tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398617403950079432024-03-13T03:38:22.536-07:00 La fille a faim.random and generally food-related ramblings.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-23003141086834506612014-01-04T16:31:00.000-08:002014-01-04T16:31:09.397-08:00Review: "Brew and Brownie" (York)Today's weather was miserable to say the least, so it was lucky that I had the
prospect of my breakfast in York to put a little spring into my step
when I woke up this morning. A friend suggested brunch at "Brew and
Brownie" in York I was quick to reply "HECK YEAH". Days when you have a special hearty breakfast seem brighter and more fun somehow, and so today was a good day.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SOOMmgqur3E/UsifMEhpj6I/AAAAAAAAAfk/9JonxS3mAWM/s1600/DSCF9360.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SOOMmgqur3E/UsifMEhpj6I/AAAAAAAAAfk/9JonxS3mAWM/s320/DSCF9360.JPG" width="320" /></a>I
chose a bircher muesli. The oats were soaked overnight in apple juice
and then mixed with a crunch granola, greek yoghurt, dried fruits and
nuts, and a berry jam. A little bottle of apple juice was served on the
side to loosen it up a little because overnight oats can be stodgy. The
texture was just right and the apple juice had just the right amount of
sweetness without the cloyingly sweet taste of sugary juices. The
atmosphere was relaxed and with a modern rustic feel that is so popular
nowadays. I've been before and tried the Yorkshire sharing platter with a friend and I've been raving about B&B ever since. After about eating half we
were utterly defeated, meaning that I was left with a leaky paper bag with our leftover pork pie for around
for 3 hours. Until the smell started to earn me odd looks from shoppers and I had to throw it away. It was so sad.<br />
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The
platter was just too huge for two people, there was salad, slices of ham,
beef, freshly baked bread, a selection of cheese, condiments and the pie
which proved the biggest challenge out of all of them. I think we would
have been better of ordering the small platter (I use the word "small" <i>very</i>
loosely here, judging from when I saw it being served to the
neighbouring couple) My friend and I both have pretty sizeable appetites
and yet we were waddling out the cafe once we were through. This dish
was a beautiful thing, but was also a food quest that is not for the
faint-hearted. <br />
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I know it's a bit strange going out
for breakfast when I have perfectly crunchy granola in the comforts of
my own kitchen, but then again you could say the same for going for
coffee or buying sandwiches. There is something really intimate and fun about sharing your breakfast with friends and having strange breakfast-ey chats. It might even convert some 8am zombies into morning people. And if the morning conversation doesn't convert you, than maybe the sky high pancake stacks will...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-81962088081594192972014-01-03T15:39:00.000-08:002014-01-03T15:39:27.721-08:00What to expect from 2014.Whoah there 2014. I'm still reeling from the punch in the face that 2013 gave me. The first few days of January is always a whirlwind of nostalgic facebook statuses about the past year and long rambling blog posts (much like this one will probably be actually, sorry about that.) I can't say that I am not happy to leave behind 2013, but I'm not letting it pass without taking a few things with me.<br />
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Every year brings something new, and 2013 taught me to make plans. This year I'm excited about what is going to happen, and I guess that means that I'm no longer "living in the moment" but whatever. I'm pretty sure that living in the moment is vastly over -rated. There is a beauty in having a goal in the near or distant future, one that works to everyone's happiness and then just going for it. Not "at all costs" because this attitude can be selfish and even destructive to those around you, it should be flexible according to your situation.<br />
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This is where planning comes in. Even though I'm ridiculously disorganized and scatterbrained, I actually love to plan. Working towards a goal gives immense satisfaction when it's fulfilled. But it also pays to throw a little reality in there somewhere too. When I traveled to France I only asked for simple things: for the food to be good, to learn French and to make friends. <br />
I approached every day willing it to surprise me as it so often did. The difficult times didn't shatter any perfect world because I didn't idealistic dreams of France. The result was that my France was perfect and I loved every quirk and potentially disastrous minute I stayed there. <br />
So now I'm steering clear of resolutions for my 2014. Resolutions are a strange invention that mean you only think day to day of how to keep them, and of course predictably (if you're me) one day you forget. And then what do you do for the rest of the year? So instead I'm going to make plans. Because plans are fun and nonthreatening. If I think of a better way to spend my energy, or if the plan simply isn't meant to be, then that's ok. No harm done, and even better, I still have something to look forward to!<br />
My favorite plan is to show my friends that I think of them all often and appreciate them no matter where in the world they are. I could send letters, pick up the phone when I have a few minute spare, pack parcels for birthdays or Christmas..the possibilities are endless and there is no time limit to be guilty about. I also plan to travel, and there are infinite ways to achieve this and endless ways to do it. I could go on and list them all, but instead I'm going to write a quick postcard...So there it is, my rambling blogpost is done and I can safely say that I'm now ready for whatever 2014 has to offer. I wish everyone a happy new year.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-92227445235780810132014-01-02T03:46:00.002-08:002014-01-05T10:18:32.802-08:00I went to Ireland and this happened...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SmcZorBpyHs/UsVPi8lOJpI/AAAAAAAAAe0/DlOlBq5Hw_0/s1600/DSCF9330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SmcZorBpyHs/UsVPi8lOJpI/AAAAAAAAAe0/DlOlBq5Hw_0/s320/DSCF9330.JPG" width="320" /></a>On boxing day I visited a great friend of mine in Ireland. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made, I can't believe it took me so long to make it! I have been to Thailand, Japan, Italy, France etc but Ireland is a different world in itself. It was a trek to get there because I flew to Dublin and caught a 3 hour bus to Galway where my friend Niamh lives. I forgot to print my ticket and narrowly missed shelling out a seventy pound fine. On arrival the gale force winds and rain were so strong that the bus driver took one look at little ol' me with mad flyaway hair streaked attractively across my face, my clothes totally soaked through and went "Jeezus, wait till you get to Galway." Not the most promising of starts.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MpXX7fryGRA/UsVPjTlHgXI/AAAAAAAAAe8/5irPiBgxa9o/s1600/DSCF9334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MpXX7fryGRA/UsVPjTlHgXI/AAAAAAAAAe8/5irPiBgxa9o/s200/DSCF9334.JPG" width="200" /></a>But Galway glows a unique kind of happiness. I spent five days amongst the most genuine and beautiful people I have ever come across. There is a total openness in their manner that means you could initiate a chat with nearly everyone and they would quite happily spend a minute or two getting to know you. I drank <u>a lot</u> with my friends whilst I was over there but it was all done with such a cheeriness that it didn't turn to regret in the morning...<br />
