frosting in the morning. I had the salad made in advance and only needed to add the dressing. I made the pesto in advance. I had roasted veggies marinated for myself and in the oven. I successfully followed the recipe for the chicken and that, too, was in the oven. All I had to do was boil some pasta.
I was feeling very calm and prepared. Then, 20 minutes before we were going to break the fast, my guy's brother called and said he would be coming for dinner and their dad, too. Mind you - I love having them over, but I had asked my guy to call them in the afternoon and he said, "No, no, they aren't coming tonight." I knew he should have called!
I quickly went from calm to panic! I needed to make more chicken and get it in the oven. I needed to make a bigger salad. Suddenly, all my preparation seemed worthless.
My guy stepped up to the plate and helped me out big time. We had the table set, the chicken was ready by the time everyone finished eating the salad, the pesto pasta that accompanied the meal was just right, and the guys all praised my chicken saying it was tender and delicious. I was ecstatic (until I saw how many dishes I had to clean!!!).
Moral of the story: it all works out in the end! Oh, and you should make this chicken, too!
On Sunday, I began searching for a chicken recipe I thought he'd like. I really wanted to impress him, too. I found a recipe for a creamy pesto chicken and incidentally had almost all of the ingredients (just my luck because nothing is open on Sunday here). I knew it would be a winner and was excited all day for dinner time. I am not used to cooking creamy items as I have always been a fan of fresh ingredients. I much prefer my pasta with a light, flavorful, homemade tomato sauce than with a heavy cream-based sauce. In France, this just doesn't fly. People like creamy sauces and then add a kilo of cheese to the top as if it weren't already heavy enough. To each his own. And, after so much of eating food the way I like it, why shouldn't I cook something the way they like it here?
I felt all prepared for dinner. I had made homemade cupcakes and frosting in the morning. I had the salad made in advance and only needed to add the dressing. I made the pesto in advance. I had roasted veggies marinated for myself and in the oven. I successfully followed the recipe for the chicken and that, too, was in the oven. All I had to do was boil some pasta.
I was feeling very calm and prepared. Then, 20 minutes before we were going to break the fast, my guy's brother called and said he would be coming for dinner and their dad, too. Mind you - I love having them over, but I had asked my guy to call them in the afternoon and he said, "No, no, they aren't coming tonight." I knew he should have called!
I quickly went from calm to panic! I needed to make more chicken and get it in the oven. I needed to make a bigger salad. Suddenly, all my preparation seemed worthless.
My guy stepped up to the plate and helped me out big time. We had the table set, the chicken was ready by the time everyone finished eating the salad, the pesto pasta that accompanied the meal was just right, and the guys all praised my chicken saying it was tender and delicious. I was ecstatic (until I saw how many dishes I had to clean!!!).
Moral of the story: it all works out in the end! Oh, and you should make this chicken, too!
Creamy Pesto Chicken
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 per person)
- 3 Tbsp Homemade pesto
- 1/2 cup crème fraîche
- 4 Tbsp olive oil
- roughly 1/4 cup breadcrumbs or enough to coat
- about a dozen cherry tomatoes
- a few fresh basil leaves for garnish
Directions:
Okay, I understand that my ingredients were a bit vague, but it's best to eyeball these things. For example, I only made 3 chicken breasts because 3 people were eating chicken. I used the extra crème fraîche and pesto mixture at the end so nothing went to waste!
First, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Then, prep the chicken, cutting off any fat. Use a small, sharp knife to make a slit along the side of each chicken breast, creating a pocket.
Mix together the pesto and crème fraîche, then carefully spoon a quarter of the mixture into each chicken breast. Gently, smooth over the seal so the mixture stays inside. *This was surprisingly less messy than I thought it would be. It helped me to hold the chicken on it's side so the mixture would ooze in rather than out.
After you have finished scooping the mixture into each chicken breast. Place them in a shallow, oven safe dish that you have coated with olive oil. Brush a little oil over the top of each breast and then season each well with salt and pepper.
The next step is pressing the breadcrumbs onto each breast. I felt the prettiest and tastiest way to do this (rather than using store-bought bread crumbs) was to use my food processor to grind up some day old bread. The breadcrumbs were larger than store-bought and looked really nice on the finished product when they were golden brown. Make sure to press all over each chicken breast with the breadcrumbs.
