Are you a reader? I’m a reader.
As readers, I think we’re all familiar with the concept of comparing life to a book. And for the most part, it’s an excellent, if way overused, metaphor.
But there are a couple of exceptions that keep the comparison from being exactly apples to apples (and yep, I’m cliche-ing all over the place today). So let’s explore them for a sec, shall we? And then I promise, I’ll get to my point.
#1 When you read a book, like it or not, you’re subjecting yourself to authorial manipulation. Don’t believe it? Think about the range of emotions you experience when you’re reading. You’re up, you’re down, you’re caught in a game of suspense, torn between your allegiance to two different fictional love interests (Twilight readers, raise your hand). Authors craft their writing carefully, choosing scenarios that will play on your emotion and using suspension to build enough tension to carry the story as the plot pushes on.
When you’re living life, you’re still going to experience a vast range of emotions. The amazing difference? No manipulation is involved. The Author of your life is a good, loving Father who sees the span of your experience, but has given you the free will to write your story alongside Him. Surprises will happen, and love interests will inevitably have to be chosen between…but isn’t there such a freedom in knowing that the heart of this Author is for you?
#2 In books, you can almost always feel the changes coming. The suspension is built slowly, cliffhangers nudge you forward, and when the big “AHA” moment finally comes, you’re ready. It’s another part of that authorial manipulation, after all!
In life, sometimes we don’t get that advantage. Things just seem to happen, whether good or bad, completely out of the blue. At times, changes don’t seem to make sense. And often times, we just don’t feel ready when it’s time to move on to a new chapter of life. At all.
#3 In books, you can skip ahead when the tension gets too high. Or at least I do!
In life, you’re lucky if you can see five minutes into your own future! It’s one of the most frustrating things about making decisions or being surprised by change—our human inability to see exactly how it’s all going to work out. And so that tension has the tendency to turn, in real life, to anxiety or over-control.
Here’s a confession: in life, I’ve been known to forget #1, dread #2, and succumb wholeheartedly to #3’s temptation to panic.
But that stops now. It’s not a New Year’s resolution, exactly. Just a refusal to overthink the changes. If the past few months have taught me anything, it’s to accept the open-endedness of a life lived moment-to-moment with Him.
I graduated Pepperdine a year early without a plan and without any idea of how to start building a life for myself. If my life was a book, that definitely would have been the point where I would have tried to skip ahead a few chapters to see how it would all work out. But praise God, He walked me through a series of experiences that taught me how to stop trying so hard to see the big picture and trust Him fully in every circumstance.
There were fun interludes, like competing in Miss Dallas. There were deeply-felt losses, like the passing of my grandmother—a woman who was not only my hero, but a kindred spirit and a dear friend as well. There were unexpected paths to adventure that opened up, like the offer to live and work in France for the past three months—truly one of the most incredible opportunities I’ve ever had.
And now, there are more pages to turn, another new chapter to begin. A French class to help me keep up the language, a new job as an editorial intern at D Magazine, dance practices to help me prepare for a Miss Texas preliminary, business meetings with my family as we seek to build something together, new volunteer opportunities, and obviously, lots and lots of baking.
When I look at all these pieces of a life that are beginning to assemble in Dallas, it starts to get a little jumbled in my mind. “Do these things all fit together?” I’ll ask myself. “Does everything I’m involved in make sense in relation to one another?”
Well, no, to be honest. I could definitely run into a few dead ends. But that’s the beauty of it all! It’s life. I have the opportunity to add things to my “experience bank” and invest in the lives of others without seeing how it’s all going to add up. I don’t have to know the end of the story to keep reading (and living!) the chapter that’s right in front of me. What freedom!
For now, my personal blog is going on a temporary leave of absence as I take on the world, AKA figure out my new role in a new office tomorrow afternoon at orientation. With a little luck, I’ll have the chance to blog over at D—and I’ve got a few other writing projects up my sleeve as well. Hopefully I’ll have the chance to share them with y’all sooner rather later, and get this blog up and running again before too long. I’ve gotten really attached to my little space at Decaf & Dessert!
To everyone who prayed me through my time in France, and before that, through my time in California: thank you, thank you, thank you. I told you before I left that I coveted your prayers, and in a show of amazing selflessness, you lifted them up on my behalf. I cannot tell you how grateful I am, or begin to recount to you the many times when I physically felt the Lord’s presence because of the network of believers lifting me up in prayer from all over the world. It truly overwhelms and humbles me: Philippians 1:3 - “I thank my God every time I remember you.” If any of you ever need prayer in return, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I would love to invest in your life in the same way that so many of you have invested in mine.
