Where's the beef?

Defeat! I admit it. Day one of late class and not a post to be found around here...

No new news of the creative concoction as a result of the delicata squash I uncovered at the farmers market this morning...

No photos or words to describe the comforting aroma of spicy turkey stuffed cabbage I plan to make for dinner one night this week...

No description of the almost certain fiasco that will ensue when I decide to try my hand at canning (probably this weekends activity and PLEASE feel free to shed pearls of wisdom before I infect anyone with ill packaged cans of tomato sauce!)...

Nope, just me asking nicely that anyone who drops by take a look at my more interesting posts like those about our recent trip to London, Paris, Dublin or Galway.

Or perhaps you would like to see how colorful your dinner could be by taking a look at my interpretation of Gulliver's salad. Or perhaps you need some inspiration to spark a culinary fire, in which case may I suggest you take a look at our adventures in homemade cheese?

Either way, there are certainly posts more interesting than this where I'm doing something other than wishing for the scratchy throat, throbbing head and cabbie strike to subside.

Maybe you really didn't mean to stop by anyway and would rather visit my friend David who always has something new to report, or maybe you want to be inspired to really create something in which case I recommend you see the fabulous AmandaJean. Or you could do what I always do and just drool over the creations of the talented Tartelette.

That should keep you entertained for a while, or at least until I can post something more inspiring!

Until then...

Paris: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Part I

I love the fact that a luminous full moon is crushed by the sheer brilliance of your Tower Eiffel:
I am mad about your statues so elegantly posing around your great city:

I love your people, especially those who bring us delicacies like fois gras and canard confit from their wifes famous family recipe:

And your chocolate makers who delight us with their buttery caramels and dark chocolate confections, don't forget their contagious laughter and overwhelming love of life:

I love your farmers markets, in all their unassuming perfection:

Your tomatoes and courgettes:
Your monumental flying buttresses:

Your majestic rose windows:
And again, your pastries. May the pope bless this Kayser man for creating the most mouthwatering concoctions, most certainly crafted with magical flour and butter, that have ever graced this earth. I didn't have time to snap a shot of the contents, they were so quickly gobbled up:

In sum, I am a forever fan. I will take a break from Paris posting to bring you news of our latest kitchen conquests, but the best is yet to come from our Parisian adventure.

Thanks for reading!

What a long strange trip it's been! (And a video of the Eiffel Tower at night)

So maybe strange isn't the right word to describe it but it was awfully funny sitting at a cafe in Paris this morning for breakfast then being home to eat dinner in our little place in NYC.

While the stories are too long for this jet-lagged girl to bear, I will share with you this little jewel of a video shot last night as the Eiffel Tower put on its spectacular light show.

Every hour on the hour the lights glitter and shine as a million little diamonds light up the sky. My warning to you is that the video is for some reason sideways but you can still see it in all it's glory.

More tomorrow with new pictures from London and Paris and a new adventure into the Farmers Market and back to the kitchen. I can't wait to share all the details.

For now I leave you with this:

country girl no more?

As I type we are sitting on a bench at the jardin du luxoumberg on a stunning fall day. I cannot wait until we arrive home so that I can share with you the details of our journey but I just can't bare the ideah of spending nearly thirty dollars to get online. Just wanted to let you know that I'm here and there is much to look forward to when I can again sign on and share tales of this magical city with you on wednesdau.

Moving to the country, going to eat a lot of tomatoes

(I know it's peaches, just making sure you were with me!)

There has been much talk as of late regarding our imminent move out to the burbs. Driving the excitement towards this adventure has been darling husbands' reassurance that while I will be leaving my precious city life, I will be rewarded with kitchen-aids (ice-cream AND pasta additions, please) and additions to my all clad collection to my hearts content.

OK, I bite. Let's move.

Only now, EVERYONE knows about our plan (dun, dun, dun)... Which is both excellent and problematic.

Let me rephrase, it's excellent for me that I can now create the "Camp P" I have dreamed of and have friends and family visit for long weekends, which will also allow me to make ridiculous amounts of stuff (jams, muffins, compound butters, you name it) for sending as gifts and will make entertaining just that much easier.

It becomes problematic to hubby as events like this mornings transpire....

Favorite dog run friend: Hey L, I finally decided to get rid of my bread maker that I have been hanging on to for years and thought you might appreciate it.

Me: (moment of awe inspired silence by this thoughtful and exciting proposition) Um, yes please!

FDRF: Great, then I'll drop it off when you are back from vacation.

Me: (thinking holy crap G is going to kill me) You are amazing! I'm perfectly thrilled. Thank you so much for thinking of me. Hey! Now we will never have to go to the grocery store, bread making was the last frontier.

Me & FDRF continue to discuss our pups, projects and lifes pandemonium... but I won't bore you with the details!

So that's the imminent danger of which I speak. Since there are very few readers I will admit that I'm using this forum to gently let my darling husband know of our almost acquisition. (Aren't you excited honey!)

I'm also hoping that this might rouse him from his silence and that he might comment on our exciting news. A girl can hope, right?

In other news...

Tomorrow will find us embarking on a long and lovely journey through Dublin, London, and Paris. I will attempt to post pictures and write notes as I go.

I am most excited to try local cuisines and hope that I do not return 20 pounds heavier after eating at all the recommended places like Bertillion and L’As du Fallafel, and enjoying as many crepes as one girl can handle.

Your opinions, advice, and travel knowledge are greatly appreciated so don't be stingy...please share!