Summer is my favorite cooking season. The produce is abundant, local, and fresh. It is hot enough that a lot of time I don’t even have to turn on the stove, just chop up vegetables and enjoy. The only problem is that my children don’t always see eye to eye with me on this philosophy. They still want their heavier winter meals and are not all that interested in fresh summer vegetables tossed in with their standby carrot sticks. This is when I turn to Hidden Valley Ranch for a little help. One of their newest flavors, Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Avocado Dressing, is just what I need to create a meal that the whole family loves.
Today I am deviating a little from all things food and travel to give you my French pharmacy picks. For many years I’ve read that French pharmacies are the best place on Earth to buy beauty products. They carry entire lines of French-made skin care that can’t be found stateside. These jars of lotions and potions are touted to be as terrifically effective as Le Mer (which I’ve only sampled because I can’t afford a whole jar), but can be purchased at drugstore prices. Before we went to Paris I researched favorite products on Goop, Design Mom, and the The New York Times so I could build a good shopping list. Once we arrived the three of us hit Citypharma Du Four to pick up some of our own. Here are my top product picks:
Citypharma Du Four: There are pharmacies all over Paris and most of them carry these products. However, Citypharma is known for having the best prices and selection. It is also a mob scene that requires sharp elbows and a quick hand for nabbing bottles before they end up in someone else’s basket. They have a strict no photography policy so I didn’t even try to take a sneaky picture with my iPhone. There are security guards everywhere! It is right across from Café de Flore and is not to be missed. However, if you do, just look for a pharmacie with an electric green cross anywhere in the city and you should be able to find all of these products.
Sanoflore Véritable Eau Florale Bleuet Messicole Bio: This organic cornflower water is mostly intended for tired eyes but I’ve found that it works well for many applications. So far I’ve used it to refresh sunburnt skin, treat my own swollen eyelid, and soothe a small sunburn on the back of my neck. This line also has toners made from other flowers known for their natural healing properties, like rose and lavender. It is highly concentrated so one bottle should last for a few months.
Biafine: This plant-based cream started as a burn and rash treatment but people use it for all sorts of moisturizing needs. Recently I used it to treat my daughter’s skinned knee and soothe a little burn on my hand from the oven. I also used it on my dry elbows and chapped lips. It effectively treated everything and has earned a permanent spot in my first aid kit. Note: This cream is very thick and a little bit goes a long way.
I don’t post a lot of smoothie recipes in this space because mostly they confound me. What the proper ratio of vegetables to liquid? How much sugar is too much? How do I properly “superfood” my beverage without overdoing it? Lucky for me, my friend Jenna Helwig has finally written a Smoothie-licious: Power-Packed Smoothies and Juices the Whole Family Will Love, a cookbook I can identify with. The recipes are amazing and accessible! That means, smoothie novices like me don’t find them intimidating in the least. In fact, they look downright delicious. Today Jenna stopped by to talk all things Smoothies and share a copy of her book to give away!
1) I’ll admit, some smoothie recipes intimidate me. But your book makes them so accessible. How did you first start making smoothies for your family?
About three years ago I did a “detox” where I gave up caffeine, alcohol, gluten, dairy, and sugar for a week. I also tried to eat more veggies, including at breakfast. Since I have more of a sweet tooth in the morning smoothies seemed like a natural choice. I started concocting naturally sweet smoothies and my favorite was a creamy drink with avocado (it turned into the recipe Avocado Bliss in Smoothie-licious). The real eye-opener was when my daughter—an avowed avocado hater—asked for a sip and continued to drink it even after I told her what the ingredients were.
If I could shop in one city for the rest of my life it would be Paris. (Sorry, New York, but it’s true!) Like many women, I’ve always loved French style and prefer French clothes for my children when I can afford them. There is something about the timeless tailored look in classic colors like navy, white, and creams that appeals to me. When I was in Paris with my mother and daughter last month here were some of our favorite spots to shop:
Petit Bateau: This is one of my all time favorite clothing lines. I nearly cried when the Boston and New York stores closed! Their navy, yellow, and white color palate never goes out of style and works well for both boys and girls. Lucky for me, there are plenty of Petit Beteau stores in Paris. I stumbled upon one in nearly every neighborhood. I got a few great pieces for my kids and stocked up on their fuzzy onesies for baby gifts.
The French Pharmacies: I am going to write a separate post about this because I researched French pharmacies before our trip and was quickly sucked into the cult of French beauty products when I arrived. I’ll never bother with an expensive make-up counter again. French pharmacy beauty products are where it’s at!! I followed the Goop guide and a few others and found some real gems. (Note: Pharmacies are all over Paris. The famous Citypharma branch was my favorite.)
Bonton: If there is one DO NOT MISS store for kids, this is it. We didn’t even go to the giant one in the Marais but I won’t miss it next time! I shopped at the one on rue de Grenelle and it was so fabulous we stayed for nearly an hour. The style is a mix of French classic and Euro pop. It reminded me of the Benetton stores of my youth. In addition to clothes there were all kinds of fun books, games, jewelry, accessories, and more. My daughter and I were in heaven.