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The bars themselves are a sight to behold. If you have never been to Ireland, then there is no way to do them justice. They have a tardis-like quality with the guise of a small front that blossoms into one room or stage after another where home-grown musical talents play away to an appreciative bobbing crowd. It was there that I had my first Irish pint of Guinness and the rumours are true, it tastes like no other Guinness you've ever had. It was so creamy and buttery that I could only describe it as beer pie.<br />
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The city itself has a definite bustle and one that didn't make me feel rushed or anxious as I normally do in cities such as London or Manchester. The sales were on and I think the atmosphere was a little tense as people rushed around to snaffle the best bargains but it only added to the life of the city. No, I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked but to be honest I was too busy drinking it all in.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-39755641325773237532013-12-19T02:57:00.002-08:002013-12-19T02:57:30.103-08:00Kimchi nabe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />A foodie friend came to visit so I decided to cook something special with her. We followed this recipe: <a href="http://www.littlejapanmama.com/2012/06/kimchi-nabe-recipe.html">http://www.littlejapanmama.com/2012/06/kimchi-nabe-recipe.html</a> and it turned out delicious! Such a great stew for when it is cold outside and want warming up. With the left over kimchi, pork and vegetables I made kimchi fried rice the next day. Pinterest is definitely worth a look when you need inspiration for something different to cook, I normally save photos of recipes only to forget about them later once I realize I never have the ingredients in my cupboard, but this time it worked out really well.<br />
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I don't know what it is about spicy hot foods that makes me feel so good during winter, but they always seem to lift my mood. The textures of this dish go really well together, firm tofu is the perfect consistency for a stew like this and I would definitely recommend raiding the frozen section of the Asian supermarkets for very thinly sliced, fatty pork because it really makes a difference to the overall taste.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-90970135759192228482013-12-18T03:33:00.002-08:002013-12-18T03:33:41.840-08:00Fun times at Cafe Nero...On a random sidenote, I went out for a coffee with Z in York and as I was coming out of the Ladies, a grown man suddenly jumped out in front of me waving his hands and yelling "BOO!" After I screamed very, very, loudly, the poor man then realised that I <i>wasn't </i>his mother who he'd been intending to scare. By this point, I was actually crying with laughter (and relief) and he even turned out to be a barista. When I was back sitting with Z and my coffee, he shuffled over to our table and placed these three free drinks cards on the table still apologizing profusely. Such a random cute moment.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-44841967322492203632013-12-18T03:08:00.002-08:002013-12-18T03:08:57.414-08:00Winter warmers...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSnYh1qSQ90/UrF8UJ_IGBI/AAAAAAAAAc0/xJXoRxE5qcg/s1600/DSCF9194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSnYh1qSQ90/UrF8UJ_IGBI/AAAAAAAAAc0/xJXoRxE5qcg/s1600/DSCF9194.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>*Sigh* It is the final leg in the run up until Christmas and I am getting up later and later as it gets harder to leave my warm nest of a bed. Good thing my mum has taken to roasting a bag of chestnuts in the morning which I am munching my way through as I type this.<br />
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When it gets colder, I love the frosty windows and reading in the evenings by the fire, but most of all, I love the excuse to eat warm, comforting foods such as porridge and stews. When I am extra hungry in the morning, I always whip up a bowl of porridge and poached egg. I prepare the oats with water instead of milk, mix in a good pinch of salt and pepper, then simply poach and egg until the outside is just cooked and place it on top with a generous few twists of the pepper shaker for good measure.<br />
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My friend Z came up to York for a couple of days and as she shares my deep love of Japanese food so I decided to cook Japanese Curry (pronounced Kalleh). It is so simple to make, a staple for all Japanese families so there are many recipes flying around the internet. Best of all, anyone can make it as long as you have the block of seasoning (found in almost all Asian supermarkets for about £3-5). It freezes really well and I am always sure make up a huge batch that is supposed to last me a few weeks.<br />
It never lasts that long in my freezer...<br />
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I fried up one medium onion, about 500g of chicken (I always use dark meat for the flavour), three large carrots, two large potatoes (cut into fairly large chunks). Once the chicken has lost it's pink colour, I poured enough water to cover everything, replaced the lid and left it to simmer until the vegetables were cooked (around 20 minutes). Oh and I almost forgot, I love to add broccoli around 10 minutes before the end. It just marries so well with the sauce and who doesn't love broccoli?<br />
I melted a block of the seasoning into the stew. The amount you put in really depends on how thick/strongly seasoned you want it to be, I put in just over half the block because I like it to be fairly liquid. Once it has bubbled away for a few minutes, I served it with generous helpings of steamed white rice. This dish definitely makes me extra thankful to have a mixed heritage, I always cook it for my friends and it has never let me down yet.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-80837975234095490522013-11-10T07:23:00.003-08:002013-11-10T07:23:29.619-08:00WanderlustI've been having a few "lazy days" lately, including today, where I stay wrapped in a duvet, drinking more hot cocoa than water, and watching as many episodes of Homeland as is humanely possible. Days like today make me think about what comes after university when there are no more assignments or exams to study for. I've decided that my number one priority is to travel. I have always held a fascination for countries other than England and it still awes me that planes means you can go to sleep in one country and wake up on the other side of the world. How cool is that?!<br />
For the time being, I daydream daily about where to I want travel first and whether it will actually happen. I loved the idea of a scratch map where you scratch off the places you have been so I improvised my own. I marked the places I want to go, even if I've already been there. Striking the countries I've already visited off a list made it seem too final somehow. I can't imagine not wanting to go to Japan, France and Italy simply because I've already been there so I made sure I marked them with extra big hearts because I know and love them already.<br />
