Irish Brown Soda Bread

I have 50% Irish blood running through my body, so this time of year I start feeling all sorts of cultural pride. I had a lot of Irish experiences growing up, with a step dancing sister, a bag piping brother (sorta Scottish, I know), and a father obsessed with tracing his Irish ancestry. We got to take a couple trips to Ireland when I was younger, and I have such fond memories of exploring the Irish countryside with my family. I know all six of us have a fond spot for anything Irish.

My brother played the bagpipes at our wedding, as we exited the Cathedral. It was awesome!

Last weekend I was visiting my sister in Colorado, and she pulled a loaf of this bread out for breakfast one morning. She must have been reading my mind, because I'd seen this recipe from Bon Appetit on the flight to Denver, and I was planning to make soda bread as soon as I got back to Chicago. Her version was so good, however, that I ended up looking it up online. This recipe for Brown Soda Bread is from Cooking light, and it was dense, healthy, and just subtly sweet. It is amazing for toast in the morning, with just a little butter melted on top. I imagine it's also excellent for sandwiches, especially with smoked salmon. The best part? It's QUICK, and so easy! Just toss the ingredients together, then go study abstract algebra for an hour while it cooks. Or I guess you could watch TV, or do something a little more fun!

This is a page from the scrapbook I made in high school. Thankfully I didn't save any dorky pictures of myself from this trip to Ireland in 1999. I'm sure my parents have plenty, but there is no way they're getting on this blog!

Next weekend my mom and other sister will be in town for a concert (Flogging Molly! Another important part of any Irish American youth's experience!), and I am sure I'll make this again. Now I just need to think of a vegetarian meal to make for St. Patrick's day... any suggestions? (Also, did I mention we gave up meat & seafood for lent? That's why there have been so many vegetarian recipes lately. We're doing ok, but the other day I was totally craving a chicken burger, thanks to Annie!)

Have a great weekend everyone!


Brown Soda Bread
from Cooking Light, March 2010

* Cooking spray
* 11.25 ounces whole-wheat flour (about 2 1/2 cups)
* 2.25 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1/2 cup)
* 1/2 cup steel-cut oats (such as McCann's)*
* 2 tablespoons brown sugar
* 1 tablespoon wheat germ*
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 cups low-fat buttermilk
* 1 large egg, lightly beaten

1. Preheat oven to 325°.

2. Coat a 9 x 5–inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper, and coat with cooking spray.

3. Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flours and next 6 ingredients (through salt). Combine buttermilk and egg; add to flour mixture. Stir just until combined.

Don't smooth the batter out too much; you want it a little rustic looking on top.

4. Spoon the mixture into prepared pan. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Invert bread onto a wire rack; cool completely. Remove parchment; slice bread into 12 slices.

* I got my steel cut oats and wheat germ at Whole Foods, but I bet you could find them at a decent sized regular grocery store. I'd check the cereal aisle for both, or the bulk foods section. And pay attention to how much you need, because I have about 2 cups of extra steel cut oats! Guess I'll be searching for another recipe soon... or making this bread a lot more!

Perfect for breakfast toast.
(Also, perfect plates for blogging. Right Laura?)

And so it begins!

It's hard to believe that another holiday season is already begun! The last year has flown by, and I'm looking forward to a wonderful holiday season this year. It was off to a great start this past week, when Joe and I got to spend Thanksgiving with my family for the first time since 2003. My family moved overseas while I was in college, so I spent the last handful of Thanksgivings either with extended family or with Joe's family. I have yet to have a bad Turkey Day, but nothing compares to spending the day with my parents and siblings.

The master chef prepares the table.

I think Thanksgiving is a lot of foodies favorite holidays, and I can see why. My mom, sister, and I had been discussing menu ideas for weeks, and we ended up cooking quite a feast. My future brother in law is a vegetarian, so his dietary restrictions added a fun challenge to planning our meal. I planned two dishes to contribute-- a savory bread pudding (like stuffing on steroids), and maple glazed Brussels sprouts. The bread pudding was vegetarian and everyone seemed to love it. I couldn't resist making Brussels sprouts with bacon, because I really believe there is no veggie friendly alternative to bacon. They were amazing, and I think these will be a side dish that could fit in with any fall or winter meal. We also had 3 kinds of home brewed beer-- an E.S.B. from Dan, a Pumpkin Ale from Joe, and a Grand Cru from my dad. They are a talented bunch of brewers!

