Back to Wonderland with a side of French Fries-New 3/15Mix up culture w/fun

[mousescrapper]

first love the latest French Friday...

I personally like sideways pictures

Hey
Hey J...I hadn't thought of the sweets and I will definitely check out Memories by betsy...

Hmmm...I heard there's this really awesome, clever, creative scrapper named Julie who is making great stuff...WAIT that's you... I'll have to be talking to you about a scrapbook for her birthday...It's a good thing you have your website listed in your signature...

2nd...you silly little girl...

and I too can't wait to make something for Em

Ok and to not get in trouble w/ the moderaters...it's actually a BLOG describing my fun projects, not a website w/ prices or anything...

J~

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Hi Patricia! I'll take that fish all flaked apart any day, that way I know it's all cooked to my liking! It looks perfect! Yum on the apple tart too! You sure know how to get ready for a trip to France!
I'm with Jackie, never seen the Aristocats! I think I'll hold out for Harper!

 

[eandesmom]

Yum that looks good!

I just don't want to know how much butter is in that sole

I checked, neither of those are in my barefoot in paris, I was contemplating doing something out of there last night.

Instead I ventured into Greece.

What a FUN night! I am just in love with the idea of French Fridays. If we ever pull off our Germany/France trip (thinking 2013?) I want to do something along those lines.

I am contemplating attempting a tarte tatin though for an upcoming dinner party!

I just saw the current DVC incentives, I have to admit annual passes for everyone looks mighty attractive! Resale is still a better deal....

 

[KathyRN137]

Em's getting 3 friends...now she had to figure out who...wahahaha...

We had our film...

Yes...The Aristocats...I think the kitten Marie has a lot of spirit-I love all the cats in this film-Duchess, Berlioz, Toulouse...and I think that it's pretty cool that she (Marie) is now a character you can meet in the park...I love the O'Malley character and the couple of Jazz numbers with Scat Cat...the few background scenes of 1910 Paris are lovely(but although I think this is a cute film imho is is not as good a 101 Dalmations)...

I love The Aristocats!! It was the first movie I remember seeing in a theater.

Your French Food looks yummy!

Oh, however will Em choose???


Kathy

 

[MEK]

Here's to another successful French Friday.

Your meal looks delicious. Too much french wine sounds devine. The apple tart is spectacular.

3 of Em's friends....How WILL she ever decide? What's a girl to do? Draw straws? Kidding. I'm sure it will work out lovely.

I agree with you that some of the BWV contracts look really nice. I am really looking forward to staying there someday. Denny and I have decided to add on, but we haven't found the right contract yet in the right use year. I am looking everday, though.

 

[brookelizabeth]

What a fantastic French Friday!! And 10 weeks!!!!

I am not a big fish eater, but for some reason that sole sounded very, very tasty. I think it was the butter sauce.

Love the tea with dessert. Nothing goes better with dessert than a hot beverage....really, it's one of my favorite things!! (and your big bauble ring is adorable!)

Glad to hear that DVC is still on the horizon!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Another great night from your creative mind!

Can't wait to hear more about your plans for France...

I'm at home today so I'm going to be doing some updating and Dising...

I need to check your thread...it's been about 3 days...so that's probably about 60 + pages or so...

I hope you haven't started any new runs on Home Depot's paint department ...

Do you know I have NEVER seen The Aristocats? I should maybe take care of that.

Dinner looks delicious, and the apple tart looks so good!!! Yummy!!!

Jackie-you've never seen the Aristocats? Oh you should rectify that situation..

Thanks the food was good...I should post the links to the recipes today...

Your dinner looks wonderful! The Menuiere style is the way we eat a lot of fish here in Germany as well. It is called Müllerin art, which translates into the style of the miller's wife. I love it because it enhances the fish without overpowering it. It's the best way for trout as well.

And that salad looks delicious. I wouldn't mind a recipe for that... If you have the time!

It's interesting what you said about food in San Francisco being very simple. I was in California in 2005 and while we never made it into any special restaurants in San Francisco, we had two excellent meals in Santa Barbara and Big Sur. These made me understand why you would have a restaurant in WDW themed to Californian cuisine...

