Bistro Chic

Bonjour Everyone!

A few months back, I came across the book, Passport to Beauty, at Barnes and Noble that detailed the many beauty secrets of women around the world. I was stunned to see that most of these beauty “secrets” could actually be found in my own kitchen and pantry. Standards like lemons, bananas, strawberries, honey, and eggs, were popular items used to keep these women looking young and beautiful.

I’m a runner, so naturally I gravitated toward the advice about soft skin – particularly in the feet area. My feet take quite a beating each day as I pound the pavement or the treadmill so I try to pamper them as much as possible so that they look good, especially in the summer.

Getting ready for my morning run...

In years past, I would splurge on pedicures at least once a month – now I’m down to twice a summer and pray that the pedicure is good enough to last a few weeks. In between pedicures, I often do my own “touch ups” but my feet never seem to get as soft and smooth as they do when I’m in the salon.

In the book, the author, Shalini Vadhera, explained that, for years, women in Greece have been using sugar mixed with olive oil on their feet and other rough areas of their body to smooth and soften the dry skin. I’m guessing this was well before they had Aveda salons.

Because I am now in between pedicures, I thought I’d give this do-it-yourself foot scrub a try. 

The Greeks use olive oil and sugar to soften and smooth dry skin.

I started out with a little white granulated sugar and then added a few teaspoons of Trader’s Joe’s olive oil. After mixing the two ingredients, I ended up with a dull yellow paste that smelled strongly of a Friday night dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant. Although this smell is appetizing when you’re eating, it’s not the most ideal scent for a pedicure. I added a teaspoon of vanilla just to see how it would change the smell and voilà it smelled much better.

Olive oil and sugar makes a great exfoliant.

I soaked my feet for a few minutes in warm water then scrubbed the olive oil-sugar mixture all over my feet. After a good rinse and towel dry, I did notice that my feet were much softer than they were before. And, thankfully, they did not smell like food, because that would so not be a good thing. I then gave a quick paint job to my nails using my signature color – OPI Melon of Troy (how ironic considering this is a Greek recipe!)  - and low and behold – a fresh looking pedicure all in about 20 minutes and it was sooo easy! Not bad for an at-home pedicure in your pantry. 

Results from my olive oil pedicure....yeah, pretty toes again!

Here is the recipe for what I now call my olive oil pedicure scrub, adapted from Passport to Beauty:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2-3 tsp olive oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (to avoid smelling like an Italian restaurant)

Mix all ingredients together into a paste. Rub on feet or other dry areas in the shower and rinse off.

Unless you absolutely hate the smell of olive oil, there’s really no reason that you can’t try this great scrub at home. 

Happy pedicure!

Bonjour everyone! What a glorious morning! After my energizing run I headed inside for a fiber-packed breakfast:

Kashi Go Lean cereal: a very high fiber way to start the day!

Had a little Kashi Go Lean Crunch – packed with 8g of fiber per cup -whoa! – with a few slices of a very ripe pear on the side. Gotta love that fiber.

YEAH FOR THE BERET!

While perusing the Internet during breakfast (I know I should really NOT multitask during breakfast, it’s so not French) I came across some very exciting news. The Telegraph, a major newspaper in Britain, recently reported that the French beret is making a comeback. Yeah! I’m so excited because I’ve always liked berets. Really, from the time I was a little girl I imagined that I was the storybook character, Madeline, sporting a yellow beret and walking around Paris with my classmates (ok, so she didn’t really wear a beret, but she was French and did wear a yellow hat that I thought was a beret).

The French beret is back in style!

Apparently, the French have taken it upon themselves to start the beret craze once more, but not merely as a fashion statement. According to the article, the French are wearing their berets to emphasize their French heritage: 

Following the collapse of the Anglo-Saxon economy young people are harking back to their roots, showing they’re proud to be French.

Some manufacturers are even claiming that beret sales have doubled since the start of the credit crunch.

BERET – A FRENCH STEREOTYPE

Berets are the somewhat stereotypical French accessory, historically worn by both men and women in France. I think that the mushroom-top hat became so associated with the French that it eventually became cliché and even a fashion faux pas to wear it outside of France. Even then, if you were an American wearing a beret in France, this fashion statement could been seen as a mocking gesture to French culture.