Add the tomatoes to the dish. Drizzle with remaining olive oil.
Cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the chicken starts to turn golden and is cooked through.
When plating, create a bed under each breast with any remaining pesto/crème fraîche mixture you may have. Give everyone a few tomatoes, sprinkle with basil leaves and serve with roasted potatoes or pesto penne pasta.
Monday, August 22, 2011
first day of work.
I am now halfway through my first day of work. In France, there are designated lunch hours which is amazing!! I never had a designated lunch break - or a lunch break at all. Most of my lunches consisted of something I could eat while I was driving between locations, walking around a location, or sitting at my desk. I am using this much-needed break to take a siesta!
What a doozy this day has been so far. I hate to complain because it is my first day working in.. uum.. almost 6 months, and I am so (over the moon) happy to finally be working... and it's only orientation... BUT I had no idea my orientation would be totally in FRENCH!!!
Well, I am off to give my brain a rest before I am back at it.
P.S. I promise I have some recipes coming that you will definitely enjoy. Some vegan (like the cupcakes on my last post)... some not-so-vegan (like the creamy pesto stuffed chicken I made last night)... but all delicious.
Have a marvelous Monday (Is that corny? It reminds me of my senior year of high school when I did the morning announcements. Each morning we said things like that!)
What a doozy this day has been so far. I hate to complain because it is my first day working in.. uum.. almost 6 months, and I am so (over the moon) happy to finally be working... and it's only orientation... BUT I had no idea my orientation would be totally in FRENCH!!!
Well, I am off to give my brain a rest before I am back at it.
P.S. I promise I have some recipes coming that you will definitely enjoy. Some vegan (like the cupcakes on my last post)... some not-so-vegan (like the creamy pesto stuffed chicken I made last night)... but all delicious.
Have a marvelous Monday (Is that corny? It reminds me of my senior year of high school when I did the morning announcements. Each morning we said things like that!)
cupcakes.
We had a wonderful weekend full of movie-watching, family and delicious food. Tomorrow I'll share some recipes but now, I'm off to grab that cupcake!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
this and that.
Have you guys seen Crazy, Stupid, Love. yet? It is so good. I never really like watching trailers (although I usually do), because I feel like they give a lot of the movie away. In this case, yeah the trailer gives away the gist of the movie but it takes a turn that I never would have expected. It was one of those movies that had me sitting here laughing and crying. Uum... not to mention the fact that Ryan Gosling... WOW! His last few movies have been Indie and have him looking very grudge. Well, not the case anymore. If you loved him after seeing The Notebook, you're going to love him even more now!
My movie-going is limited these days. The French are very proud of their language so where as in other countries, they have subtitles, the French use a lot of voice-overs. I find this to be very comedic when you're watching a movie about, say New York, and the street signs are all indicative of such and then the characters are all speaking French. I have been able to find a few movies with subtitles in English or where they have the subtitles in French and the movie is in English. However, as I said, I'm limited. This means a lot of illegal movie watching because my guy and I both love watching movies.
Although it's not legal, it is nice to watch a movie on the couch. Last night I had planned for us to watch Crazy, Stupid, Love. while eating dinner so I prepared a lot of finger foods: zucchini quesadillas and bite size tuna and white bean melts. After we finished the quesadillas, we didn't have any room for the tuna melts. Boo!
Tonight I'm alone as my guy headed to Germany to get our car. Yay!!! I'm so happy that we're finally going to have a car and anxious to perfect the art of driving a stick. I'm going to polish off last night's tuna melts. I also made some homemade hummus (so cheap and easy I wonder how I could have spent so much money on hummus in the past). This time I added to the canned chickpeas some paprika, cracked red paper flakes, cumin, lemon juice, salt, pepper, olive oil, and a tiny bit of peanut butter for consistency (because I didn't have any tahini paste). I'm also eating a perfect for summer salad with lettuce, endive, avocado, blueberries, strawberries, tomato, and walnuts in a mint and lime dressing.
