Swiss National Day Celebration 2016

Music and Swiss flags fill the village.

We joined our Swiss neighbors in celebrating their National Day.  Here are some fun tidbits:

1.  Swiss National Day is celebrated on August 1st and commemorates the signing of the Federal Charter of 1291 by three Alpine cantons.

2.  The first of August only became a national holiday in 1994, but the Swiss have been celebrating the founding way before.

3.  Switzerland has four national languages, which are German, French, Italian and Romansh.

4.  Why is Switzerland's domain ".ch"?  It's derived from Confoederatio Helvetica (Helvetic Confederation), which is the Latin name for the country.  It's used because of its neutrality with regard to the four official languages of Switzerland.  

5.  The Swiss that we encountered are very punctual.  We had rented some electric bicycles a few days ago and needed to return them at 2:30 PM.  The bike rental shop owner returned from lunch at exactly 2:30 PM!  In my personal experience in France, Spain, and Italy, I'd be lucky if the shop owner was only 15 minutes late.

6.  They give 3 kisses in Switzerland.  In France, it's two.

Malakoff - cheese filled beignet

Raclette -
melted semi-hard cow's milk cheese scraped onto potatoes and
served with gherkins and pickled onions.

Cheese in Switzerland has a very distinct smell and they use it in everything.  From fondue to raclette to malakoff, this odor of stinky melted cheese lurked around every corner on Swiss National Day.

Staying in the canton of Valais where raclette and fondue originated, it was our duty to try all the melted cheese dishes.  After the first couple of bites of raclette, I actually got used the strong smell and thought it was good.  I made fondue one night and even Rocky tried it, but Peanut was out.  He couldn't get past the odor.

Crans-Montana was in her full glory for the national holiday.  This small Swiss town spared no expense with three nights of fireworks and water and fire shows, with the biggest one being the last night on August 1.  We let the kids stay up to watch the show.  I don't know which they thought was more awesome, getting to stay up or seeing fireworks so close up.  The show, by the way, started precisely at 10:15 PM.

It was hard not think of the Bastille Day revelers in Nice who were just trying to have fun.  It's sad this is our new reality, but even though we were in a very small town on top of a mountain, Jared and I talked about an escape plan and meeting point.

I refuse to end this post with that last paragraph, so I'll sign off with ...

kiss, kiss, kiss.  Happy Swiss National Day!

Our First Thanksgiving in Paris

Thanksgiving 2015

1 Parisian apartment + 4 families + 8 adults + 9 children + 1 very loud sing-along + lots of food and wine = a great way to celebrate our first Thanksgiving in Paris.

Our first Thanksgiving in Paris was shared with new friends we met through Peanut and Rocky's school.  These Americans, who have lived in Paris for 3 months to over 10 years, shared this holiday of family and friendship with us.  We even had a special visitor all the way from Miami, Uncle Adam.

Jared, Peanut, Rocky, and I have so much to be grateful for.  We are healthy, safe, living a dream life filled with loving family members and friends who genuinely care for us and us for them.  I get emotional as I think back to the events in Paris on November 13th and the number of phone calls, texts, Facebook messages, emails, and more from family, friends (new and old), and business colleagues reaching out to make sure we are safe.  Even those who I haven't talked to or seen in a long time reached out.  I love this experience of living abroad, but at times, it can feel as though we're alone here without our support network.  The unfortunate events a couple of weeks ago assured me that we are not alone and have so many generous, caring, and loving people in our lives who are near and far away.  To me, all the money in the world cannot replace these relationships.  I hope you were able to spend this holiday sharing laughs, good food, and creating new memories.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Introducing Fun Fridays

Back in Austin, Jared and I came up with the idea of taking one day each week to go out and explore the city while the kids were in school.  We intended to start this when he stopped working 2 years ago, but it took us this long to actually execute.  What a better place to start than in Paris?  We had our first "Fun Friday" this week.  After we dropped off the kids at school, we ventured on foot from the 15th arrondissement, where we live, to the 5th, 6th, and 7th arrondissements.