Even French men can wear a beret and look good - well, sort of....

Like many trends of the day, berets seem to fall in and out of fashion – sometimes being worn by supermodels and other times only elderly women and diehard Francophiles. Classic film stars - Brigitte Bardot and Greta Garbo popularized berets in the 30s and beatnik poets did the same in the late 50s early 60s. Berets came back in style for a very short time in the 90s when Monica Lewinsky was pictured in one with former President Clinton – although I’m not sure how much this did to improve the beret’s reputation.

MY FIRST BERET

Still, about 10 years ago, I ventured into the Gap and actually saw a beret on display. This was the first time I had seen a beret in a very long time (outside of France in Epcot). I absolutely loved the little light brown wool beret and immediately plopped down the money to buy it. A friend who I was with thought I was crazy because berets were “really not in style”. What he meant was, berets weren’t his style – but they were and still are definitely my style. After 10 years, I still have my first beret, although I have to admit it is slightly smaller than I remember and slighlty more “worn” looking than I would like. I think it’s time for a new one!

So, thank you France for being proud to be French and wearing your berets with pride. Even if they are only back in style for a season, I am very glad that they are. Now, if I could only find a nice lightweight beret for summer!

Ciao!

Bonjour everyone! Hope you started your day off with a great breakfast. I sure did and I’m ready to take on the day! Just take a look at what I ate:

Greek yogurt with homemade granola and fresh berries - absolute yum!

In addition to my new fav – yummy Greek yogurt –  I had a few cups of hot English Breakfast tea (one of my favorites!). After enjoying my breakfast, I began to wonder about the whole concept of breakfast.

For years, Americans have been told by their maternal authorities (our mothers) that it’s the most important meal of the day. And, for the most part, Americans have taken mum’s advice and grabbed something to eat before heading off to school or work on the morning. But, do Europeans feel the same way about breakfast. What do they eat? How much do they eat? Do they think breakfast is important? 

Europeans and Breakfast

Well, I don’t know if Europeans had mothers telling them about the importance of breakfast, but one thing is for sure, Europeans do eat breakfast and they seem to eat it more frequently than Americans. Research has shown that up to 88 percent of British citizens eat breakfast each day and up to 95 percent of the French follow suit. Compare those figures to the approx. 60-80% of Americans who can be found eating breakfast on any given day. Further research has shown that, on average, Americans skip breakfast completely at least once a week, while in Europe only 60% forgo their morning meal one a week.

Although Europeans seem to eat breakfast more than Americans, it is not enough for European authorities. In September 2008, European Parliament, fearing too many Europeans were skipping breakfast, announced its Breakfast is Best campaign. The campaign emphasizes the importance and benefits of eating breakfast and has elevated breakfast to a public health policy issue. Whether or not the campaign has worked after a mere  9 months remains to be seen.

In Europe, breakfast is quite small, sometimes it’s nothing more than a piece of fruit or toast and coffee. This is a sparse breakfast when compared with the stereotypical hot American breakfast, a la Denny’s or IHOP. Well, not all Americans eat this type of breakfast every day. But, we have been known to eat anything from cold pizza (ahh- the college years) to lox/bagels, cold cereal, donuts, and hot items like sausage, bacon, and pancakes. But, no matter what we are eating in the morning, most of us are eating something.

BREAKFAST ACROSS THE POND

So, what exactly do our friends across the pond eat for breakfast?  Take a look:

• ENGLAND – Bread roll or croissant with cheese or ham and tea or coffee; toast with butter or jam; fruit; muesli or porridge; but a cooked breakfast could include sausages, bacon, kippers, black pudding, scrambled or fried or poached egg, mushrooms, fried tomatoes, baked beans, and hash browns.          
  

  A traditional full English breakfast - complete with tea!

• FRANCE - In France a typical domestic breakfast consists of bowls cafe au lait (coffee with milk), espresso, or hot chocolate with tartines - slices of baguette spread with jam. Croissants are also traditional. A hot breakfast includes a piece of black bread; scrambled eggs with mushrooms, tomatoes, and cucumber on the side.           
  

  A little cafe au lait rounds out the French breakfast.

• SPAIN – Chocolate and churros— extremely thick, hot chocolate with fried pastry sticks for dunking.          
  

