Quiche Lorraine - The Day Nothing Happened

Nothing much happened today. But it's the 29th of February! - something is bound to happen, good or bad! But no, nothing, nada.  It was truly a boring day today. Well, I guess I should be thankful nothing bad has happened. I don't think I could take it right now. You see, there are still no new changes in my situation. I am still staying at my sister's. I still don't have a stable job to support my family (but I keep looking and searching). I still haven't bought a car (I haven't exchanged my license yet). It's not looking good, guys. But my family back in Cebu is doing and feeling good (I miss them so muuuuuch!). I'm healthy. But I'm starting to feel the stress slowly creeping in and eating me inside. I don't know if I can keep this up - I really want to find a job (any will do!)! 

Pastries from Dauffer Boulangerie - Patisserie at Morhange, France

Another disappointing morning. Another disappointment for me. Lately, it seems that I just can't enough of those. I know it wasn't supposed to be easy, but come on, can't I have a little break? A little space to breathe in relief? I am frustrated! Frustrated with the system. I had all the papers on hand. Everything they asked me to bring the last time (that was a month ago!). So I was happy and excited this time, maybe it meant that I could finally be done with it and move on. But no, alas, the woman at the counter flat told me that I was still missing ONE document, which wasn't in the list they provided me last month. Plus since that time, there were other changes she informed me. I needed 2 more photos and 2 more adressed enveloppes. I had them on hand anyways in case something like this happened. But that ONE document, I didn't have. Boy, it's a bitch to exchange a driver's license here!

Vacation Rentals Paris

Since I’ve arrived in France, I haven’t had the chance to visit Paris yet. You see, my plane arrived in the airport in Paris, but from there I went straight to take my train for Lorraine. So I haven’t visited Paris. Around Christmas time, I toyed with the idea of maybe going for New Year’s Eve alone and I started looking at vacation rentals paris online, but that plan didn’t push through. But now that the arrival of my husband and daughter is soon approaching, I thought it would nice if we spent a couple of days in Paris upon their arrival and took the chance to go around and visit. I guess this is finally the time to get serious about my research for a vacation rentals paris!

*This is a sponsored post.

Sunday Lunch - The Day We Cooked For 12

It's Sunday today. Did you think we had guests over today? Well....you were right! Another Sunday, another lunch affair, and with 7 guests this time (we were 12 in total counting us 5). So what was our meal this time? Scroll down to find out!

Asian-Inspired Fried Chicken - Another Alone Tuesday Lunch!

Another Tuesday lunch where I'm alone at home. Or so I thought. My nephew came home (as a surprise), saw that I was already cooking for one, and nicely said, don't worry I'll eat next door at my grandma's house for lunch. Nice guy, or maybe he didn't want to try my Asian-Inspired Fried Chicken. That, I'll never really know.

La Choucroute - The Day I Learned To Play French Tarot

Another Sunday and yes, another Sunday with guests. Or guest, this time. But this meal was simpler, the dish was less complicated to make, the table set-up was casual. Maybe that's because it was just one guest, but mostly because he's a guy my sister and her husband have always known. In fact, when my brother-in-law was a kid, DE (our guest of the day) who lives nearby would come and help him in the farm. Today, DE is all alone as his companion has gone to visit her parents in another region of France and has brought their daughter along with her. We invited him over.

Spaetzle / Spatzle

A couple of days ago, MO (my niece) asked DO to bring back home a pack of Spaetzle to cook for dinner. She absolutely loves this stuff! I didn't know what it was and I doubt I had any when I was younger, so I was looking forward to tasting it. Later that night, DO made a bowl of Buttered Spaetzle - and when asked what I thought of it, I was left speechless - and not in a good way. SORRY  :-(  

Shopping Bag : Petillant de Listel - Framboise

Another Valentine's shopping buy. Initially, I wanted to drown my sorrow in a bottle of wine. But I wanted something sweet, something like that fine Poire Blanc I had at Restaurant L'Embellie. But I was told I wouldn't be able to find it in the grocery store. Hardheaded as I am, I tried to look for it at the store, but they were right - I couldn't find any. So I did a mental outweigh and as miserable as I was, the last thing I need right now is a harsh hangover the next day and hundreds of regrets. So I grabbed a bottle of Petillant de Listel  - Framboise (Raspberry) instead.