I love the big, heavy metal doors in Paris.  From street level, these big doors look like a big wall to a building.  But if you're lucky enough to walk by one that's open, sneaking a peek at what's behind them is even more fascinating.  Behind this green door hides a big church and courtyard.

In the 7th arrondissment is La Grande Epicerie.  You can read more about it here.  This foodie's dream store carries a little bit of everything from every country around the world.  Jared and I wanted to see what Americans were known for.  May I present, the USA section of La Grande Epicerie, including Wish Bone French Dressing.
 

In search of a peanut butter that's a little healthier than Peter Pan and Jif, we came across this at La Grande Epicerie.  I think this Michigan company's marketing department should seriously reconsider the brand name.

This building is under major construction, but from the outside, you don't really notice it because of the temporary facade.  They're usually on buildings in the nicer arrondissements and almost always with an Apple ad.

Sunday Lunch with Uncle Grandpa

Introducing "Uncle Grandpa".  It's what the kids call my aunt's husband.  He's a wonderful Frenchman who I'm lucky to call my uncle and is the person who introduced us to our favorite Chinese spot in the 5th Arrondissement that serves the best Peking dumplings in the world.  This Frenchman speaks 7 languages, so it's fun to go here with him and hear him speak Mandarin.

We usually don't get these when we go by ourselves, but with Uncle Grandpa, we splurge and have Chinese toffee apples.  Tender apple covered in a light fried batter and drenched in hot caramel and sesame seeds.  The hot fritters are dipped into an ice cold bath before being served and eaten immediately.

Our waiter is a man of many skills.  Not only can he hold a set of chopsticks in each hand to make the toffee apples, he also makes origami frogs out of used Metro tickets.

I had little frogs jumping all over the Metro ride home.

Even Rocky had to get in on the action with her own little frog.

Other than jumping paper frogs, I learned how Parisians move small pieces of bedroom furniture such as a small side table and nightstand.  Take it into the subway, then take a selfie with it.

10 Things You Must Do in Barcelona

Spending Christmas 2013 and ringing in the New Year in Barcelona was an unforgettable experience.  After almost 3 weeks, we learned a lot about the people, city, and languages, but I know there's so much more.  Thank you Barcelona for allowing us to immerse ourselves in your beautiful city.

Here are our top 10 favorite things to do in Barcelona during the winter.

1.  Take a break from the city atop Montjuic Castle and on the way down, ride the giant slide.
2.  Ride the steam engine at Park of Castell de l'Oreneta and meet the nicest volunteers who maintain and run the train station.
3.  Be a kid again at Tibidabo Amusement Park.
4.  Walk along Passeig de Gracia and look at every curve of Gaudi's houses.
5.  Admire the complexities of La Sagrada Familia.
6.  Go on the high speed train to Girona and walk through the medieval sites.
7.  Explore at the CosmoCaixa Science Museum and see the Amazon rain forest close up.
8.  Go back 2,000 years in the ruins at Museu d'Història de la Ciutat and El Born Centre Cultural.
9.  Get showered with candy and confetti at the Three Kings' Parade.
10.  Try standing your churro up in the chocolate caliente and don't pass up a chance to get hopped up on cafe con leche.

Sweet Treat: Xocolata amb Xurros

Churros and hot chocolate - yes and yes.  A friend from Barcelona put this on her list of things we must do while here, so, who am I to argue?  Many cafes in Barcelona offer this delectable pairing and we finally got to try it out today.

These Spanish churros remind me of a savory Vietnamese donut we eat with congee called dầu cháo quẩy, which is the same as the Chinese youtiao.  The only difference is the Spanish sprinkle sugar on these freshly fried donuts and pair it with a thick, pudding-like hot chocolate drink.  The xocolata (Catalan) or chocolate caliente (Spanish) is so thick that you can almost stand the churro straight up in it.  The chocolate is nice, not terribly sweet, and when paired with the slightly salty tasting churro, the flavors balance each other well.

