Healthy Cookies- and other kitchen fables

I’ve been going through a phase lately.  Actually that’s been a theme during most of my life, but I guess what I meant here was in relation to my cooking. Maybe I’ll call them kitchen phases to avoid any confusion. Anyway, they usually stem from how I’m feeling or what I’m going through in that particular time. I pick one idea up from something I read or see online, try it out for awhile, make it my own, and then forget about it. I’m good at that.

This most recent phase was to find the mother- of- all healthy cookie recipes. I had become addicted to finding a sweet that tasted yummy without all the guilt. It stemmed from my desire to curb my sugar intake and my inability to cut it out of my diet. It seems as soon as I begin to take measures to avoid sweets, I begin obsessing about them in a way I had not before. And I know they’re not bad in moderation-  as the french say- eat a reasonable amount, enjoy it and forget about it…

But the healthy cookie thing didn’t turn out so well…  I’m sure there are some recipes that do actually result in a tasty outcome- please share with me if you have one! I tried several recipes that I found online that promised all the flavor of a full fat cookie, but with half the bad stuff and added nutrition to boot. Hoping for a revelation and ignoring the questionable looking batter, I baked some of those bad boys up and set them out, still warm, on a pretty plate in the center of the kitchen just to see what would happen. Nothing.  A few bites were taken, and then some were artfully laid back on the plate (by my youngest), or tossed out and forgotten like yesterday’s trash (by my braver oldest).

My kiddos likened the flavor and consistency to day old cardboard… I secretly agreed. So, I tried a few other recipes for healthy goodies and had similar outcomes and decided to take a step back and really think about what I was going for here. I know I will never fully cut sugar out, and there will be times I binge, but there are also times I forget about it- especially during summer with all the gorgeous juicy watermelons around. And because it’s the processed part of sweets I want to do without, I think a few times a month I am ok with a “real” cookie or cupcake. Best of all, if I make it with my two (or six/kids included) hands, and with real ingredients, how bad can it really be?

Trader Joes- my home away from home- sells a nice vanilla cake mix that contains half the ingredients of store bought mixes and is made with real madagascar vanilla and tastes amazing. Then I throw together a homemade icing (See below) and we can have a real treat- no cardboard in sight.

Another easy/tasty and not too sugary dessert is a simple strawberry shortcake. Made without that sugary strawberry paste my mom used to douse ours with- I use the big 3- light as air angel food cake, fresh strawberries and fresh whipped cream- or the cabot can one- yummiest of all store bought.

Traders also has an amazing brownie mix that again has very few ingredients- and you mix it with fat free vanilla yogurt instead of oil or butter- and let me tell you- it is super yummy. I am all for substitutions for full fat ingredients- but only if it keeps the same or similar consistency of the food. I highly recommend touring the baking isle at TJ’s for some inspiration….and if you don’t happen to have one near you- the organic baking isle of a regular grocery will do fine.

So, out with the fictitious healthy cookies and on with the real stuff.  They may have a few more calories, but we’re eating in moderation, right?                                                                 And we’re cutting out the preservatives, and we’re enjoying life…. it’s short afterall.

Valentines Day a la Chocolate Romance

There are few things I find more fascinating than listening to a group of my girlfriends discuss their romantic relationships with their hubbies (yep, as my mid- thirties approach, 95% of my girlies are now hitched).

Some are pretty vanilla; not much excitement in the bedroom, usually quarreling over kid issues and finances takes all the fun out of the hippity dippity (as my college BFF refers to it). And I have to admit- after chasing after 3 amazingly energetic kidos all day I’m usually not feeling uber sexy with an urge to unleash my inner tiger (to clarify: I do have one- just been quieter post babies:)

Other friends are a little more frisky. Not necessarily in the wild stallion category, but they are a little more eager when it comes to romance and tend to think outside the box a bit. These are the girls that after the second glass of wine giggly admit to wearing a french maid outfit for their husbands out of the blue, or downing some body shots together after the kids go down on a Friday night in.

And then there are the stallions. The girls that the rest of the group envy and pity at the same time. They know what they like and they seem to have a great time getting it. They don’t seem fazed by the stress of kids, cooking, cleaning and the rest of it- in fact, maybe that’s what invigorates them. I  know it seems like I am speaking of an endangered species, and maybe they are- but it’s encouraging at least, that I could reach this level someday. Maybe when the baby starts sleeping through the night.