  More like a dessert, Churros and chocolate is the breakfast of choice for many in Spain.

• THE NETHERLANDS – Poached eggs with ham, served on toast and topped with cheese or bread and butter topped with chocolate sprinkles.
• GERMANY – Bread rolls or toast with butter, honey, jam; ham or sausage; a soft boiled egg; and coffee. 
• SWITZERLAND – Thinly sliced meats, cheese, yogurt, prepared fruit, butter, croissants, breads and rolls.
• GREECE –  Bread, cheese, fresh fruit and, coffee
• ITALY – A brioche (type of croissant) and a cappuccino or coffee.            
  

  Brioche: Traditional breakfast treat for Italians.

• BELGIUM - Bread with coffee or tea, fruit juice, cereals, a soft boiled egg… On weekends, people queue at the baker’s to buy their currant loaves, croissants, sandwiches, almond paste cakes etc. 
• SWEDEN – Bread with margarine and cheese, smoked ham, or turkey, yogurt with muesli and banana, and cereal.        
  

  Muesli is a delightful breakfast for many in Sweden.

• RUSSIA -  Hot tea; finger sandwiches made with ham and cheese, or maybe lox on whole-wheat bread.

How fun would it be to try a different “cultural” breakfast each day! Hmmm…maybe that’s my next endeavor!

Ciao!

My hubby and I are starting a month-long experiment – to not spend any of our own money on dining out. So, from June 15 through July 14, we have agreed to not spend our own money on Starbucks (ouch!) or any dining establishment for any meal for any reason, not even take-out. 

Why are we putting ourselves through this luxury food diet? Well, there are 5 main reasons:

Frequent dining out can drain your piggy bank.

1. We spend WAY too much money on going out to eat. On average, for the last year, we’ve spent about $475 a month (that’s $110 a week!)  a month on outside-the-home dining, and that’s in addition to groceries. That’s $5,700 a year – easily two vacations or a trip to Europe!
   

   Dining al fresco - an alternative to dining out.

2. We want to be more European. According to a recent report, Europeans are the least likely to venture out for a meal, with more than half saying they only go out to eat once a month. Like the French, most Europeans prefer to eat meals prepared at home with friends and family – a la the French lifestyle. Maybe that’s why they are so thin! For many Americans, eating out every day for every meal is just fine because they won’t so much as boil water or fry an egg. As for my husband and I, we like to cook and, for the most part, are pretty good at it. I’m sure after a month of cooking all meals at home, we’ll get even better.         
   

   No more daily trips to the green mermaid!

    

3. We want to break our bad habits. Time or lack of it, is a major factor in why my husband and I revert to restaurant meals. We often find ourselves grabbing a “quick” lunch out, or being too tired or ill prepared to make dinner, resulting in a restaurant outing. Eating out seems to be a very easy and comfortable alternative for us. Aside from this, we are huge Starbucks fanatics. Whether it’s frappuccinos, iced tea, hot chocolate, or sweets, one of us would frequent the green mermaid at least once a day. It’s fine when you walk into a place where “everybody knows your name”, I just wish I didn’t hear the sound of a cash register when they are saying it. 
4. We want to make dining out “special” again. We dine out so often (for work and for fun) that eating out just isn’t a treat like it used to be for us. It has become ritualistic and even a source of argument as we decide where to go to eat. Really, who wants to drop $50-75 on a meal and not really enjoy it? Not me – anymore!
   

   Dining in allows more control over quality and quantity of food.

    

5. We want to eat healthier at our own price. When we eat out, we are never really sure what is going into our food. Restaurants claim they use the “freshest” foods and “quality” ingredients, but the only people who know if this is true are the people who work there. So, in essence, we could be spending $50 a meal on highly processed food loaded with sugar and salt, when we could have prepared a much healthier, and better tasting, meal at home. It also is difficult to control portion sizes when dining out. Although we’ve tried splitting dishes and foregoing an appetizer, this is just not working for us (especially for my husband’s waistline). By eating at home, we can control what ingredients go into our meals and how much is prepared and consumed. 

When all is said and done, we hope to feel better about what we are eating, save a little money, and become healthier in the process.

Stay tuned to see if we remained steadfast or if we cracked under the pressure of the Starbucks’ sign!