I spent so much time cutting up hearts and sticking them to my wall which seems a little weird in retrospect but I think it was worth it. Looking at the atlas makes me excited for what will come next, it stops me from panicking about finding a career or having a plan. Worrying about things like that seem a little silly when you're looking at a giant atlas with hearts stuck on it. There, ramble over. I'm going back to my 50th hot cocoa.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-84211341150504225072013-11-09T08:29:00.001-08:002013-11-09T11:56:04.092-08:00Japanese snack selectionI had a lovely surprise today when a small parcel arrived from a good friend who lives in Japan. It was filled with three different kinds of Japanese treats and I wanted to share my thoughts on them here. On a side note, during my stay in France, I missed Japanese food the most. It was possible to get most kinds of English food in France (other than crumpets and Marmite of course) because I would say most foods are available europe-wide. Japanese snacks on the other hand, were unsurprisingly near impossible to find. As a result I missed Japan more as a country than I did England. Coming back from my visit to Japan over the summer has been difficult because I miss, not only my family and friends over there, but the food that is so far removed from what I have here. Anyway, this made me feel at home again...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GSroCo09GI/Un5TtSNSUKI/AAAAAAAAAbs/w3b8EpDsflg/s1600/DSCF9181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GSroCo09GI/Un5TtSNSUKI/AAAAAAAAAbs/w3b8EpDsflg/s200/DSCF9181.JPG" width="200" /></a><b> The ki-na-ko mochi chocolate</b> Mochi has made its way to England in most chinese supermarkets and my friends all love the gooey-ness of glutinous rice flour dumplings and their tasty fillings. Of course, Japan has come up with the miniature chocolate equivalent and I salute them for it. The outer shell of chocolate is flavoured with kinako powder, a roasted soybean powder that is often eaten as a dessert with mochi. It isn't very sweet which is evident in the mildness of the chocolate shell. Although mildness allows the kinako taste to come through better, my English taste-buds tell me that the flavour could be stronger regardless. There is a "mochi" centre instead of the generic praline or creamy truffle which makes this special. The mochi could be a little more elastic as it is actually more of a flavourless stiff jelly but overall, it is something different and fun to try. Tastes pretty good too.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyJOk1xut1A/Un5TuXIjroI/AAAAAAAAAb4/i8bJvMIZ240/s1600/DSCF9177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyJOk1xut1A/Un5TuXIjroI/AAAAAAAAAb4/i8bJvMIZ240/s320/DSCF9177.JPG" width="240" /></a> <b>Toppo</b> I was so excited to see this in the packet, Pocky is one of my all
time favourite Japanese snacks and Toppo is Pocky's inverse twin. I practically grew up on Pocky, always buying a box to share with my brother from the Lawson store around the corner as a treat. It always brings back memories.<br />
The Toppo sticks come wrapped in two packets so you don't have to eat them all at once. Not that it stopped me. I should warn you, these are every bit as addictive as Pocky.<br />
I still prefer Pocky as the Toppo biscuit has less of a bite to it and the chocolate less flavour. I wish there was more variety in the English alternative to Pocky, Mikado. As far as I can see, Mikado doesn't make my favourite Pocky flavour, a thick coating of dark chocolate with crushed hazelnuts or almonds. I live in hope.<br />
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<b>Pumpkin flavour crisps</b>- the final packet in the box and by far my favourite. They are similar to English Quavers with a much closer consistency, less air and oh my days were these good. The pumpkin flavour added a sweetness that balanced perfectly with the saltiness you find with crisps. All I can say is, the person who invented mixing sweet and salty was a genius who should have their own national holiday. Sweet and Salty day. In fact, everyday should be Sweet and Salty Day.<br />
It is a shame that these crisps are probably seasonal for Autumn. If I had the power to make any flavouring of crisp I wanted, I would definitely mix the same consistency of these crisps with sweet potato flavouring and salt. Perhaps there is something already out there like that. Judging by these crisps, if there were I would cross oceans to eat them without hesitation.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-87708225955160236242013-11-08T04:20:00.000-08:002013-11-08T04:20:01.684-08:00Pumpkin, cranberry & red onion tagine with lemon and toasted almond couscous..and a final year crisis.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, Halloween came and went so that meant finding something to do with the pumpkin that didn't involve naming it, getting really attached, and chucking a very smelly Archibald in the bin two weeks later when one wanted to go to his side of the kitchen.<br />
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I had a free evening so I offered to cook for everyone in my house and after careful deliberation, we decided on this recipe. It is pretty basic but I would have cut the pumpkin chunks a little smaller because it took longer than 20 minutes for it to soften and we were all starving. I was a little too eager with the lemon on the couscous but the sharp tang of the lemon balanced out the sweetness of the tagine really well so in future I will only hold back a little bit, perhaps 3/4 of a lemon rather than a whole one. The recipe was delicious and the ingredients not too expensive, we now sprinkle left-over flaked almonds on everything. I would definitely cook it again.<br />
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Settling back into my northern English life has been a slow process, harder than I thought it would be. On the flip side, I get to rediscover York. Wandering around on countless lazy days, I visit a new cafe at every opportunity which has helped me try places I would normally walk past without a second glance. I love how coffee and tea shops develop their own personality, from the small, quirky "Hairy Fig" and the bustling baker/deli "Mannions and Co" that smells like heaven, to the coffee snob stops that invest ten minutes trying to change your order when you dare to request a soy milk latte.<br />
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University-wise, I've been to various returners workshops to help "reflect" on my year abroad and how it will effect my future. It is now my final year of university, and looks like it's time to think of what comes next. I thought it was taken for granted by pretty much everyone that History students like myself have no career plan until at least ten years after graduation, when a loving mum reaches the end of the line and kicks us out the house. Turns out to be wrong, judging by the number of people who ask what I want to do next year, and the next forty years after that. Whenever people ask me what I want to do after university, all I manage to say is something as earth shattering as "I dunno." What they should know is that I am actually thinking... "WHO KNOWS? LEAVE ME TO WALLOW IN MY CONFUSION YOU NOSY SO AND SO." I'm sure <i>that</i> would go down well in interviews.<br />
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I have to keep reminding myself that I should celebrate the fact I don't have a specific job lined up once I finish university. I kind of love the freedom I have to consider a life in another country, jobs that might not even be in existence yet and to change my mind if doesn't end up being right for me. I admit, I might not be so thankful if I don't actually find the job of my dreams, but in the meantime I'll just have to roll with it. Right, panic over. It's time for a cup of tea.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-51813750265290350672013-09-09T02:44:00.000-07:002013-09-09T02:46:34.560-07:00Muddle of the past few months.I had break, a long long break but I'm back now and hopefully back for good unless I get abducted by very determined aliens in which case I am sure everybody will understand.<br />
Update: I moved back to England and moved to Japan within a week, started a part time job as a pool girl and I kept forgetting to take pictures. I am back in England now and gearing myself up for my final year of university.<br />
Rewinding back to France and the dreaded exam period...When revising for my end of year exams it was so easy to fall into snacking rather than eating proper meals so I made an extra effort to cook with friends. I've gotten in to a habit (maybe not the most economical) of picking a large selection of fruit and vegetables at the market at random and often the most interesting looking. It means that dinner is never boring and that I eat a lot healthier than I would if I planned things that I never end up cooking. Keeping quick meals on the stand-by like salad food and couscous means lazy days are never boring ones. <br />
