Mama's Cooking

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris Copenhagen, Denmark:

I'm sure you're all familiar with the term staycation, but I'd like to coin a new noun describing one of my favorite kinds of vacations, the gourmetcation. (Shove everything within arm's reach into my mouth-cation is more fitting but it seems to me that it's supposed to rhyme with "vacation," so excuse me if I'm a little limited, people.)

We started with what's known in America as "Danish" but known in Denmark as "Vienna Bread." (Don't ask me what it's called in Vienna. When I was there with Cashew this summer, I tried to figure it out but with no luck.)

Then we enjoyed one of my favorites, filet mignon of pork with Danish potatoes and a delicious salad.

We had lunch in town with a girlfriend and enjoyed an amazing potato sandwich - another item from my list of favorites. I know it sounds weird, but don't knock it until you try it.

We had Thai food last night that we made at home with my mom. She also made a rhubarb pie for dessert which we served with ice cream. Yum!

French Domination at the Oscars

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris Copenhagen, Denmark:

SexySultry and I are on vacation in tropical Scandinavia ...you know, to work on our suntans and stuff. We watched the Oscars yesterday after a very relaxing day of doing absolutely nothing.

It was amazing to me that Jean Dujardin won best actor over long ignored Gary Oldman but I guess there is a point for the argument of playing a role with very few spoken lines. I congratulate him regardless and all of France is going crazy for the success of The Artist. They are making fun of the fact that in order for the French to be revered in Hollywood, all they had to do was keep their mouths shut for once!

Jean Dujardin barely speaks a word of English but like a good actor, memorized a passable acceptance speak but then out of pure joy and excitement shouted out a few sentences in his native tongue before leaving the stage. The French are much more liberal with nudity and language on television and he was completely unaware that dropping what is equivalent to the F-bomb on national television is a serious faux-pas in the U.S. Now we're bombarded in Paris by the intolerance of the Americans for something the French consider innocuous and silly. Leave the poor guy alone and stop serving as a buzz-kill during his moment of glory! (read more here)

It was the Louis Vuitton dress that captured Karen's heart, and although it is beautiful and exquisitely made, I fell in love with the amazing Tom Ford number worn by Gwyneth Paltrow.

The most recent Tom Ford collection was not even showed at Fashion Week but had to be privately viewed by appointment. You can recreate the look by following the advice in THIS ARTICLE.

*images borrowed from the internet*

My Favorite Oscar Dress

Photo

Michelle Williams in a Louis Vuitton dress. It took over 300 hours to make at the atelier in Paris.

I didn't get to go to Pajama Party Oscar Girl's Night 2012 this year which broke my heart. But armed with Thai Food and a box of Kleenex (I cry at every acceptance speech-Meryl Streep destroyed me) I spent a lovely evening in my pajamas judging, critiquing and applauding from my couch. 

I absolutely love this dress. It's burnt orange and perfection. Some don't agree with me but that's the beauty of judging from my couch. 

This morning it's back to Legos, doctors appointments, and laundry. But for a few hours last night I got to enter the world of pretty. 

Have a wonderful Monday

Spring

Spring officially begins March 20th 2012 at 1:14am.

But it sure looks like it's already here in Southern California.

I've Seen Bluebirds Cuddling.

Squirrels Dancing.

And, Lovers Kissing. 

I'm ready for some warm happiness.

Have a beautiful Sunday.

xoxoxo

Mardi Gras

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris, France :

I made quiche for the first time in my life. It's pretty easy actually. I added onions and a little extra cheese but here's the basic recipe.

Les ingrédients :

• 1 rouleau de pâte feuilletée
• 3 œufs entiers
• 30 cl de crème fraîche
• 25 cl de lait
• 300 grammes de lardons fumés
• 150 grammes d’emmental râpé
• Sel, Poivre, Muscade

In France you can buy your pie crust rolled out and wrapped up which gives you the nice flakey crust. You start by unrolling the crust, placing it into your quiche pan, and piercing it numerous times with a fork to avoid bubbling, which you then put in the oven at 250º celsius for ten minutes until golden brown.

At the same time, you fry up your bacon in a pan on the stove and you remove the grease.

Remove the golden pie crust from the oven and let sit 10 minutes before placing the bacon (and onions if you choose to add) to the bottom, dispersing evenly.

In a mixing bowl, break the 3 eggs and whisk. Add the sour cream and seasoning. Mix. Then add the milk (I do not use milk.)

Pour the egg sour cream mixture over the bacon and add the grated cheese on top. Bake for 30 minutes or more until the cheese starts to harden into an almost brown color, like lasagna.

It's preferable to remove the quiche from the pan after baking and let cool on a baking rack afterwards so as to not keep the liquids in the bottom which makes the crust soggy.

Bon appetit!

Shake Your Moneymaker

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris, France :

SexySultry and I got to dress up for a fun sexy 70s party over the weekend. It's been ages since I've made that kind of effort to look nice and it felt good!

You've got to look marvelous to feel marvelous, darling. Right? According to Billy Crystal, it's about how you look, not about how you feel. I have to admit that we looked pretty damn fantastic!

We both wore fun skirts and lots of makeup - fitting as it's carnavale!

Joyeux Dimanche - Petit Marcel

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris, France :

This song makes me happy.

The making of Little Marcel hiver 2012 from Anakena on Vimeo.