WEEK 2: On the Path to Finding My Kefi

Bonjour everyone! It is so nice to wake up to a very sunny day – even at 5:30 AM the sun was shining and I was off and running – literally. I was out the door by 5:25 AM to run my typical 4-5 miles before heading to work. It was an awesome run and I’m sure part of this was due to the sunshine and the fact that I was anticipating a great breakfast.

A NEW WEEK, A NEW YOGURT

I admit, I am a creature of habit. But I am slowly trying to break out of this rut – taking new running routes, shopping at different stores, and trying new foods. So in my search for “new” I just have to share with you my new awesome discovery – Greek yogurt! This may not be new to everyone, but it is definitely new to me. I have seen it in the store for years and merely thought it was a “gourmet” yogurt that cost 3 times the amount of regular yogurt – no yogurt could be worth over $2.00 a serving – could it?

I eat yogurt 2-3 times a week and have grown accustomed to Dannon’s full-fat vanilla yogurt. But when I was grocery shopping over the weekend I thought I’d give the Greek version a whirl, after all, I am trying to be more daring these days. Surprisingly, I have been to the Mediterranean and have eaten yogurt there – but for some reason, it was not Greek yogurt – go figure!

Stoneyfield's Oikos Greek Yogurt in Vanilla

WHAT IS GREEK YOGURT?

Greek yogurt is a blend of cream and milk, so often times it has a much higher percentage of milk fat compared with regular whole milk yogurts. That’s why I chose the nonfat version! But, the biggest difference between Greek yogurt and regular or “American” yogurt really comes in the straining process. Greek yogurt goes through a repeat straining process which eliminates water, resulting in a denser, creamier, custard-like consistency. In addition to all the typical benefits of yogurt (calcium, potassium, etc.), because of its density, Greek yogurt packs nearly twice the protein of American yogurt and has less sugar and carbohydrates. 

MY FIRST GREEK YOGURT

For my first attempt at Greek yogurt, I bought Stoneyfield’s Oikos (Organic nonfat yogurt). I had major second thoughts when I saw the price – $2.39 for a 5.3 oz container. Yikes! considering my usual yogurt is $0.50 a container. I selected the vanilla flavor (they also have honey and blueberry) but realized I should have tasted the unflavored version first, to get a true idea of the original taste. Oh well, vanilla it was.  

After my run this morning, I geared up for my soon-to-be great breakfast and Greek yogurt experience. I pulled back the top of the container (sorry I do not have a photo of an open container) and was a little skeptical. The color was a little grey and the it just looked different than my normal yogurt. As I began to spoon the yogurt into my parfait glass I immediately noticed the yogurt was MUCH thicker than Dannon’s – yet still very creamy and much to the consistency of soft cream cheese. 

Homemade walnut granola - perfect for a yummy Greek Yogurt Parfait

THE FIRST BITE

In my first bite, I could taste the tart foreign flavor. As the flavor mixed with the granola and fresh berries, I was overwhelmingly and pleasantly surprised at the abundance of flavor that was packed into this new treat! Although I could taste the vanilla, it was barely a hint – possibly overpowered by the granola and berries. What I did taste was a rich, creamy, buttery flavor that just melted in my mouth. It was so yummy, I ate the whole parfait in about 5 minutes! Lovely and super delish! I was left feeling completely satisfied, both with my selection of yogurt and with the idea that I tried something new and semi-exotic.

Breakfast - Greek Yogurt Parfait

THE GREEK VERDICT

If you are even a partial fan of American yogurt, I would definitely recommend trying Greek yogurt when your budget allows (you can get coupons online!). Although I tried only one brand, I’ve heard Fage Greek yogurt is wonderful and I’ve heard the same about Trader Joe’s version.

GREEK YOGURT PARFAIT

Although I’ve made yogurt parfaits with Dannon and other yogurt brands, here is the recipe for Greek Yogurt Parfait with homemade granola (about 250 calories):

• 1 5.3 oz container Greek yogurt (any flavor)
• 1/4-1/2 cup fresh berries
• 1/4 cup homemade or au natural granola

Starting with a spoonful of yogurt on the bottom, layer the ingredients until they’re gone. Garnish with a few fresh berries on top and enjoy!

Hmmm, what’s next for the girl in search of her kefi? Only time will tell….

Ciao!