I’ll leave y’all with this: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Here’s to new chapters, no road maps, surprises and adventures.
xoxo
Karley
Today, I’d like to share a mini-DIY project plus excerpts from my devotional this morning. Sound good? Good.
PS: make sure you’ve got a cup of coffee in hand. It’s always easier to be inspired that way :)
This DIY project was inspired by a set of cards I recently gave to Valerie as a birthday present, and following is a step-by-step process of how you can make something similar. I think that these make perfect hostess gifts and Christmas presents, but you should probably make a set for yourself, too! You know, for all the thank-yous you’ll be writing post holiday season.
SATUR-DIY: Personalized Greeting Cards and Stationary Sets
1. Think about the person you’re creating the cards for. What do they like? What images remind you of them? Sketch ‘em out!
2. Throw away your mess-ups and cut out the images that you like best. Scan them onto your computer and adjust the light and contrast as needed. (tip: you can add color in on easy programs like Paint, too).
Here is a sample set of 8 images that I selected for Valerie:
3. Load your printer with a paper of medium weight. Traditional computer paper will look cheap, so I suggest buying something like cardstock or a thicker recycled paper. Any craft store should have a great selection!
4. On a Word document, set up the image to look like this:
This enables the image to be “right side up” when you fold and cut the cards.
5. Print each design on a separate sheet of paper and allow the ink to fully dry.
6. Using an existing card as a guide, cut the paper with the printed image until it is the size you desire. Minis are cute, traditional is easy, and oversized cards can be fun too (just make sure they fit into an envelope!)
7. Keep the packaging simple: pair the cards with store bought envelopes and tie the two up in twine or raffia.
8. Give the set away along with some festively wrapped candies or a tin of homemade baked goods. And then go ahead and print another for yourself.
Because they’re just so darn cute!
And now, for the real inspiration. A little Saturday morning devo! I hope it blesses you in the same way it blessed me this morning.
1. Afraid of making mistakes? Of choosing the wrong thing? Relax into the adventure—it’s all part of the journey.
“Your desire to live a risk-free life is a form of unbelief. Your longing to live close to Me is at odds with your attempts to minimize risk. In order to follow Me wholeheartedly, you must relinquish your tendency to play it safe.” Jesus Calling
2. Have no idea where the road you’re on is going? You’re in good company!
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8
3. Stressed out by the demands and expectations of this world? Find freedom by asking yourself this question:
“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules?” Colossians 2:20
4. Paul prayed this over the Ephesians. Let’s make this our prayer today, for those we love and for ourselves:
“I pray out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19
Take a deep breath. Finish that last drop of coffee. Don’t you just feel inspired?
Have a wonderful Saturday, mes amis! And if you make any greeting cards of your own…please, let me know. I’d love to see what you come up with!
xoxo
My favorite days to bake are just because days.
I had one of those three days ago. It all started after I returned to the house after a trip to Carrefour.
Oh, Carrefour. Quick aside. Even if I have thusfar survived the almost-one-way-but-not-quite streets of Southern France, my life will still almost assuredly come to an early end somewhere along the jam-packed aisles of Carrefour. Being impaled by a French baguette during a struggle for the pain-du-jour or run clean over by a herd of French people driving grocery carts like they’re on the freeway are equally likely scenarios.
It’s just SO CRAZY. People pushing and shoving, grabbing things, ramming their carts into your back (excusez-moi) and then glaring at you like it’s your fault. I literally think I will kiss the ground the second my ballet flats hit the Target parking lot in the Motherland (that’s Texas, for all you who didn’t know).
But anyways. As I was putting my hard-won groceries away upon my return to the maison, I noticed that we had 4 granny smith apples starting to sour in the bottom of the produce drawer.
Personally, I am not a big fan of granny smith apples, so I wasn’t surprised that they’d been forgotten. But while they’re not the best snack tout seul, everybody knows they’re undeniably the best for baking. It’s like something magical happens in the oven—the tartness melts away, the sugars are drawn out, and those sour apples soften right up to make your baked goods perfectly moist and delicious.
Like this baked good, par example.