Well, after another day of fasting, I'm off to eat. If I can find it, I'm going to watch The Help as my Mom gave it two thumbs up!
Hope everyone is having a good week! It's almost the weekend! Isn't summer flying by?
My movie-going is limited these days. The French are very proud of their language so where as in other countries, they have subtitles, the French use a lot of voice-overs. I find this to be very comedic when you're watching a movie about, say New York, and the street signs are all indicative of such and then the characters are all speaking French. I have been able to find a few movies with subtitles in English or where they have the subtitles in French and the movie is in English. However, as I said, I'm limited. This means a lot of illegal movie watching because my guy and I both love watching movies.
Although it's not legal, it is nice to watch a movie on the couch. Last night I had planned for us to watch Crazy, Stupid, Love. while eating dinner so I prepared a lot of finger foods: zucchini quesadillas and bite size tuna and white bean melts. After we finished the quesadillas, we didn't have any room for the tuna melts. Boo!
Tonight I'm alone as my guy headed to Germany to get our car. Yay!!! I'm so happy that we're finally going to have a car and anxious to perfect the art of driving a stick. I'm going to polish off last night's tuna melts. I also made some homemade hummus (so cheap and easy I wonder how I could have spent so much money on hummus in the past). This time I added to the canned chickpeas some paprika, cracked red paper flakes, cumin, lemon juice, salt, pepper, olive oil, and a tiny bit of peanut butter for consistency (because I didn't have any tahini paste). I'm also eating a perfect for summer salad with lettuce, endive, avocado, blueberries, strawberries, tomato, and walnuts in a mint and lime dressing.
Well, after another day of fasting, I'm off to eat. If I can find it, I'm going to watch The Help as my Mom gave it two thumbs up!
Hope everyone is having a good week! It's almost the weekend! Isn't summer flying by?
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
adjusting.
I try to explain this to him, to make sure he understands just how different our situations are, but sometimes I just don't think he gets it. And, I don't know why I have this burning desire for him to get it. What does it matter anyway? I guess I just want to hear him say, "Yeah, babe, I'm sure this isn't easy."
I think I finally succeeded in getting this out of him tonight, but I'm still not completely content with his agreeing because I never wanted him to agree or cry mercy and say it, I guess I wanted him to go out of his way to say, "You're brave. You're strong." Something like that...?
When I told him today that my Mom's Facebook newsfeed was buzzing after she posted that I was starting work and driving there with a stick-shift for the first time, he kind of laughed. And, when I told him her friends were commenting how brave I was, he laughed again. This kind of annoyed me.
You see, my living in a foreign country is a big deal to my family, our circle of friends, and well, obviously, to me. He, on the other hand, has been living away from home since he was 13. He went to a sort of "boarding school" on a scholarship for handball (an actual sport - not just something we play in gym class) for the French equivalent of 8th through 12th grade. He studied in schools all over France for university while playing handball professionally. He studied abroad while playing professionally in Holland for a year. He had an internship in Morocco and played for the Moroccan national team. He worked in NYC for a year...
So you see - living in different places is no big thing for him. For me it is though... I am out of my element. I went to Penn State University - 4 hours from the home I grew up in, the only home I ever knew, the home my Dad built with his own two hands in New Jersey. I moved to NY after college where I began working... you see the pattern here. I was never more than one state away from my home, let alone on another continent entirely. It is very hard for me to be away from my support system - here I have no family or friends.
When he came to NYC to work, he already spoke English. I'm learning French as I go, while I am here. He came to the USA for a job working in the industry he loves, and I can't even begin to try to find a job doing what I love until I can speak enough French to do so. In the meantime, I have been fortunate enough to find a job but I am so 1st day of Kindergarten nervous. This job is out of my comfort zone (nor did I spend over $100k on my education to do something else entirely). It is only women that work there and women can be so cliquey. Will I be the oddball? Will they sit around the table eating their baguettes and speaking in French while I sit there alone? I am sure I am over-thinking this whole thing, but I can't help that I am nervous.
