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Fun with Food

Le Moulin de Mougins Revisited

Mougins, France

Have you ever had a meal in a restaurant that is so wonderfully delicious that the memory lives on for years or even decades? We had one such experience in our college days at Le Moulin de Mougins and one of us is about to repeat it – the one who is on vacation, that is!

Outdoor Dining

Nestled in the small hilltop village of Mougins, known for its art (Pablo Picasso lived there for twelve years) and for it’s food (an international gastronomic event takes place there annually), this captivating hotel was home to a fabulous restaurant opened by Roger Vergé, one of France’s most illustrious chefs. Though we knew we couldn’t afford the luxurious accommodations of the hotel during our trip to France, we saved our pennies so that we could dine at the restaurant.

Rubik’s Cube

Our meal, served in an enchanting garden, was beyond fabulous and we relished every sip of wine and every bite of foie gras, lobster and farm fresh produce (Roger was a locavore before it was even a foodie movement!) And the best part of the evening was when Roger Vergé himself appeared at our table with glasses of champagne, having heard he had twenty-something twin fans oohing and aahing over his food.

Seafood Salad

Roger has moved on and there’s a new chef in town so we’ll let you know if the meal stands up to the memories!

Shortcake de Fraises

P.S. Please forgive the erratic posting this week – the twin who stayed home has a lot on her plate… and it’s not even edible!

Poached Perfection

Photos: view, restaurant, food

June 26, 2014

Fun with Food

Happy Birthday to Us!

Fancy Fruit Cake

It’s our birthday today and since our age doesn’t end with a big ‘0″, we see no need to make a big fuss… We’d rather plan a dinner out with our families at a fabulous restaurant (hint to our husbands) where we can eat and drink what we want (and not count calories!) And that includes dessert. The hardest part will be deciding between something fruity,

Fabulous Fruit Tarts

something cup-cakey,

Scrumptious Cupcakes

Gorgeous Grapefruit Cupcakes

or something unexpected.

Charming Cake Pops

Marvelous Macarons

Regardless of what we choose, we know it will be delightful and delicious…

Happy Friday and have a yummy weekend!

Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

May 2, 2014

Fun with Food

A Side Dish Named Desire

Wild Mushroom Soup

Thanksgiving just isn’t Thanksgiving without turkey and this year, we’ll be roasting two given the size of the party. But we’re also mindful of our sides since there are a number of vegetarian family members coming – not to mention that adding a little green to a basically brown meal makes the spread that much more colorful.

Winter Salad

This year, we’re trying a side we saw in the current issue of Traditional Home – a winter salad of roasted butternut squash with arugula, dates, dried cherries and Marcona almonds. It sounds so yummy and we love bitter arugula paired with sweet cherries and nutty almonds.

Roasted Brussels Sprouted with Honey and Bacon

One side you won’t find on our table is Brussels sprouts as our husbands aren’t fans but if we had our choice, we’d roast them with bacon and drizzle on some honey – again, the sweet/salty thing.

Apple-Herb Stuffing

Now for the carbs – stuffing is a must (this one‘s made with French bread, apples and caramelized onions – great for breakfast the next day with a fried egg on top!)…

Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes

and so are mashed potatoes. We like ours creamy, with a touch of garlic and fresh herbs.

Pretty Pumpkin Pie

And we can’t forget the most important side (if dessert can be called a side) and one we dream about all year long – pumpkin pie. Our recipe is a light and airy chiffon!

It’s your turn to dish – what sides do you desire at Thanksgiving?

Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

November 20, 2013

Fun with Food

All Hail Kale!

Kale Creation

Ah, the mighty kale… Chock full of vitamins (A, C and K to name a few) and minerals, it’s one of those dark leafy greens we once thought looked better in a bouquet than on our plates. Deb from the Smitten Kitchen got it right when she said “the world would be a better place if we could all stop pretending that kale tastes good.” Yup, that’s pretty much how we felt until we did our cleanse last spring and ate kale every which way (in a juice, as a smoothie, raw, steamed, baked and sautéed!)