For whatever reason, I’ve been craving scones lately. Maybe because I’ve overloaded myself on macaroons and dark chocolate since living in France, and my stomach (and heart) are begging me to switch it up a little.
Who knows? Regardless, these scones answered the call on all counts—taste and health, if you can believe it! I reworked this original recipe, reducing the sugar even further (you don’t need all that), almost doubling the amount of apples called for and amping up the cinnamon, too. Plus, I threw in the cranberries. Just for kicks (and flavor and color).
So, is it a rainy day? Got nothing better to do? Make these scones. Just because.
Ingredients
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (plus more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of ground nutmeg
Dash of all spice
1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1 1/2 cups shredded peeled Granny Smith apple
1/4 cup dried cranberries
splash apple juice
1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking spray
For Topping
2 tablespoons 1% low-fat milk
1 to 2 teaspoons sugar (I used 1…it was plenty!)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425°.
Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups and tablespoons; level with a knife. Combine flours, 1/4 cup sugar, and next 6 ingredients (through all spice) in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Cut in cold butter with a knife until mixture resembles coarse meal.
Pour the dried cranberries into a bowl. Pour apple juice over the top, until cranberries are just covered with liquid. Microwave for 30 seconds on high. Add thinly sliced apple pieces, stirring to combine. Sprinkle a little additional cinnamon until apples and cranberries are lightly coated.
In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 cup milk and vanilla extract. Stir milk mixture and apple mixture into flour mixture until just moist (dough will be slightly sticky).
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly 4 times with floured hands. Divide dough in half; pat each portion into a 6-inch circle on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Cut each circle into 5 wedges, cutting into but not through, dough. Brush tops of wedges with 2 tablespoons milk, and sprinkle evenly with 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar (use turbinado for extra crunch).
Bake at 425° for 15 minutes or until golden. The scones should sound hollow when you tap the center.
Serve warm…with a cup of decaf, of course.
xoxo
I took a mini-day trip yesterday to Eze village. Just me, my devotional, my camera, and the sunset (okay, and a little Christmas shopping, too).
Although in general I prefer to “go places” with other people, on occasion I also really enjoy getting away by myself. Which is good, because I’ve definitely had a lot of “me time” since coming to France.
But you know what? It’s been such a rich and good thing. I didn’t say easy—sometimes it’s not. But good? Definitely.
I think we all experience things differently when we’re alone. Personally, I find that I appreciate things more deeply, take more time to observe, walk a little slower. I give life my fully focused attention.
But the best thing about being tout-seul, I’ve found, is that it has enabled me to hear the still, small voice of the Lord that had been escaping me before I came here.
Scratch that—His whispers weren’t escaping me. I just wasn’t tuning in. Not with my fully focused attention, anyway. I gave the Lord bits and pieces, carved out a little space for one-on-one time with Him when I could fit it into my jam-packed college schedule. But you know what? It wasn’t the Lord who was getting gypped out of a great relationship with me during this time. Exactly the opposite, in fact.
I was gypping myself out of walking the pathway to peace. I was taking away the assurance that comes from keeping an open line of communication with God. I was scheduling my spirituality instead of basking in the comfort of being fully known by my Creator.
Being alone isn’t the easiest thing, and it’s certainly not the most comfortable. And don’t get me wrong—I think that by nature, we’re all made for companionship. But think about it. When you need to have a heart-to-heart with a close friend, where do you go? To a Taylor Swift concert jam-packed with screaming 15-year-olds? To the top of a roller coaster at six flags where you can’t hear anything but the wind rushing past?
I’m thinking no. You go somewhere quiet and peaceful, where the two of you can be—you guessed it—alone (and preferably where you can get some really great coffee, too). You sit with your friend. You talk some, but you listen more. You focus. You forget about everything else on your agenda.
In my life, I’ve found that God kind of works the same way. Whenever He has some serious work to do, or some important directions to give, He’s probably going to try to get you alone. And take my advice—go where He’s leading you. Don’t resist His calling out of fear of isolation, or breaking away from everything you’ve ever known, every plan you’ve ever made for yourself.
Hear this: He’s never going to leave you there, and you will never be abandoned or forgotten by God. In all likelihood, He’s just trying to get you to a place where you stop looking for answers within yourself and other people, and turn first and only to Him.
