LOVE NOTE #152: Fantastically Francophile!

Hello friends!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Gobble-Gobble Day! The most perfect holiday... feasting in stretchy pants and then napping in said stretchy pants;) B's darling mother, Mim, always hosts the most wonderful Thanksgivings. This year though, it was decided that we dine at the historic Lafeyette House since her kitchen is currently under construction. Nearly completed, and looks already GORG. I may have a bit of kitchen envy;) Anyways, I was so excited to have our Thanksgiving meal at the Lafeyette House as it was built in the 1700's and George Washington stayed there. In the presence of where greatness had been... hoping just a smidgen will be rubbing off on me! So quaint ... the waiting area felt like a living room - because it most likely was at one point in time. When we were seated, I took a gander around and was surprised by the expansive interior. The walls were decorated with vintage wallpaper, appropriately so. Word on the street is even our little local New England football team dines there on occasion. I sport my Welker jersey proudly each Sunday... unless of course they play on a Monday... then I sport it Sunday AND Monday;)

It was lovely dining and the food did not disappoint. Served to a crowded house none-the-less. I was delighted. I took a doggy bag home for my little boy Potato. Let's just put it this way, we passed out on the Laz-Y-Boy recliner together. It was such a lovely day, however I was a bit sad that I didn't get a chance to spend some of that day with my family and friends in California as well. Although it will never take the place of being home in California, modern technology certainly has eased some of the homesickness... if only slightly.

At any rate, what lifted my spirits some was Mim's trip to Paris. You can talk to me all day and all night about anything Parisian and it will make me feel so happy. She brought back such beautiful things - a sampling of the Belle de Nuit by Fragonard and a bottle of Chambord. One for going out and one for staying in...;) What a far cry from the scent of my Dove soap and bottle of Arbor Mist. What?! The former is a daily staple and the latter is my guilty pleasure... don't hate!;) I must say the Belle de Nuit is a lovely fragrance. It's strong, sophisticated, unapologetic... but never crosses over into the cloying. A feat difficult to accomplish, and well, Fragonard of course did so masterfully. Just a (teeny) tiny spritz of this concentrated concoction on your wrists is really all you need. As for the Chambord, I'm too afraid to open the bottle as it is just so beautiful! It makes me feel like I'm in Paris every day of the year...

A la prochaine:)

XoX,

Marikym

LOVE NOTE #151: Potato Soup Version 2 (preferred and from scratch!)

Hello Foodies!

Gearing up to head out to Chicago soon. With relocation, making sure things are simplified is key. I'm excited to learn hands on, but a bit terrified too since getting pimped by the Attending is inevitable. It's a form of learning I will need to learn to adjust to over the next several months. I'm excited and terrified at once... sigh. Anticipating a rather hectic schedule, practicing the art of perfecting an easy and fast soup is quite essential! I guess you can say I'm a bit addicted to potato soup. With a side of bread, I'll have enough carbs to keep me fueled while on rounds.

Here is a modified version to LOVE NOTE #150. I know many of you out there prefer to make it from scratch, so here is an excellent version and not any more difficult than the previous version that used the canned cream of chicken soup. Same amount of prep time and with ingredients already available in your cupboard:) I do enjoy both versions, but much prefer this one!

Ingredients:

• 3-4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 tablespoons of reduced-fat margarine or butter
• 2 cups of milk
• 1 tablespoon of flour
• 1/4 cup of low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 turkey bacon strips, cooked and chopped (any variety is fine, but turkey bacon = less calories!)
• salt and pepper
• garlic powder (optional)

Instructions:

• In salted water, boil the cubed and peeled potatoes for 15 minutes in a covered pot on medium-high heat. Transfer to a colander to drain excess water. Set aside.
• In the same pot (less clean-up!) over medium-high heat, add the margarine, flour, and cheese. Stir until melted and combined. Add the bacon, milk and potatoes. Cook for an additional 15 minutes covered and stirring occasionally.
• Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (optional).

And a hearty, thick, soup! Who needs to buy when you can make this easy soup with a cook time of 30 minutes?! If you want to thin the soup out, just add more milk. Adjust to suit your preferences. I'm in love with potato soup!

Until next time my lovelies!

XoX,

Marikym