What a Load of Crepe!

My dad has been toying with the idea of purchasing a stand at the Des Moines Downtown Farmer's Market for this summer's hot new DSM item--crepes made a la moi. I think it could be done easily enough. Crepes are very inexpensive to make, and so quick. I had alwasy heard such terrible things about trying to make them, but I think that as long as you have a proper metal spatula (the long skinny kind) and a very very very NON STICK frying pan. Throw all trepedations of additives and carcinigens via non-stick if you want to enjoy your at-home crepe experience. Here is the recipe I have adapted and tweaked from Alton Brown (I thought his was too eggy). I find that the thinner the batter, the better--as long as you can avoid the air bubbles (bubbles mean tearing and holes through which your filling will escape). Here is my recipe:

2 eggs
3/4 c milk
1/2 c water
1 c flour

Mix all together, whisk to remove lumps. Let rest in the fridge for one hour (so the bubbles go away--the batter will be good for two days). Add about two to three tablespoons batter to the pan (buttered if you like), run around all edges of the pan (like when making an omlette). Cook for thirty seconds on each side and voila! I may change this recipe. I am going to make a new batch tomorrow. Here are pictures:


I hope to learn more about crepes--maybe read some articles or something. All three of you out there who read this, forward me along any information you may have about crepes. My stepmom is trying a gluten-free version that I am very curious to hear about the results.

-Alexis

Felicitations!!

Congrats to us, The Freshman 15, for reaching the oddly satisfying number of 10 followers of our blog!! I am currently chez McDo for the second time today waiting for some movies to download from iTunes so I can go home and watch them 9Inglorious Basterds and 500 Days of Summer, in case you were wondering). Thursday night, coming home from a co-worker's 'gig' I found myself in a metro station that was in the process of being gassed--my suspicions point to riots and roudy folk in reaction to the Algerian/Egyptian futbal game that occorued only hours earlier (Algeria was defeated...badly...by Egypt). It's interesting, horrifying, and strangely comforting to witness somewhat inderectly the effects of national pride in a country that isn't my own. From what I observe in the States, immigrant pride is waining (sauf que my few very Catholic and very Irish friends who never fail to remind us all), for better or worse. It's such a delicate relationship between Algerian French citizens and France: they come to France for economic opportunites because the French previously obliterated the infrastructure of their societies. The French don't necessesarily want them here, but the reality is, immigrant populations not only support an economy, but are also apart of the long consequential baggage that comes with France's (or any colonial Western power) conquistadorial actions of previous generations. All this thinking, as you can imaging, has made me very tired. So i bought a coat. This one:
only in a pretty purple color. Workin' on gettin some more color in my life.

Signed,
A

God Does Exist

France has given me the gift of time...to mess around on the internet. Turns out, French people love sushi, and they are really into sushi joints, like this one, Planet Sushi, found all over Paris, and in Ibiza and Miami:


(photo courtesy of http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gyang/photogallery/France/Paris-car.jpg)

The French can make even corporate sushi look cute. It's a gift, I swear. So I found an advertisement for this place while checking out the website of a bar where a co-intern is playing tonight, and I was drooling all over the place. OMG why is sushi so good. I think part of it is the texture (i know, nasty, but it feels sooooo goooood) and part (mostly) the soy sauce/wasabi--never fails to quench my salty craving. Ok, so back to the point of this (yes, believe it or not, there is an end in sight), check out one of their desserts:

photo courtesy of: http://www.planetsushi.fr/project/planetsushi/fichiers/maki_nutella_10-en.jpg

omg omg omg...ok dad and any adults who are reading this, close your eyes, but this is a food *****...you know what word is supposed to go there. Oh wow seriously it's hard for me even to type this, I'm so overcome with joy and envy and hunger and over-active salivatory glands. This is why God invented globalization, for beautiful masterpieces of combined culture such as this one here before our eyes. Bliss, pure salty chocolaty Franconese bliss. Amen.

Heart,

Alexis

SHOES

Remember that wonderfully horrifying youtube video "Let's Get Some Shoes?" Well, I think maybe that dude was on to something. Since finding that image of those pink suede Louboutins, Ive gotten real into shoes. Here are some of my favorite:

"Lace" by Jimmy Choo, photos courtesy of Nordstrom:

This, and anything else, by Corso Como. These shoes are handmade and sooo comfortable, plus reasonably priced. I have pair exactly like this, but without the fun embellishment. Perhaps next season...
And omg anything and everything boy meets girl clothing makes me elated. I especially love all things oxford: shirts, shorts, the university in england...but especially the shoes. I'm still on the lookout for the perfect pair of bucks for ladies too...

Everyday I swear I find a new store, filled with new things, that both put me in a trance and make me sick with envy. This store, and specifically, this dress, is one of them. This is what I want my wedding dress to look like, not that I'm planning on nuptials any time soon, or even in this decade for that matter, but this is what i want: Romantic, geometric and modern, feminine, and short so that I can dance in it (but in order for me to dance, I'd have to be good and sauced, which might be a little inappropriate at my wedding). Maybe with a pair of pink Loubouttins...


omg so cute! ugh and with a nutella cupcakes made by one of my best friends, The Sugar Sleuth (check out her blog on blogger), it is bound to be a party...Hmm...