Acts 17: 26-27 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
The barriers we construct are the only things that distance us from Christ. Finding Christ’s will for your life is not impossible. Discerning His voice and His leading is not a special privilege reserved for pastors, Saints, and spiritual gurus. Before the beginning of time, God determined the exact place you should live so that you would reach out your arms and embrace Him as your only answer, your only hope.
Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
These are a few things I saw (and heard) yesterday in the beautiful village of Eze.
Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said.
Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
“In this age of independence, people find it hard to acknowledge their neediness. However, I have taken you along a path that has highlighted your need for Me: placing you in situations where your strengths are irrelevant and your weaknesses were glaringly evident. Through the aridity of those desert marches, I have drawn you closer and closer to Myself…you have realized that needing Me is the key to knowing me intimately, which is the gift above all gifts.” Jesus Calling
Matthew 28:20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Go ahead. Try to tell me that’s not the most gorgeous thing you’ve ever seen in your life.
I just finished eating the last slice of the best pecan pie in the entire world.
How good was this pecan pie? It was no words good—the kind of good where everyone looked up from their empty plates with wide eyes and open mouths, speechless as they tried to figure out what had just hit their taste buds.
It’s called pecan pie, y’all! And this particular recipe went over so well with the French that it happened to have gotten me a new job selling pies at Princesse Pirate, a new cafe and boutique in Monaco.
And no, I’m not kidding. My pecan pie will seriously be in the cafe window as the “tart du jour” on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it will be replaced by my apple and pear crostata.
In case you didn’t get that, I somehow just officially became a French pastry chef!
I think it’s clear that I need to get my new apron embroidered.
Mmmm. Love those French caramels! I think they made all the difference.
Okay, so I just gave the pecan pie a lot of facetime. But the pear and cranberry crostata absolutely deserves a little spotlight of it’s own.
Please don’t ask me if I ate a slice of the crostata for breakfast and had a slice of the pecan pie for dessert. Because I’d be forced to lie to you in the interest of my pride, and I hate lying.
Pre-bake.
Post-bake. Toasted to crunchy, golden perfection.
I know it probably looks like I spent the majority of yesterday afternoon just photographing food, mais c’est pas vrai. Actually, I spent 9 hours in the kitchen cooking up every single dish on our Texa-French-ican menu. And I loved every single one of them!
Then, of course, I spent about 2 hours eating. (French dinners are long. It wasn’t just because I went back for seconds).
These pictures were snapped somewhere in the middle of all of that craziness. And I’m so excited to share them with you! Consider this your belated invitation to our French Thanksgiving party. Bon apetit!
Homemade whole-wheat yeast rolls
I think this means that I’m either Martha Stewart or a housewife.
Either way, I’m over 40.
Winter vegetable puree
Since sweet potatoes and marshmallows weren’t readily available at Carrefour, I went with the next best thing—a puree of yams and carrots with nutmeg, cinnamon, and all-spice added in for sweetness. And as soon as this baby was finished baking, I added a whole-wheat, walnut, and brown sugar steudel to the top, too.
Needless to say, my French friends were initially confused. They thought I was asking them to eat pie for dinner. (which, okay, I kind of was).
This is my wanna-be turkey. AKA, it’s a rotisserie chicken that I basted in butter and tarragon. But still. I had to cut his neck off and his little feet and…
…sorry, I know it’s getting graphic. But the butchers here really want to make sure you know that what you’re eating was once a real live chicken! What I’m trying to say is, it ain’t no turkey but it was some work. Maybe I’ll go for the real deal next year. This was definitely a good practice run!
Deviled Eggs
They may be devils, but they sure were heavenly. Too corny? I don’t care.
Apple Sausage Stuffing
Place settings
The blank leaves? We wrote our “I-am-thankful-for” statements on those.
How stunning is that table? Valerie is an incredible hostess.
So incredibly grateful for new friends.
And for new experiences.
And for having new experiences with new friends alongside me.
Let’s give thanks every day.
bisous, mes amis. xo
Here it is!
The moment you’ve all been waiting for.
I know you’ve been dying of anticipation, right?
Well, revive yourselves. Because right now, at this very moment, I am lifting the veil from my super top secret Texa-French-ican Thanksgiving menu!
It should be noted that it took me awhile to narrow the menu down to the selection you’re about to view. The thing is, I went a little crazy on the recipe hunt. I’m just too darn thankful for food, you know?