In an effort to eat better and ultimately live healthier, I’ve set myself on a course to eat healthier foods and adopt a healthier lifestyle. This goal may be difficult coming from a former snackaholic with a Starbucks Frappuccino addiction.

In my quest to eat healthier, I am striving to eat more fruits and veggies as well as more natural foods. Natural foods are those that are unprocessed and come, almost directly, from mother nature – like raw fruits, vegetables, fresh meats and poultry, etc. But natural foods can be prepackaged foods, like all natural crackers or granola – the key is to find the packages with the fewest and most natural ingredients available. In this day and age, it is difficult to find an abundance of natural foods – beyond the produce section – that won’t break your budget. But, because I am determined to fulfill my healthy goal, I am willing to pay a little more for food with few ingredients.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous post about the French Diet, the majority of meals in France are made from fresh and all natural ingredients. But, this lifestyle also requires them to go to the market nearly every day of the week to purchase this fresh food. I have to admit, fitting in a grocery store run every day, with my already hectic schedule, seems a little excessive, not to mention a waste of gas, but if I must, I must. And hey, if the French can do it, so can I!

Although I’ve been trying to eat healthier for the last few weeks, I have decided to just now share my eating habits with you. I hope that my new, healthier, eating philosophy will encourage you to embark on your own healthy eating journey.

BREAKFAST

After my typical 4-mile morning run, I contemplated grabbing a quick bite and eating it in the car. However, the new Bistro Chic attitude quickly prompted me to make a crunchy English muffin and top it with 2 tsp. all natural peanut butter (we’re talking peanuts and salt!) – followed by a 1/2 a VERY juicy pear. Delicious and filling!

English muffin spread with all natural peanut butter.

Skinny Vanilla Latte - hmmm...sooo....goood!

SECOND BREAKFAST

En route to work, I was torn between kicking my Starbucks habit today or next week (see my future post about not eating out for one month), and decided next week would fit in with my schedule better. However, I did not get my usual tall mocha frap (250 calories) but opted for the skinny vanilla latte.Wow! The taste was fantastic! Too bad I’m breaking up with the little green mermaid next week.

LUNCH

I worked, worked, worked all morning and decided around 12:45 that it was time to do as traditional Belgians do and eat soup  for lunch. I brought in my homemade (yes, I really made it from scratch) chicken and dumpling soup. After 1 1/2 cups of that I was nearly completely full from the rich, creamy taste – and it felt great to eat something warm and cozy on a chilly day.

Homemade chicken and dumpling soup - a definite comfort food.

The soup was more than enough for lunch and kept me going for most of the afternoon. But, after checking emails and participating in a few conference calls, I needed to reenergize with a Quaker Granola bar (sorry no picture) and some English Breakfast tea. The strong, even taste of the tea was a great complement to the sweet, chewy snack.

DINNER

By the time I arrived home from work at 6 PM, I still didn’t feel too hungry (note to self – may stick with 1 cup soup for lunch). But eventually, I could hear the leftover turkey tacos calling my name. However, I decided to make a taco salad, instead of wasting calories on flavorless flour tortillas. The salad (with 2 cups of lettuce, 1/2 tomato, 1 oz cheddar cheese, and 3 oz turkey taco meat) proved to be just what my body needed. The salad left me feeling full, but not stuffed, and energized enough to take a 30-minute power walk.  

Taco salad - ole!

SNACK

As I wind down at night, I often crave milk, not any dairy product, just milk. But after having my English Breakfast tea this afternoon, I was looking forward to more. I made a fresh, two cup pot of EB tea (decaf this time) and enjoyed two chocolate chip cookies (not homemade but purchased for a good cause). Delish!

A little tea with my cookie please....

After my late evening snack it was yoga time – 25 minutes of Gaiam strengthening yoga. This is a great routine, but probably not the best to do before bed.

All in all, not a bad food day for a Thursday – and a stressful one at that! About 1,350 calories for today (a huge difference from my typical 1,800-1,900), and I didn’t even feel hungry in between meals!

Let’s see if I can do it all over again tomorrow!

