As this is an occasion to celebrate, I'm taking off to be Queen for a day in the most comfortable clothes...with my sniffly little scallywag.
I'll return once the celebrating stops or my little boy is feeling better~whichever happens first. Myself, I'm hoping for my little one's swift recovery. Toodles until then!
To those who make our lives brighter, happier, livelier, prettier, thank you.
To those who give unyeildingly, unselfishly, endlessly, thank you.
To those who love us intentionally, constantly, unconditionally, thank you.
You make each day better than the last!
Happy Valentines.
With love, always.
I promise that not every "Meet Me Monday" will center around food, but with Valentine's only a few hours away, how could I not share a lovely French Tea Room & Bakery that revolves around chocolate?
Chocolatine is such a place, and as a surprise I took the children there for an early Valentine's treat.
Though it's not located in the most picturesque area of Thousand Oaks, once you cross over the charming threshold, you're whisked away to an authentic French patisserie~and with good reason. The owners Hugo & Sabrina are both from France, one from the Loire Valley, the other from further North. If anyone is going to understand the nuances of what makes French delicaies so special, it would be them.
Both have worked hard to bring the experience of enjoying decadent desserts and drinks to their shop by inviting their patrons into a beautiful and cozy atmosphere. The small space exudes warmth, as does the lilting of the French language spoken by each employee.
Eldest was entranced by it, asking every so often what they were talking about. My French was a little rusty, but I did an adequate job explaining what could be understood.
But let's get to what y'all really want to know: the menu. True to French form, the menu was small, but filled with delicious choices. From the traditional Croque Monsieur to a most unique & spicy libation~the Nana Chocolate~your appetite is not left wanting.
Much as we wanted to try their quiche du jour, it was late in the afternoon. The children and I chose to live dangerously and opt for desserts and cafe au lait instead.
The scallywag nibbled on a butter cookie shaped like a heart, while I enjoyed a citron tarte and Eldest a chocolate croissant.
With each and every bite, we fell a little more in love with this little chocolate tea room. Each of us savored our afternoon treats, and as the children goofed off I took time to appreciate the details Hugo & Sabrina put into their shop. From the white-washed floors,
to the gallery walls & assortment of various cafe chairs,
the entire space had a vintage, chic feel, with the fruits of their labor~their pastries~at center stage. They were the jewels in the middle of a very beautifully crafted jewelry box. From eclairs, to truffles, to macaroons, there was a little bit of everything you'd expect to see~and more. What wasn't seen, though can be on their website, was their laundry list of cakes & crepes that are available.
Oh, la la!
Also available? A sample tray filled with an assortment of meringues. The children and I nibbled on some while waiting for our order, and they were the best I've ever had.
Undoubtedly our trip to Chocolatine was everything we'd hoped it would be and more. But what made me happiest were the small gestures of love my children showed one another.
They clash sometimes, as brothers and sisters often do, but at the heart of their relationship is a true love for one another. I don't need to tell you what it does to me when I see it on display.
That's a special kind of sweetness that chocolate can't beat.
With that in mind, I'll wish you all a lovely Monday morning, and in case we don't chat tomorrow, a very Happy Valentines.
When many little things crop up together~the funny, the wistful, the lovely, the precious~it's always good to have a place to store those memories. Thank goodness for the return of "A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That"!
~As we live in California, I've temporarily forgotten what a real winter is like. Instead of being bundled up in cashmere and coats, we've been enjoying skinny capris, sweater sets, and polos. And no one wears a polo better than the scallywag!
~Superbowl Sunday made us happy as could be! In our hearts, we were happy because no matter who won, an Ole Miss Rebel would be on the team. In our heads, however, we were seriously pulling for Eli and the Giants. These mini-cupcakes helped us celebrate the sweetness of their victory. We ate them on our La Plates plates, completely ignoring the fact that our market couldn't seem to get the red icing quite red enough.
~What we could not ignore was the awesomeness of Vegas Night at the scallywag's school. Not only did our class basket pull in a healthy final bid for the auction,
but if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you also saw my transformation into Miss Taylor.
A few called it a "Valley of the Dolls" look, but either way it was a hoot pulling the outfit together. It was a fabulous evening! Everyone's outfits were a scream and we all danced the night away. I can only imagine what next year will bring.
~Eldest returns home tomorrow and we can hardly wait. We've missed her so much! Looking back on the pictures from earlier in the week, I couldn't help but laugh. For all our efforts to make sure her clothes were warm, comfortable, and friendly to the outdoors, her Imperial Trellis fitted sheet still managed to make its way into her suitcase. It was for the bed in her cabin. I suppose my girl likes to enjoy the little luxuries where she can!
I suppose I do, too. With Valentine goodies everywhere you look, I can't help but want to whip up somethiong special for Eldest's homecoming. Nothing chocolaty. I'm thinking scones with tea and heaps of clotted cream. After spending time in the great outdoors, it will be nice to sit together by the unlit fireplace, sip our drinks, and chat about her week romping about the woods.
I hope each of you manage to find a quiet moment to enjoy with someone you love as well. Enjoy your weekend, and I'll see you on Monday.
Because love isn't always sweet...Sometimes it's also a little tart! Why not enjoy an unexpected Valentine treat that's a bit of both?
The Barefoot Contessa's Lemon Bars
Ingredients
For the crust
1/2 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
For the filling
6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup flour
Confectioners sugar for dusting
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.
Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.
For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature.
Cut into squares and dust with confectioners' sugar.
