Five Things to Eat Before You Die...

Top 5...top 5. What are the top 5 foods I've eaten in my life? I feel like I eat pretty well most of the time (and you know I enjoy my food!) so this one was tough for me. If you're a reader of The Traveler's Lunchbox (and if you aren't...why not?!?!) you have seen the lists of great ideas on the five things to eat before you die. I was stewing about what mine would be, but left it to simmer while I went about packing and moving over an ocean.

Then Tanna tagged me and it got my mind spinning again with ideas about my favorite foods. This type of list is tough for me. Not being one to ever want to write anything in stone, I had to spin the idea around to be the top 5 things I've had that will let me die a happy woman! It's my nature to remember the classics over the innovators, so I guess nostalgia took over a bit. Plus, isn't location pretty important in this?

1. A cold Gin & Tonic each summer, sitting on the deck of the lake house (which sits secluded on its own island) in Canada. (McGregor Bay area, to be more precise.) True relaxation does not exist for me except this.

2. Sharing un éclair au chocolat with your sweetie in Paris. Perhaps in the Palais Royal gardens or Parc Monceau?

3. Bœuf Bourguignon, ideally from Chez René in the 5eme. They are bit chilly with the welcome, but the food will more than make up for it. (14, blvd Saint Germain, 5e)

4. A homemade Italian family-style feast at an agriturismo in Faenza, Italy. Each evening, an amazing array of raviolis filled with simple cheese and spinach, or speck and radicchio were followed by huge servings of grilled meats and potatoes before we even got to salad or dessert! If only I had known how important the word basta! would be...

5. Sharing a meal of Raclette in the French Alps. A half-moon wheel of raclette about 2 feet wide is placed on a contraption with a burner fitted just over the cut side of the cheese. Fill your plate with mixed charcuterie, boiled potatoes, cornichons and pearl onions. Wait. A few minutes later, slide the cheese wheel out from under the burner and scrape off the bubbling cheese onto your plate. Devour with joy!

Psst! Don't tell!
5.1. A relaxing quiche and salad lunch on the terrace of L'Ete en Pente Douce, a cafe just near the Sacre Coeur in the 18th arr. Don't forget the glass of wine! (23, rue Muller)

There are so many more, but I'll stop there. What are your top 5?

Spiced Pumpkin Soup with Cumin and Cilantro

Well, the move is complete. We said au revoir to Paris and have comfortably installed ourselves in the lovely guest room at Mom and Pop's house. I've happily been able to relax and not do much cooking myself yet, but instead indulge in a pedicure and some of the best gin & tonics around. But, I do have a wonderful recipe to share with you that I've been saving just for such a cooking hiatus.

This recipe is a serious secret weapon! It couldn't be easier and tastes surprisingly rich and flavorful. One of my favorites for nights that are seriously short on time, I like to pair this soup with half a quesadilla or a simple sandwich. Try one of these quesadilla recipes for some ideas. Black beans might also make a nice addition to this soup. I hope you can make this some night soon!

Spiced Pumpkin Soup with Cumin and Cilantro
(an epicurious recipe)

2 ½ cups chicken broth
½ cup heavy cream or half & half (can use less...)
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp ground cumin
½ to ¾ tsp chili powder
½ tsp ground coriander
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
2-3 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
grated cheddar cheese, optional

Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Whisk in the pumpkin, brown sugar and ground spices. Simmer over medium low heat for 5-10 minutes so that it reduces and thickens slightly. Turn off the heat and stir in the cream and most of the cilantro. Serve topped with additional cilantro leaves and grated cheddar, if you desire.

Mariage Frères

As we're coming to the end of our stay here in Paris, I thought it was about time to mention my love of Mariage Frères, makers of thé extraordinaire. The company was founded in 1854, but the family has experience with tea (and the French East India Company) from the 17th century. There are six lovely tea rooms in Paris and ten other locations in Japan, plus you can order their teas online.

I know a lot of people are already familiar with the greatness of Mariage Frères teas, but if you don't consider yourself a connoisseur of teas, perhaps you're wondering what all the fuss is about? Well, I don't really think I'm a connoisseur, either, but one sniff of these teas will set them apart. Their perfume is so powerful; you'll swear you can taste it! It will be forever burned into your nostrils so that if you were to, say, smell an old bag of Lipton, you'd think it had no smell at all. You will be intoxicated by the glorious scents of these teas. It was Paul's mom that first told me about these teas and I'm so glad I followed up on her advice!

One of their top selling teas, Marco Polo, is a black tea with red fruity undertones, which is very satisfying as a morning cup. It was a revelation to me the first time I tasted it. It's smooth, yet slightly acidic from the fruit flavors, but is very well balanced. Marco Polo also comes in a red version and a green tea version. I always bring a few boxes back for my family.

It may look plain, but the blueish tint is gorgeous...

The summary on the website describes it roughly as this: The uncontested success of Mariage Frères, this secret mixture will make you travel to the most remote and mysterious regions. The scents of flowers and fruits of China and Tibet converge to form a single velvety flavor. An extraordinary bouquet for the most mythical of scented teas. Wow...

However, my favorite has to be a flavor called Pleine Lune. It's a black tea with toasted almonds, spices, and honey. Oh! It is simply the best thing I've ever smelled. Better than fresh bread baking or chicken roasting. Or bacon frying...well, hold on a minute. Maybe bacon is slightly better. Anyway, let's hear what those Frères says about it:

Splendeur de la pleine lune. Inspiré de l’astre lunaire, royaume des rêves et des chimères, ce mélange poétique réunit les parfums symboliques de la fête de la pleine lune : les fruits, les épices rares, l’amande et le goût sucré du miel. Thé de lumière.

