When did it become the middle of December? My mind is still back before Thanksgiving! Things have been picking up over here in the Red Velvet household and I can barely keep up. First things first, I can’t believe its December 13th and its my first December blog post, my apologies to all. I really kept thinking it was only December 5th or 6th until I went to schedule an appointment today and realized that in exactly 2 weeks, Christmas will be over, YIKES!
My last post was pre-Thanksgiving and we’ve been busy. Over Thanksgiving we took our last big trip before the baby to Normandy and Paris, France. We spent Thanksgiving eating French food in Paris and loving every second of it (of course we missed seeing family too!). It was a learning experience for both of us, traveling in the second trimester and aside from some back pain caused by too much walking, we enjoyed our time together. France is one of our favorite places in the world and we can go back again and again and never get tired of it.
This was our first trip to Normandy and although it was the off season, we were able to see most of the sights of the D-Day invasion which hold a special place in Eric’s family. His grandfather was a part of that historic and incredible day; we think we even found the church yard where he was given the mission of setting up communications early in the morning of June 6. If you’ve never been there, go. Most Americans have heard the details of that invasion in history class and watched Saving Private Ryan but to actually be there, on the beaches where so many young men lost their lives, it touches you in a way that you don’t expect. Those men are true heroes who saved the world from evil, against all odds.
Here’s Eric on Omaha Beach:
Another highlight of Normandy was seeing Mont Saint Michael; I’ve wanted to see this place for a very long time. It’s a very old abbey built on a rocky island that is surrounded by water when the tide comes it, but when the tide is out, you can walk right across the sand to it. It’s also incredibly beautiful with its Gothic architecture and the way it rises out of the sand.
This preggo walked all the way to the top of that mountain, on cobblestones I might add and was treated to one of the best crepes/omelette things in my life on the way down, complete with caramel apples. YUM! I mean, check it out for yourself, they made these omelettes over a wood fire and its so fluffy, I have no idea how they do it but it was one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten.
Some other highlights of the trip were seeing Rouen Cathedral, made famous by Monet who painted it over and over again in an attempt to capture it in different light. We got to see the Bayeux Tapestry, the longest remaining tapestry in the world of its kind documenting the life of William the Conquerer; it was pretty incredible.
We spent the last days in Paris and since we’re becoming regulars in that city, we didn’t have a whole lot of tourist attractions on our list, we’ve seen most of them already. Mostly we ate at some amazing places, walked around, shopped and we did hit up a museum that has been closed for renovations every other time we’ve been in Paris, the Orangerie. You can find it at the end of the Tuileries, close to the Champs Elysees and Louvre. It houses circular rooms in which Monet painted canvases of his water lillies that encompass the entire rooms. You’re literally surrounded by water lillies. We must have sat there taking them in for at least 30 minutes each. I’m so happy it was open this time! If you’re a fan of impressionism, make sure you see this in Paris, they also have a wonderful permanent collection which includes works by Renoir, Picasso, Cezanne and many more.
I’ll go ahead and blame our great trip for throwing me off my game and messing with my internal calendar, perhaps skipping Thanksgiving had more of an effect on me than I realized. The other game changer for me lately has been my back trouble. Each day is different, sometimes it hurts a lot and other days its better but I’ve started noticing that when I spend a lot of time cooking in my kitchen, my pain increases. I’m pretty sad about it and as a result I haven’t been cooking much which means nothing to blog about.
I do plan on having my mom help me make Christmas cookies so I’ll share with you those details and we’re having our annual post-Christmas bash so I’ll be cooking and prepping for that. Thank goodness for my helpful sous chef (Eric) who has been doing everything and anything I need and making sure I rest. Not sure how I’d manage without him!
In an attempt to keep myself accountable and actually write these posts, here’s my list of promised December posts:
- Christmas Home Decor
- Christmas Cookies/Baking
- Holiday Party Planning
- Holiday Party Prep
- Holiday Party Recap
- Anything else that comes up!
Thanks for reading and I hope you’re having a joyous holiday season! Take a moment to enjoy it and slow down.
2. Non-stick Fry pan- As stated above, you need one non-stick frying pan. Register for a large one so you can cook all sorts of things in it; eggs, pancakes, crepes are all great for this pan.
3. Cast Iron Fry Pan w/ Lid – This fry pan is great because it holds head very well and you can move it from the stove top to the oven easily. This pan will also last a lifetime!
4. Dutch Oven – This pot is essential to cooking. You will use it for spaghetti sauce, soup, braising, chili and so much more. Plus it goes from stove top to oven easily.
5. Bakeware Set – Everyone needs the basic baking pan sizes and a cup cake pan. You want to be able to bake birthday cakes and cookies anytime you want!
6. KitchenAid Mixer – If you enjoy baking at all, register for this baby. It will change your life, seriously. Plus they have so many cute colors that one will certainly match your kitchen!
7. Knives – Every kitchen/cook needs a nice set of knives. You can spend the mint on a set of knives if you want, but I recommend going middle of the road. You want something that has steel through than handle and whose handle is made of wood. You want the set to include a chef’s knife (the really big one), a santoku knife, a pairing knife, a serrated bread knife, kitchen shears and a steel for sharpening. Get a block that has unfilled holes so you can add to you knife collection later, when you see what knives you really use.
The great thing about this recipe is that you can use any cheap red wine. The spices you add will contribute more flavor to make the wine taste great. I also love the idea of an alternative to hot cider. Simply combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and heat on low until just simmering and allow to steep for about an hour before drinking.
Thanks for stopping by to see what's cookin'! This blog documents all my food related adventures from cooking to restaurant reviews to drink recipes and even travel, all while living life in Lancaster, PA home of the Pennsylvania Dutch, the Amish and some of the best meat and produce around.
Find out more about me 
