P & P

I have some updates for my blog. Does anybody even check on this anymore?

I've started a Pie of the Month Club with my friends. For March, I made this plum custard almond pie. The whole thing was gone that night.

Here's the recipe: http://bakingbites.com/2010/09/plum-custard-pie-with-almond-crust/#more-6625

For February (the first POMC), I made this French Silk Pie. Yummmmmmmmm.

Recipe: http://www.marthastewart.com/259699/jean-websters-french-silk-pie

I also went to France! My old pal and roomie lives in a little town north of Paris, called Chauny, where she teaches English to high schoolers. She had the same vacation days as me, so we hung out. We stayed two nights in Chauny. She showed me around the town.

This is Elizabeth walking along the canal.

Then we took the train to Paris where we stayed four nights in an apartment Elizabeth found on airbnb.com

Here is Elizabeth with our massive key opening the door to our apartment.

We did lots of fun things. Eating delicious pastries was my top priority. We found this beautiful boulangerie that we had read about.

We took in lots of art.

And ate tasty dinners.

Here is Elizabeth with her new French friend and tasty coffee treats!

This is us getting crazy in our Paris apartment. That chandelier was low and I hit my head on it about 24 times.

Consulting the map...

Tasty lunch at an adorable art nouveau cafe.

Woman walking dog across bridge over the Seine.

Elizabeth consulting map with Notre Dame in background.

We stopped into La Duree for a tasty treat and some special tea. It was fance.

I liked this building.

Last minute stop to Le Sacre Coeur.

It was a beautiful trip and I was happy to spend time with my friend Eliz. I want to go back. If you want to see more (better) pictures of the trip, check Elizabeth's blog posts:

http://merveilleuse-ily.blogspot.com/2011/02/friday-night-toute-seule.html

AND

http://merveilleuse-ily.blogspot.com/2011/02/paris-2.html

What should April's pie be??

Thanksgibbons

Here's a little catch up on some things I've been doing...

I made this maple infused roasted pear cheesecake.

Rachel and Tak came to visit! It went by too fast, but we had some good times. We ate lots of Grimaldi's pizza on Tak's birthday.

These are the girls I live with. Carly and Joey Ramone.

I organized a field trip for the 6th graders to a farm in Queens. They had a lot of fun, so it was worth all the stress in the end.

One of my favorite students from last year.

Hayride!

Chickens!

My roommates and I hosted Thanksgiving at our apartment. We made our first turkey! Kaitlyn did all the nasty stuff that involved touching the uncooked bird. She spread lots of salted butter under the skin.

I made a stock with the neck and giblets for the gravy.

I made Carly take a picture of me basting the turkey. I got this baster at the 99 cents store for only $1.29!

Turkey Carving 1-2-3-4!

Our meal:

Scalloped butternut squash with lots of tasty cheeses (Carly)

Kale salad (Carly)

Green Bean Casserole (Carly)

Cranberries w/ orange zest (me)

Stuffing (me)

Tukey (Kaitlyn and me)

Tofurkey for Carly

We had three lovely ladies from Israel over. It was their first ever Thanksgiving and they loved it! They went back for 2nds and 3rds! I was very happy to share such a great holiday with them.

We ate a lot.

For dessert we had sweet potato pie topped with pecans (my 3rd year making this for Thanksgiving) and a yummy apple pie from Trader Joes. It was such a nice day! I love Thanksgiving!

More Camping Photos Than You May Care to See

Dyls and I went camping in upstate NY this past Saturday. It was really great. The weather was ideal. We camped at Malouf's Mountain. Dick Malouf picked us up at the train station and dropped us off at the beginning of our hiking trail. We hiked for three hours and it was a lot of fun!

The first part of the hike was along a lovely stream.

Trail markers.

We took a little detour to check out the city's reservoir.

Then we got back to hiking up the mountain! We could see the Hudson River Valley.

Hike hike hike! Dylan said that I moved my arms in a funny way when I was hiking.

I wanted to do the same pose.

Dylan said that this wall was built during the revolutionary war. Do you think he was lying to me?

Hey! We didn't get lost!

Settin' up the tent.

Nap time.

Dylan made some stellar pokers from this branch.

I look like a dork in this picture.

Hot dog time!

Dinner.

I was upset because we forgot the ketchup and mustard, but that was the only flaw of the trip, so I can't complain too much.

Scrabble time.

Dylan's raging fire.

The best part about camping!