Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Besides my resolution list below, Le Mari and I have decided to take a daily half hour walk to get some fresh air in our lungs and a little bit of exercise. I haven't been running very much lately and he hurt his back recently, keeping him from the gym. I think this will do a world of good for both of us.

Last night we decided to go for our walk and it started to snow. It was beautiful. We walked up through a nearby housing development where there were virtually no cars and we could meander freely. The massive wet flakes were magical and there is an empowerment that comes with being able to walk down the middle of the street without cars zooming past. The holiday lights still twinkled from the massive homes' windows and trees. The air was cool and brisk but not unbearable with a hat and scarf. We were children, catching snowflakes on our tongue and skipping into the night- well, maybe I was the only one skipping! It was an evening that made me remember why I moved to the boonies in the first place.

Resolutions

So, I know that no one ever sticks with New Years Resolutions, but here are some that I am going to make a real effort to keep:

1. think before I speak when I am upset with Le Mari (my husband) because I can really hurt his feelings
2. try ("try" being the operative word) to be content with my current, exceptional situation instead of always wanting more.
3. try to stay better in touch with friends and loved ones, maybe actually picking up a phone instead of hiding behind e-mail!
4. eat slower and enjoy my food instead of gobbling.

The Politest City in the World

I recently left New York City after living there for nine years, thinking I was ready. I got engaged, moved to a house in the suburbs, got married, etc. I have been living in the boonies for a year and two months now. It has been a hard adjustment, harder than I was expecting.

Fortunately, I have a regular excuse to go into New York because of a bi-monthly doctor's appointment (nothing serious, just annoying). I have been driving into the City and parking in my old neighborhood after work. Yesterday I did just that. As I drove to the parking garage and tried to pull in, there was a UHAUL double parked in front of the entrance. Typical. They had plenty of room to move up but did not and since I refuse to be an obnoxious New Yorker, I refrained from beeping my horn, yelling out my window or giving this person the finger. I just sat there. The driver finally noticed me and inched up. Not enough room. He inched again. Still not enough room. I was getting a bit annoyed by then. Finally the truck moved enough so it seemed like I may be able to squeeze through but I wasn't sure and didn't want to risk it. A mail carrier looked at me, rolled her eyes and smiled. I returned the expression of frustration and smiled back. Finally some innocent bystander passed by and kindly directed me into the garage. As I narrowly missed the car parked on the street and the UHAUL, I was extremely grateful that this man was there to help. This experience and the twenty-five dollars I paid for 3 hours of parking is the reason that you DO NOT own a car in the City.

I took my ticket and walked to my first and most important stop, Starbucks. I wasn't smart enough to go to the bathroom before I left work so I got in line to use theirs. Of course, the person in the restroom was taking forever. I literally stood in line for 10 minutes. There was a lady in front of me and later, a girl got in line behind me. After few minutes, the girl asked how long we had been standing there. I told her, which instantly started up a nice little conversation about how we were debating on going to the next Starbucks down. Maybe THEIR bathroom was free and it would take less time to walk 10 blocks then it would to wait for this person who was apparently enjoying their potty time a little too much! Finally it was my turn. I went as quickly as I could, got in line, got my grande skim misto (cafe au lait to the rest of the world) and sat down for a minute to enjoy my coffee. A man at the table across from me struck up a conversation about the phone I had and asked me what brand it was etc. He proceeded to tell me that there was a phone in a magazine that was supposed to be great and he wondered if this was the one. I told him no but we talked for a while and then he left. I walked out soon after.

I walked along the north end of the Park and down 5th Avenue to my doctor's office. I was very early and exhausted from the holidays so I just wanted to get it done with and get home. My appointment was at 5P and it was now 3P. I asked if there were any cancellations and if they could fit me in earlier. The receptionist told me to have a seat and she would check it out. I started to read a magazine and half hour later, she called me to go in. I couldn't believe it. I was vegging out in front of my TV by 5:30P.