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This salad was great with quinoa and it had - carrot, cherry tomatoes, chickpeqs, cucumber, sesame seeds, sultanas, sunflower seeds, balsamic vinaigrette and pinches of salt and pepper. (Great with sriracha sauce) </div>
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After a day spent at the library I had my first proper Rachel Khoo moment when I finally fulfilled my wish of making quiche lorraine in France. I know most people's bucket lists generally include seeing famous monuments, well mine is eating the frenchest food as much as possible and the quiche lorraine is the mother of all French foods. No words are necessary, feel free to just bask in it's golden loveliness.</div>
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<span id="goog_325927886"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-78613736642034022992013-02-24T01:25:00.002-08:002013-02-24T01:25:41.755-08:00The first omelette that didn't fall to bits when I'm cooking.When cooking with friends I often just take a step back and observe (generally getting in the way when I lean over the pan because it always smells so good) but doing this and taking hundreds of mental notes means it's just like watching a cooking program (which I'm also addicted to). Yesterday I made an omelette for the first time thanks to Zoe cooking an amazing cheesy omelette a few weeks ago. I know it's crazy that I am a student and have never actually cooked one but I have a love of poached or scrambled eggs which means I always cook them instead. Anyway, this is the result...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I only have half the omelette here because I was eating with a friend (who cooked the courgette, mushroom and onion filling which was what made it so amazing) but I am proud to say I did the flippy egg thing all on my own. The side salad is made up of radish, corn, one small apple, mixed salad leaves and a honey mustard dressing. </div>
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We watched a french film called "Ensemble, C'est Tout" while we ate and I really really recommend this film to everyone. I can't believe I've never seen it before! It's so beautiful and is perfect if you're a romantic and have a thing for Guillaume Canet. I love watching films with friends, someone to hide behind screaming "NOOO HOW CAN SHE DO THAT?!" when the characters do something vaguely unromantic. Watching films cannot be good for me since I get so involved I believe it is actually happening. Great when watching films like "The Princess Bride", not so much with "The Grudge"... </div>
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After planning on going for weeks we made it to see "Silver Linings Playbook" ("Happiness Therapy" if you're in France- still no idea where they get the English titles for these films from). It was AWESOME! I am relieved it had the right ending because I probably have left the cinema a little broken inside if it hadn't. I really don't watch films for them to be realistic. Such a sucker for a romance :) My friends all sighed in disbelief and disgust when I said I wanted to go and see the new G.I Joe, looks like that's one I will have to go and see on my own. I don't expect it to be particularly good, and I'll go and see Terrence Malik's "The Wonder" to restore my faith in film, but I have a long held soft spot for action films so I will forgive anything, even if it isn't any good, as long as it doesn't take itself too seriously. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-14310571957405447472013-02-23T00:05:00.001-08:002013-02-24T11:51:02.288-08:00The day of carbohydrates and the "Flangers"Started the last day of the half term with a quick run (which lasted about as long as it took me to realize that running ad -5 degrees is not a good idea) and a workout I pulled off pinterest which had me more sweaty and breathless than my usual runs so I should definitely try that again...except I probably won't because I'm a have a wimpishly low pain threshold and it hurt too much.<br />
I had a fresh baguette in my room crying out "EAT ME. DAMN YOU EAT ME." So I decided to go all out on this baby:<br />
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I herbed up one egg and one egg white, half an avocado and my beloved shiracha. It was perfect with peppermint tea and kept me totally full until my lunch a couple of hours later. I forgot my camera so I couldn't photograph it, but I bought a smoked salmon, avocado and tomato sandwich on pain du lait with paprika mayo. *drool* I could only get through half because of rubbish class times (12-6pm with no breaks) so I kept sneaking a bite when the professor wasn't looking. Dammit. Unfinished food can regularly draw tears so it wasn't a good moment for me.</div>
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I heard something quite strange a couple of days ago which came back to me when typing about baguettes. I overheard a girl talking about giving up carbohydrates for lent. In France, saying you want to go on a carb free diet is on a par with saying you want to go on a food-free diet. Sure, the vegetables and fruit here are plentiful and delicious but I still see having the freedom to go into the bakery around the corner and saying "Une baguette s'il vous plait!" as a privilege I will be unlikely to get again in my lifetime. Why would anyone want to give it up? WHY?! *Ahem* Confused rant over.</div>
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I went to one of my first gigs yesterday and I am happy to say that I was as uncool in my excitement as to be expected from a girl was once staring so hard at a shop window she smacked her head against the window pane. The bands were brilliant, listening to English being sung by people who have a very loose grasp of the English language and therefore what they are singing certainly makes way for something special. The names of bands included the "Flangles" and "The Paddys". Brilliant.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-57775194378383540192013-02-21T11:52:00.000-08:002013-02-21T11:58:23.552-08:00Food friends are fun :)After a blog hiatus that has lasted far too long, for reasons beyond my power or control (definition: laziness). I realized that I missed posting the random things that pop into my mind when thinking about food. Is that weird? Anyway, what I'm trying to say very badly is that I'm sorry for not posting more often. Here is a nice photo as an apology.<br />
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There, that made me feel better anyway. Um..an extra sorry to any vegetarians. I had an awesome Christmas holiday, being lucky enough to stay with a family of people who share my love of food and who are tolerant of my inability to act appropriately in the presence of food. The perfect end to the holidays meant the return of the giant macaroon when spookily Zoe and I, completely independently of each other, chose the same three flavours from the same bakery on the same day and only realized when we opened the bags at the same time. First time I have experienced food telepathy and I definitely want it to happen more often. Here's a peek at the evidence of just how similar food cravings become between two girls who spend far too much time talking about food:</div>
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I went home after my January exams and after showing my parents all my France photos so far (to my own embarrassment when I realized the ratios to self photos:food is approximately 1:10) I started to realize just how much I'm going to miss it in Aix. I don't think I have ever really been happier which is strange because coming to France wasn't my lifelong dream or anything like that. I only wanted to try a baguette. I've been here for a couple of months now and I don't want to leave. Dammit. Erasmus year sucks. </div>