Not to mention that to get to work, I need to drive. Our vehicle is a manual. Trying to learn to drive stick has been an experience on its own. My guy has ZERO patience. I cannot accept constructive criticism. Plus, I'm kind of a big baby. Pair us together and learning has been, well, not so fun. Finally, yesterday, we went out twice. I think we were really successful!! It finally clicked for me (much easier to learn when his veins aren't popping out of his skull with frustration because then I really can't take him seriously).
So in the end, I don't know what I'm waiting for.. a prize, a nod of acknowledgement, or maybe it has more to do with me. Maybe I, myself, am looking for the satisfaction I need to feel acclimated to life here. I need to be the one to study my French harder, to not be afraid to go out and meet people, to join a running club or a yoga group. Maybe I need to open the doors to my tiny, lovely apartment and stop acting like Miss Havisham, locked up in here, afraid of the unknown outside my doors.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
topless women + speedos = confidence or no shame?
Now, I can't decide how I feel about this. When I see enviable women with a perfect pair walking around topless, I deem this an act of confidence. When I see women with bellies like Kirstie Alley (before Dancing with the Stars) and boobs hanging so far south you'd need a crane to lift them, I just can't understand that. Does the top not fit? Is it a money thing? Because even I contemplated the logic in only having to buy a bathing suit bottom... would save me half. Or is simply that women in Europe are more confident and have no shame? *Not only were the topless women a plenty during my beach trip in France, but the women in bikinis, in general. I am more accustomed to the idea that at a certain age and/or weight, the bikini is out and the one piece is in.
I grew up on the Jersey shore. I spent a summer working at the Seaside Heights boardwalk when I was 16. I have seen my fair share of women without shame in their bikinis, but it's not the majority of women like it is on these European beaches. For the most part, where I'm from, "Moms" don't wear two pieces. Big girls don't wear two pieces. I'm not judging anyone here, because I can't really decide which is more admirable... the woman who realizes maybe it's time to cover up or the woman who decides she doesn't give a damn.
BUUUUT... when it comes to families together on the beach and the women are topless, that is not confidence or having no shame, that's just wrong. Don't you think a line should be drawn there? When I see multiple generations coming together for a beach day and the women are topless, that's just weird to me. I don't want to see my guy's mother topless just like I'm sure he doesn't want to see mine. I don't want my Dad to see me topless just like I'm sure he doesn't want to see me prancing around the beach topless.
And last, I would like to defend the Speedo. Yes, people like Arnold Schwarzenegger totally ruin this vision for us; however, those little boxer brief shorties can actually be very attractive. And, I'm totally digging the whole short shorts look on the men right now - specifically one guy in particular! It looks so much classier and definitely way more stylish than the board shorts everyone sports at home. Surfer sexy is out and European chic is definitely in!
So the debate is out people - what do you think? Would you go topless at a topless beach? Do you think it's okay for women to let it all hang out? Do you think the European itty bitty bathing suit (or lack there of) thing is a result of higher levels of confidence or just no shame?
Friday, August 12, 2011
a buffet style dinner followed by a day to myself!
My only issue with Ramadan is that after a day of not eating, I am craving 100 different meals. Normally you can squeeze in something you've been fancying for lunch and then another something for dinner and if you've been good, a sweet treat, too! That's just not possible during Ramadan. It makes cooking tricky because I know I need to prepare just enough - too little means our hungry bellies won't be satisfied and too much means the leftovers won't get eaten. Besides breakfast where we eat bagels, cereal, fruits, yogurt, or muffins, there is only one other meal. We want to have something new to taste everyday so leftovers are pretty much out of the question (normally, we eat leftovers for lunch). I guess I need to think more along the lines of: we are lucky the other eleven months of the year that we have the privilege of eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner so I shouldn't think this way... but I'd be lying if I said it weren't true.
When it comes time to make dinner, I just can't decide. I want potatoes but I want rice but I want pasta. I want a whole grain baguette but I want olive bread. I want cupcakes but I want that delicious chocolate bread or maybe even some sorbet. However, the reality is, after only a few bites, our shrunken bellies are full. I leave the food waiting... and waiting... in hopes that we will get hungry again, but we take the opportunity to drink all the tea and water we've been thirsting for all day until we hear it in our bellies sloshing around. We surrender to the couch and soon after the bed and wake up for our 4am feeding.