And thanks for the nice comment about my PM! It will be fun reading about it, and finding out what works for you!

I love trout too...it's hard to go wrong with a nice mild white fish cooked with butter and lemon...just add a nice glass of white wine...maybe a Reisling...

I'm going to post the links to the recipes...

I don't know if you have/know the Barefoot Contessa in Germany...she had a speciality foods store for a while (after she worked for the White House) but she then wrote cookbooks and had a show...

her food is all very simple...American...but with really good ingredients...not fussy but sort of refined in a really low key way...One of her 5 books is ironically French...the other 4 are American...

I know you have mentioned the slow food movement in Europe...well in the US-many people feel it grew up in California...especially in the Bay Area...there is a woman chef/activist named Alice Waters (I admire her ideas very much)...she started a restaurant called Chez Panisse...and she has a cafe/more casual restaurant above it...we ate there with the kids the last time we were in California-it was AWESOME...

I'm hoping to post about DLP and your post laster today...

My goodness, I'm quite impressed with your culinary skills. If you ever want any taste testing just send it down I-95!

I'll send you food if you send me training advice...

Another great French Friday!

Sorry I haven't given my two cents about gift ideas... I really don't have anything new to offer... I love the idea of the charm bracelet! And I don't think you could go wrong with the spa!

Thanks I am pretty sure that there will be a bracelet and some sort of spa treatment...

 

[dismagiclover]

I'll send you food if you send me training advice...

That isn't really fair. I think your food would be better than my training advice

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

first love the latest French Friday...

I personally like sideways pictures



2nd...you silly little girl...

and I too can't wait to make something for Em

Ok and to not get in trouble w/ the moderaters...it's actually a BLOG describing my fun projects, not a website w/ prices or anything...

J~

Yes it is an absolutely lovely blog...it isn't commercial but it does have absolutely lovely things to look at...

I'm so glad someone besides me appreciates sideways pictures...

It's kind of sad...I'm so visually oriented and I am terrible at producing art or craft...although I have ideas...I just can't always make them work...

I can write fairly well at least when I put my mind to it...

Hi Patricia! I'll take that fish all flaked apart any day, that way I know it's all cooked to my liking! It looks perfect! Yum on the apple tart too! You sure know how to get ready for a trip to France!
I'm with Jackie, never seen the Aristocats! I think I'll hold out for Harper!

Ah...you want to make sure your fish is cooked through huh...I guess that means no sushi for you?...

Ahhh...the Aristocats would be a fabulous film to watch with Harper...even when she's three or so...and then she can meet Marie at Disney...

just another reason to go back......not that you needed one but it's always good to have some...

Yum that looks good!

I just don't want to know how much butter is in that sole

I checked, neither of those are in my barefoot in paris, I was contemplating doing something out of there last night.

Instead I ventured into Greece.

What a FUN night! I am just in love with the idea of French Fridays. If we ever pull off our Germany/France trip (thinking 2013?) I want to do something along those lines.

I am contemplating attempting a tarte tatin though for an upcoming dinner party!

I just saw the current DVC incentives, I have to admit annual passes for everyone looks mighty attractive! Resale is still a better deal....

Hmmm...I didn't realize those weren't in her book...I found them on line...I'll post the links...

If the butter freaks you out...the salad will be ok...olive oil in there...

Yum Greek food...what did you make...

Tarte Tartin is fun to make and pretty forgiving...

yes resale is a better deal but those passes...

Yeah for your 2013 trip...

I love The Aristocats!! It was the first movie I remember seeing in a theater.

Your French Food looks yummy!

Oh, however will Em choose???


Kathy

Remember how before DVDs...they used to bring the different Disney films back into the theaters every couple of years...

Em is imho a very lucky girl...I adore her but I am currently mystified at her social life/friends/boys...etc...It is more complicated than any soap opera...I think I'm going to start making sure to have a "medicinal" glass of wine at dinner every night...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Here's to another successful French Friday.