It celebrates splendor of the full moon, the lunar stars, and the kingdom of dreams. This poetic mixture unites the perfumes of the symbolic festival of the full moon: fruits, rare spices, almonds and the sweetness of honey. Tea of light.

Well, how beautiful. I don't know what more I can say! If you are ever in Paris, spend an afternoon sipping in their salon de the, or sniffing at one of their counters! (Try the Galeries Lafayette Maison on Blvd Haussmann.) Loose tea drinkers can buy 100 g for around 6-7 € or a fancier canister for around 10-12 €. They also sell boxes of 30 high quality tea bags for 11.50 € for those without a proper tea pot. A bit expensive, maybe, but once you try it, you won't ever go back. Their teas certainly make beautiful gifts, too.

Movin' On...

I've been thinking a lot lately about Paris and living in a foreign country. You see, Chez Megane will be leaving Paris at the end of this month. We've been here for 2 wonderful, life changing, and confidence building years - enough time to have created a home here, but also to realize that perhaps we weren't meant to stay forever. I had the chance to learn French, eat like a queen, toughen up a bit, meet fascinating people and do a lot of traveling to glorious places. I've been tested a lot and forced to adapt quickly to this dizzying French culture. I've laughed a lot, relaxed a lot and become a lot more comfortable dans ma peau, as they say. Suffice it to say, 70% of me is reluctantly moving back to the States, kicking and screaming the whole way like a stubborn child, but I think 30% or more of me realizes that it's time to go back.

I know that everyone who has moved around a lot must share some of my feelings. Fears and "what-ifs?" float around in your mind. Have I done enough here? Will I be happy where I'm going? Am I sure about this next step? Lately, any reassurance has come mostly in knowing that nothing can be as hard as when we first moved to France. It was the scariest and most exciting time of my life and we've certainly both been humbled a lot along the way, although I believe we're leaving Paris as more resilient people. Anyway, part of me is a little worried about this upcoming move, but then again - I'm moving back to the USA... I DO speak English! How hard can it be?!?

And so just where will Chez Megane be cooking from now? Briefly from the cool college town of my birth, Iowa City, Iowa, and then, more permanently from Washington, D.C. You see, we're not just moving back to the America, we're moving to the epicenter! So, any of you readers out there who know anything about D.C., help a girl out and send me some recommendations! Restaurants, cool neighborhoods, things to see, etc. Anything goes since I am utterly clueless at this point. We're really excited to discover the metro area since I've heard nothing but fantastic things about it.

I hope you'll bear with me during the lengthy move and keep reading despite my (perhaps) less frequent postings through the fall. I don't know what's in store for Chez Megane exactly, but I'm hoping to keep up my interest in all things French, and as always, great food and recipes.Things I'll miss having in my kitchen on a regular basis?
1. At least 5 kinds of cheese, on a good day, 7-8.
2. Fresh Baguettes!
3. French Yogurt...cherry, fig, rhubarb, coconut, pineapple...the yogurt aisle is endless!
4. Crème Fraîche!!!!
5. Beurre demi-sel from Brittany (the most luscious butter)
6. Bonne Maman Strawberry or Apricot Jam
7. Eggs with yolks the color of a crayola orange crayon
8. My round blue Le Creuset dutch oven (not sure if I can bring it with me or not...it's f***ing heavy!)
9. The occasional croissant, brioche or pain au chocolat
10. The best poulet rôti (from The Chicken Family, rue des Abbesses)

Sizzling Herb Pasta with Bacon and White Beans

I have found some of the best recipes from other food bloggers! It is such a treat to try recipes from trusted sources - there is almost no doubt that it will work out! As one who loves to try a sure thing, I really appreciate the depth of description and detail found in recipes on food blogs. I can be confident that someone has put the recipe under the sort of scrutiny that I, myself, would have done.

I was very pleased with the result of this pasta dish and I will definitely make this again! I have tweaked it a bit (I couldn't help myself...) but not all that much. Thanks to Kate from Pie in the Sky for the great recipe! She’s right about it having a lot of flavor and very few ingredients! I added more lemon juice to her recipe and olive oil, as my pasta was a bit dry. This would be great with gnocchi or cheese ravioli, too!

Sizzling Herb Pasta with Bacon and White Beans

1 can (15 oz) white beans, rinsed and drained
6 slices thick bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces, or smaller
zest of 1 lemon
3 Tbsp lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 Tbsp olive oil
12 oz (3/4 of 1 pound box) fusilli, spirals, or any short pasta
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped (yes! 1 cup!)
1/4 cup fresh sage, chopped
2-3 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
salt and pepper (lots of pepper!)
grated Romano or Asiago cheese, for topping

Whisk together the lemon zest, juice, garlic and 1 Tbsp of olive oil in the pasta serving bowl. Add the white beans and gently combine with the dressing.

Sauté the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove to a plate with a slotted spoon to leave behind the bacon grease in the pan. You will need to use about 1/4 cup bacon drippings, so pour off any excess. (I guess my lardons weren't very fatty b/c I had to add olive oil).

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add some salt and the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta and combine with the beans. Add the bacon to the pasta, as well.

In the skillet, heat up the bacon drippings, and/or olive oil, until quite hot. Throw in the chopped herbs and stir for 15 seconds while they sizzle. Add these herbs and bacon drippings/olive oil to the pasta and toss gently. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately with grated cheese. Serves 4.