Yesterday my cravings were out of control. I was searching recipes for everything from chocolate cake to coconut shrimp to chicken curry. I took a visit to the delicious fruit and veggie market on the corner (such a gift it is having that market less than a block away) and after seeing all the goodness they had fresh that day, my decision was made.
I used to love when my mom made fajitas or something else, buffet style. We'd take our tortilla and go on down the line, adding our favorite toppings (I did fajita night two nights ago!). Just because I want some toppings doesn't mean my guy does, and I like the interaction involved. I decided I was craving a good, old American sandwich - gourmet, of course!
I roasted tomato, zucchini, and eggplant slices. I sliced fresh cucumber and avocado. I put it all on a serving dish - added fresh basil (my favorite), white asparagus, and some cheese. I added bread options: olive and pepper, olive, or whole wheat baguette. I served it with homemade oven baked french fries, roasted cauliflower, and an endive salad. We both really enjoyed our healthy dinner! Note: it ended up working out perfectly because we hit snooze this morning and woke up with only 15 minutes left to eat before sunrise so we each quickly made another sandwich for breakfast!
I feel so much better after having a healthy meal where I know what the ingredients are and everything is fresh, local, and homemade. I also liked chewing into a sandwich with a combination of crunchy, fresh veggies and savory, roasted veggies tossed in olive oil, sea salt, and fresh cracked pepper.
Today my guy is on the train for five hours with the end goal of buying a car and bringing it home for us. This means that he will need to drive another six hours back with the car. I hope he has good luck with this as he has really been busting his butt searching for the perfect car for us (as I need a car for my new job which starts in a little over a week). He won't be home in time for dinner which means dinner by myself. Today's craving: angel hair pasta in a simple tomato sauce with some fresh basil and topped with what is left of the roasted veggies! I think I'll make some bruschetta with the uneaten baguette, too!
So I'm off to watch The Notebook and some other chick flicks on this day to myself :)
Have a lovely weekend, friends!
When it comes time to make dinner, I just can't decide. I want potatoes but I want rice but I want pasta. I want a whole grain baguette but I want olive bread. I want cupcakes but I want that delicious chocolate bread or maybe even some sorbet. However, the reality is, after only a few bites, our shrunken bellies are full. I leave the food waiting... and waiting... in hopes that we will get hungry again, but we take the opportunity to drink all the tea and water we've been thirsting for all day until we hear it in our bellies sloshing around. We surrender to the couch and soon after the bed and wake up for our 4am feeding.
Yesterday my cravings were out of control. I was searching recipes for everything from chocolate cake to coconut shrimp to chicken curry. I took a visit to the delicious fruit and veggie market on the corner (such a gift it is having that market less than a block away) and after seeing all the goodness they had fresh that day, my decision was made.
I used to love when my mom made fajitas or something else, buffet style. We'd take our tortilla and go on down the line, adding our favorite toppings (I did fajita night two nights ago!). Just because I want some toppings doesn't mean my guy does, and I like the interaction involved. I decided I was craving a good, old American sandwich - gourmet, of course!
I roasted tomato, zucchini, and eggplant slices. I sliced fresh cucumber and avocado. I put it all on a serving dish - added fresh basil (my favorite), white asparagus, and some cheese. I added bread options: olive and pepper, olive, or whole wheat baguette. I served it with homemade oven baked french fries, roasted cauliflower, and an endive salad. We both really enjoyed our healthy dinner! Note: it ended up working out perfectly because we hit snooze this morning and woke up with only 15 minutes left to eat before sunrise so we each quickly made another sandwich for breakfast!
I feel so much better after having a healthy meal where I know what the ingredients are and everything is fresh, local, and homemade. I also liked chewing into a sandwich with a combination of crunchy, fresh veggies and savory, roasted veggies tossed in olive oil, sea salt, and fresh cracked pepper.
Today my guy is on the train for five hours with the end goal of buying a car and bringing it home for us. This means that he will need to drive another six hours back with the car. I hope he has good luck with this as he has really been busting his butt searching for the perfect car for us (as I need a car for my new job which starts in a little over a week). He won't be home in time for dinner which means dinner by myself. Today's craving: angel hair pasta in a simple tomato sauce with some fresh basil and topped with what is left of the roasted veggies! I think I'll make some bruschetta with the uneaten baguette, too!