Your meal looks delicious. Too much french wine sounds devine. The apple tart is spectacular.

3 of Em's friends....How WILL she ever decide? What's a girl to do? Draw straws? Kidding. I'm sure it will work out lovely.

I agree with you that some of the BWV contracts look really nice. I am really looking forward to staying there someday. Denny and I have decided to add on, but we haven't found the right contract yet in the right use year. I am looking everday, though.

I know I'm an evil mom...16th bday at Dis with her family, lovely accomodations, surprises and restaurants and she's only allowed three friends...hmmm...do you think that child welfare needs to know about me...

but you're right...it is going to be interesting to see how she decides...-at this rate my French Fridays may turn into Eric and I each having a bottle of wine...

Yes the BWV contracts are looking tempting...fab location...doen't have SAB but I love that large porch that faces the water and the lobby...real question is could I handle that Clown pool?...

What a fantastic French Friday!! And 10 weeks!!!!

I am not a big fish eater, but for some reason that sole sounded very, very tasty. I think it was the butter sauce.

Love the tea with dessert. Nothing goes better with dessert than a hot beverage....really, it's one of my favorite things!! (and your big bauble ring is adorable!)

Glad to hear that DVC is still on the horizon!

Hey Brook...I know actually it's nine weeks from today......my French Fridays are a couple of days behind so when I do the last one...it will be 4 days till we leave...

Anything with butter and lemon is yummy...lemon tarts have butter and lemon...and they are super yummy...

I used to only drink tea...(hard to believe... but then I discovered coffee and quite frankly really loved the happy little buzz and then I grew to love the taste...but tea has that lovely aroma and flavor...I'm starting to switch off to tea after noon...we'll see how that works out...

Awww...thanks for noticing my ring...it's sentimental really...last year 2008-we went to NY for a weekend at Christmas time...we saw Santa at Macy's and the Radio City Show, FAO Schwartz, Grand Central Station...one of the nights we were getting pizza and ice cream right over the other side of the Brooklyn bridge and you know how you have that amazing view of the Manhattan skyline...well it started to snow...

well our last day we went to the MOMA...because I am compelled to always sneak in an educational experience anywhere we go... and they had it in the gift shop...it was $5 I think but I bought it and everytime I wear it, it reminds me of that magical snowy moment eating ice cream looking at Manhattan with my family...

That isn't really fair. I think your food would be better than my training advice

LOL...I'm sure we could arrange something...

 

[eandesmom]

Hmmm...I didn't realize those weren't in her book...I found them on line...I'll post the links...

If the butter freaks you out...the salad will be ok...olive oil in there...

Yum Greek food...what did you make...

Tarte Tartin is fun to make and pretty forgiving...

yes resale is a better deal but those passes...

Yeah for your 2013 trip...

Em is imho a very lucky girl...I adore her but I am currently mystified at her social life/friends/boys...etc...It is more complicated than any soap opera...I think I'm going to start making sure to have a "medicinal" glass of wine at dinner every night...

Oh butter doesn't freak me out so much, Jeff is another story. Which is really pretty funny as he raved about Giada's Chicken Picatta last week and I could think of was you don't want to KNOW how much butter is in this!

I believe wine is a beverage meant to be served with dinner.

I made Greek-Style Mahi Mahi (as Jeff is on a "more fish please" kick) except I swapped out the mayo for Greek Yogurt and then a Greek Salad with Orzo and Black Eyed Peas (per his request for "more beans please"). I didn't layer it, just tossed it all together at the end. It doesn't need the romaine in my opinon and I skipped the pepperoccini.

They were both very good, so good I'm going to make the same lineup for Gourmet Club next month. Easy, different and delish. The boys went nuts over the Mahi.

It's so funny, I have all these lovely cookbooks and more and more I find everything online too! I'd love the links.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

http://www.foodnetwork.com/barefoot-contessa/easy-french/index.html
This link should connect to the menu and recipes from last French Friday...let's see if it works...

Oh butter doesn't freak me out so much, Jeff is another story. Which is really pretty funny as he raved about Giada's Chicken Picatta last week and I could think of was you don't want to KNOW how much butter is in this!