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Zoe and I have reinstated our weekly lunches out and this week, generous and sympathetic as she is, we got to eat JAPANESE FOOD. OSDLKFJSLDKJFLSKJDF. I have no idea how I managed to go this long without sashimi. If it was possible to absorb raw fish through an IV drip I would. I also overcame my fear of burning rice and cooked omurice for my friends which turned out amazing. I was going to do a "Guess which japanese dish I ate in the restaurant and which one I cooked!" game but after looking at the photographs...you will see why I decided not to.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-80817750889877764902012-12-08T07:44:00.001-08:002012-12-08T07:47:02.275-08:00Hi my name is Alice, and I'm a tea addict.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Being a student in England means drinking tea on a daily basis. It's
during conversations over cups of tea that I initially bonded for life
with some my friends back at York, it was the prospect of tea breaks
over the exam period that kept me going and I glad that moving to France
has changed little about this. Saying that, I have to confess that I
may have taken my love of tea a little too far. A hot cup of tea is such
a comfort in the morning to wake me up, during endless hours spent
reading about Roman epigraphy (when I don't have any idea of what actually
epigraphy is) and when someone comes round for a chat, I always have a cup
of tea ready and waiting. But the other day I looked up and was greeted with this. Too much perhaps? I have issues I know.</div>
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Yesterday Zoe and I went on a Christmas present hunt and in the
evening we thanked each other for a lovely-rubbish day. I will explain.<br />
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Firstly, things that made the day not so good:<br />
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<li>The expectations of all the excitement and fun of present buying, made
us both forget just how stressful it is. I get so desperate to buy the
"perfect present" that anything I see ends up not being good enough and
of course that means I end up walking back empty handed. </li>
<li>The weather was
awful, I might love rain but I think sleeting is possibly the worst
kind of weather when everyone is wishing for a white Christmas. Why taunt us with this watery alternative to snow? Why!?</li>
<li>We went
out for lunch in an attempt to cheer us up and were served by a waiter
so scary and grumpy we couldn't wait to pay and leave. </li>
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But the weird thing is
throughout the entire day, no matter how tired and exhausted we were, or
how awful the situation seemed, I don't think we stopped laughing (hysterically I'll admit) or
smiling once. Plus after the lunch we were kind of dejected so Zoe, genius she is,
suggested our favorite hot chocolate bar which never fails in turning a
down-day the right way round. I think the best thing to do with days when everything
seems to go wrong is to take it as it comes and try not to wallow too
much. As soon as we stopped thinking about how tired and stressed we were, and instead at all the things were lucky to have, the day suddenly turned around. Cheesy I know, but it's something I definitely need to work on.<br />
All in all this tree has to sum up our day for me. Has
anyone ever seen a more depressed-looking Christmas tree? Some people
really do go all out don't they. Zoe and I were collapsing on the floor in hysterics by this point. In the end we managed to pick up some
gifts we were really happy about and in the evening a couple of us
crammed into my room with some Christmas tea (what else?) and a bit
of Love Actually. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-4042659006729952582012-12-05T10:41:00.003-08:002012-12-05T14:11:00.369-08:00marshmallows and macarons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a pretty hectic few weeks with essay deadlines and exams constantly looming over me, (note the badly needed hot chocolate above) I've sadly been neglecting my blog. I've managed to have a couple of adventures in the meantime which I just haven't had time to post about.<br />
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I went to the Christmas market in Aix where I had my first roasted chestnuts.Mmmm. Chestnuts. I've even had my first proper french crepe party! Despite being totally shattered by revision and ready for bed, I was invited and overcoming any fatigue I had to go was definitely the best of decisions. Who am I say no when someone utters the magic words "crepe" and "party"? The night consisted of one of the most intense games of trivial pursuit I have ever come across (French people take their quizzes very seriously) and I laughed none stop until I had tears pouring down my face, or maybe I was crying because the crepes were so good and went above and beyond all expectations. If a French person ever offers a crepe, and I mean ever, take it. It was funny to see the guy making them, who generally is absolutely insane and forever cracking jokes, take on the expression of an undertaker when preparing his "secret recipe." I gathered up some courage and tried my hand at flipping a few (brave considering I had about 5 French people standing around to judge!) but I didn't let anyone down, far too practice from Pancake Day for that. I am so disappointed that I forgot my camera, but they have promised another one sometime soon and I will take photos of everything! <br />
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I just have to write abou patisserie day. Yes, you heard right, patisserie day. After realizing that we spent far too much time standing in the cold drooling over all the beautiful creations through the window, someone suggested we pick a day where we actually <i>go inside</i> and pick something. Today the group was just me and one other girl but it was pretty darn good all the same. I chose a salted caramel macaron which was delicious but somehow didn't live up to all the crisp shell, gooey center hype I keep hearing about. The center was more solid and buttery than a smooth cream, not sure if this is supposed to happen since I have very little experience macarons but I guess I will just have to keep going until I find the perfect one. My friend chose a beautiful lemon tart which she let me sneak a bite of and it was delicious!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-28915659000555610382012-11-19T10:52:00.001-08:002012-11-19T10:52:05.546-08:00the great tart robberyI had another exam and a truckload of essays coming up and since my last tea-shop revision session was so successful, I decided to try it again. Since I seem to be living at "Book in Bar" these days, this time I paid a visit to my friend on her anthropology research placement. Being a total foodie, she chose a lovely cafe in the small town of Lambesc which is about a 45 minute bus ride from Aix. After dragging myself out of bed at about 6am to get there on time, I warmed myself up on kashmir tchai tea which was served on a slate! Fancy that. The atmosphere was really relaxed apart from the screaming children, the owner has a play room for kids making it really handy for mums to come an have a chat, not so much for people cramming on ancient Greek history. So instead I had tea. Definitely one of my better ideas.<br />
For lunch I treated myself to a pumpkin, carrot and Jerusalem artichoke tart. Zoe's professor walked in just as we were ordering, I wasn't sure whether to choose this tart or not (I had never had Jerusalem artichoke before and was intrigued but slightly nervous about finally finding a food I didn't like) but when it turned out there was only one left and he seemed pretty keen on it, did I graciously offer it to him? No. I was sneaky and snapped it up as quick as I could. MWAHAHAHAHAHA. I know I should have been generous but when it comes to stuff like this (i.e. food) all my generosity goes out the window. And anyway, the tart was totally worth stealing, I don't get many chances to have pumpkin in England, and whenever I read American food blogs all the raving about something called canned pumpkin makes me curious and jealous. So there you go, I couldn't just leave it could I?<br />