So I'm off to watch The Notebook and some other chick flicks on this day to myself :)
Have a lovely weekend, friends!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
a recipe. and a sick day.
Today I am wrapped in a blanket on the couch (can't get internet connection from my bed). I didn't sleep much last night because I had such a horrible belly ache. My body couldn't get the right temperature either which was just an added nuisance. I started to feel dizzy in the morning. I had no idea what was wrong with me.
Not long after waking up, I found myself in the bathroom puking (a lot - sorry, I know it's gross!!). My first reaction was relief because my stomach temporarily felt better, but now it's back to hurting.. booooo. To add to this, my legs are killing me. They are actually aching. I tried elevating them which seemed to make matters worse. Now, my right ear is throbbing. What is going on!?
Yesterday I said life had been boring and that was okay for me! I didn't demand some excitement in the form of my head in the toilet bowl! Well, I'm taking it as some sign from my body to spend the day relaxing. I'm catching up on trashy reality television and watching the new Curb Your Enthusiasm and Weeds. I guess it's not a totally horrible day!
I did promise a recipe for the pasta dish I made on Friday night. It's one of those dishes that involves pantry items and that's my favorite kind of go-to meal! I know my mom doesn't like canned tuna when it's warm, but I swear, with a little lemon juice, you don't even know it's tuna and it tastes more like a meat sauce - without the red meat!
Not long after waking up, I found myself in the bathroom puking (a lot - sorry, I know it's gross!!). My first reaction was relief because my stomach temporarily felt better, but now it's back to hurting.. booooo. To add to this, my legs are killing me. They are actually aching. I tried elevating them which seemed to make matters worse. Now, my right ear is throbbing. What is going on!?
Yesterday I said life had been boring and that was okay for me! I didn't demand some excitement in the form of my head in the toilet bowl! Well, I'm taking it as some sign from my body to spend the day relaxing. I'm catching up on trashy reality television and watching the new Curb Your Enthusiasm and Weeds. I guess it's not a totally horrible day!
I did promise a recipe for the pasta dish I made on Friday night. It's one of those dishes that involves pantry items and that's my favorite kind of go-to meal! I know my mom doesn't like canned tuna when it's warm, but I swear, with a little lemon juice, you don't even know it's tuna and it tastes more like a meat sauce - without the red meat!
Mediterranean Style Pasta Dish
(I couldn't think of a better name)
Ingredients:
1 box of linguini or your favorite pasta
some EVOO
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 small red onion, sliced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (I like it spicy so I add more)
2 tablespoons capers, drained
1/2 cup roughly chopped kalamata olives
1 big can of San Marzano plum tomatoes
5 basil leaves, torn
1 can albacore tuna
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
freshly ground pepper and salt, to taste
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
freshly ground pepper and salt, to taste
Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute the red onion. After 2-3 minutes, add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until slightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the capers and olives and fry 2 more minutes. Crush the tomatoes into the skillet with a wooden spoon or your hands. Add the the basil, pepper and salt to taste and cook until the sauce thickens, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tuna (if you prefer tuna in oil then add it with its oil - I prefer the tuna in water and drain the water because it's healthier) breaking it up with a fork, and squirt some lemon juice over top.
Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water, and return it to the pot. Add the sauce and the reserved cooking water and toss. Season with pepper and garnish with more basil.
Monday, August 8, 2011
language barrier.
I can't even begin to explain the difficulties I have been facing while learning to speak French. Sometimes it is so frustrating that I just shut down (temper tantrum-esque style) and surrender to silence. It is hard enough - we have all heard horror stories and have watched enough movies - to meet and create bonds with your significant other's family but when there is an added language barrier (and very different culture), it is that much more difficult. I find myself many times sitting at a dinner table completely silent. For someone like myself that talks a lot and always has a lot to say, this is very frustrating. I either don't understand what is being said or I don't have enough vocabulary to communicate back what I want to say. It is similar to being a child and being put in the "time out corner" but I am in said corner until I can communicate.