The two, smaller taste testers in my family were very excited help me with my research.  It was a nice, late afternoon pick-me-up. 

This is one satisfied customer!

Here's a simple recipe for this thick hot chocolate.

Chocolate: From Orchard To Table

Some of the best cacao beans come from St. Lucia.  On our way to the Gros Piton, we passed this cacao orchard and learned that not only do they use the beans for chocolate, the slime inside the pods are made into a vinegar that the locals use when cooking to curb the natural fragrances of freshly caught fish.

A few minutes from the Sugar Beach Resort, where we stayed, is the Hotel Chocolat - Boucan Hotel and Restaurant known for its exclusive cacao cuisine.  Cacao is "tastefully" infused into everything.  Not syrupy sweet or overpowering, just an enhancement that brings out the local flavors.  We will be going back to this place!

Mr. Schrute Was So Sweet

Cake Boss edible work of art

French Creme Fraiche Vinaigrette

Every salad in France is dressed with this light, tangy, and slightly creamy dressing.  I've been obsessed with figuring out how to make it ever since I got back.  After testing about half a dozen recipes, I found one that is pretty close to the real deal.  

Here it is with my modifications:

Vinaigrette
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons creme fraiche [I use 1.5 tablespoons]
1 tablespoon Champagne vinegar [red wine vinegar also works]
1 tablespoon minced shallot [use 1/2 tablespoon very finely minced or you can even eliminate]
1/2 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard [I like Maille original dijon]
salt and pepper to taste
Stir all ingredients together. [I put everything in an empty Bonne Maman jar and shake vigorously]  
Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference.
Makes 4-6 servings.

Paris Food II

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Chez Paul

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A trip to Paris would not be complete without a meal of rabbit and Chez Paul, near the Bastille, is the place. I wasn't too excited about rabbit, but J was, and said it was quite good thanks to the mint and chèvre sauce. Dessert was what made this place blog worthy.  Chez Paul's tarte tatin was very sweet and buttery, perfectly complimented by a pot of luxurious crème fraiche (top right).  We also shared the ile flottante (floating island on the bottom right), which I've never had before.  It's an "island" of meringue floating in a sea of crème anglaise.

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Jeff de Bruges

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I never knew chocolate could be so beautiful.  Chocolate at the fine shops, like Jeff de Bruges, is silky as it melts in your mouth.  The kids were very excited as they devoured several pieces made with nuts, spices, fruit, and even flower petals.

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Au Bourguignon du Marais

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Not only is the food delicious at Au Bourguignon du Marais, the service is good too.  We went here on one of our date nights and sat under the awning enjoying the cold, rainy weather.  Go here for the traditional boeuf bourguignon, tender Chateau-Filet Aubrac and sauce au poivre, and profiteroles served with Berthillon ice cream.

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Au Pays du Sourire 

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Now we move to the China with Au Pays du Sourire to salivate over the best dumplings I've ever eaten.  I am a sucker for a good dumpling.  My aunt's husband, a French man with a doctorate in Mandarin who has lived in Taiwan for years and now resides in Paris, says they have the best jiaozi in town.  Only available on Thursday and Sunday, the hand kneaded dough is filled with perfectly seasoned pork and served with this mind blowing sauce made with soy sauce, finely minced ginger and garlic, Chinese black vinegar, chili, sesame oil, sugar, and scallions. I have to also make a shout out to the Ma Po Tofu, which is out of this world.

Tea at La Mosquee and Stroll Through the Jardin des Plantes

I've dreamed about having tea with my mother-in-law at La Mosquee for years.  It's a special place she's talked about over the years located in the 5th Arrondissement in an active mosque.  La Mosquee has a traditional North African tea room that serves sweet mint tea and a huge selection of traditional pastries made with ingredients such as pistachios and almonds.