It is rhubarb season and I am hear with a great rhubarb syrup recipe for you. It is more like a condiment in the sense that you can use it for all sorts of things. The blushing pink syrup is ideal for stirring into seltzer to make spritzers, adding to prosecco, drizzling over yogurts and ice creams, and much, much more. The recipe is incredibly simple to make during naptime, or just about anytime, and will make your whole kitchen smell like the sweetest fruit farm you’ve ever visited. Pick up some rhubarb at the market today and get cracking. You’ll have a whole summer of deliciousness to look forward to.
Place all the ingredients in a heavy bottomed pot and bring to a low simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Set a bowl in the sink and set a strainer lined with cheesecloth over it. Carefully pour the rhubarb syrup over the strainer. Let the rhubarb drip for about 30 minutes so all the syrup has been filtered and captured in the bowl.
Once the syrup is cooled enough to handle pour it into a glass jar for storage. Store in the refrigerator for a few months.
Note: Use the leftover sweetened stewed rhubarb for a spread on toast or dolloped on pork or fish.
Notes
I like to keep this syrup pure but it can also be flavored slightly. Try adding lemon or orange zest for a citrusy flair. Or, a vanilla bean or shot of vanilla rum for a deeper flavor. Grated ginger would add nice heat.
Last month I had the opportunity to travel to Paris, France with my mother and daughter. Three generations together in Europe for a week of sightseeing and fun. We’d been planning it for almost a year and we could’ve pinched ourselves we were so excited when the trip actually came to be.
For this trip I thought I’d write a few posts about things we did and saw in specific categories like sightseeing, shopping, etc. Traveling with three generations, the youngest being 7 years old, meant strategizing on everything from meal times, to playground breaks, and museum waits. It all worked out well and we had a marvelous time. Hopefully my recaps, as well as a few tips, will help you on your future trip to Paris, as well!
Paris is a very kid-friendly city. Never once were we scorned for bringing a child into a restaurant, shop, or museum. My daughter was well behaved but she is still a child at the end of the day. We focused on places she could chat, walk, observe, and eat without fear of being scolded. It wasn’t hard at all. Since she is still young and just learning about art and cultures we stuck to smaller, more manageable museums and sights. (I’ll save the Mona Lisa for another time!) Each day we picked one thing to make a big impression and then moved on to a meal and playground break. We also purchased the Paris Pass before we left and that helped immensely with museum entries. The lines were still long, but they went faster since we’d pre-purchased our tickets. Here are 10 cultural sights we saw, and loved, and I’d highly recommend to anyone to traveling to Paris with a child, or without:
1) Musée de l’Orangerie: This is a tiny museum located at a corner of the Tuileries next to the Place Vendôme. We first tried to go on Sunday afternoon but the entry line with the Paris Pass was too long. This was because the museum is so small and they only let so many people in at a time. Plus, as with every museum now, there is a metal detector and security like an airport, which slows down lines. The second time we went we arrived at 9am on a weekday and it was perfect. We walked right in and spent ample time enjoying Monet’s Water Lilies. Downstairs we found more impressionists and were easily able to navigate the bright space without my daughter getting bored or overwrought by long walks or stair climbing.
2) Tuileries Garden: I mentioned playground breaks above because we made at least one or two each day. Letting kids run around is, I think, an essential part of traveling with them. After a morning museum visit my daughter relished the chance to race around with other kids. Even though there was a language barrier she seemed to have no trouble making new friends! Play really is a universal language. The Tuileries had a really cool playground, trampoline park(!), and pond for sailing toy boats. The toy boats, we think, only come out on the weekends and they were so much fun. For 3 Euros my daughter pushed one around a fountain pond for 30 minutes while my Mom rest in the sun. Naturally, after each playground romp we went to find an ice cream cone. (More on the French ice cream in another post!)
3) Palace of Versailles: My daughter has declared this her favorite sight of the trip. What’s not to love about seeing a grand palace once occupied by royalty?! No Disney here! Getting to Versailles was a snap on the Metro. We arrived at 9am as the gates opened and the entry line only took 15 minutes. Our Paris Pass ensured that we were ushered right in (through security and metal detectors, of course) and the walk through the palace was easy and fascinating. I gave my daughter my iPhone to use for photos and she’d taken approximately 438 by the time we were done. There were 10 shots alone of the “secret” door Marie Antoinette used to flee the angry mob on October 6, 1789. The gardens were just being planted when we were there so we didn’t get to see them in all their glory, but the views of the grounds were breathtaking.
This week I have to call myself the jet lag chef. We returned from Paris over the weekend and I am still operating on Parisian time. Every morning my daughter and I have been up and bopping around the house at 5am. We aren’t a bit tired and are quite happy to chat, make breakfast, and generally take care of everything we want before my husband and son wake up. I can’t say it is all bad! Naturally, I’ve been using some of my free time as a chance to prep food for later in the day. After all, jet lag means I am sound asleep by 8pm, sharp! This week I started off my making homemade fudge pops based on a recipe my mother cut out for me from The New York Times.
