Friday, March 26, 2010

francophile

Regardez mes délicieuses moules!DSCF3876

I love Google Translator.

Also, French food.

The star of tonight’s dinner was my latest impulse HMart purchase (I swear, the only thing I enjoy shopping for- and do with any regularity- is food):

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Awesome things about this:

1. Mussels are delicious
2. These mussels are especially delicious- I sampled one at Hmart!
3. The word “sustainable” makes my heart go pitter-patter, and Eating Well’s section on sustainable seafood last month gave special props to mussels
4. 2 pounds for $3.99!

I opened the bag and they were HUGE- some were seriously like three inches (not including the shell)

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I used this recipe, with white wine, lemon, onions, garlic, and parsley. Since the mussels were frozen, I steamed them longer- for eight minutes. The pan juices were rockin’ and I was mad I hadn’t thought to make bread!

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Since one of my fave restaurant combos ever is mussels and frites, I decided to do the Cooking Light method with which I’ve had a lot of success- oven fries!

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Just slice potatoes into fry shapes, put on a greased baking sheet, spray with cooking spray, sprinkle with salt, and bake at 450* for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through.

I am obsessed with this bowl. I will probably be serving everything in it from now on.

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And a very French-approved way to round out the meal, a simple salade of Arugula, mushrooms, and my mama’s homemade parsley-dijon vinaigrette.

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Another thing I love about the french is their word for grapefruit. Behold, un pamplemousse~

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This was a great one, super sweet, no sugar needed. I luuuuuuuuuurve grapefruit. Why don’t I buy it more? Note to self: buy grapefruit more!

Actually, and another thing I love and should buy more!

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Loverly wheat puffs. They’re so nice when you just want to sit and chomp on a massive volume of food.

Atop yogourt.

Avec sunshine.

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When I said I liked ‘em, I meant it. They’ve figured prominently in multiple meals!

Including today’s lunch, which was my favorite kind- maximal dishes, maximal food groups, placemat and nutrition overload.

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More pamplemousse (in an adorable bowl!)

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More yogurt ‘n puffs (plus cinnamon!)

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A cute lil tasting plate of Trader Joe’s chickenless nuggets and ‘cado, with hot sauce for the nuggets.

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And finally, more Trader Joe’s, a bowl of butternut squash bisque.

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And then the avocado just looked perfectly dipper shaped, and this happened…

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So good. No lie.

Finally, mon cadeau (does that mean “my giveaway”? Any French speakers?)

I used random.org to randomly select one of 20 comments I received. Here’s what it said:

random number

That means congratulations are in order for Michal, who said

Happy belated blog-aversary! :) I wish you many more years of happy blogging. This is such a generous giveaway thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Hmm... if I had to pick my last meal I think it would have to be some type of hummus/falafle/pita combo with a vegan blondie on the side!

Congrats Michal! Email me your address at leleinthesky@gmail.com!

10 comments:

Molly said...

Congrats Michal!

Oh I have tried mussels a few summers back and absolutely loved the experience. It is so slippery slimy! They look so pretty... too pretty to eat!

Katie @ Health for the Whole Self said...

I'm going to HMart for the very first time today! I can't wait!

Anonymous said...

Avocado > apple slices. Just sayin'.

Jess said...

Gotta love translations ;)

Great eats! YUM!
<3 jess
xoxo

Anais said...

Oh gosh I LOVE mussels! I used to hate them but then I had the very BEST ones in the south of france. Like I literally ate it all (it was gigantic) and then soaked the sauce with delicious french bread, and I've been hooked every since :)

COngrats to the winner!!

MelindaRD said...

Living overseas google translator can be a life saver. I have noticed more frozen mussels around here in the commissary. I am not a big fan, but their are so many nice dishes you can make with them.

Anonymous said...

All of your dishes are so pretty!!! Yummy grapefruit!!!

Chef Aimee said...

I love mussels and love it Belgian style with a good beer! What a great recipe! I love HMart and have one by me on Long Island - the produce is amazing but the frozen foods are so good!

Lauren @ BIOCHEMISTA said...

My mouth is watering over those dumplings and muscles!!! Where did u get the dumplings and what brand??

Thanks! xoxox

Stephanie @ My Freckled Life said...

LOVE (x a kazillion) the French inspired post. Ever since I studied abroad in Paris, I have absolutely ADORED French food. Well, and French everything, to be honest. Those mussels looks SOOO delicious though! I havent had them in ages... hmmm... maybe I'll have to put that on the agenda for this week! Also - LOVE that little pink squiggly looking bowl - Adorbs!

PS - Mon Cadeau would be "my gift", which is definitely close enough. I dont actually know if there IS a word for "giveaway" in French... not that I know of at least!