I dog-eared pages of Better Homes and Gardens and Family Circle, begged my mom to scan and e-mail my grandmother’s recipes, bookmarked yummy things on myrecipes.com, and googled “how to make the perfect pie crust” and “is it possible to make yeast rolls without a bread maker?” (answer is still unknown, but by golly I’m going to give it the old Texas Try tomorrow).
Prep time started today, but the real work begins tomorrow. And I. Can’t. Wait! Introducing my French family to Thanksgiving is going to be such a fun twist on a very traditional American holiday. Love that!
If you were to hop on a flight to Southern France tomorrow morning, this is what you’d find on the menu at our little get-together. And if you are planning on globe-trotting on Turkey Day, just let me know. I’ll have a place setting ready, just for you.
Thanksgiving Menu
Appetizers
Deviled eggs
Winter vegetable medley—beet, apple, and carrot salad
Main Course
Tarragon chicken
Creamy green bean casserole
Homemade butter yeast rolls
Dessert
Caramel pecan pie with dark chocolate glaze
Is it weird that it almost feels like Christmas Eve to me? I had so much fun starting the prep work today…making a 100% from-scratch green bean casserole, fluting the edges of “the perfect pie crust,” dicing up all the veggies for the apple sausage stuffing and the winter vegetable salad…I can’t wait to see it all come together!
The big day is tomorrow.
Games will be played. Thanks will be given. Pictures will be taken. More coming soon.
Bon appetit, y’all! xo
…where a call somehow comes through your iPhone and wakes you up at 4:45 a.m., despite the fact that the data is turned off.
…where you leave your key, and your wallet, and your computer (which is playing David Archuleta Christmas) in your room…and the door locks behind you.
…where you take the car and notice the dog following you, because she didn’t understand your American accent when you told her “stay home”…so you stop the car in the middle of the road and load her into the trunk.
…where you drive into the forest to pick up frozen meat from a French dog trainer, and you call him to let him know that you’re at the abandoned, padlocked gate in the back…and “votre crédit de communication est epuisé.” Again.
…where you really want to be fluent in French, but you tend to speak it like you’re six years old. And nervous.
…where you forget your reusable French grocery bag, and have to buy one at the store. For the third time.
Thankfully, it was also one of those days…
…where you’re able to fall back asleep after shutting the darn phone off.
…where you find the back door to the house miraculously still cracked open, allowing you to make a phonecall and figure out where the heck the spare is.
…where you’re actually kind of grateful for the fact that the lonely dog’s in the trunk, given that you’re sitting on the side of an abandoned Roman road for a good thirty minutes, waiting and phoneless. And you didn’t really want to be lonely, either.
…where another miracle happens, and your phone kicks into gear and lets you get a hold of the dog trainer after the fourth attempt. And he answers. And he lets you in.
…where the dog trainer (who’s not nearly as scary as you thought he’d be by the look of that gate) and his son/assistant/attractive-person-your-age (?) both smile encouragingly as you butcher their language, and seem to genuinely enjoy your American Texan accent.
…where okay, yeah, you forgot the grocery bag. But who cares? You got the groceries. Which means that you have everything you need to start preparing the most ridiculously extravagant Texa-French-ican Thanksgiving dinner of all time.
Just two days, y’all! There’s so much to be thankful for. Like these people, for instance.
I don’t think I could love my beautiful family much more! But I’ve been wrong before.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
“Thankfullness is not some sort of magic formula; it is the Language of Love, which enables you to communicate intimately with [God]. A thankful mindset does not entail a denial of reality with its plethora of problems. Instead, it rejoices in Me, your Savior, in the midst of trials and tribulations.” Sarah Young, Jesus Calling
In the midst of trials, tribulations, expired cell phones, lost keys, dog-food pickups, and broken French, He is there. Opening doors. Flinging windows open. Bringing light.
Thank you, Lord, for your provision! Nothing is too big or too small for you. Thank you for walking beside me. Thank you for this time of learning and growth.
Thank you for showing me the way. Thank you for being The Way. Help me to show you to others with my life.
What’s made you grateful lately? How will you be giving thanks in two days?
Meet Henry.
No, that’s not Henry. That’s me. Henry is the beautiful ikat scarf from H&M coiled lovingly around my neck like a warmer, fuzzier version of the snake in the Britney video.
Ok, not exactly like that, but you get the point.