The next step is fairly obvious: enjoy with your sweethearts! I know I will with mine...
I'll see you tomorrow for the long-forgotten "A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That.
This sweet girl.
I am missing her like crazy right now.
Today she is off on the great adventure known as "Outdoor School". It's the big event for sixth graders. For four days and three nights the classes, along with their teachers, venture to the woodsy, mountainy Camp Bloomfield in Malibu.
Yes. I did say they would be camping in Malibu. Sounds like the premise to a Shelly Long film, doesn't it?
Under the guidance of counselors, they'll enjoy activities such as hiking, conservation, and nature lore. The hope is that the experience during those few days will help bring them closer to appreciating what the outdoors have to offer.
As a parent, I think it's a wonderful thing. I'm excited for my daughter. She's going to have the best time and learn so much.
I'm just not excited that we won't see her smiling face again until Friday afternoon. Silver lining? The fact that she's attending the camp this week as opposed to next week~the week of my birthday. Call me selfish, but it's not a birthday unless I can share it with the people who've given my life so much light, love, and meaning.
I'm thrilled that she'll be home for the big day!
Until then, home will be much quieter. We'll miss our gentle ray of sunshine and her dynamic silly sweetness.
Friday cannot come quickly enough! Best wishes to you Eldest, and have a magnificent time exploring the great outdoors. I know you'll have a wonderful time.
Banana's foster. Pecan pie. Cobbler. Pralines. Bread pudding. There are just some desserts that are quintessentially Southern. You know them by name, crave them at first sight, and enjoy each and every nibble & bite.
But how can we discuss Southern desserts without mentioning the crème de la crème of all sweet treats? Of course, I'm talking about red velvet.
It doesn't seem to matter how it's prepared, cake or otherwise. The moment the words "red velvet" are spoken, everyone wants a bite. Goodness knows my daughter & I no exception. We love our red velvet in every way, shape, and form. And though we always return to the classic red velvet cake, there's something to be said for its various incarnations.
Imagine our delight when Husband mentioned a place nearby that served red velvet pancakes. Red velvet for breakfast? Yes, please!
Friends, I'd love to take you to Jinky's Cafe, where their motto is "better than breakfast in bed".
Jinky's is a very cozy restaurant~perfect for an early breakfast or a late dinner. Dark floors, dark wood paneling, darkened booths and tables surround you like a warm hug. Vintage prints from around the world keep the restaurant from being too stodgy and oppressive, as does the playfulness of the food and staff.
When I asked my very perky waitress for some coffee, she returned with an entire carafe. Surprise! I only wanted a cup, but as I was told, it was the policy to give each customer an entire pot~and once I had a sip, I was thankful. Usually I don't like restaurant coffee, but Jinky's won me over. It was strong, hot, and rich.
But I hadn't travelled from home for their coffee. I was there for red velvet pancakes.
Gorgeous aren't they? My very happy waitress placed them before me and the anticipation was so great, I may have clapped my hands like a delighted child. Not only were they large and three deep, but they smelled divine. The marscapone atop the pancakes was an unexpected detail~a lovely departure from the traditional cream cheese.
It didn't take long for me to make a significant dent. Each warm bite was savored and the creaminess of the melting marscapone was throughly marvelled over. Without a doubt it was very indulgent~almost too much so. I didn't even come close to finishing.
But that doesn't mean I didn't try. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, after all.
The next time you find yourself in Agoura Hills or Sherman Oaks, stop by Jinky's Cafe and have your own red velvet pancakes, or perhaps a bananas foster's crepe. Whatever you choose to order, I'm pretty sure you'll walk away full and happy.
A lovely Monday to you all!
One of the greatest joys I've experienced in 12 years of parenting has been my involvement in both children's schools. From a PTO VP, to Cultural Chair, to a room parent, I've done it all and loved every moment.
Since the scallywag began school this year, I was excited to go back to my roots as a room parent and tackle party planning, picture taking, and social outings for our children. It's been so much fun.
One of the more unexpected joys, though, has been in preparing for tonight's fundraiser, 70's Vegas Night.
As a room parent, I had the responsibility of choosing a theme for a basket to be raffled off during the auction portion of the evening. "Date Night" was my first choice since there were infinite ways to make it amazing. Mulling over a few ideas, I decided to get my other room parent's thoughts since she was familiar with the area and more of the parents. She would know what people would want to bid on, and to this day I am so glad we talked! After informing me that she could get tickets donated to the Hollywood Bowl, the basket and its contents became a clear picture in my mind. The whole thing almost took on a life of its own as it went from "Date Night" to "Date Night Under the Stars".
For the most part everything seemed to fall neatly into place. Soon our basket was overflowing with both purchases and donations. We had champagne, wine, chocolates, nuts, crackers, glasses, candles, and a very plush picnic blanket, a voucher to a local restaurant as well as the tickets to the Hollywood Bowl. It didn't take long for our class basket to become the talk of the school. It was exciting being right in the thick of it! Getting it to this point wasn't without its frustrations, believe me, but seeing it on display this morning made it all worth it. It makes getting ready for this evening's event so exciting!
Bell-bottoms, mod, Brady Bunch-esque outfits, tie-die, and retro glam will be all the rage tonight as we gamble for a good cause!
As for me, I'll be channeling this grand dame in all of her 70's glamour:
From the cascading hair, to the dark brows, to the violet eyes & over the top jewelry~I'm going to try to do Ms. Taylor proud. I'll also try to get pictures as I boogie down to the tunes of the 70's!
Until next week, let the good times~and the dice~roll!