Alas, my valentine hope for all of you is to ponder where you may fit in on this list, and then kick it up a notch… For that last group, if there is nothing more to do in the bedroom, make this recipe below: it will do the trick. Actually anyone looking to impress that special someone needs to give this chocolate aphrodisiac a try.

May I introduce THE MOST AMAZING DELICIOUS PURE LOVELY PIECE OF CHOCOLATE DECADENCE YOU HAVE EVER COME IN CONTACT WITH……                                                                                         AKA-

My Flourless Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

4 oz dark/ or semi-sweet chocolate- chopped

1/2 cup un-salted butter

3/4 cup white sugar

3 large eggs

1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (best you can find)

Method: Preheat oven to 375*. Line an 8-inch cake pan with parchment paper and lightly grease. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt together chocolate and butter, stirring until very smooth.

Pour warm chocolate mixture into a medium mixing bowl with sugar, whisk to combine. Beat in eggs, one at a time, waiting until each has been fully incorporated to add the next, then mix in vanilla extract. Sift cocoa powder into the bowl carefully, stir slowly so to prevent lumps. Pour into cake pan.

Bake for 25 minutes

Allow cake to cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to serving platter, dust with confectioners sugar and top with raspberries for colorful effect. Then, indulge!

Yield: 8-10 servings

This dessert is so heavenly that even the preparation gets me excited. I have one in the oven right now and as I was stirring the perfect melted dark chocolate and creamy butter together, I felt so calm, happy and invigorated it was as if I was concocting a masterpiece- edible art. Me…the little picasso of chocolate cakes. Bon appetit.

Travel Notes- Fun times Flying High

Even though it’s been over 10 years, I can remember the scenario pretty clearly. I was the purser (lead flight attendant) on a trans-cont flight (NYC-LAX) and was in the process of serving the first class meal. I noticed after take-off that the caterer had only loaded 3 filet mignons- the rest was chicken. Not good, but whatever.

I usually had a way of glossing over these minor discrepancies by pouring more champagne in the glass of the multi-million mile flier that didn’t get his first meal choice. I’d also humor them with a little extra banter as i strolled the isles- joking and commiserating over our shared grueling travel schedules.

These circa 1970 uniforms for Southwest must have been so much fun to wear

One passenger in particular did not take the news that we had run out of filet as well as the others. During my years on the fly, I noticed some passengers had the tendency to act like spoiled children in-flight. Maybe it was the nerves, the pressurization, the effect of being packed in like sardines with 300 other people, but observing people and their odd behavior at 30,000 feet was like a lesson in psychology for me every day.

This guy was a character for sure. I thought- hey buddy, you will be off this plane and in a fabulous city full of culinary delights in a mere 2 hours, just take the chicken and quit your wining.

But I continued smiling and made a few jokes about airline food to cheer him up- to no avail. He was still pushed out of shape and I found it very hard to believe that he was so traumatized over something this small – I had to go in for the kill;

“Sir! ( I said rather loudly) I SAID we are out of filet, not FUEL!!!!” ( a little perspective, please)

A few other passengers put down their reading material to look at me. The gentleman changed his tune so quickly, I almost laughed out loud. “Oh, yes” he said, his face morphing from angry guy to the grin of a cheshire cat- “ I see, of course, yes, chicken is fine”

Yep. That’s what I thought.

We all have a tendency to blow things out of proportion sometimes and I am just as guilty as the next guy- especially when it comes to the kids.

Sometimes a task at hand seems so overwhelming that you can hardly see through to the next minute. But we really do ourselves, our children, and everyone within earshot a huge favor when we take a step back and breathe and think- Is this really the end of the world…?? Is the plane out of fuel??

Speaking of taking a step back- I am reminded of an interesting approach that I read about in Bringing up Bebe- the french mothers call it “The Pause”.