I know that I need to do more on my behalf to try to practice my French (use my Uncle's advice!!!), but until I do learn more, it's very strange to meet people and to not be able to communicate well. His two brothers are very cute, always trying to learn English and to communicate with me. His one sister speaks quite a lot of English and always goes out of her way to make me feel included in conversation. His other sister I find mimics what I say or makes a joke about how I say something in French. It makes me feel very stupid. My guy reminds me that I'm not stupid - I just don't speak the language. However, somehow, I always go back to feeling like it's because I'm not smart enough.... why can't I understand!? I am certain that she is just trying to find humor in all of this and her joking is all in good fun, but it's hard for me to tell.
It's true that until I can really speak French - these people know nothing about me. I know of them what my guy tells me, but it is hard to try to create relationships with people when I can't even carry a tune in a conversation about my day - let alone a conversation about politics.
I know that I need to do more on my behalf to try to practice my French (use my Uncle's advice!!!), but until I do learn more, it's very strange to meet people and to not be able to communicate well. His two brothers are very cute, always trying to learn English and to communicate with me. His one sister speaks quite a lot of English and always goes out of her way to make me feel included in conversation. His other sister I find mimics what I say or makes a joke about how I say something in French. It makes me feel very stupid. My guy reminds me that I'm not stupid - I just don't speak the language. However, somehow, I always go back to feeling like it's because I'm not smart enough.... why can't I understand!? I am certain that she is just trying to find humor in all of this and her joking is all in good fun, but it's hard for me to tell.
It's true that until I can really speak French - these people know nothing about me. I know of them what my guy tells me, but it is hard to try to create relationships with people when I can't even carry a tune in a conversation about my day - let alone a conversation about politics.
stuff.
This month of fasting means a lot of time with my French family. Friday night I made pasta (I'll share this delicious and easy recipe with you) and ate with my guy and his dad. Saturday we were off to Forbach to stay the night at his sister's house. Usually, we eat at sunset (a little after 9 - we have a calendar that tells us what time we can start eating and stop eating at sunrise) and then we go to sleep and wake up to eat and then go back to sleep. At his sister's Saturday night, we all stayed up between meals. His family tends to pull all nighters like this (the first night I ever met them, we ate a late dinner and everyone stayed up chatting until well past 3am). Saturday was no different. We ate dinner. It was a totally Moroccan meal - breads, pastries, somosas, quiche, soup, mint tea and then at 1am came a tagine of Moroccan meatballs and more mint tea. His sister had spent the whole day making everything. She joked that it took her an entire day to prepare everything and it was all gone within minutes. She even made little shot glasses of tiramasu for dessert. We didn't get to sleep until after 5am and then slept until 2pm on Sunday.
Last night we ate more of the food his sister had prepared (I don't even think she slept because she was right back to making food on Sunday!) to send back with us. We all drove the 2 hours back and arrived just in time to heat up the food and eat it as his other sister's apartment.
Besides that, life has been pretty boring. Boring is okay sometimes! We eat at night. Catch up on our favorites shows on the internet. Sleep half the day. I've been practicing my French. We try to busy ourselves the best we can.
Most of Europe is "sleeping" during the month of August so it actually works out nicely that the month of fasting is in August this year, but the days are long and hot and that part is not so nice. France, for example, has a law that requires 5 weeks of mandatory vacation time. So a lot of businesses shut down for the first 3 weeks in August. It is better for business owners to do this than to have their employees taking their 5 weeks whenever they want, because most people would take their vacation at very busy times. My favorite bakery isn't even open, and I'm craving their olive bread, pepper bread, and their chocolate bread!
It's 7pm now which means a glass of sparkling water and some food are only two hours away. I've already prepared lemon poppyseed muffins, banana bread, and a big pot of vegetable and lentil soup. The apartment smells so delicious! Time for some exercise!
Last night we ate more of the food his sister had prepared (I don't even think she slept because she was right back to making food on Sunday!) to send back with us. We all drove the 2 hours back and arrived just in time to heat up the food and eat it as his other sister's apartment.
