Brioche avec Sucre

We stopped at a boulangerie on our way out of La Clusaz. We needed a little bite of breakfast to eat as we started the long car ride back to Luxembourg. I chose a dozen choquettes and 2 pain au chocolats and then made the mistake of trying to pay for it with a 50. Not one to enjoy being on the receiving end of a scowl, I immediately pointed to a large, round brioche sprinkled with pearl sugar. I hoped adding this 9 euro loaf of bread would turn her frown upside down and encourage her to give me my change without telling me off. It seemed to do the trick and I ducked out of the shop pastries in one hand and my precious change in the other.

I didn't think about the brioche until we got home. I cut it in half to give the girls a little afternoon snack. Much to my surprise the brioche had hot pink filling in it! I remembered seeing something similar on Kerrin's blog. I looked it up and and a few clicks later I identified the brioche as a gâteau de Saint-Genix. Turns out this is a specialty of the Savoie region of France (which we were in !) I love trying the local dishes when I travel and was pleased that this loaf ended up in my possession.

The pink stuff in the middle of the brioche is referred to as praline. But it is not the same praline we think of in the U.S. Well, it sort of is as it is almond and sugar. But the sugar is not caramelized on these pralines roses (pink pralines.) There is also the obvious addition of food coloring to give the pralines their pink color. The St. Genix I bought also seemed to have a red jelly in it as well. In fact the white wrapping I peeled from the bottom of the loaf was sticky with redish pink syrup. All the recipes I found for it, however, didn't include a confiture or anything similar. Quite a mystery, folks.

Clotilde of Chocolate and Zucchini fame says that pink pralines are available at G. Detou. Next time you're in Paris you can buy some and make a St. Genix of your very own.

G. Detou
58 rue Tiquetonne
75002 Paris
01 42 36 54 67

de bonnes vacances

Did you miss me? Ha, you didn't even know I was gone. We had a wonderful week, skiing in La Clusaz, France. We were worried about snow coverage but there was enough, not a lot, but enough. The weather was great with a few sunny days, a bit of new snow and mild temperatures.

And I'm happy to say, we now have 2 girls who can ski! Eva can turn and Audrey can snowplow (which is what she does all the way down the piece!! Eva was at that stage last year.) We skied much more as a family this year. It was pretty amazing. We tried a new ski school this year that was considerably better than last year. Both girls had lessons for 2 hours a day for 6 days. Thankfully we had only 1 day of tears instead of the 5 we had last year. Eva was, again in lessons with the friends we were vacationing with. Audrey was by herself, but she was just fine with it.

In addition to skiing there was sledding, hot chocolate, picnic lunches, Pass the Pigs, Top Model coloring pages, dinners out, wonderful group dinners in, and lots of laughter.

It was a week filled with fresh air and great friends. A perfect mid-winter break.

Day Trip - Metz

Christina and I are at it again! For our first day trip of the school year we drove to Metz. Although we've been there numerous times, it is one of our favorite destinations. We weren't looking for exploration with this trip, just time to have a proper catch-up after the summer holiday. We shopped, both looking for boots, had a leisurely lunch and ended with a stop at an Algerian bakery.

This was a huge highlight for me. The pastries were so beautiful, the shop so quaint and the owner and his kids were friendly. We each selected 4 pieces to take home. Just like a child, I went for color and shape. It didn't occur to me until later than Eva wouldn't be able to eat any of the treats as they were all inundated with nuts. The owner gave us each a honey soaked pastry on our way out the door. A delicious ending to a great day.

Botany Castle

You know how you go into an experience assuming it's going to be about one thing and then it turns out to be about another? Well, that's how it went on Saturday afternoon when we decided to check out a little village in France. I assumed our visit would be about seeing the village and the castle. Wrong. It was about the plants.

It started when we passed this cool tree with leaves that looked like Chinese lanterns. Anyone know what kind of tree that is? The girls scavenger instincts came out and lanterns were carried up to the castle grounds.

Up the path to the castle we passed a hazel nut tree. Eva found a cluster with 4 nuts!

Around the castle we ran into our next specimen; a tree with long beans hanging from it. Around this time I fished out a plastic Cheesecake Factory bag from my purse so the girls had a place for their treasures. The bean tree was absolutely beautiful. The light coming through its branches even more so.

Back into the village and nearing the car we saw this interesting plant. Unfortunately there was nothing to collect from this one.

We'd love some help identifying our booty. Any botanists out there?

Our trip wasn't about the quaint French village. But it was about something equally wonderful and that is great by me.