I love her stuff too...butter in moderation is actually supposed to be ok...I guess the question is what is considered moderate...


I believe wine is a beverage meant to be served with dinner.
Absolutely sister...


I made Greek-Style Mahi Mahi (as Jeff is on a "more fish please" kick) except I swapped out the mayo for Greek Yogurt and then a Greek Salad with Orzo and Black Eyed Peas (per his request for "more beans please"). I didn't layer it, just tossed it all together at the end. It doesn't need the romaine in my opinon and I skipped the pepperoccini.

I love fish too...that sounds really good...ooo...speaking of beans...The BC has a nice White Bean w/Rosemary Soup...Eric isn't a huge bean fan and he loves this...


They were both very good, so good I'm going to make the same lineup for Gourmet Club next month. Easy, different and delish. The boys went nuts over the Mahi.

It's so funny, I have all these lovely cookbooks and more and more I find everything online too! I'd love the links.

The Barefoot Contessa and Giadda are two of my favorites...don't laugh but the Martha Stewart Everyday Food Mag is really nice and fairly low key...not what people traditionally think of as Martha...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Paris and DLP Version 1.0
​

Well I have actually made my first itinerary for Paris...We'll call it "Version 1"..creative title- isn't it?...

It is very bare still because there are so many things that I want to do that aren't necessarily "attractions" like parks and shops and restaurants...

And I really want for us all to come back if not rested exactly...not feeling like we have to spend 72 hours sleeping in bed to recover...

Just like at Disney and rope drop...the mornings will be important because that's when I plan to do our must do attraction of the day...ie Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc....then we'll have lunches out and have the afternoons for parks, smaller attractions, shopping, eating pastry, etc...

Our trip dates are flying out of Newark on Tuesday the 23rd of March and flying back in on Wednesday the 31st...so 7 nights in the apartment...

Our official Disneyland Paris day will be Friday the 26th. That's only our 2nd full day there but Sunday the 28th is Palm Sunday...so that following week will be the week leading up to Easter and based on the advice and suggestion of Flossbolna... it is probably better to stay away that week if possible...


So for the first skeletal itinerary...

Day 1...Tuesday (23) overnight flight from Newark


Day 2...Wednesday (24) arrive in Paris @ 10 am...transfer to apt...settle in , lunch, afternoon get a first look at the city by taking one of the bateaux mouches up and down the Seine...ie see Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower

Go to the Luxembourg Gardens in the afternoon...check out the puppet show, let David sail a boat, etc...

Have a pastry at Lauduree's...

Settle in, get some marketing done...get a good night's sleep



Day 3...Thursday (25) Morning...Centre Pompidou-(it's their large modern art museum...the building is inside out...great fountains and performers outside...

There is a restaurant that I want to go to lunch to that I need to call tomorrow...it's the only crazy current popular one I'm looking at...the Le Cellier of Paris... The rest of the restaurants I can call a week or two before...

That afternoon do a kind of personalized version of Rick Steve's Marais walk..., Place du Vosges, Musee Carnavalet-which is basically the Museum of the City of Paris..., etc....


Day 4...Friday (26) DISNEYLAND PARIS...I'm going to do a whole post on this next......I know my audience...


Day 5...Saturday (27) Notre Dame...including a climb up the towers to see the gargoyles and bells...and a check on Saint Chapelle which is the lovely chapel with the unreal stained glass...


Day 6...Sunday (28) Ride on the Canal St. Martin up to La Villette and the Cite des Enfants and the Parc de la Villette or perhaps back to Versailles...I happen to think Versailles is amazing and the grounds...wow...Eric and I have been here but the children haven't...I know Em would love it...she's seen Marie Antoinette and I think David would be impressed by the "largeness" of the place...Eric isn't as sure...we'll see...


Day 7...Monday (29) Louvre in the morning and the Tuileries Garden and the Orangerie in the after -that's wHere Monet's large Water Lilies that fill the entire room are...