Besides that, life has been pretty boring. Boring is okay sometimes! We eat at night. Catch up on our favorites shows on the internet. Sleep half the day. I've been practicing my French. We try to busy ourselves the best we can.
Most of Europe is "sleeping" during the month of August so it actually works out nicely that the month of fasting is in August this year, but the days are long and hot and that part is not so nice. France, for example, has a law that requires 5 weeks of mandatory vacation time. So a lot of businesses shut down for the first 3 weeks in August. It is better for business owners to do this than to have their employees taking their 5 weeks whenever they want, because most people would take their vacation at very busy times. My favorite bakery isn't even open, and I'm craving their olive bread, pepper bread, and their chocolate bread!
It's 7pm now which means a glass of sparkling water and some food are only two hours away. I've already prepared lemon poppyseed muffins, banana bread, and a big pot of vegetable and lentil soup. The apartment smells so delicious! Time for some exercise!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Back to reality...
So here I am. Back in Belfort. Ramadan has started. I think I'll keep myself busy by baking, straightening up our now dusty apartment and doing the half ton of laundry we've accumulated over the course of our vacation. Then, I'll get my life organized before going for a twilight run.
I'm going to be using the recipe I told you about here to make chocolate chip and walnut banana bread. I use the same recipe but throw it in a loaf pan instead. Lately, I've been making it with tiny pieces of cut-up apple and walnuts, but I think after a day of not eating, I'll give us a treat - indulging just a little is okay by me!
Then, I'm going to make a three cheese and spinach lasagna. This is my Mom's recipe. It will be my first time making it! I'll let you know how it goes. My guy absolutely loves my Mom's lasagna and has been begging me for quite some time to get the recipe from her. I finally asked for it yesterday, and we picked up the ingredients right away.
Besides the cleaning and doing laundry, I really need to get my work schedule organized. Shortly after I arrived in France, I landed a job teaching English to business men and women. I will go to their offices or they will come to mine. It's mostly one-on-one but sometimes I'll have small groups. The company has locations around the world, and I am excited to work with and for them. I don't start until the end of August, but they send the schedules by e-mail and I have to reply with a simple "OK." Since I want all the hours I can get but haven't wanted to open a ton of e-mails while on vacation, I've been replying "OK" like crazy but now I need to take the time to get my Google Calendar in sync with my now blooming work life.
So that's my schedule for today. The laundry is already swirling around, the bananas are already mashed - making progress!
I am happy Ramadan has arrived. I feel like while it's here, we're in a little bubble. We're safe in this bubble. All little issues are meaningless and we can enjoy this time together.
The windows and doors are open. The sun is shining. There is a lot to be grateful for today. And, a lot of delicious food to look forward to as well!
I'm going to be using the recipe I told you about here to make chocolate chip and walnut banana bread. I use the same recipe but throw it in a loaf pan instead. Lately, I've been making it with tiny pieces of cut-up apple and walnuts, but I think after a day of not eating, I'll give us a treat - indulging just a little is okay by me!
Then, I'm going to make a three cheese and spinach lasagna. This is my Mom's recipe. It will be my first time making it! I'll let you know how it goes. My guy absolutely loves my Mom's lasagna and has been begging me for quite some time to get the recipe from her. I finally asked for it yesterday, and we picked up the ingredients right away.
Besides the cleaning and doing laundry, I really need to get my work schedule organized. Shortly after I arrived in France, I landed a job teaching English to business men and women. I will go to their offices or they will come to mine. It's mostly one-on-one but sometimes I'll have small groups. The company has locations around the world, and I am excited to work with and for them. I don't start until the end of August, but they send the schedules by e-mail and I have to reply with a simple "OK." Since I want all the hours I can get but haven't wanted to open a ton of e-mails while on vacation, I've been replying "OK" like crazy but now I need to take the time to get my Google Calendar in sync with my now blooming work life.
So that's my schedule for today. The laundry is already swirling around, the bananas are already mashed - making progress!
I am happy Ramadan has arrived. I feel like while it's here, we're in a little bubble. We're safe in this bubble. All little issues are meaningless and we can enjoy this time together.
The windows and doors are open. The sun is shining. There is a lot to be grateful for today. And, a lot of delicious food to look forward to as well!
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