Here’s the gist-  The french children I have observed seem able to cope with life’s little disasters     a lot better, and I think it has to do with the “pause” in parenting.  French mothers don’t tend to their children as quickly as American mothers do. It starts in infancy and moves right along- they pause before they pick up their crying baby- give the baby a minute or two to self soothe. They give their kids a chance to try more on their own; let them pick themselves up after a fall and make a mistake here and there. Could it be that we sometimes allow our children to be demanding, needy, and not self sufficient by hovering over them all the time?

Perhaps if we could all make an effort to pause not only before blowing a fuse when our kids are driving us to drink, but also before we run to our children’s every cry and need, we will be doing them and ourselves a huge service. Kids feel good about their independence, and we are called on less for the little stuff- which adds up to benefits like finishing conversations with grown-ups, even savoring a glass of wine… things we all to readily forgo because we think our kids can’t live without us.

I remind myself how important it is to pause all the time. Either prior to a freak-out on my kids for the wars they are waging against each other in the playroom, or before I run to help my toddler who tripped and is just as happy to brush himself off- the pause is a  mighty good concept. And sometimes it helps me remember, if nothing else, my old friend on that flight so many years ago, and the humorous way I reminded him to take a pause.

French word of the day: Perspectif

Maturing the Palate- (aka- masking healthy foods for kids)

On a scale of 1-10, how mature would you say your child’s palate is? My kids vary. My oldest (the princess, Isabella) would be in the 4 range, middle guy, Luke, is better- around a 7, and it’s a little too early to tell with baby Landon- but I’m guessing he’ll end up somewhere in between.

Take for instance our make-shift dinner tonight. I broiled a few tasty salmon steaks that were doused with olive oil and salt and pepper. I know the kids have varied opinions on seafood, so I had back-up on hand- in the form of hormone free chicken tenders (one viewing of the documentary Food Inc. and you’ll never buy Tyson or Perdue again). When I offered  the fish, the princess (characteristically) smiled and shook her head no, Luke “dove” right in, and the baby flung it off his tray faster than I could say voilà.

I’m not concerned. The acquired taste of fish other “unique” foods will come. What I have learned through some creative research is that involving kids in the food prep process coincides directly with how they perceive and enjoy the food.

The obvious downside is that all this involvement and togetherness can not only cause a tsunami- like effect on your kitchen, it can slow down the food preparation process- which isn’t ideal when it’s 6:00p and three hungry mouths are staring you down.

My super hero of a baking assistant made sure sprinkles were on hand as we navigated a new home-made cookie recipe together

But the truth is, I find my children are much more connected to the food they help prepare- and they are more willing to try new things when they are involved in the process. The whole knowing how the food was prepared, with what oils, etc. is helpful as you strive to become more aware of what you are putting in your body. I consider myself a recovering mindless eater- and I’m just no longer ok with cramming preservative filled food in my mouth and the mouth of my young when we’re hungry and then hope for the best. We are all becoming too aware of where that path of careless eating can lead.

I’ve started small- and that’s how I stick to it. Not cutting things out drastically- just trying to  do a little better each day; throw a few more veggies in the mix, really reading the food labels, kicking in a new seasoning or flavor. Most importantly, preparing a meal with ingredients you have in your kitchen- and using whole foods- trying not to rely on a box for everything. Whether it’s a new healthier cookie recipe, or chopping up some veggies together, these times with your kids in the kitchen are messy- but priceless- and you are teaching them more than you know. Oh, and make a big deal about the meal! The more you talk about food with your family, the more ideas and creativity will flow… it’s good stuff!

Word of the day- Ensemble (french for “together”)

NYC for my Birthday- a solo getaway at its finest!

I celebrated my 30th birthday (for the sixth time) last month and took a weekend jaunt (sans kids) to my 2nd favorite city- New York. My sister lives there and gave birth to my 2nd nephew in May, I felt it was about time we were introduced.

Weekends fly by like minutes when you have freedom from kids and responsibilities. As soon as I stepped off the plane I knew I needed to take advantage of every moment I had to myself- these mini-breaks don’t come often and their value is immeasurable.

I love SOHO

A cab ride from the airport to the front door of my sister’s office building was my only down time on Friday- after a quick squeeze to her, hugs and hellos to her staff, I was off to canal street to see if I could get my hands on a really good (faux) Louie Vuitton wallet (my lab chewed up the one I snagged there years ago- the best fake I have ever seen to date). No avail- so I quickly made my way to SOHO and to one of my favorite spots there- Balthazar.