I am going to be taking a little break for the rest of the month and will be back in June. It has been a whirlwind few weeks and I need to stop and catch my breath. I can’t thank you enough for all of the wonderful support regarding the new book and the book tour. I plan to set up a fall tour over the summer so stay tuned for more dates. In the mean time, don’t forget the June 4th signing in Concord, Massachusetts at JMcLaughlin!
Here are a few of my recent favorites from around the web for some fun reading while I am out!
– The Reed is now open. Perfect for adventurers like me.
– I just bought a case of my favorite DMZ rosé to get ready for summer.
– Natalie’s new book is fantastic. Wise, funny, insightful, downright cozy. Highly recommend.
– Plan on wearing this top in light blue with white jeans and pretty sandals all summer long.
– We’ve traveled to Harbour Island a few times and this book brings back so many memories.
It has been two weeks since we returned from Napa Valley and we are still gushing over what an amazing trip it was. Partially because we were without the kids, but also because it was the perfect place for us foodies to visit. Here are a few more details from our awesome trip:
The beauty of the time difference was that we were up and at ’em bright and early every morning. This made it easy to grab one more breakfast at Oxbow Market (we were hooked on the breakfast tacos, chilaquiles, and donuts with lavender sugar) before heading to Mumm Napa to start the day with a little bubbly. It was the first sparkling wine we’d tasted in the region and we were pleasantly surprised. The winemaker is trained in France and they use the same method champenoise in Napa, so the product is very close to its French counterpart. We also tried their sparkling Pinot Noir which we found quite unique.
Once we were fortified with bubbly we decided to break out of Napa and check out Sonoma. It just over the mountain ridge from Napa and was a gorgeous drive. I couldn’t get over all of the amazing vistas and made my husband pull over every mile so I could take a picture until he finally refused out of concern we’d never reach our destination.
Friends of ours recommended visiting Göpfrich Winery. It is a small, boutique winery in the Dry Creek Valley run by Ray Göpfrich. I didn’t get many pictures because it was just my husband and I at the tasting. We chatted with Ray for over an hour about his wine making process and all the nitty gritty details about farming grapes and running a vineyard. It was utterly fascinating and we both agree he was one of the most interesting people we met on our whole trip. I also loved seeing the difference between the boutique vineyards and larger operations like Stag’s Leap. Both are relevant, but we really appreciated the charm of chatting with Ray and tasting his delicious reds.
That afternoon we decided to take it easy and stroll through Healsburg. It is a charming town with a lot of shops and restaurants to try. Next time we go we’ll have to dedicate a whole afternoon to hanging out and staying for dinner.
Since it was our last vacation afternoon we decided to head back to Yountville and take a walk through town. I was particularly fascinated with the French Laundry kitchen garden. I found that lots of restaurants have them since the growing season is so long and the land is ideal for growing edibles. We didn’t eat French Laundry, that will be saved for another trip.
After another wonderful afternoon by the pool (we couldn’t get over the fact that we didn’t have kids on our backs while we swam), we headed for a simple dinner at Bistro Jeanty and off to bed.
On Sunday morning we managed to squeeze in two last excursions that were well worth it. The first was Swanson Vineyards. I’ll admit, I wanted to go because I’d heard about the beautiful interiors and fun Sip Shop. I am a sucker for great design and lush gardens and wanted to see it for myself. I am so glad we did this because the tasting salon was easily the prettiest one I’d seen during our entire trip. Our hostess was charming and informative and the wines were quite delicious. I especially loved the taste of Swanson cavier we were given (served on a potato chip with creme frâiche!). Such a fun treat!
After our visual and edible feast at Swanson it was time to head out. We were, of course, hungry before our flight and stopped at the Fremont Diner for one last decadent meal. As with all great Napa and Sonoma institutions this one featured a fabulous bar (in an airstream trailer out back) stocked with local wines. We chose a bottle of Gloria Ferrer because we didn’t get to visit the winery (they were closed for moving while we were there). It paired beautifully with our fritters and burgers, and the kitchy ambience was a hoot. There was no better way to bid Napa adieu until our next visit.
I’ll be out of town for Memorial Day this year so I am sharing my very favorite for the season with you right now. Berry season is just beginning here in Connecticut and when it comes around I am all about the strawberry shortcake. It is so. darn. good. Of course, you all know how to make shortcake, of course, but here is my special twist: lemon pastry cream. You guys, it is so much better than basic whipped cream and tastes incredible.
This spring I am making for my winter cooped up indoors with some terrific travel opportunities. I feel so lucky and grateful! Last month was Napa Valley, this month I am heading to Paris. The last time I was in Paris I was a 15 year old backpacker with a taste for pain au chocolat. This time I am going with my mother and daughter on a girls trip. I can’t wait! I’ve already chatted with my friend Ellise and plan to meet up with her. And, I have this awesome book that covers nearly everything I need to know, but I’d still love to hear from you. Any recommendations for things I need to see and/or do with Paris with my daughter? She is wrapping up the first grade and loves things like playgrounds, bright, bold paintings, design, chocolate, toys, nature, animals, and adventure walks. I already set aside one of my old point and shoot cameras for her to use as her own. Please, let me know!