My Savory Bread Pudding is in the top right corner of the picture, and the Brussels sprouts are in the middle on the left.

Our after dinner tradition is a nice long walk around the neighborhood, and this year the weather in St. Louis was perfect. It wasn't warm, but the brisk temperature was the definition of great Thanksgiving weather. We finally invested in a copy of the movie Elf this year, and enjoyed that while eating apple and pumpkin pie. It was a relaxing day, full of fun family bonding, and I couldn't have asked for a better Thanksgiving! I hope everyone else had a great holiday weekend!



These recipes are all from Thanksgiving classes at The Chopping Block.

Sweet Corn and Gouda Bread Pudding with Gravy
Yield: 6-8 servings

1 sourdough loaf, cut into 1 inch pieces (about 8 cups)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 red onion, sliced thin
1 pound Tuscan kale, torn into 1 inch pieces
4 cups frozen corn, defrosted
Salt and pepper to taste
7 eggs
2 1/4 cups half and half
6 tablespoons dry white wine
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon thyme, rough chopped
3/4 pound Gouda cheese, grated
Salt and pepper to taste
Mushroom Gravy (recipe below)

1. Lay the cut up bread out to dry for about 2 hours.
2. Preheat the oven to 350° and butter a large baking dish.
3. Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Sauté the red onion, stirring occasionally, until lightly caramelized. Add the kale and cook until wilted. Fold in the corn and season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half and half, white wine, Dijon mustard and thyme.
5. Fold in the bread, kale mixture and cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Allow this mixture to soak for 30 minutes.
6. Pour into the buttered baking dish and bake on a parchment-lined sheet tray until the center is set and the top is golden brown, about 40 minutes.
7. Allow to rest for 10 minutes and then serve with the Mushroom Gravy.

Mushroom Gravy
Yield: 3 cups

1/2 stick butter
1/2 pound mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/4 cup flour
2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
1/4 cup red wine
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon parsley, rough chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Sauté the mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until lightly caramelized, about 8-10 minutes.
2. Stir in the flour. The mixture will look very pasty. Cook the roux for about 2 minutes.
3. Whisk in the stock, wine and soy sauce. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
4. Whisk in the parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.


Glazed Brussels Sprouts
Yield: 4-6 servings

1/4 lb bacon, cut into matchsticks
1 1/2 lbs Brussels sprouts, ends trimmed & cut in half
3 Tbsp walnut mustard
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup chicken stock
salt & pepper to taste

1. Heat a heavy, wide pan over medium-low heat and add the bacon pieces. Cook, stirring occasionally, until just crisp.

2. Toss in the Brussels sprouts, and saute until lightly caramelized.

3. Add the mustard, maple syrup, and chicken stock, and mix well. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced to a glaze and the sprouts are just tender, about 5-7 minutes.

Ready for the feast to begin!

Lounging around, recovering from far too much good food.

I wish I remembered what was so upsetting ... either Elf of the black Friday deals!

A perk of my family living in St. Louis is that I get to see awesome friends like Danielle when I go back for the holidays! We had dinner and drinks in Lafayette Square, a really cute area near downtown. Miss you Dani!

Now that's what I call BBQ!

It's been a busy couple weeks, but I'm finally back here to tell you what I've been up to. I've been working kind of a lot, and have been traveling during the weekends in between. I have had a new job for about a month and a half now, at a kitchen store and cooking school called The Chopping Block. If you live in Chicago, check out the locations at The Merchandise Mart and in Lincoln Square. I'm mostly working as a class assistant, helping teach the cooking classes. This is the second time I've worked at a store like this, and I have to say I couldn't ask for a better job! The classes are a lot of fun, and I learn while I'm working. Plus, I love being in an atmosphere where everyone appreciates and enjoys cooking and eating good food. If you're ever in the area, check our the website and stop in! http://www.thechoppingblock.net/

One of our recent weekend trips was to Kansas City, where Joe and I lived before moving to Chicago. We have family and friends that live around the area, so we try to get back to visit every once in a while. The 4th of July was a great opportunity to visit, with the built in 3-day weekend. We had a fantastic time catching up with all our old friends! It was a great holiday weekend, and we were so glad we had the chance to visit. One of the highlights was a visit to a BBQ establishment, which is a necessary part of any visit to Kansas City.