I was too full for dessert unfortunately but check out the beautiful lemon and poppy seed cake Zoe made! My favorite tea was the genmaicha which tasted like popcorn. It is the only flavor which has come close to ones I have had in Japan and I felt so cozy drinking it that I could have easily had another 10 cups. If only Kusmi tea wasn't so pricey. I love going into the shop and just smelling all the boxes of tea like a total weirdo but I'm sure they're pretty used to that now. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-82234789929539165152012-11-12T13:47:00.000-08:002012-11-12T13:47:46.871-08:00crepes and the creepiest of Christmas decorations.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well it's been a long day and that can mean only one thing...CREPES! I had one of my first exams today which was stressful enough and after being too lazy to walk the <i>five minutes </i>it takes to get to the supermarket, I'm afraid my fridge is pretty pathetic, so crepes seemed to be the way to go. </div>
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Now, crazy as this may seem after being here for well over two months, this was the first crepe I've had since I've been here. I know, I know, *the shame* but I was waiting for the perfect moment to savour this most holy of French food experiences and believe me, the wait was totally worth it. I was practically hanging over the counter while the crepe lady was spreading out the mixture and every so coolly flipping it over. Everyone tells me that they are so much cheaper when you make them yourself, but I think there is definitely something magical about watching them being made and handed to you all hot and gooey with absolutely no effort on my part. Apart from the difficult business of choosing what flavour to have. Hello ratatouille</div>
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(Yes I've already taken a bite out of it, but I did warn about all the half eaten food photos.)</div>
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Zoe and I live the same corridor meaning we sort of take it for granted that we can annoy each other whenever we want without actually planning to have a proper chat, we decided to have a proper girly movie night. So she knocked on my door and surprised me with this...</div>
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This creepiest of chocolate horses was in the "Christmas" section of the supermarket amongst all the chocolate Santas and reindeer and I ask you this. WHAT WAS IT DOING THERE? Is there some kind of secret link horses have with Christmas that I'm unaware of?! Stand-ins when the reindeer feel like they need a break? *shudder* Anyway, I'm still confused as to why she saw this and immediately thought about me but I have a feeling the look of horror on my face when she presented it to me is probably the explanation. At least he tasted delicious. For the movie, she brought along these purple crisps (no added colour or preservatives! Hurray!). French movie nights certainly have more exciting snacks...</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-52413209365799571172012-11-11T00:09:00.002-08:002012-11-11T00:09:17.379-08:00tea + cake = productive?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Been a while since I posted anything because I've had lots of work but I still managed to link studying and food. Being stuck inside my room, I am always at my most unproductive and I really lack any kind of motivation.Yesterday, after finding myself looking at Korean dramas on Youtube, enough was enough and I asked a couple of the others if they wanted to go to "Book in a Bar," which is fast becoming my favorite hang-out in Aix, for a revision/tea session. Hello pecan pie and lemon cheesecake. These two cakes aren't mine I'm afraid but the other girls kindly let me take photos. You would think that the cheesecake, which is <u>huge</u> by the way, would have a pretty even biscuit:cream cheese filling ration but no, somehow they managed to make what was effectively a ball of cream cheese encased in a thin biscuit crust. And it was beautiful. The cream cheese was just the right texture, tangy without being too bitter. I was pretty darn happy when it got sent round the table for a taste. We had a bit of a giggle over the slab of lemon which is meant to act as a "garnish" though. Pecan pie was divine as always and it made a second appearance at our study session yesterday. B and I had cornflower tea while Zoe braved "Russian Tea" - vodka and grapefruit flavor! Smelled pretty special. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Some photos from the inside, and some proof that we actually managed to do some work! The tables are so small that it was a bit cozy with all our hefty textbooks but we managed somehow. It was the best kind of study session, we buckled down and revised in a relaxed atmosphere where time seemed to fly by. What does everyone else need to motivate themselves to study? Tea and conversation seem to be very English study tools to me.<br />
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p.s. I forgot to mention the real reason I dragged us all out through torrential downpour to this cafe. I came here the day before after a swimming session with Niamh and when I got back to my flat I realized I had forgotten something...asking if someone had left a damp towel, soap and a bikini behind the day before was a bit embarrassing to say the least. Also, because I had puddles in my shoes from the rain, I'm ashamed to say I went up to the counter to place my order in my socks. The fact they were understanding says something about how lovely they are but I still feel as though I'm giving a very eccentric picture of English girls!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-68972233292616850722012-11-04T14:53:00.001-08:002012-11-04T15:01:32.727-08:00the experimental pancake.Today started off with pancakes. It is the first time I've made them myself and I'm not sure if it was a good idea. It was great when I was actually eating them, but there is definitely something ever so slightly depressing about cooking pancakes, alone, and in a darkened kitchen (don't ask why I didn't turn the light on, I've no idea.) Definitely going to be a communal thing next time! I kind of made it up as I went along (as usual) so I don't really think it should be called a recipe. This is more appropriate i think:<br />
<u>Random list of things I found in my cupboard and chucked in my pancakes hoping for the best</u><br />
<ul>
<li>raisins</li>
<li>flax seeds</li>
<li>dessicated coconut</li>
<li>porridge oats</li>
<li>1 egg</li>
<li>soy milk</li>
<li>cinnamon</li>
<li>fromage blanc</li>
<li>half a mashed banana </li>
</ul>
I managed to make two and loaded honey, dried fruit and nut, more fromage blanc, ground hazelnuts, a couple of flax seeds on top. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-69801545942044107422012-11-03T15:11:00.003-07:002012-11-03T15:22:21.097-07:00A smoothie and speculoos? Totally lazy day (apart from the morning run). I've decided that the best possible tip to get yourself up and running is this: lay out all your clothes, water, everything the night before. When you get out of bed the first thing you do is fling all your jogging clothes on as quickly as possible. This means that before you realize what you are doing, you are standing in the middle of your room dressed head to toe in sports clothes and absolutely no way of getting out of going on a run without feeling stupid and taking them all off again. Works everytime. Except once when I even got half way down three flights of stairs, changed my mind, and went back to my room. Low point.<br />