I guess the point of this post is that the people of New York are not what they seem. They have a bad reputation for being rude and unruly. My experience with this big, bad city yesterday was nothing but lovely and warm, despite the overcast skies and frigid weather.

Check out this article on the Politest City in the World:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13452608

New York City Ballet

My husband and I hosted Christmas this year, our first Chirstmas as a married couple. My parents came for a few days and we did something that I haven't done in years. My parents and I went to see the Nutcracker.

I have seen this ballet a few times before, although never at Lincoln Center. My birthday is in December so my mom made it a tradition to see it each year in celebration. If you ever get the chance to do this, take it. There is something to be said for a story being told with no words, only music and dance. The costumes were amazing and the children, so young, had so much talent, more than I could ever imagine having. The principle dancers were outstanding. The grace and skill they showed took my breath away. You must have so much strength and control for ballet, they say it is the second most intensive sport after football and it shows.

It was great just being in the City. The weather was perfect, felt almost like spring. We went to an Italian restaurant afterwards, just a small place we happened to come across. The food was amazing making for a perfect evening.

I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2209553478

I'm sure I'm asking for trouble by even posting this blog, but I stumbled across this Facebook group this morning and just had to write about it. It truly surprises me that there are that many people out there, besides myself, who are sticklers for correct grammar.

I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar is fighting a war against the grammatically incorrect. Their loyal members photograph examples of bad grammar and post it on the group page for all to see. They jeer these offenders and hope that this public humiliation will change their wicked ways. Hate mail is plentiful but encouraged and posted.

I understand where this group is coming from. I cringe every time I hear someone speaking incorrectly. It makes my ears bleed. What are our children going to sound like if the current generation speaks the way it does? Slang has overtaken our universe to the point where you can barely understand anyone under 20. I want our children to be intelligent, well-spoken individuals that have all the chances in life to succeed. The first step in doing that is speaking correct English. Who will take you seriously if you cannot speak eloquently?

The Sun Always Shines in Greece

My husband and I were married in August and for our honeymoon, we went to Greece. John had never been to Europe and he loved the beach, history and exploring. I just wanted to go to Europe, so I had to think of a country where we would both get exactly what we wanted. The choice was obvious. Greece has been on my top ten for years and this was my chance.

We went for twelve days, splitting our time between Athens, Santorini and Crete. One of the things I really loved about it was that we could really, truly, relax. Everyone spoke a different language and you didn't find yourself listening in on other's conversations. If they were calling you Ugly American behind your back, then so be it! We had no clue! I read three books during those twelve days and we still had time to see ancient ruins, drive all over Crete through olive groves and little villages, and go to numerous pristine beaches. We went to see the volcano in Santorini and swam in the hot springs, went to museums and walked until our legs ached. It was amazing.

We loved the food. I guess that goes without saying on my part! Meals were long and drawn out which made my husband a bit antsy but I loved the excuse to sit and relax. I wish it was like that here. So often I feel rushed out the door so the next customer can sit down. We ate a lot of lamb, goat and fish. Everything was very rich. Feta was the cheese of choice and we consumed more than any normal person. It was a part of every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner, baked, fried, on salads and pasta. Normally, my stomach couldn't handle that much cheese but here, I had no problem. The fruits and vegetables were so fresh and flavorful that we just couldn't get enough.

The sun always shines in Greece. We didn't see one cloud the entire time we were there. It was hot, but dry and manageable, especially when there was always a perfect azure sea to cool off in, or at the least, an infinity pool. Dealing with the freezing weather we have here now, I would pay for some ninety degree dry heat! How many more months until summer?

The Moment of Truth

7:30AM: After hours of kneading and rolling and folding and rolling again, I am at my final steps of the croissant making process. I have to roll the dough out one more time and cut it into triangles, then roll that into crescents. They only have to bake for 20 minutes with a little beaten egg brushed over top of them. I will be sure to include pictures.

