Thursday, January 30, 2014

Mes Recettes (My Recipes!)

I LOVE COOKING SO MUCH so I want to share some of my recettes (recipes) with you! You'll notice that a few of them contain strange ingredients-- I've had to get creative due to my host family's dietary requests. I promise that I would not put recipes on here if they were not child- and adult-approved! Oh, and I'm open to any suggestions! Hope you enjoy them as much as we do.


Mashed "Potatoes"

1 large head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sizes pieces (4-5 cups)
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium-sized potato, peeled and chopped
1 turnip root (no greens), peeled and chopped
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp. salt
White pepper, to taste

In a large frying pan, steam the cauliflower, onion, garlic, potato, and turnip root by filling the pan with 1/2 an inch of water and placing the lid on top until the vegetables are tender and the water has evaporated. Add more water as necessary. Transfer the vegetables into a food processor and add olive oil, parmesan cheese, salt and white pepper. Blend until smooth and serve immediately.


Choco-cado Pudding

3 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and chopped into cubes
2 ripe bananas (large), peeled and sliced
3/4 cup agave nectar
1/3 cup coconut milk
1-1/2 tbsp. vanilla extract
A pinch of salt
1-1/4 cup raw cocoa powder (cacao)

In a food processor, blend avocado, banana, agave nectar, coconut milk, vanilla and salt until smooth. Gradually add raw cocoa powder and blend until the mixture reaches pudding-like consistency, scraping down the sides as necessary. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Serve chilled. 


Lauren & Eli's Soupe de Lentilles (Lentil Soup)

1 medium white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp. thyme
2 beef bouillon cubes
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 large tomato, chopped
2 cups dry green lentils
1-1/2 cups carrots, chopped
3/4 cup celery, chopped
1-1/2 cups red skin potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
Water (to be added as necessary)

Place onions, garlic and olive oil in a large pot on medium-high heat and cook until onions are transparent and garlic is golden, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium. Add bay leaves, thyme, bouillon cubes, paprika, salt, pepper, tomato, lentils and water; cook on medium heat for 15 mins and add water as the lentils begin to absorb it. Add carrots and celery. When lentils are almost al-dente, add potatoes and cook until they can be cut with a spoon. Add salt to taste. Enjoy!


Les Pâtes au Fromage (Pasta with Cheese)

3 cups dry whole-wheat penne or bowtie pasta, cooked according to package instructions
1 medium white onion, sliced
1 medium-sized potato, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
1 turnip root (no greens), peeled and cut into cubes
2 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup canned coconut milk
1 cup fresh parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and white pepper, to taste

In a medium-sized pot, bring water to a boil. Add onion, potato, and turnip root. Reduce to medium heat and cook vegetables for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain water. Cook pasta then drain water once it is al-dente.  In a food processor, blend olive oil, coconut milk, parmesan cheese, salt, white pepper and vegetables until smooth. Pour mixture over pasta (drained) and toss until combined. Serve immediately.


Banana-Chocolate-Almond Cookies

4 ripe bananas, chopped
1 cup pitted dates
1/4 cup agave nectar
A pinch of salt
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups raw almonds, chopped
1 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate
3 cups quick-cooking oats
Milk chocolate bar, cut into 1/2 inch squares

Place bananas, dates, agave nectar, salt and vanilla in food processor and blend until smooth. Pour mixture in large mixing bowl. Add almonds and dark chocolate; stir until combined. Add oats and mix until fully combined. Roll into 2-inch balls, place on parchment paper covered baking sheet and press down until the cookies balls are 1/2 inch thick. Press one milk chocolate square on the top of each cookie. Bake (dehydrate) at 150 degrees F for 8-10 hours. The little ones cannot keep their hands off these... neither can I!

Sunday, January 12, 2014

"You look dead."

Goodness, it's nice to be back in my routine! This past month has been a whirlwind... a mix of family, friends, exhaustion, too much food and wine, too little cash-flow and budgeting, and a whole lot of learning and gratitude for all of the moments I'll never forget with those dear to me.

Here's a recap: Mid-December, my sister, Lindsey, came to stay with me for a nine days. Once she left, I took a train to Hampshire and London to celebrate Christmas with my close friend, Kim, and her family. After returning to Paris, I worked a week full-time with all three boys (Lord, please give me at least one daughter someday), then celebrated the New Year at the base of Le Tour Eiffel with my friend, Stephanie. And to top it all off, one of my best friends, Kathryn, visited me for a week.

Some of my favorite memories:
-Lighting candles in le Cathédrale de Notre Dame with both Lindsey and Kathryn.
-Discovering that my sister and I saying "I love you more than I hate you" to each other fits us perfectly.
-Preparing Christmas Day meal with Kim; it reminded me so much of being home in the kitchen with ma mère (my mom)!
-Developing an English appreciation for toasted crumpets with Marmite and butter.
-Running through Le Marais in the pouring rain with Kathryn to have un goût (a taste) of Jacques Génin's made-to-order millefeuille.
-Receiving several heartfelt letters that Kathryn brought me from my thoughtful and loving friends back in the States.

And lastly, quotes by those I know will never give up on me:

"If you never get married, we want you to have a comfortable standard of living. Just something to think about." -Mom

"You look tired. There is blue all there." *points to my under eye circles* -Dimitri, age 8

"What if you become a lesbian in Paris?" -Kathryn

"Wow, you look dead." -Elvire, my host mom.

These are my favorite pictures from this past month. If you'd like to see more, request to follow my Instagram account, @laurenwindham.

Le Tour Eiffel at sunset.
Le Sacre Coeur
Jardin des Tuileries
Wandering through Le Marais.
View of Le Tour Eiffel from the Trocadero.
I loved having Lindsey here!
Authentic champagne

Merci, a coffee shop in Le Marais.
Buckingham Palace

London St. Pancras train station.
Kathryn and I had the best time together!


Kensington Palace
Wandering down Portobello Road.
London, England.
Enjoying cupcakes in London with Kim. 
A day in Montmartre with Lindsey.
Locals