In the past my favorite had been Arthur Bryant's, where I tried to go whenever possible. It's the real deal for awesome Kansas City BBQ. But recently it came to my attention that Anthony Bourdain had listed another BBQ joint, Oklahoma Joe's, as one of the top 13 places to eat before you die. In his article for Men's Health, Bourdain listed Okie Joe's along with some heavy hitters like French Laundry and el Bulli (and also Hot Dougs, here in Chicago, which has the most insanely long lines EVER). Joe used to go there for lunch sometimes when he worked nearby, but I'd never had a chance. So I requested some BBQ for dinner one night, and everyone jumped on board quickly!

Considering the recent publicity, the line was pretty reasonable. I guess it did stretch out the door, but they moved along at a good pace. The smell inside was enough to make your stomach growl, and watching people walk by with full trays almost made me want to swipe it and run. There were plenty of tables, so we didn't have to stress about where to sit. All good signs...

The food was all I had hoped for. I am a pulled pork connoisseur (some might say addict), and I was really happy with my sandwich. I'm not really a purist, so I like to slather it with sauce before digging in. The pork was tender and full of flavor, and I liked the sauce a lot.

I had to have baked beans, too, and thought they were pretty good. Not mind-blowing, but tasty and satisfying. Our group also had burnt ends, ribs, sausage, cole slaw, and fries... needless to say, no one left hungry.

Want some for yourself? Check out their website for locations and for a store where you can order your own sauce. Sorry, that pork doesn't ship very well!

Those are some

satisfied smiles,

wouldn't you say?

St Louis Pizza-- No Provel Allowed!

Wow, the last week has flown by! I've been adjusting to my new schedule, which involves a part time nanny job, a part time job at a cooking/kitchen store, and part time school. It is crazy, with a different schedule every day, but I have to say I'm much happier than I was at my old job. And I'm excited about getting back into teaching, so I continue to feel I made the right decision when I quit my job to go back to school.

As you might have guessed, this new schedule has not left me much time for cooking. My part time job is mostly evenings/weekends, and my summer class meets two nights a week. This means a home cooked dinner has been happening about once a week, if I'm lucky! We've also been doing the typical summer road tripping, which meant we spent last weekend visiting my parents in their new home base of St Louis. It's just a 5 or 6 hour drive from Chicago, which is a lot easier than flying to the Netherlands!

The best pizza in StL, at least in my opinion :)

We always eat well when visiting my family, and this trip was no exception. My mom made a huge Mexican spread including these tortillas, and made two tasty cakes to help my sister and I celebrate our birthdays. Then on Father's Day we ended up near Pi Pizza, which we've been dying to try. Apparently Barack Obama loved Pi when he was campaigning in St Louis, and we had to see what the big deal was! It didn't look very crowded, so we thought we'd see if they had space for our party of 8. They had a big table up front that was perfect for us, and I am so glad they did! This place was fantastic! They're into being "green, local, etc", which you see a lot of these days. But that mentality doesn't always mean great food, right? We had four pizzas, two thin and two deep dish, and loved them all. The deep dish was true Chicago style, with some of the best crust Joe and I have ever had. We figure the owner or chef must have some Chicago roots, because some of the pizzas were named after Chicago neighborhoods like Lincoln Park and Bucktown. The toppings were fresh and well matched, and only a couple slices lasted long enough to be boxed up for the next day's lunch. The $4 PBR pitchers were like the icing on the cake, and I can promise you I'll be visiting Pi again on a future trip to St. Louis!

The whole gang. Happy Father's Day!

Thin crust samplings. We had them bring the thin ones while the deep dish was still cooking, just in case someone would starve in between... Good call :)

My cute sister and her finace, all excited for true Chicago style Pizza.

Does this even need a caption?

And can I please get a slice, ASAP?

See you later...