Shopping Bag: Fraisier - The Day After Valentine's

If you read my previous post, then you know I did a little Valentine's Day grocery shopping yesterday with my niece. Not everything we bought was for the dinner. While shopping for our dinner, I managed to grab a couple of items for my own personal use which I mentally noted to feature in my blog.

Valentine's Day Dinner at Home

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, FRIENDS!!! <3 <3 <3

I could have been depressed today, I could have been crying, I could have drunk myself to sleep. I could have done all of those things, but I didn't. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided I would just let this day pass despite what it was. But it wasn't like I wasn't busy today, which helped a lot admitedly. I woke up this morning to find that my family back in Cebu was waiting to talk to me. While I was just starting my day, they were already starting to end theirs.

Canard a L'Orange

DO has been extremely good to me lately. When I asked her to cook a Pot au Feu, a couple of days later she did, the requested Tarte Tatin was served with her guests last Sunday, and when I asked for Canard a L'Orange - well....here it is!

Sunday Lunch - The Day With The Strasbourgeois

We rarely are not busy on Sundays. There's always a place to go to or people to entertain. Today's no exception. My sister, DO, and her husband, TH, became friends with MA and LA on a family trip they took years ago. Until now, they like to have a meal with each once or twice a year. This was DO's turn to host a meal.

Pot au Feu

Oh the cold has been bad lately! For the first time in many years, I am experiencing what it is to be in the negative. And boy am I glad to be staying home today! Especially when I found out what DO was preparing us for lunch today. A pick-me-up for the cold weather, she said. True that, I responded, especially for TH, my brother-in-law, who works all day long out in the farm.

Video Surveillance Equipment

On est jamais à l’abri de rien me dit toujours mon père. Je suis d’accord avec lui. Mais alors comment ce sentir protégé  tout le temps a la maison ou au travail ? Ben peut être avec une télésurveillance!

*This is a sponsored post.

Munster Cheese Toasts - The Day We Cooked Stinky Cheese

DO and TH brought back a lot from their weekend. They stayed in a little village called Munster, which is close to where we live, but closer to the Ski Stations. They never got to ski, but they went shopping, visited a wine cave, tried local restaurants, and went for more shopping! It was still the sale period, so DO took advantage of it and had 40% off good quality linens and other house items. They also brought back bottles of wine from the cave they visited, local cookies, and the local cheese - Munster.

Bretzels / Soft Pretzels

DO and TH got back from their weekend for lovers late this afternoon and the first thing they said when they saw me was, we got you something! Well, actually they got me two things, but this one in the photo I can eat. Can you guess what is it? :)

Salmon Paksiw / Inununan na Isda

I am all alone tonight - well almost, there's also the family dog. But she's recovering from an unfortunate epileptic attack due from food poisoning, so she's fragile tonight. Constant monitoring is a must. So where's the rest of the family you might want to ask me? DO and TH are off to a lovers-weekend in the sky region. My nephew, JO, is preparing a reception hall for Le Balle des Paysans tomorrow night, but will sleep at home tonight and my niece is off to a birthday party and will be sleeping there, but returning in the morning. So you see I am alone and taking full advantage of it. I've decided to make Salmon Paksiw / Inununan na Isda.

Restaurant Chinois Royal Garden - Buffet Asiatique at Luxembourg

The plan of eating at the Filipino restaurant failed because despite what is written in the internet, it is a bar and not a restaurant, so I was left to wander to find a replacement. I said I wouldn't be spending too much money today, but a quick curiosity stop at one of my favorite clothing store proved to be my weakness. The prices were slashed and super low, I told myself, j'ai fais une affaire! A couple of steps from that store I bumped into this simple sign. An Asian eat-all-you-can buffet??? Tell me where! He he he.

Luxembourg

While sorting out my stuff the other day, I realized that I had an unused train ticket for Luxembourg-France. At 25€ the ticket, I absolutely had to go and it would be the perfect opportunity to check out recruitment agencies for work. After a quick search in the internet, I found that there was also a Filipino restaurant in Luxembourg and I absolutely wanted to check it out!

Beignets

I bumped into my sister's mother-in-law in the driveway this morning while I was out dumping our trash in the garbage bin. She was covered from head to toe (the cold is coming!) and was carrying a covered bowl in her hand. Enjoy these for lunch, she told me. I quickly said thank you and excitedly went back in the house to take a peek of what we were supposed to enjoy for lunch. With her, you can be sure it's gonna be delicious!