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Moving on, today's lazy day consisted of procrastination on a heroic level, starting with my first ever experience of overnight oats. Totally converted, last night I mixed up fromage blanc, soy milk, compote, cinnamon, pinch of salt and in the morning topped it off with raisins, flax seeds, even more cinnamon and ground hazelnut. I even took it out of the fridge as motivation and staring at it and said "This loveliness is waiting for you when you get back." The sad thing is that it worked and I ran faster than I ever have before... forget fancy stopwatches. Foodivation is the way to go if you want to make that three minute mile!<br />
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Headed off to "Book in a Bar" for a post lunch tea break with my friends (despite my morning having been a perpetual tea break anyway...) "Book in a Bar" is one of my favorite places in Aix, it is a bookshop/coffeeshop anglaise where you can order just one tea and stay there for hours on end talking very loudly about politics, books, movies, anything you want, without anyone batting an eyelid. They serve scones and the most delicious pecan pies and just to prove its awesomeness, this is what greeted us on our table, felt just like home...<br />
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I don't know how many people in England actually have teapots with union jacks on them but it was so adorable. I ordered japanese green tea infused with cherry followed by a kiwi and apple smoothie which for some reason came with a speculoos biscuit. Don't french people know how incompatible speculoos biscuits and smoothies are? Smoothies are not for dunking! Madness. Or maybe this is just the strict tea regulations I'm used to in England talking. Needless to say, none of us approved.<br />
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Saying this, speculoos is another obsession over here which it is perfectly justified. I saw this spread in the supermarket about a month ago and took a photo for a speculoos crazy friend back in England who even gets thes stuff shipped over. That is how much people love it. I would say the speculoos popularity is about on a par with digestive biscuit love back home. They are everywhere, with supermarkets doing own brand speculoos. After discussing it with a friend however, (yes we do have 30 minute conversations about biscuits) we decided that nothing beats the hobnob dunking wise. Not even close. Didn't stop us from putting speculoos spread in hot chocolate though...<br />
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BEHOLD.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-56583228664931785162012-11-01T13:58:00.002-07:002012-11-01T13:59:33.184-07:00Why did I buy two advent calendars?!After a mad Lidl shop of spending around half an hour just in front of the Lebkuchen display, we ended up with this...<br />
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Exactly how early is too early for Christmas shopping? I guess being abroad I should be thinking about sending presents back home, but it still felt a bit wrong buying Christmas things in October. Looking back to previous years, my family has always resisted the ridiculously early Christmas spirit thing so that we had something to look forward to in December but that always meant that the advent calendars were always sold out by the time we started looking for them! This is my favourite Christmas buy yet:</div>
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I couldn't resist. It's so cute and I can keep it in my wardrobe waiting for next year. An investment for my Christmas future. *Ahem* Anyway, this morning I even found myself giving in to my mum's demands and finally started drawing up a Christmas list so my family doesn't freak out when choosing presents for me. When doing this, I realized that I might actually be growing up...gone are the days when I would put the mp3 player all my friends had, the digital camera or even the dreaded furby *shudder*. I found myself putting "socks." That's it, I've crossed the boundary for asking things that I want, to doing the grown up thing of asking for realistic things that I need too. It made me think about what Christmas means to me. It isn't really the actual day that matters, but the excitement of counting down each day- which of course justified me buying two calendars... doesn't it? Last Christmas Eve was a bit of a shock for me when instead of staying awake from the excitement of Santa coming with all the presents, all I could think about was Christmas dinner and mince pies. Ok, forget about the whole "I'm growing up and asking for useful things" rubbish. I've made amendments to the list:</div>
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<li>Almond butter, peanut butter...just butter really</li>
<li>gingerbread</li>
<li>Marmite (OF COURSE)</li>
<li>Good strong English tea</li>
<li>Biscuits that actually dunk in said tea- hobnobs all the way.</li>
<li>Mince pies</li>
<li>Crumpets/toasted teacakes</li>
<li>Soreen</li>
</ul>
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Socks can wait.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-25959679727759974482012-10-31T04:09:00.001-07:002012-10-31T04:09:05.444-07:00cake logic<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Breakfast anyone? Nothing better than apricot and almond, fruit rouges and pistachio, pear and chocolate cake on a cloudy day to cheer everyone up! That and a mug of hot spiced tea. Winter is on its way and I'm loving every cold and rainy day just as much as the sunny ones in summer. We made sure to split each of the cakes very carefully so we could all taste one of each and instead of buying the delicately beautiful creations, we bought the more robust looking cakes so they survived the car journey to our flat. I love cake inspired logic. If the meticulous common sense used with things related to food was applied to everything else in life then everyone would be much happier. The cakes were almost brownie-like in their consistency without any sickly sweetness. We all said that we would try just one piece but once we had finished, everyone predictably sidled up to the box after a second piece. Addictive stuff.</div>
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I'm staying in France over the Christmas holidays with friends. For two weeks I'm going to live in a house overlooking Mount St Victoire with log fires and (hopefully) snow outside...AAAAHHH!!! I can't wait! In order to have a truly French Christmas, we are going to make sure we get all our cravings for mince pies and Christmas pudding out of the way early and stick to a traditional Provencal menu on Christmas day. I can't believe that we are already planning Christmas! Time is flying by so fast but whenever I think about December I can't help but get goosebumps and feel like a child again. <br />
When visiting the house we decided to investigate a village nearby. By investigate of course I mean all the restaurants so when we saw there was a couscous restaurant we couldn't resist! With me being a couscous novice, everyone decided that we absolutely had to try the couscous royale because it means I could try a whole selection of meat (of course I had absolutely no objections to this whatsoever!) I can honestly say that I have never eaten so much or so well. Being me, it was totally useless trying everything because I would never be choose between the lamb, sausage, chicken or meatballs even if my life depended on it. I can't even choose whether to have toast or cereal for breakfast for goodness sake. <br />
It was so lovingly cooked that we all felt guilty once we were defeated and had to leave some, but there is only so far you can pile your plate in the name of good manners, however hard we tried. For dessert we all ordered Ile Flottante and after that we were well and truly stuffed. We set out on a post-lunch walk to help us stop feeling so queasy and to get a feel of the village. I feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful place, still pinching myself in the evening when I look over all my photos. France is a hundred times better than I imagined it would be, and I had pretty high expectations to begin with.<br />
