A Gazillion Places and Ways to Dine

Dining is this weeks theme at ESN.  No matter how you look at dining, it comes down to eating doesn't it?  And people from all over the world have all kinds of names for eating.  There's breakfast or the morning meal.  There's lunch or brunch or the mid day meal or maybe just a few minutes for a quick "nosh".   Then there's dinner or supper, or the evening meal.  All of these dining experiences can happen in a simple way or a very elaborate way. I find myself too often eating at the kitchen sink looking out the window or eating in front of the TV.  Bad habits indeed!  That's why I love eating in restaurants, and we have so many here from very many countries, that you cannot possibly get bored eating at any of them! I also love a good picnic or barbeque.  But most of the time I am eating at home and I tote my lunch to work everyday, my job is such that I can't leave for lunch.  Le Petit Marché has a nice Dinners for 2 Book and CD if you're wanting to make a nice romantic dinner and stay in.  It's chock full of recipes from master chefs and includes a CD of  music that includes Bach, Vivaldi and others, performed by the San Francisco String Quartet.

Maybe you just want something simple for your bbq or picnic or maybe a party.  Here's a few bowls that could add some fun to your setting. Four Different Shaped Wooden Bowls.                               

Housecleaning to Music

As ESN ends the week with the theme of housecleaning I've been pondering what I can find to do to get out of housecleaning!  But I'll probably do a little cleaning since the place needs it, what with all the wind we get here and dust that blows in.  I always like to listen to music while cleaning, it makes it go faster and doesn't seem to be such a task.  I'm a big fan of Putumayo, they have the best music collections from around the world.  I have lots of favorites and own many of these CD's so if I have to clean I may as well dance while doing it!  Sometimes I dance to Brazilian music, other times French and everything in between.  I tango, salsa, rumba all over the place with whatever piece of cleaning equipment I happen to make my partner.   Cleaning and "dancercize" all at once.  I only found one CD of music from a fellow store-owner; Eccentric Thrifter.  It's called Nature's Harmony, it's gospel music, so if you don't want to dance (or dance to it anyway!) you can sing along with this very nice CD while getting your house clean!

Frog Legs

This week's blog theme at eCrater Stores Network  has to do with frogs.   I don't have anything in my store that has to do with frogs so I thought I'd share a recipe from the Rhone region (southeastern) of France for cooking frog legs, just in case you've never had them and want to give them a try. This recipe is from Cuisine-France.  It's an easy recipe and only takes 15 minutes prep time and 4 minutes to cook.

Ingredients

12 frog legs 2 eggs 1 lemon juice 2 parsley sprigs, chopped Dried bread crumbs Salt Pepper Oil

Frog Legs recipe serve 6
Step 1: Preheat oven at 375 F.
Step 2: Remove frog legs skin. Wash and drain.
Step 3: Add lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Step 4: Beat eggs in a bowl, add chopped parsley.
Step 5: Soak frog legs in the eggs.
Step 6: Crush bread into tiny crumbs.
Step 7: Roll frog legs into crumbs.
Step 8: Add oil in a pan. Fry frog legs in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes.
Wine suggestion: Riesling, Sancerre, dry white wine

Bon appetit!

If frog legs are not on your radar for trying I do have a lovely CD/CookBook from Sharon O'Connor called Dinners for Two.  It's full of yummy recipes that has nothing to do with frogs and has wonderful classical music to cook and eat by!  You can buy it at Le Petit Marche