I'm leaving for a much needed vacation today, so I won't be posting for a week or so. I know I've been absent the last week or two since I started my new job, but I hope within a few weeks I'll be settled and ready to start cooking and blogging like before. Than you all for your well wishes with my new job! Things are going well so far, but I'm coming home later than usual and exhausted, so there is going to be some adjustment as I settle in. Hopefully within a couple weeks I'll be mostly used to the new position, and by the end of this year it'll be old news. Thanks again for your thoughtful encouragement, you guys are great! I'll have a drink for my blogging friends while I'm laying by the pool in Mexico :)

Dutch Memories at the Pannenkoeken Cafe

I might have told you this before, but I love living in a big city like Chicago. It's amazing what this city has to offer. Theater, music, festivals... and of course, so much good food! The Dutch brunch we had last weekend was a perfect example of the foreign food offerings available around Chicago.

I've been so lucky to travel to Europe 7 or 8 times in the last few years, because my parents and younger siblings have been living in the Netherlands since March 2004. At this point it's starting to feel like home around their lovely little city of Maastricht, and I can't help but enjoy a good Dutch, Belgian, or German treat when I start to miss my family. Imagine my delight when we decided to move to Lincoln Square a few months back, and I saw the Pannenkoeken Cafe only a few blocks from our future condo.

I couldn't try the pannenkoeken right away, though, because on my past trips to Maastricht I had never managed to try this national treat. I decided I couldn't dine at the Pannenkoeken Cafe until I had tried true Dutch pancakes in their native country. Lucky for me, we went to the Netherlands a few short weeks later, right after we put the offer on the condo.

I wish I could have told you about the pannenkoeken I had on that trip, but without pictures it was hard to justify a post. I did write about that trip to Europe here, here, and here. But we went to the pannenkoeken place in Gulpen on our way home from the airport, and I didn't even think to pull out my camera until our plates had been cleared away. Check out their website, though... it's really cute! I did adore them, though, and couldn't wait to compare the Dutch originals to the Lincoln Square variety.

Now, about 6 months later, we finally made it to the Pannenkoeken Cafe. What can I say; it was a busy summer! I was so pleased with result. They were exactly as I remembered... eggy, thicker than a crepe, but still pretty thin. I had bacon (spek over there) with mushrooms and cheese (kaas), which was very similar to what I ate in Gulpen. The cafe is a tiny place, but it's cute and full of charm. And they are HUGE! I brought some home for breakfast the next day, and was happy with the leftover version as well.


Joe had apple and cheese with raisins, another authentic Dutch flavor combination. I hate raisins, so I only had a taste of his, but the sweet and salty flavors went well together. And notice he's wearing a Tour de France t-shirt I bought him in Paris a few summers ago... can you tell we both enjoy our travels?

If you're ever in the area, check this place out. It's tiny, though, so be ready to wait if you come at a peak time. It's on Western, just south of Lawrence. And if you stumble across pannenkoeken anywhere else, make it a point to try one out!

No- Fuss Paella

A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit friends that were studying abroad in Spain. It was a country I might not have visited on my own agenda, but since my friends were living there I decided it was a trip I needed to make. I didn't know what to expect before the trip, but I came away with a love of Spanish food and culture. I love their laid back attitude and late schedule (dinner at 10 or 11 pm!), and even on very poor student budgets we managed a few memorable meals during our trip.

I've attempted various tapas previously, like our Spanish Date Night, but for some reason Paella has always really intimidated me. I think it's the shellfish, or maybe the wide paella pans that you're supposed to use. Either way, it was not something I planned on making myself, until I recently ran across a simple sounding version in Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals 2. Some Rachael Ray recipes make me cringe, but this one seemed like an authentic version of a complicated entree. The recipe calls for saffron, shellfish, and chorizo, which made me feel like it wasn't too much of a shortcut recipe.

Joe and I went to the Fish Guy to get the mussels and shrimp, and I was very impressed with the knowledgeable staff there. The prices are not the cheapest, but you know you're getting high quality when you shop there. I hope to have the chance to shop there more, but their 6:00 closing time during the week is pretty much impossible for me to get to in time. We got the chorizo at Harvest Time, the Mexican grocery store right near my house. It was amazing on its own, and even better in the paella. I am going to have to think of other uses for chorizo, because I want to eat more of it!

This was a typical "30 minutes, but actually an hour" type of Rachael Ray recipe. The result was delicious, but it was not as quick and easy as she promised. Cleaning the mussels took a decent amount of work, and we boiled the shrimp shells with veggies and stock to add more flavor. It was a fantastic meal, though, and not far from the paella I've had before. This was one of those fun Sunday night recipes that I dedicate half the day to, but it is worth the effort when it turns out so great!