Again, I am not an accomplished baker and I do know that I chose a very tough recipe to start out with. I figure if I can get this right (someday!), I will then move on to learning to make all kinds of pastries and breads, etc. With that goal accomplished I will someday be able to succeed in opening my bookstore /cafe/pastry shop, which is my most lofty aspiration. Although, I'm sure reality will set in and pastry making will be merely a hobby. One thing I have going for me is I was blessed with the talent to know how things are supposed to taste. I don't just love any food, I love good food.

8:10AM: Well, we ran into a tiny little snag, I read the entire recipe first but seemed to have forgotten that after they are rolled, they have to sit at room temp for two hours before being baked. So, looks like breakfast will be served at 11:00AM! Great! Oh, well, it will be a mid-morning snack.

2:57PM: Well, I think it's safe to say that my croissant have not been perfected quite yet, as you can see from the picture. I realized way too late, of course, that I had wrapped them the wrong way. Smart. They were fairly heavy and not very flaky at all. Still, they were edible. Neither my husband, nor I had to be rushed to the emergency room after eating them and he politely said that they were "just like Paris". He's either extremely naive or just very sweet. I choose to believe the latter.

My parents will be here next weekend for Christmas. I told my mother my plan to try to make them again Christmas Eve so we could have croissant on Christmas Morning. She said that maybe we should have a back up plan, just in case!

Brie

While I am waiting for all of my ingredients for croissant to warm to room temp, I feel it is necessary to talk about one of my favorite cheeses, brie. Yes, it is possible to dedicate an entire post to brie.

Named after a small market town in the Ile-de-France region, brie has become one of the most commonly known French cheeses. Charlemagne was said to be a lover of brie and Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were finally arrested during the revolution because of a sudden craving for brie.

Brie's tougher outer layer, inner creaminess and subtle, delicate flavor is what makes it the cheese to end all cheese. Whether it is spread on a cracker- preferably Carr's Water Crackers, sliced up and paired with ham and apple on a baguette, or by itself with fruit on the side, it is a perfect addition to any meal. It would not be left out of any soire, for that would be sacrilege!

Unfortunately, the U.S. is does not permit unpasturized cheese to be imported so ours is but a cheap imitation, although still well loved considering it is the best we can get.

Paris Boulangerie Patisserie

My recent obsession has been Paris. No matter how often I am told that Parisians are rude and European technology is just not as up to date as what we have here in the States, I refuse to believe that it is anything but a utopia of cafe au lait and buttery croissant.

I have been to Paris. I was seventeen and it was at the end of a 19 day, 5 country, all you can see (and eat), trip. I was exhausted, homesick and not impressed. Even with that, I still feel that Paris has to be some sort of heaven. I am planning a trip for our second anniversary but until then, I will have to create my own Paris right here.

My first step in doing that is to perfect the croissant. U.S. croissants are sub par. They are too big, soft and tasteless. So, to actualize my little cafe, I have bought a French pastry book. I plan to bake croissant until I get it right, or die trying. This weekend will be my first try. Wish me luck. I love to cook but baking is not something I excel at yet.

Hungarian Pastry Shop

I was out with one of my closest friends last night whom I don't get to see all that often but when I do, we have so much to say that we can spend hours chatting and not realize that time has flown by. We talk about everything from work to school, life as newly married woman to family.

When we get together we always have dinner and then stop by the Hungarian Pastry Shop for coffee and maybe something sweet. I had a Hungarian coffee (my usual) which is coffee with a touch of almond flavoring and whipped cream with cinnamon on top. It is pure heaven. Last night, since I had a particularly rough day at work, I indulged in a macaroon, taking tiny nibbles, savoring every bite until it was gone.

The Hungarian Pastry Shop is not beautiful by any means. Drawings of angels created by children adorn the cracked walls, the floor is uneven and the tables wobble, but there is something about this place that keeps people coming back. Often, there are so many customers that you have to share a table but this aspect is not a cause for claustrophobia, it is a warm and cozy feeling, a feeling of belonging. It has become a place to relax in, read the newspaper, study or engage in long conversation with a close friend.

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7171429/new_york_ny/hungarian_pastry_shop.html