Cornbread salad, yum!

I made these delicious muffins and let me tell ya, they were a crowd pleaser.

Bon Appetite

For two years now, I have been greatly enjoying my boyfriend’s spaghetti. Now is the day, I share the fruits of his labor with the world. Take a look at the photos and allow your mouth to water. The recipe will follow this post :)

I thought my transition back into American society would be difficult for many reasons but being a good food lover one basic reason stood out, could I go back smoothly to eating American food again? I loved the fresh ingredients and food available in Aix-en-Provence so I was not looking forward to getting lost in an American supermarket by aimlessly walking down millions of isles of highly processed food.

But, I have to admit my experience with good meals has been wonderful. I forgot how comforting the food is in the states. Since being back home, I have recreated my famous chicken pot pie, baked banana bread and eaten monstrously huge breakfasts in comparison to the petit dejeuner.  Of course the food I missed the most has not let me down for an instant. That’s right, Mexican food, hello spicy/cheesy goodness!  

As for fine dining, I recently celebrated my birthday at Mulvaney’s B&L Restaurant in downtown Sacramento. With apparent French and Italian influences, the food was absolutely to die for. My boyfriend and I started off with assorted cheeses with cherry compote and spinach salad. For our entrees we enjoyed seared tuna with aioli on a bed of salad and pillows of pasta filled with sweet butternut squash. 

What I have come to realize, is that although American food has an unhealthy reputation, it is what you make of it. The food you find in the states is highly open to the influences of other cultures creating a beautiful melange of tastes. Just be careful of where you dine, if it does not look appetizing it probably does not taste any better then it looks. Happy Eating!  

Les stéréotypes français

Quand j’ai décidé venir à Aix-en-Provence c’était difficile pour moi ne développe pas une idée de comment le français est et comment ils vivent.  Il y a beaucoup des stéréotypes du français et ces stéréotypes m’ont fait curieuse.  Les stéréotypes comme tout le monde en France fument, toutes les femmes françaises ont ressemblé mannequines, les garçons sont très romantiques, tout le monde mange chocolat tout le temps, touts les serveurs sont impoli, et les chiens seraient mangés dans les restaurants avec leurs propriétaires.  J’ai essayé être ouvert et ne laisse pas ces stéréotypes influençaient comment j’ai senti du français. Alors, après mon arrivée j’ai remarqué que beaucoup des personnes fument, beaucoup des femmes belles, et chocolat est manger chaque jour.  Je peux voir comment les stéréotypes ont crée parce que certains personnes français ressemblent ces stéréotypes. 

À la première vue, j’ai trouvé beaucoup des stéréotypes vrais, mais bien sûr pas tout du français vit par les stéréotypes.  Par parle avec le français j’ai trouvé leurs stéréotypes n’ont pas vrais totalement.  On juste doit regarder dans plus détail.  Maintenant, je regarde pour différences culturelles plutôt que les stéréotypes.

Last night was filled with good friends, laughs, dirty jokes and tapas. These are just a few of my favorite things.

On the menu or the tapas we had stuffed mushrooms, eggplant caviar in endive leaves, homemade hummus, green and black olives, and a green salad all served with bread and aged goat cheese. Who said appetizers could not become a feast?  Now I find myself missing Barcelona and it’s awesome Tapas bars.

 And let us not forget the crepe “sushi” we had for dessert which was filled with Nutella and jam.

What’s for dinner?

Potato leek soup

I found my inspiration for this meal from the book French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano. I have to admit with all the bread and pastries I have been eating here I am soon to be the American woman getting fat in France. From this book I have learned the main idea is all about moderation but still having pleasure in what you eat.  Pleasure, OK got that. Moderation, hmm that still needs work.

Here’s my recipe that feeds two people:

1 grand leek

1 grand white potato

1 chicken bouillon

5 shallots

1 tablespoon butter

Herbs de Provence

white and black pepper

salt to taste

splash of olive oil

Commence by pouring yourself a glass of Bordeaux red wine and listening to some Edith Piaf, bien sûr! Then, warm the butter in a mid-size pot and add the chopped shallots and a bit of black pepper. Cook for a couple of minutes on low heat. Don’t burn that butter! Then add enough water to cover the chopped potato and whole chopped leek. After the water starts to boil, add the leek, potato, chicken bouillon, and herbs of Provence. Simmer with the lid off for 20-30 min or until the potato pieces are soft. Taste it! Add the white pepper, salt, more black pepper, and olive oil. Now you can eat as is or blend the soup with a hand food blender, but leave the soup a bit lumpy.

Serve and top with more herbs of Provence and a baguette on the side. Oh, and another glass of wine.