Love,
A

Hey whaddya know

Two posts in one day. You my friend are very lucky and I am very bored at work. Here I am...

I know, i'm so cute you can't stand it. Think of how my romantic partner must feel.

Email to Audrey that sums up life

I just bought a pair of desert boots--look them up on google. They are so awesome, real comfortable. I think I will go to the flea market tomorrow. I have the second interview tonight, Ill let you know how it goes definitely. Ya, I did know that Maddy goes there--I'm sure she loves it. I wonder whatever happened to her brother...

I am so so so excited for the new and last (tear) season of LOST to start!!

Photo courtesy of ABC
Have you gotten caught up yet with all the seasons? Did you hear that Obama rescheduled just for the premier?

I dont know if you remember Sean, Lilou's bf, but they broke up and so now I dont know if it is appropriate to see him for lunch or whatever or when I go to visit...

Its really warmed up here, ok, its like forty five, but that feels really warm to me! Dad and I tried to video chat last night--it wasnt very successful and it was hilarious. I'm thinking about becoming a garlic farmer. I've decided that if I get into Northwestern, I'm gonna get another tat. Probably of your name across my ass crack.

love, dido

Pictures!

My friend Martin was kind enough to let me borrow his apartment (and his free internet and international calling) so that I could attend to a few matters of business. He's out cooking hamburgers for some French kids, so I have the place to myself. Perfect time to upload these photos that I promised a couple of days ago...

We went to Le Marais, a very picturesque neighborhood in the 4e arrondisement right by the Hotel de Ville metro stop. Great shopping (sadly a little out of my budget), gay-friendly shops, and the Jewish neighborhood all comprise of this little hideaway just east of the Louvre. We got really yummy Jewish savory pastries (filled with epinard (spinach) and feta) at Kozcars (spell?), a seemingly family-run bake shop. So yummy.


In front of the Cafe Madeline, Saturday morning, when we walked to my office (which is also right by the Madeline).

I live in Montmartre, a hotspot for many tourist attractions like Sacre Coeur and this, The Moulin Rouge. I have never seen the movie, but if you ask me, Molly and JP kick Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor's company any day.

I think JP or Molly has the only pics of all three of us together. It was so so great to have them here even if my apartment was a little cramped. They left this morning for Budapest, Hungary, and I wish them all the best on the rest of their travels.

Bonne soiree,
Alexis

Happy

My lovely friends from the Midwest are here for a couple of days and we've had an absolutely wonderful time. They will be here until Wednesday and I'm so glad we got to spend a sorta-sunny Sunday together. I couldn't have asked for much more...Except that my day got a whole lot better when, around 5pm, we're here at a cafe on the internet and Mark sends me an email that he's coming for a week! Oh gosh, I don't even know where to begin with what I want to say... So here are pictures...

ok well maybe tomorrow because my internet isn't working.

Fude

Since in France, I've been thinking a lot about food, especially non-French food. Crazy, right? But seriously, France has a nearly as diverse cuisine and palate as the US because of their rich and complicated colonial and refugee history. So, Algerian, Tunisien, and Vietnamese people, culture, and food isn't hard to find. Neither is Morroccan (with whom France has long been involved), which is why I was so pleased when I came across this SF restaurant while searching for Spanish makeup brands (I know, can you believe it?!): It's called Aziza and it's a One Michelin Star rated Morroccan restaurant that I've got to try next time in SF. The Radish and Chicken Crackling appetizer sounded especially promising. Hopefully, Aziza can make it until then...

Ahh wee wee

Ok, I have survived the first saturday quite successfully. It's not over yet--I'm about to go see a movie, the first one all by myself actually, so it should be interesting. I was feeling a little wistful this morning, so I bought veggies and cooked (oh and got a little wine drunk in the process). Here are pictures... (which I know is the only thing that makes reading tolerable)...


Inside my kitchen, dicing up potatoes and a leek.


look at how pretty this garlic is! Purple inside!


Some unsuspecting passers-by seen from the window in my kitchen. Of course, I have a view of the one construction site in all of Paris. :( sldkfjLOLlmafaosdifje!!LOL

Well, the movie is about to start and I'm sick of being in McDonalds (do you think he's Irish? Or Scottish? Mr. McDonald?). Ok write me.

<3 LYLAS 4eva,
a

YO

Yo America, what up wid it? I'm in Paris, and honestly, I'm having a bit of trouble. It doesn't quite feel like I'm in Paris, so I feel like I could go home easily. But that's the thing: I'm about five thousand miles away. Work/Interning is ok--those first couple of days when you're completely lost always kind of stink. And to top it off, I'm sick! Ugh, well, at least if it becomes so bad, I can go to the hopital for FREE. I think I am going to try to find an English movie house tonight. We'll see.

Love,
Dido