Day 8...Tuesday (30) The Eiffel Tower and possibly the Ratatouille tour of Paris...yes believe it- I found it on line...it begins at the Eiffel Tower, takes you to the sewers or rather the Musee des Egouts...the Sewer museum...(which is supposed to be interesting......it then takes you past the Maison Aurouze...basically the Rat Killer Shop...remember when Remy's father takes him there...apparently it's a real place......then a little walk along some of the quai next to the Seine...remember when Linguini was going to drown Remy? and then finally ends up by La Tour d'Argent (which is the inspiration for Gusteau's...and pretty close to Notre Dame...)


Day 9 Wednesday (31) Fly home...

The only thing I'm not feeling (and I still have a lot of fleshing out to do is the Canal ride up to the Parc de la Villette...basically the Canal St. Martin is very charming...Amelie was skipping stones on it at one point in the film and Villette has a modern children's park and museums...a children's one, a science one, a music one (that actually sounds really interesting to me)

but I think that if its a choice between that and Versailles...hmmm not sure what to do...

Anyhow that 's the initial plan and lots will be fleshed out and probably changed between now and then...but it's a start...

 

[jordanyosh]

Your plans sound awesome. I like that you are really trying to get a good feel of the city and not trying to see too much in the time that you have.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Can I come, too? I want to eat pastries and stroll through the Tuileries! Beautiful plans! Reading about them made me reminisce about my own trip to Paris when I was ten.

 

[eandesmom]

What a lovely lovely trip you have planned!

I love that there is a Remy tour, how fun will that be. And a little different

As much as I would adore the canal, I'd have to go with Versailles.

Thank you for the links, I'm not sure if that apple tart is in my Barefoot in paris book but I saved all of them to the recipie box and plan to do the apple tart for Gourmet Club as well. While I don't have to do dessert when it's at my house (which is good since I'm going Greek!) I ended up with dessert 2 weeks later so this saves me some recipie hunting!

I'm going to try the sole soon though.

 

[Flossbolna]

Sounds wonderful! I only ever spent half a day in Paris and really need to get myself there for some exploring - it just always feel like this is something to be done with a boyfriend. Never happened with past ones and no one around at the moment...

 

[brookelizabeth]

Is your suitcase large enough to fit a 5'9" woman?



I cannot give any advice on these plans because I don't know ANYTHING about Paris; but they sound just lovely. I would loooooove to go to the Louvre. And to see Monet's large Water Lilies! Beautiful! I've seen the set at the Met and it made me just stop in my tracks and stare for quite a while. It was beauty and history rolled into one.

Awww...thanks for noticing my ring...it's sentimental really...last year 2008-we went to NY for a weekend at Christmas time...we saw Santa at Macy's and the Radio City Show, FAO Schwartz, Grand Central Station...one of the nights we were getting pizza and ice cream right over the other side of the Brooklyn bridge and you know how you have that amazing view of the Manhattan skyline...well it started to snow...

well our last day we went to the MOMA...because I am compelled to always sneak in an educational experience anywhere we go... and they had it in the gift shop...it was $5 I think but I bought it and everytime I wear it, it reminds me of that magical snowy moment eating ice cream looking at Manhattan with my family...

That makes it even better! Memories + good price!

 

[manntra]

Lovely plans P! You are going to have such a wonderful trip! The Remy tour sounds cute...I just googled it I remember seeing something maybe on the History channel regarding the sewers of Paris...actually very interesting!
Your BC meal looked delicious! She is such an easy cook to watch I am famous for watching the shows and rarely cooking anything!

Tracy

 

[Happydog]

Ah Paris! YAY! This is going to be lovely.. eat crepes.. where oh where is EAT crepes?? Have you considered the catacombs? A bit macabre, but if you have seen Les Miserables.... Also a lovely neighborhood up by the church, called.... called... it will come to me something "coeur" I can't recall... It is Montmartre.... lovely place. anyhow we went there for a spell, and just walked about. Beautiful view... Basilica was gorgeous... do you know it?

These are excellent plans! Versailles, Disneyland Paris, just wonderful! I am only 5 4" -- can I fit in your suitcase??!!