Paella for Eight

from Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals 2

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups enriched white rice

1/4 teaspoon saffron threads

1 bay leaf

1 quart chicken broth or stock

4 sprigs fresh thyme

1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders, cut into thirds

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

3/4 pound chorizo, casing removed and sliced on an angle

1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp, 24 shrimp

18 green lipped mussels, cleaned

1 cup frozen peas

2 lemons zested

Garnish: 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

4 scallions, chopped

Lemon wedges

Crusty bread, for passing

In a very wide pan or paella pan, preheated over medium high heat, add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, crushed garlic, red pepper flakes, add rice and saute 2 or 3 minutes. Add saffron threads, bay leaf, broth, and thyme and bring liquids to a boil over high heat. Cover the pan with lid or foil and reduce heat to simmer.

In a separate nonstick skillet, over medium high heat brown chicken on both sides in 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add peppers and onions to the pan and cook 3 minutes longer. Add chorizo to the pan and cook 2 minutes more. Remove pan from heat.

After about 13 minutes, add shellfish to the rice pan, nesting them in cooking rice. Pour in peas, scatter lemon zest over the rice and seafood, then cover the pan again. After 5 minutes, remove cover or foil from the paella and discard any unopened mussel shells. Stir rice and seafood mixture and lift out bay and thyme stems, now bare of their leaves. Arrange cooked chicken and peppers, onions and chorizo around the pan. Top with parsley and scallions. Serve with wedges of lemon and warm bread.

A Taste of the Islands

Recently, our friends Jess and Henry went on their honeymoon to St Lucia, and they can back with a gift and a challenge. The gift was the exotic treat of banana ketchup, and the challenge was to use it in my blog. Now I'm sure they would still be friends with me if I just ate the ketchup and left it at that, but I knew I couldn't let them down on blogging out it.

What a treat it was! My initial thought was that it would be just like regular katchup with a little banana flavor, and I assumed it would have tomato as the base. It turned out to be much more banana based than I expected, with the vingear taste that was exactly like regular ketchup. Joe and I each tasted it on its own, to really get the flavor. Joe liked it with fries, while I prefered to use it as a base for a marinade.

Shrimp seemed like the perfect canvas for my marinade; it felt like banana ketchup was meant for seafood. I made a marinade with olive oil, banana ketchup, salt and pepper, and scallions. I put the cleaned shrimp in a baggie with the marinade, threw it in the fridge, and forgot about it for a couple hours. When I was ready, I put the shrimp on skewers and grilled them under the broiler for a few minutes. Shrimp cooks quickly, so be sure to keep an eye on it! The resulting shrimp were tender and flavorful, with just enough banana flavor to keep it interesting. I had planned before hand to only buy enough shrimp for one dinner, and I have a feeling I would have eaten any leftovers that same night if there had been any extra!


I found a great new side dish in this month's Bon Appetit. The recipe for Quinoa with Grilled Zucchini, Garbanzo Beans, and Cumin jumped out at me as soon as I saw it, and I knew it would pair nicely with the shrimp. I loved this side dish! I've only recently discovered quinoa, and I love it as a new alternative to our standby couscous. I made the full recipe for 8, figuring I'd take it for lunch during the work week. It made at least 8 large servings, and by the end of the week I was ready to change up my lunch menu. But it was a great summer side dish full of flavors that I love. I highly recommed this, and hope to make it sometime soon to share with friends.

Quinoa with Grilled Zucchini, Garbanzo Beans, and Cumin

from Bon Appetit August 2008

1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

2 garlic cloves, peeled

2 teaspoons cumin seeds

1 teaspoon turmeric, divided

1 teaspoon smoked paprika, divided

2 cups water1 cup quinoa (about 6 ounces), rinsed well, drained

1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

1 1/2 pounds medium zucchini (about 5), trimmed, quartered lengthwise

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

4 green onions, thinly sliced

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

Combine garbanzo beans and lemon juice in large bowl. Add 3 tablespoons oil; press in garlic and stir to combine. Let marinate at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add cumin seeds, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, and 1/2 teaspoon paprika; stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups water, quinoa, and coarse salt; bring to simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until all water is absorbed, about 16 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare barbecue (mediumhigh heat). Place zucchini on rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle with ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, and 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Toss to coat evenly.

