tofranceandback.com

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD.

We have been wined and dined this weekend by a French family and an American expat family.  I can’t eat another bite.  And I’m totally intimidated after experiencing dîner à la française!

The French dinner or Sunday afternoon meal is a long and elaborate affair — beginning with the Champagne or Kir as the aperitif.  Following is the entree [what we Americans call the appetizer], a lovely soup or small flaky pastry with scallops.  Then the plat [what we call the entree] – entrecote [which you know as steak] or Strasbourg sausage, pork loin, and saur kraut.  Full yet?  Wait – we aren’t done!  Next, les fromages….cheeses (yes, plural) and baguettes…and then the dessert….and then the digestif , and then the coffee…..and then a pillow and blanket, because you are face down in a serious food coma!  It was all excellent!   

WAIT!  OH NO!  ARG!  What the heck am I going to cook to reciprocate?  No pressure.  Think, think, think….  
What did we have for dessert, did you say?  France is a predominantly Catholic country and in January, they celebrate Epiphany with a galette des rois.  ‘The Kings’ Cake’ celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem.  Composed of a puff pastry cake, with a small charm, the fève, hidden inside, it is usually filled with frangipane, a cream made from sweet almonds, butter, eggs and sugar.  Not too sweet, flaky, and absolutely WONDERFUL.  Whoever finds the fève gets to wear the Burger King crown!

Ok, gotta go.  Mon mari is asking ‘what’s for dinner…..’

REALLY????????

Love, Mindy

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

  

  

Hard to believe we arrived in France 50 days ago.  A lot has happened in those 50 days!  We have been completely immersed in the French culture and language, moved (after six weeks of transient living) into a most unusual apartment with a view worth blogging about, bought a German car and Japanese appliances, made some very international friends, stayed in a French hospital (not by choice), journeyed to the top of a volcano…and now it’s Christmas already!

Two things to share as I impatiently wait for the chickadees to arrive…

I was invited to teach an English as a Second Language (ESL) class through a government agency that has classes for, among various other groups, French seniors.  AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!

 Gilles, Vivienne, Marie-France, Laurence, and Francoise were able to hang around for the picture.  They were quite pleased with their Christmas vocabulary worksheets and a few other holiday-themed learning activities.  My next ‘lead’ will be in mid-January.  There is a REAL teacher, Karen, who is on vacation over Christmas in the States, and Stuart, another substitute like me, who is British.  What’s interesting is how Stuart’s English word choice and accent differs from Karen’s and mine! I also discussed how words vary in different parts of the USA — pocketbook vs. purse, generic ‘Coke’ vs. soda.  And they had NO CONCEPT OF CANDY CANES OR PEPPERMINT CANDIES!  Really???The baking of Christmas cookies (especially gingerbread)? “Bah, that’s German.”  🙂

The other thing that has been interesting is the colors of Christmas decor in the stores.  Lots of gray,  COPPER, purple, and neon greens…an unusual take on le Fête de Noël!    

The French that I’ve met think the American practice of extensive outdoor holiday lighting is quite bizarre…but our energy sources are also much cheaper.  Maybe they would change their minds if they could see the beautiful displays in our neighborhoods!  They have flocked trees (white, which I haven’t seen in the South, ever, and only as a youngster in Oklahoma), and even a few flocked in RED!  Very different!

S-l-o-w-l-y working through the list of repairs/items to be fixed in the apartment.  French customer service = molasses.  I’m toning down the expectations through necessity.  (I’m out of valium.)  [Just Kidding, Mom]

Know you are busy, crazy, going 90 mph….hopefully our next pictures will be of #CHRISTMASINFRANCEWITHTHEKIDS 

The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.  Psalm 118:24 

Jusqu’à la prochaine fois!

Judy Garland is singing out there somewhere….I’m thinking that Clermont Ferrand is the land of rainbows! I never used to see one very often, but it rains a LOT here and whatever the difference is in the atmosphere, there are rainbows all the time! C’est magnifique! 

The pics below were taken from a moving car and are terrible pictures, but the point is that they were both taken within a few days of each other.  Just incredible! 

Did you know that rainbows are God’s promise to never again destroy the Earth by flood?  Genesis 9:8-13 says, ⁹ I am going to make a solemn promise to you [Noah] and to everyone who will live after you….¹¹ I promise every living creature that the earth and those living on it will never again be destroyed by a flood. ^12-13 The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth… 

Christmas Countdown!  Brendan may get here on WEDNESDAY – YIPPEE!  Robert and Leslie will follow on Friday…and even though I’m stressing a wee bit about celebrating in such different surroundings with non-traditional food and activities – the new normal – we are so delighted they are coming!  It will be a whirlwind trip!

I’m thinking about you and keeping you close in my heart – family, friends, loved ones…if you are reading this, know you play or have played a special part in our lives.

Off to the tram now!  Grocery shopping to do with my trolley!  🙂  When in Rome….

[HAPPY BIG BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK, MIKE SLICE!]