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FRENCH TOAST

Ivy Chang featured me on her Inside Kitchen Project series a few months ago. When she asked I knew exactly what I wanted to make: my mom’s French toast that I grew up eating.

It’s insanely simple and quick, but so delicious. I have memories of running up the stairs like a crazy person and plopping myself on the high metal stools we had in our kitchen, in pajamas, with a ginormous glass of OJ, as soon as my mom yelled down to tell us breakfast was ready. I always stacked 2 slices of French toast, covered them with maple syrup and cut them in a grid of 9 squares. Why you ask? I have no idea. But hey, it’s funny to think about. This recipe always hits home for me, it’s quick and hearty and brings back so many memories of breakfast at home in the Rockies with the family.

Ingredients:
– 8-10 slices of your favorite sandwich bread
– 2/3 cups milk
– 4 eggs
– 2 tablespoons cinnamon
– A smidgen of vanilla extract
– Maple syrup (optional)
– Berries & bananas (optional)

Instructions:
1. Mix eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla in a bowl.
2. Melt a bit of butter in your skillet.
3. Soak your bread slice in the egg mixture, both sides.
4. Place that bad boy on your skillet and leave until golden on both sides.
5. Serve with maple syrup, berries and banana slice to taste, with a big glass of juice or a cuppa Jo.
6. Enjoy.

Discover more Inside Kitchen posts over on Ivy’s blog.

A FRUITY LILLET ROSE BEVVY

Ever since discovering Lillet Rosé at their launch party in Paris last fall, I have fallen hard for their cocktails. Lillet Rosé is a refreshing beverage with a bit more punch than your classic wine – it is what they call an aperitif wine – equally delightful when it’s on the rocks with a slice of orange or mixed in with other flavors and liquors to make for a fantastically crafted and peachy colored cocktail.

With Olivia on a Friday night in, we decided to add a few of our favorite things and make our own little fruity cocktail inspired by one of the classic Lillet Rosé cocktails.

We probably should have put the ice cubes in the mixer and the fruit afterwards, but hey, it’s all about learning! Also, add the tonic water at the very end for better results. Enjoy!

lillet-rose-cocktail-diy-de-quelle-planete-es-tu-01

To see more video collaborations with Cleopatra’s Bling, click here.

A WEEKEND AWAY IN THE 2ND


I often get asked for suggestions of where to stay in Paris by readers or by friends of friends. It’s a difficult question to answer as Paris has been my home for the past half dozen years, and I never really vacationed here. However, one tip I always share is to rent an apartment instead of staying in a hotel. Hotels can be lovely, but part of Paris’s charm is experiencing it like a local does. When you rent a little apartment you can have your little kitchen and such and actually feel like a Parisian.

Habitat Parisien offers a variety of different apartments across the city of lights. A few weeks back, Louis and I packed up our weekend bags and spent a few days “away”, in their Monsigny apartment, located in the heart of the 2nd arrondissement.

I’m quite fond of  this area because it is so central, situated perfectly between boutiques on the Grands Boulevards, the Opéra, the Palais Royale and not to mention next to one of my favorite streets, rue Sainte Anne. It is an area where most things are walking distance, which is my favorite way to see the city.

This weekend away in the 2nd turned into a Parisian adventure filled with jaw dropping sights and homemade sushi with friends thanks to the neighborhood’s Japanese ambiance.

                          
The Monsigny apartment can comfortably sleep four people, two in a double bed in the mezzanine, and two in the pull-out couch if need be. It would be perfect for a group of four friends, or a family with two kids. The weekend we stayed there was particularly chilly, but the beautiful and spacious patio must be dreamy as can be in the summertime… the perfect place to enjoy a pain au chocolat in the morning.

The apartment, that is located on the ground floor, has such a cozy feeling with its big beige stone walls and large windows opening to the private patio. It’s simple and charming, all you could ever need for your stay in Paris. The little kitchen is equipped with everything you could need to cook a bit, and the bathroom features the highlight in my eyes: a bathtub.

STROLL SUGGESTIONS:

→ Walk up and down rue Saint Anne. If you like Japanese food, stop by Higuma for lunch.

→ Stumble into Ace or K Mart on rue Saint Anne for groceries to make your own Japanese feast back at the apartment.

→ Go down by the Palais Royale, and wander through the gardens and passages couverts. Pop in Serge Lutens and smell their incredible perfumes.

→ Stop for a coffee at Le Nemours in between the Louvre and Palais Royale for a café crème and people watching on the terrace.

→ Take in the view of the Opéra Garnier from afar, walking closer and closer up Avenue de l’Opéra.

→ Wander to the top of Printemps for a breathtaking view of Paris. On your way up stop at Ladurée for a macaroon to munch on while up top.

→ Pop in the Galeries Lafayette to see the stained glass dome. They’ve got a balcony, too.

QUINOA FRESH x PUXAN BC

I met Puxan one of my first weeks in Paris, when I arrived for university when I was 18. This guy is a creative soul. I always saw him with his camera around and the videos he’d put together, like this one, never ceased to amaze me.

Not only have I run into him at my favorite restaurant in Paris, Chettinadu, our hobbies and friendship circles have allowed us to cross paths more than just a few times. He likes good beer and food in general, so we are like peas in a pod. And boy, is he a whizz with a camera.

I was so excited to do this little collaboration, making this deliciously summery vegetable-filled quinoa salad that my best friend Liz shared with me once upon a time, on this hot summer day. It’s the perfect recipe for summer, and you can add and take out ingredients to your desire. You can’t go wrong throwing in all of your favorite things. It’s also wonderful because it makes for great lunches to bring to work, as it’s still yummy when it’s cold.

To give you the 411, Puxan is a photographer/videographer specializing in food and travel. He’s currently working on a cookbook (how cool is that?) before taking off for a food tour of South East Asia in October. Some of his past work includes and food video recipes like this or this.
I, for one, will be drooling over the pictures he posts online during his far away travels, discovering and documenting different recipes and new tastes.

RECIPE

Ingredients:
1 red onion diced, 1 sweet potato cubed, 1 zucchini, chopped & cut in half moons, 1 green pepper diced, tomatoes in bize sized pieces, 1 avocado cubed, 1 cup of radishes, halved, shallots minced to taste, garlic to taste, seasonings (I used salt, pepper, cumin and chipotle ground pepper).

Dressing:
2 tbsp olive oil, 1-2 lemons squeezed, minched shallot, 1 tbsp cumin, salt + pepper.

Preparation:
1. Heat oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add diced onions to pan, cook until brown, about ten minutes.
2. Add sweet potatoes, peppers, zucchini & garlic/shallots to pan. Cover to ensure things are cooked through, ten-fifteen minutes. Make sure to season! I suggest cumin, s&p, ground chipotle pepper and dried peppers.
3. While things are cooking, make the dressing. Add all the ingredients into a small bowl, give it a whisk, put aside.
4. In a large bowl, add half the dressing, give a good toss, taste for seasoning.
5. Throw in tomatoes, avocado & radishes and remainder of dressing.

Follow Puxan BC:
Website / Vimeo / /