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Some of the post-lunch recovery walk discoveries... </div>
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A me-sized door </div>
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Ready made den! Acting as though I'm about 10 years old again and stealing it.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-45808900212737142672012-10-27T14:13:00.001-07:002012-10-27T14:41:57.890-07:00marmite and mint teaI managed to go on a quick run today before going out for lunch with Zoe, her parents and Niamh. Running in France is always a bit of a strange experience. Joggers in France aren't as common as in England and I always notice looks of general surprise or humour (one person started to run along next to me with two full bags of shopping today) at the sight of someone exercising in the surrounding estate. Jogging has been transformed into something completely different for me now I'm in France based on the reactions I encounter here. It is just one of the many ways that moving to a different country can be made interesting and exciting but sometimes it can be just plain tiring too. I wouldn't swap being here for anything (even cake) but after being here for two months, I have started craving the little bits of home and normality which I just can't find in France. A few examples...<br />
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<li>The simplicity (stodge) of English desserts- A friend mentioned in a letter that she had been to afternoon tea with her mother and had eaten a apple and blackcurrant crumble. I just melted a little bit inside. I know that I'm spoilt here with breathtakingly exquisite French patisserie on every corner, resembling more works of art than food. The problem is that dessert here is more of an eating experience, you savour and prolong the moment for as long as possible, taking small forkfuls and generally looking like a lady. I'm ashamed to say I miss the lack of pomp in English desserts, where I don't have to feel guilty about dolloping a great spoonful of custard on top and tucking in. You would never do this in France. Ever. </li>
<li>Crumpets- I lived off these last year, never failing to find new things to top them with: butter, beans, ham, marmite, jam, honey, chocolate spread, egg, mushrooms..I could go on. Needless to say, France doesn't really have crumpets, and the only place I did find them, the price was so high I couldn't justify buying them. Considering how much I miss them though, I might just cave.</li>
<li>Marmite- not sure people in France have even heard of it.</li>
<li>Meat pie (my dad wrote to me about these and I was completely overcome with jealousy...maybe I should start banning friends and family about writing to me about food)</li>
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Anyway, this morning when I went to call in on Zoe and her parents, they had this little bit of heaven waiting for me all the way from the other side of the Channel...</div>
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I practically ran to my room to get this on some toast with butter. Happy doesn't even come close to how it felt to be transported back to England for the approximate 3 seconds it took for me to demolish it. Thank goodness for parents, and their understanding of the needs of hungry, every so slightly homesick, English girls in France. This one is going to stay hidden in the cupboard in case anyone else sees!</div>
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For lunch, Zoe and I proudly introduced her parents to one our favorite food finds in Aix. A lebanese restaurant where we had a three course meal for 13 euros. To have as much choice as possible, we all chose different starters and main meals and swapped round. Falafels, baba ganoush, arayes, marinated chicken skewers, lamb skewers, and kofta...After never having lebanese cooking before I am definitely a convert. Zoe let me photograph her dessert again which patisserie with a pistachio crust! My fresh fruit salad with rose syrup was the perfect ending to what was a pretty filling meal. There was an endless of supply of mint tea and conversation to finish and then a long post-lunch wander around Aix. The perfect lazy day to wind down after a long first term. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339861740395007943.post-794887173054348792012-10-26T15:42:00.002-07:002012-10-26T15:46:15.406-07:00Too much food thought?Is is possible to think about food too much? It really is about time I turned in and went to sleep, but instead I'm sitting with a hot mug of tea readying myself to document a day of food. I even specifically woke up at 7am after deciding at about 2am last night that I wanted to make something special to take to uni for my lunch. I was on the receiving end of many strange looks in the kitchen this morning, as a girl frying courgettes, mushrooms, <u>a lot </u>of garlic...basically a whole meal at 7 o'clock in the morning should expect. When opening my Tupperware box to this after a morning of lectures however, I decided it was all worth it...<br />
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Couscous is one of the easiest and fastest things to prepare and yet when I talk to other friends and students they always say they don't know how to make it. Basically, it involves the same actions as when making a pot noodle except you can add what ever you want to it. Be inventive as you like! This morning mine had raspberry vinaigrette, lemon juice, salt and pepper, paprika, half a chicken stock cube, cherry tomatoes fresh from the market, prawns, courgette, mushrooms, onion and a clove of garlic. It's so easy to experiment with and you can prepare it the night before ready for the morning. Looking back, garlic wasn't the best choice for lunch as my breath was definitely a bit strong later on, but oh well. I've learned my lesson.<br />
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Pumpkin flavored things are much more popular in France than in England and when I saw pumpkin and chestnut soup for starters, it was a definite yes. The main course was dorade fish with buttery mash, haricot vert and a cherry tomato. When picking what to eat, (given the choice that we had this is harder than it sounds) you choose the main meat dish and then everyone gets the same side. It seems a economical way of making a menu far more manageable for a busy restaurant without compromising on taste. Everything was cooked in the traditional Provencal way in an chilled atmosphere full of regulars and where even the customers' dogs are welcomed with their own water bowl. <br />
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I felt a bit self conscious when taking pictures of all my food but everyone was understanding about it, Zoe even let me take a photo of her calisson mousse because it was so pretty. I will probably have write up about calissons (Aix specialty) next time I buy some from the market because they really deserve their own post. I saw Raymond Blanc eat them once on television so in food terms, that makes them famous! This was my dessert of vanilla (more like caramel) and almond milk ice cream scoops with raspberries scattered on top...<br />
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The photos don't really do justice to the food as candlelight isn't the best for taking photos, so you will just have to take my word for it that the food was simple but wonderful. The simple set up and easy atmosphere is why it is packed every evening to the point people have to be turned away at the door. The final sign of a good meal is when for fifteen euros, we ate so much food we were forced to do the post-dinner awkward waddle/shuffle back to our flats. If is possible to think about food too much I've decided that I'm just going to roll with it, it's too much fun to give up. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019624973741604368noreply@blogger.com0