WEEK 1: On the Path to Finding My Kefi

Bonjour everyone! This week, I brought a little of France right into my own home – and what a treat it was! I decided to make the most of the wonderfully yellow lemons I bought last week and make homemade Citron Pressé – the French version of lemonade. Yes, if you are lucky enough to travel to France and decide to order a lemonade, you will actually be served a carbonated drink – think Sprite. However, if you order a citron pressé, you will receive what we Americans know as good old fashioned lemonade. 

To make fresh citron presse, start with bright, sunny lemons!

Although citron pressé will, no doubt, taste better in France – because nearly everything tastes better when you’re in Europe – my Bistro Chic citron pressé was positively yummy, especially because it was a warm day.

Fresh citron presse (lemonade) - sweet!

To make my Bistro Chic citron pressé, follow these 5 simple steps:

1. Start with a bright, yellow lemon and juice it until it is practically dry (no seeds of course)
2. Fill a drink shaker (such as a martini shaker – because Lord knows I never use it to make an actual martini!) with ice all the way to the top.
3. Add lemon juice and 3 splenda packets to the shaker. (I have tried making it with sugar and other artificial sweeteners but splenda seems to taste the best in this drink)
4. Using the juicer cup that held the fresh-squeezed lemon juice, fill the shaker with cold water nearly to the top.
5. Put the shaker top on and shake vigorously, until well blended and frothy.

All you have to do now is pour your new favorite summer drink into a frosty glass and pucker up!

This recipe makes 2 cups depending on the size of your shaker, but you can easily triple or quadruple the recipe to fill a pitcher.

Unlike money, lemons do grow on trees.

Now, don’t you wish you had a lemon tree right in your own backyard?

Au revoir!

GREEK LESSONS

Today, I heard a very short but poignant interview with Nia Vardalos, aka the lead actress in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. She is starring in a brand new movie, My Life in Ruins. The movie is about a woman – a tour guide in Greece – who has lost her “kefi” or her mojo – the essence that makes her want to really live life to the fullest. During the interview, Nia mentioned that the movie may strike a cord with viewers now more than ever. She pointed out that with the recession, poor housing market, and unemployment, it is quite apparent that many in the US have lost their mojo.

My life may not be "in ruins", but finding my kefi would be nice.

Wow! That’s me, I thought. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely do not feel like my life is “in ruins”. In fact, I really can’t complain about too much in my life right now, but having to be on a budget and cut back on things that I love to do (ie. travel), brings me down more often than I’d like. Sometimes I feel like my own kefi is just stuck in limbo – I know it’s out there – I have pictures to prove that I had it, I just have to find a way to navigate through the kefi customs department to get it back. And, I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. For instance, a friend of a friend recently became enamored with Brazil after traveling their twice. In the course of a few months, she decided to rent out her condo and move to Brazil for a year with a friend. Now that girl’s got kefi!!

NEED KEFI, WILL TRAVEL

My lonely luggage...

So, after having this revelation, I decided it was time to take action. If I couldn’t find my kefi again, no one was going to do it for me. But how do I get it back? Although I have a few ideas, Europe seems to be top on my list of places where my kefi could be vacationing. Yes, I’m pretty certain that living in a different country, even just for a few months, would help bring back my mojo, but right now, that idea is only a fleeting dream. Naturally, the alternative would be to just visit Europe and other countries. Alas, my meager budget and career responsibilities will not allow me to travel abroad anytime soon. And so, I wondered, if I can’t get to France or Spain, how can I bring their culture and lifestyle here?

IT’S ALL PART OF THE PLAN…

Now, I am a huge advocate of living a European lifestyle in the US – or as close to it as you can get. But, I don’t always practice what I preach. So, as of today I pledge (to myself of course because to anyone else – except maybe my Brazil-bound friend – it would seem neurotic, silly, or just plain strange) that I will do at least one thing a week that reflects the current or past lifestyles of Europeans or – very simply – something that reminds me of Europe. I originally wanted to do one thing a day, but figured I could work up to that – a girl’s got to have goals, right?

These lifestyle changes don’t have to be huge, they merely need to meet three requirements:

1. Reflect European culture
2. Fit within my budget and current responsibilities
3. Most importantly, take me one step closer to finding my kefi

I’m sure in my creative mind, I will think of many things that could fit my criteria, but I’m open to suggestions! If you have a great idea for a way that I can experience a little bit of Europe in my daily life – please send it my way.

Stay tuned for future entries on my path to finding my kefi...