Just in case you're curious -
We went to Rodemack, France. 20 minutes from Lux City. It is listed as one of the 139 most beautiful villages of France. More pictures here.

Sunny Friday

Friday the girls and I set out to visit Malbrouck Castle. It is located in a tiny little village in France called Manderen. Manderen is only about 35 minutes from Lux City but in that short drive we actually drove through 3 countries - Lux, Germany and then France. Crazy. Only possible in a teeny country like Luxembourg.

What brought us to Malbrouck was not so much the Castle itself, but the art exhibit that was showing there. It was the work of Niki de Saint Phalle. Are you familiar with her? She is responsible for the large, colorful sculptures of very curvaceous women (among other things, as I learned.) The exhibit covered her career as a artist; starting with her collages, then moving to drawings, sculpture and even film. She used to be a fashion model, which I find so interesting - a woman with a "model" body creating such rotund and generously sized women in sculpture.

Niki de Saint Phalle refers to her curvaceous women as nanas. She began creating them after witnessing the pregnancy of her friend. The nana came to symbolize maternity and femininity - and every woman. Luxembourg has a blue nana, placed right near the post office in the center of the city. She is referred to around here as The Blue Lady.

The girls were happy to go see more sculptures by The Blue Lady artist. Their color and whimsy easily captured the girls attention. We also packed a picnic lunch. Picnics will get them to go anywhere!! The Castle's courtyard held our favorite works. There were 3 large, mosaic (she was influenced by Gaudi) nanas glittering in the sun! There were also 4 totem pole statues. I always get excited seeing a bit of American history in Europe. de Saint Phalle was born in France but moved to the States, living in California and on the east coast.

The only down side to this exhibit was the rule about photography being prohibited! I tell ya, those mosaic nanas in the courtyard were begging to be photographed! I resisted. I followed the rules. Sigh. Here you can see a short video of the exhibit (scroll down a bit.) Better than nothing, huh?

If you are a local, I highly suggest this exhibit. Better hurry, though, it's over at the end of August.

Scenes from a long weekend

Friday: Europapark

Saturday: Strasbourg, France

Sunday: Nancy, France

Please join me this week for a series of posts all about kids - crafts, projects, traveling, a tutorial and more!

Reading about Paris

I've had Paris on the brain again lately. I think it is reading these posts that are doing it to me. Must figure out when we can go again! Until then I'll enjoy the day dreaming. Here is a list of children's books about Paris, France, and works of art that can been seen in Paris that have been recommended. Books are truly a great way to get your kids excited about travel. Thanks to Lucia and Christina for sharing their kiddos favs.

Adele and Simon by Barbara McClintock

La La Rose by Satomi Ichikawa

Degas and the Little Dancer by Laurence Anholt

This is Paris by Miroslav Sasek

Eloise in Paris by Kay Thompson

The Magical Garden of Claude Monet by Laurence Anholt

Katie meets the Impressionists by James Mayhew

Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Bjork

Leave a comment to share additional books. I'll add them to the list.

**Picture is from our trip to Paris after Christmas. Audrey was holding on for dear life in the Metro. Once she got the hang of it she refused to sit down, wanting only to stand and hold onto a pole.

Vintage French Linens

Dear readers, I've been to heaven. I am back to tell you all about it. Last Wednesday I took another school day field trip. This time I went with some stitching friends. Our destination was a thrift shop just out of Metz, France in a commune called Peltre. The allure was a room called, the lace room - open only on Wednesdays and Saturdays until 12:00.

The lace room proved to be all we'd hoped, plus so much more. It was bursting with piles of vintage linens all hand embroidered. There were drawers of old buttons, piles of French needle work books, bins of lace, trim, yarn and needles. We spent a full hour in there, touching, pawing, oooing and ahhing. It wasn't until right before the shop closed that I found what I knew I could not live without. Behold ~

At the end of one of the tables of linens sat a large neat pile of these:Did you figure out what they are? I couldn't. I asked the store clerk and she said they were for serviettes de table - napkins. Each family member must have had one to keep their dinner napkin in between uses. I'm guessing the napkins were only washed once a week. I loved that they were so personal. Many had names embroidered on them or initials. Many appeared to have been made by kids like they were a first embroidery project. Such a charming item of daily life. I carefully selected one for each member of my family, including my mom who will be visiting very soon. They will be a special addition to our Easter dinner table. Had to buy the one stitched with Lucie in honor of Bryce's grandma, Lucy. Perhaps it will entice her to visit!Naturally, I'm now having fantasies about making some.