 

Afternoon tea then led us to the Jardin des Plantes where we followed a labyrinth up to the gazebo at the top of the hill (top two left photos).  As we walk through the rose garden and smell the perfumes, I'm inspired to plant my own (top right photo).  Statues lounge throughout beautiful French garden (bottom two right photos).  Rocky will not let us pass a carousel without stopping (bottom left photo).  The kids rode the giraffes in honor of Zafara, the baby giraffe the Pasha of Egypt gave to Charles X.  She was shipped and arrived in Marseilles in 1826.  Zafara was the third giraffe to set foot in Europe.  From Marseilles, she walked 16 miles a day in a yellow coat, shoes on her feet, and a Napoleon style hat on her head, finally arriving at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris where crowds rushed to see her.

Ideas For Freeze Dried Strawberry Bananas

We buy the big box of Kirkland or Brother's All Natural freeze dried fruit at Costco.  My kids love the apples and pears, but won't touch the strawberry-bananas.

My husband tells me to throw them away, but I just can't bear the thought of throwing away good food.  So, I figured out a couple of good uses for them.  

Strawberry Banana Oatmeal

Make oatmeal per the directions on the package.  Then throw in a bag or two of the strawberry banana.  Dried fruit is sweeter than fresh, so it gives your oatmeal a nice sweetness.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Let these freeze dried babies ride along with the other goodies you like in your smoothie for an extra kick.

Rocky on Solids

Saturday, March 26 - First Attempt

For weeks we've been meaning to feed Rocky solids, but frankly, we just haven't had time. We finally scheduled her first solid feeding on Saturday, made sure the camera was charged, whipped up a couple tablespoons of rice cereal, and gave Rocky her first taste. The first few spoonfuls were pushed right back out, as expected. The next few were smeared all over her cheeks or landed on her clothes. She also did this weird sneezing thing too. I carried on waiting for the tastebuds to kick in, but nothing. There was no lunging forward like with Peanut's first solid feeding or any kind of excitement at all. It was such a let down. After 15 minutes, Rocky just sat there in her Bumbo staring off into space with rice cereal caked on her face.

Tuesday, March 29 - Second Attempt

Jared's traveling and Peanut is in school all day, so I have Rocky all to myself. [Begin evil laughter.] I decided to give solids another whirl. We started with Rocky pushing the cereal back out but after about a dozen spoonfuls, she started catching on. More food wound up on her bib, clothes, face, and hands than in her mouth, but it's a start.

Ramen with Shrimp

A friend asked me to post my meals because it's so hard to come up with new dinner ideas. We all get stuck in a rut and have the same thing over and over again. Hopefully, this will inspire me to come up with new recipes while sparking new menu ideas for her.

For my first dinner ideas post, may I present one of our favorites, shrimp with ramen. I transform packets of store bought ramen into a special meal with my sauce made with oyster and soy sauce and lots of garlic.

Dunk Tank and Benihana

Peanut and I got to witness J getting dunked by a co-worker during his company's annual dunk tank party.



Afterwards, we warmed up at Benihana. Peanut had so much fun watching the hibachi chef toss around his utensils and play with our food.

Soy Bean Milk

Nothing beats a cup of fresh, homemade soy bean milk. My Ba Ngoai (maternal grandmother) used to make it every so often and the thing I remember the most, besides the delicious taste, was how much work it took.

Since recipes are not written down in my family, I have been on a quest to record as many as possible. This was one of those recipes I did not want to miss so I called my mom to see if she knew how to make it.

My 5 minute phone conversation with her included instructions like, "soak the beans in water overnight in a pot about the same size as the one you gave me for Christmas". Easy enough, until I asked about the water to soy bean ratio. My mom's answers were, "you know, just use the entire bag of beans you get at the Asian market and don't use too much water. Just fill it almost up to the top of the pot." Somehow I figured it out and made a big, delicious pot of fresh soy bean milk.

Beans after they've soaked overnight