Unbelievably, I was able to grab a spot at the bar where I feasted on a Balthazar salad and a nice glass of chardonnay. The energy in there is always amazing and I could people watch for hours… but I only had a few minutes, there were 20 other places on my to-do list, and I had to meet my sister in a few hours.

My afternoon was short, but heavenly. I stopped in all my favorite shops, and boutiques and stood in a totally-worth-it line at Magnolia Bakery. I visited all my old haunts like H&M where I picked up some tights and a great pair of statement earrings- always a good stop. Afterwards, I jumped on the subway and got off at times square with just enough time to check out the crowds- then it was time to make my way back to hells kitchen, her hood.

My namesake pastry stand- delish!

We spent the evening catching up, with good italian take-out and 2 little boys crawling all over us. The rest of the weekend flew; we spent all day Saturday shop-hopping, coffee drinking and museum popping (no time for picasso close-ups with a baby and toddler in toe). We even got to go out alone Saturday night and she took me to the hip and trendy Buddakan for a fabulous b-day dinner complete with a few yummy cocktails and lots of juicy conversation.

After church, brunch and a nice walk in Central Park on Sunday, I hopped a cab back to the airport, and reality. It was nice being an aunt, and only an aunt for a weekend. I got a glimpse into how grandparents must feel- so much love for a little person, but without the responsibility. I could feed them lollipops and cupcakes all day, play lots of chasing games and get them really wired- and then leave…and they’d adore me when I left and happily anticipate my return.

My scrumptious new nephew, Easton

My weekend was perfect- just enough time to refresh, renew and smell some good ole NYC air. And it’s amazing how a couple days away really do energize you. Somehow I was ready for the pile of dirty dishes that I walked into that night- probably because they were followed by lots of smiling faces that really missed me- it’s nice to be missed.

French word of the day: s’amuser- to have fun!

Bonjour Friends!

Welcome to my first blog post!

Let me first introduce myself, my name is Angel French. My last name is partially the reason for my blog title. I am unfortunately not of French decent (even though many people over the years have assumed as much)…it is my intrigue/ slight obsession with all things French that sealed the title…so basically this lifestyle blog will have my take on many different subjects, with a splash of the French culture mixed in- ideas/ influences/ approaches.

As a former flight attendant, I was questioned many times during my travels about my “French” name:

A hotel clerk at one of my stops needed my last name upon check-in late one evening, when I quickly replied “It’s French”, she raised an eyebrow and began to giggle – “ohh, what is it?!” Oh, right- she thinks I’m hiding a really exciting french name from her and playing a little guessing game at close to midnight when all I want to do after a tedious day of flying  is tear off my polyester uniform and collapse into a bed!! And then there was always someone on the crew who would bashfully smile upon introductions and quietly inquire- “sooo, are you French?!”- to which I would respond apologetically, “no, but I do speak a little french, and I love France”- but sadly, no relation.

A brief background on my fascination with the french- It began during my travels and blossomed  with a book I read about Ernest Hemingway and his amazing experiences in Paris in the 20’s… and continued with the smart and handy book “Bringing up Bebe”, which provides a fascinating insight to the French parenting approach written by an American mother raising her babies in Paris. And then there’s the food…. ahhh, the food- who doesn’t love a culture that regards cheese, bread and chocolate as the basic food groups- ;), but really, french cuisine is a religion in and of itself.

From their fit lifestyle (they don’t get fat),to their instinctive fashion sense, many best selling books of late have centered on the notion that the french do it better- So, with it being my namesake and all, I thought it my duty (and pleasure) to incorporate some “french twists” into my everyday life and see if I too can mix up my routine a little for the better…and then share these french ideas with you- it’s all about improving our journey, right?!!

What you can expect from this blog:

Recipes: All sorts! Kid friendly, Adult friendly, Combos of American and French favs, and lots more… LOVE local mix-ins, we are local farm devotees around here…

French word of the day: Learn a little french with me and impress your friends with your expanding exciting french vocabulary

And a multitude of other thoughts on fitness, parenting, relationships and more- stay tuned!!!