Place zucchini on grill; sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Grill until tender and browned on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to work surface. Cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Add zucchini, green onions, and parsley, then garbanzo bean mixture to quinoa. Toss to blend. Season with salt and pepper.

Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

Escape to the Coast

I feel like I've gone into blog withdrawl. First, work and life just got busy, then we went to LA for four days, then the 4th of July made for a busy weekend after we got back into town. Some of you might have started to wonder about me, but don't you worry, I'm still here. I'm not going to write much tonight, but I had to share some pictures from our wonderful vacation in California. It was a relaxing and eventful four days, and I am already wishing I could be back there. I recommend a few days in SoCal for anyone who's looking to recharge and enjoy the sun. Doesn't hurt if you have fun relatives to hang out with while you're there, too! Thanks Anne and Ron for a fantastic vacation!

We spent some time enjoying the beautiful gardens at the Getty Center, which I would highly recommend. What an amazing setting!

Santa Monica meant sushi and calamari with a beachfront view. Happy hour prices kept us in good spirits.

Nothing like a heaping plate of fried seafood at Neptune's Net just north of Malibu. It's a casual spot with a very diverse crowd, and the view of the ocean is hard to beat.

I'm not a beef eater, but we had to make sure Joe got an In-N-Out fix on our way to the beach.

A beautiful view from Pacific Coast Highway.

Enjoying a margarita at Coral Beach Cantina in Malibu.

Being from the Midwest, we had to eat lots of seafood on our trip. Joe's burrito may look like a regular one, but it's filled with mahi-mahi. It was tasty!

See, he's happy with his seafood burrito. :)

I had fish tacos, which is one of my favorite Mexican dishes.

When visiting California, it's important to take walks on the golf course at night. It's always best if this walk includes a glass of chilled white wine, for maximum relaxation.

Paris: Part II

I am going to try to squeeze it all in here, because I want to get back to blogging about the stuff I've been cooking lately! So here are highlights of the rest of our Paris trip. Enjoy!

On our second night we decided to go out for a nice dinner. Originally we were thinking about going somewhere in the Latin Quarter, but we ended up asking our concierge for recommendations around our hotel, the Marriott in the 13th. He recommended La Girondine, a great bistro on Boulevard Arago. It was a fantastic meal, and felt more authentic then our original plan. We each had 3 courses, plus an aperitif and two glasses of wine. The menu ws around 30 euros each, including the drinks, and it was well worth it. Some highlights...

Joe had escargot for his first course, with a delicious creamy, cheesey sauce. This was the second round of escargot on this trip, and we now both officially like snails! (I never thought I'd say that!)

I love creme brulee, so having a trio of it for dessert was a no-brainer. One was pistachio, one was amaretto, and the third was original.




As someone who loves to cook, it seemed only fitting that I learn something about french cooking while in Paris. I found out about A World in a Pan from an online forum, and decided it was the perfect course for me. Laura has lived around the world, but has been living in Paris with her french husband for the last 10 or 15 years. She's a wonderful cook, and invites students into her home to learn a little about french culture in addition to cooking. I would recommend Laura's classes to anyone who wants to learn something about French cooking while visiting Paris.

Our instructor

Can you believe the array of carrots they had at the market that morning?

The fish (sea bass if I remember correctly) was steamed on a bed of leeks. It was a perfect example of authentic market cooking, because Laura was not sure of the exact menu until she saw what was being offered at the morning's market.

The pear claufoti was a perfect example of a simple french dessert. It was easy to make, and tasted delicious.




Before the cooking class, Joe and I spent some time on Rue Moffatard, an ancient market street. I was disappointed we didn't have more time to explore this area, because there was just so much to explore. There were tons of shops that were open and spilling onto the street, and delicious smells drifted out from each shop.
These were some of the fresh seafood offerings. The sea urchins (front row in the middle) were especially interesting to see. I found out later that you cut them in half and eat their mousse like insides with a spoon. Maybe that will be a delicacy I try on my next trip.

Eating macaroons is one of my favorite things to do in Paris, and this apple macaroon was one of many that I consumed. It was a very unique flavor, but I still think chocolate ones are my top pick :)

We were back to my parents in the Netherlands on Saturday, just in time for a delicious Easter meal. It was a perfect end to an amazing trip.