Why Henry? I don’t know, honestly. It’s not an alliteration (i.e. Thomas/Terry/Teresa the Traveling Scarf) and it doesn’t have a whole lot of personality (i.e. Felicity/Cornelius/Cha-Cha the Traveling Scarf), but it’s the first name that came to my mind. And he has to have a name. He was too much of a presence during my mini-tour of France this past week to remain nameless!
To be honest, Henry is very nearly exhausted. He saw many, many things this week. He was paired with nearly every other garment in my winter wardrobe. He was photographed incessantly. He dealt with anxiety over the fact that he made so many repeat appearances in a row—would people notice? Would he cease to be a “statement” piece, and become just another scarf meant for everyday wear?
Eventually, he got over it once he saw that the same thing was happening to my leather jacket, Lavenia. (There…an alliteration and personality). And once he got over it, I think he really, really enjoyed the sights.
This is what we saw, Henry and me.
1. Bar du Pont-Levis in Entrevaux, France
2. Regional special—thinly sliced ham and a pomme de terre gratin
3. A French take on cheesecake and apple pie
1./2. Beginnings of Christmas market preparation in Strasbourg, France
3. Marrons chaud…literally, chestnuts roasted over an open fire
4. A merry-go-round waiting to be ridden at Christmas
5./6. Strasbourg Cathedral
7./8. Souvenir shops with spices, gingerbread, Christmas ornaments, and postcards
9. Du vin chaud—red wine cooked into a cider with orange peels and cinnamon
10. The French countryside
11. Gorgeous fall colors in Lausanne, Switzerland
12. Some really attractive French guy. (read more here)
13. A really big cat outside of the Palais de Justice
14. Starbucks coffee (a gingerbread latte, to be exact)
15. The alps at dusk
16./17. Some of the best friends a girl could ask for—sorority sisters and my little bro (read more about our last reunion here)
Like I said, Henry is exhausted. Because he was such a good sport this week, I’m going to give him a rest. He won’t be worn again for at least one week.
And then…back around the neck to see the world he goes.
“Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.” Henry David Thoreau
Dedicating the next few days to planning my French Thanksgiving menu. A bientot, mes amis! xoxo
It’s been a busy, let’s-travel-the-world-via-our-taste-buds kinda week in the kitchen.
And really, is there anything better than that? I think that food is such an important element of discovering a culture, so pulling together different dinners this week has practically been like studying or reading a geography book.
Okay, not quite. But still. It’s been so tasty.
I started close to home with a Tex-Mex/Americana sampling. Our menu went a little something like this:
These photos were taken pre-roasting, before the skin blistered and the the garlic and onion pieces melted and all the juices mixed together to become the base of the most heavenly homemade enchilada sauce of all time.
Here’s a little math for you to remember. Tex-Mex enchiladas + French cheese = the best culture smash-up ever. I followed this recipe, more or less. The biggest change I made was adding chicken.
This was supposed to be a black bean salsa, and I was supposed to use a truck-load of cilantro (aka, my favorite herb/spice/, ever). Unfortunately, after circling Carrefour approximately 32 times with my little shopping cart, I still couldn’t find either one. So I went with les haricots rouges, and added a squeeze of lime and a dusting of cumin powder to stand in the gap.
Guacamole is such a personal thing that I can’t even begin to give you a “recipe.” Basically, throw in whatever you like with a squeeze of lime and some salt. Avocados soak that stuff up, and there’s absolutely nothing better than tortilla chips and guacamole. Except queso, of course, but I don’t think the French are ready to go there yet.
Baby steps!
And finally, the piece de resistance.
Not exactly Tex-Mex, but Americana? Oh, yes! We ate this Oatmeal-Crunch Apple Pie for dessert with whipped topping, for breakfast with coffee, and for a snack with espresso. This pie is so, so good…and surprise! It’s healthy, too. The homemade crust is flaky even though the butter is reduced, the crunchy oatmeal/walnut topping tastes like a decadent strudel, and the scent of baked cinnamon and brown sugar apples wafting through your kitchen smells way more authentic than any Glade plug-in ever could.
Wednesday was Italian night.
I went with a recipe I’ve used before and loved. It’s probably the easiest spaghetti and meatball recipe out there, but your boyfriend’s family will never know it if you make this for them. Rachael Ray is really a goddess when it comes to the whole 30-minute meal thing, and this spaghetti recipe is no exception. It looks good, and it tastes incredible. The sauce is to die for with all the basil and garlic, and the meal pairs perfectly with butter garlic bread and a Caesar salad. Make this for whoever you’re trying to impress with your culinary skills. They’ll never know how easy it is!