Kale Salad with Pecorino and Walnuts

Now, we’re looking forward to kale being in season… and can’t wait for the local farmers’ markets to be selling this autumn staple. While kale salads do feature prominently in our menus, cooler fall temps allow us to cook up some warmer fare. Here are some of our favorite recipes… even the boys love the chips and mac-and-cheese!

Roasted Potato, Kale and Tomato Frittata

White Bean and Kale Soup

Are you cool with kale? If so, we’d love to add more recipes to our repertoire so include a link in your comment.

Baked Kale Chips

P.S. Each picture is linked to the recipe featured so all you have to do is click on it!

Baked Kale Mac-and-Cheese

Photos via Pinterest, Smitten Kitchen, Brooklyn Supper, Epicurean Mom and Bon Appetit

September 11, 2013

Fun with Food

Spring Cleansing

A is for Apple

It’s the first day of spring which means we’re looking forward to some spring cleaning… and that doesn’t just mean our closets! Since winter coats and heavy sweaters tend to hide the hibernation weight we’ve gained, we also like to clean up our eating habits before summer is upon us. Our adventures in spring cleansing have been varied, and like Goldilocks, it’s taken us some time to find one that’s just right.

The Ultimate New York Body Plan

We’ve tried the red carpet variety à la David Kirsch, a 48 hour drink only cleanse (“if you’re chewing, you’re cheating!”) which was way too drastic and we’ve tried Alejandro Junger’s 21 Day Clean Program which was way too long.

Leslie’s Clean Greens

This year, we’re heeding the wise words of fellow blogger and nutritionist Leslie from Around the Table, who suggests a whole food meal plan along with some juicing as the best way to get clean in her recent post Go Ahead and Juice It!

A Smoothie a Day

When we came across Whole Living’s Action Plan with its delicious breakfast smoothies (there’s an app for that!) and make-ahead and big batch recipes, we knew we’d found the perfect spring cleanse.

Cauliflower “Rice” Stir Fry

Out with all the processed and sweetened food (and dairy and alcohol and coffee!) and in with the healthy grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes. Now, all we have to do is buy a juicer and cook up several batches of cleansing broth!

Brown Rice with Kale, Edamame and Egg

Do you clean up your diet as well as your closets?

P.S. All recipes for the Whole Living Action Plan can be found here!

Photos via Pinterest, David Kirsch, Around the Table and Whole Living

March 20, 2013

Fun with Food

No Thank You Bites

Spring Crudites with Arugula Pesto

As moms of teenage boys, it’s a constant battle to make sure they eat their daily dose of fruits and vegetables so we’re adding “no thank you bites” and “try it Tuesdays” to the menu. Granted, these strategies are usually used on picky toddlers but the again…

Quinoa Harvest Salad

With spring just around the corner and the local farmer’s market about to open, what better time to sneak some healthy kale or brussel sprouts into the boys’ diets. There are so many online sources for recipes that inspiration is just a click away and one of our favorites is Camille Styles.

Summer Succotash

Her Tuesday Tastings and In Season posts are the best and a number of her meals have been boy tested and approved (although one of them quipped this weekend that wholegrain flatbread pizza is NOT a substitute for the real thing!)

Quinoa-Berry Breakfast Bowl

This weekend, we’ll be trying the Quinoa Harvest Salad and hope to hear “may I have some more, please.” So, what’s cooking in your neck of the woods today?

Butternut Squash Strozzapreti

P.S. In case you’ve never used the above mentioned picky eater strategies, “no thank you bites” gives your child the right to say no thanks after they’ve tried a bite of something new and “try it Tuesdays” allows you to test a new recipe on the family (and get their feedback – positive or negative!) If you want any of the recipes pictured in this post, just click the image.

Thai Steak + Noodles

Photos and recipes via Camille Styles

March 8, 2013

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