And finally, Thursday took us to Greece (more or less). By more or less, I mean the sauce I made for our salmon had Greek yogurt and chopped cucumbers in it, so I feel justified in making the association. I followed this recipe exactly, with two tiny exceptions: I added a little Dijon mustard into the rub for the fish, and threw some sliced tomatoes into the sauce as well. I needed to French-ify it a little, you know?
Okay, so this picture’s from the myrecipes website. But I swear mine looked just like it…
Food is just such an experience here. I went to the market in Italy on Friday and we picked up buckets of handmade stuffed pasta, gorgeous veggies wrapped in brown paper bags, fresh meats, colorful fruits…it’s stunning, and after you cook it, you’re really able to see the connection between the food you’re eating and the place it comes from in the ground.
Do you ever “travel” in the kitchen? What’s your favorite meal to prepare? Share your recipes with me, if you’d like. I’m always looking for things to try!
Headed to northern France for a few days. Back soon, mes amis!
bisous, xox
What’s EITP? Everything In The Pantry, of course!
Sounds appetizing, right?
Okay, so these cookies don’t literally use everything in your pantry…you can leave the veggie soup and canned beans sitting on the shelf for another day. EITP is really just another way to say that these cookies are extremely adaptable. They can really take on any flavor and fly—which is especially good news if you’re living in Southern France, and suddenly find yourself in a supermarket that is seriously lacking the more traditional cookie-type ingredients you’re accustomed to.
This particular combination of ingredients came together when my friend (and ATO little brother) Ben popped in for an on-the-fly visit this past weekend. He is currently studying in Lausanne, and arrived in Monte-Carlo after spending the two previous days of his travel weekend in Barcelona.
Yep, he’s a world traveler. Here he is. I took this while we were eating croissants together at the very famous Hotel de Paris* in Monte-Carlo.
*see the Selena Gomez movie Monte Carlo for further information. No, seriously. It’s so good.
So anyway, when Ben was my greek-life “little brother” at Pepperdine, I really liked to bake and cook for him. Because, you know, college boys just don’t do those kind of things for themselves, so it seemed like the kind of job a big sister should take on. Naturally, when I found out he was coming to visit, a baked good had to be popped in the oven, for old times sake! And because my poor little has gone months without homemade treats, you know?
Et voila: here’s the recipe that came from my cookie scramble.
I do have to warn you of something. By nature, EITP cookies just aren’t pretty. They’re a little bulky, and a little clunky—but so flexible. And so, so beautiful on the inside. There’s a lesson in that.
Close your eyes when you’re eating these. Blindfold your friends when you give them away. Do whatever you have to do, but make these cookies. They are so, so good. And healthy, too, depending on the extras you add in. I reduced the sugar in mine, used natural peanut butter and lots of fruity, nutty ingredients. That means I ate them for breakfast and didn’t feel guilty, if you were wondering.
E.I.T.P. Cookies—The French Version
adapted from this recipe
Ingredients—the basics
Make just this part of the recipe and you’ll still have a fantastic peanut butter oatmeal cookie.
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar (I used half sugar, half Splenda)
1 egg
1/4 cup apple sauce
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup old fashioned whole oats (I used Quakers)
1/2 tsp baking soda
Ingredients—the extras
1 bar of white chocolate, coarsely chopped
5 dried figs, coarsely chopped
1/2 apple, cut into slices and coarsely chopped (you get the idea…everything is coarsely chopped)
1/3 cup walnuts (yep, these too)
Directions
In a medium-sized bowl, melt the butter and peanut butter together in the microwave until smooth.
Add the brown & white sugar/Splenda to the melted butter & peanut butter mixture.
Okay, I guess you can take the Splenda out of the packets first. Then stir. Allow mixture to cool. Once cooled, add the egg, apple sauce, and vanilla extract. Stir.
Next, stir in flour, oats, and baking soda. Finally, add in everything in your pantry (just no soup purees or canned beans, okay?).
Bake at 325 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
FYI, these French cookies got rave reviews from the little bro and his friends in Lausanne (he took a few with him on the train). So if you try this combo or come up with another that rivals it…let me know.
Bon apetit!
bisous, xoxo
