Encore du beau temps

Encore du beau temps means : nice weather again.  We are not going to complain.  Since we are selling solar panels, it is the best time of the year for new clients.  We get hassled from old customers who encounter technical problems with their photovoltaic installations.  They freak out because the sun is there and they can't produce electricity because an inverter is out of order.  One customer (who is a farmer) called last Friday at 5pm, as if we could do something about his problem in the weekend. 

Speaking of the weekend, we finally went to the beach, at De Panne.  It was nice but still chilly.  Some people let their children play in their bathing suit.  I wore a coat and sandals and I was cold.

  

When life gives you lemons you make Lemon Curd Muffins!

I have seen on British TV a few a lemon curd muffin recipes.  I thought I would give it a try.  I wanted to make Lemon tart at first, but just the thought of making meringue and all, made me wanted to give up without even starting first.  My husband doesn't like lemony food, but lemon curd yes!

I have started the lemon curd first.
3 eggs
juice of 3 lemons
150 gr of sugar
1 table spoon of corn starch
30gr to 50 gr of unsalted butter cut in cubes
(the "authentic" version doesn't have corn starch)

Start whisking the eggs and the sugar first, then add the lemon juice and the corn starch.

Put the mixture in a bowl that will go over a bain-marie.
Whisk whisk whisk until it starts to thicken.  Add the butter cubes.
It may take more than 5 minutes.  I was about to give up and then it started to thicken.  Now it's ready.
You can put the lemon curd in a jar, it will last up to a week.

Update 19/07/2013 : The bain-marie is not really necessary, you can put the pan directly on the heat.  It will work too.  Just set the heat on medium or low. 

Now what to do with all this lemony goodness?

It goes well with:
-crêpes
-yougurt
-cake
-muffin

Lemon curd muffins

I made my muffins with the french" yogurt cake" recipe, they use the cup of the yogurt for measurement.

 

Use the cup of the yogurt to measure the ingredients, do not throw this away!

-1 portion of plain yogurt 
-3 eggs
-2 cups of sugar (cup of the yogurt)
-3 cups of flour (cup of the yogurt)
-10 g of baking powder
-1/2 cup of the vegetable oil (cup of the yogurt)

Mix all the ingredients together and grate a little bit of lemon zest and add it to the mix.
 Prepare le muffin tin and the muffin cases.

Put a table spoon of the cake mixture in the muffin cases (it should be half of the muffin case) and add a spoon of the lemon curd, then another spoon of the cake mixture.

 Bake in the oven at 200 degree Celsius or 392 degree Fahrenheit (lower depending on your oven), for 30 minutes.

Enjoy! Miam c'est bon!

C'est le printemps!

If you have watched the news, France is shocked by several shootings in a row, the latest happened in a school in Toulouse.  Politics have decided to take a pause on their electoral campaign for a few days.  It's a good thing, we can have a break from the political candidates who are overly advertised in the media.  

On a lighter note, spring has finally arrived! my favorite season.  It's been sunny for 2 weeks in a row now.  So I am really delighted by the weather.  My parents will be visiting us in a couple of weeks and we are planning on going to London and The Netherlands for a week only.  Don't know how we can do it all on such a short period of time.  They want to see the tulips in Keukenhof (Netherlands), the Van Gogh Museum and The Hague. I must say I'm looking forward to this trip!

Happy Spring to all!

  

On being frustrated about my weight

Many people struggle with their weight.  As for me, the pounds started to add up coincidentally after my move to France.  My weakness: I have discovered French food.  Every weekend, we had to go to my In-laws and we would have a 3 course meal everytime.  A starter, a main course, cheese and dessert.  After a while, I dreaded those family meals.  Too copious for my eating habits.  Before my moving, I was eating basically rice on a daily basis, like all Asians do. lol

Last June, when we went for a mountain hike in the French Alps, my husband and I realized that we were out of shape and out of breath.  A little thing clicked in me, I've said to myself, enough is enough.  And from then on, I have started to do something with my extra weight.

          Reminiscing the French Alps

 It's been almost a year now, and I've only lost 10 lbs.  I have still 10 lbs to lose to reach my initial weight.  I didn't follow any diet. I have cut down on the portion of meals. And just plain exercice, I did stationary biking regularly at home, but it began to take a toll on my knees.

Since we were going back to Canada on December, we were afraid of gaining weight again because of all the food available during the winter festivities.  As expected, we had so much lobsters and other stuff only available in Canada.  But we did not gain weight.  We hitted the gym in Ottawa and Montreal.  

Back in France, my husband said he misses the gym and is eager to get a membership in a gym nearby.  Gym Membership in North of France is cheap, 33 euros/month.  I wouldn't find that in Canada.  After 2 months of intensive cardio, we haven't lost any weight.  We sure look more toned but it's not enough!  Of course, we have cut down on food, but we must reduce even more.  grrrr!  I guess I would have to eat smaller portions.

Meanwhile on the news these days, they said that red meat is pretty bad for our health.  So I guess I would have to cut down on that too. 

My goals for now, continuing to exercice like a mad woman and eat less meat.

When I was visiting my family in Canada, I have rediscovered Végépâté.  It is such a delight.  It almost tastes like meat pâté.  I tried to make this at home since there's no such thing as végépâté in France. It was not as good as the store bought version.

Can you cut down on meat? what are your favorite vegetarian dishes? Do you have tips to share on weight loss? haaa j'ai faim!

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/meat+linked+higher+risk+premature+death/6299982/story.html

                                                 

Combien y'a-t-il chats?

 

 hum, this is only moss that fell off the roof

There are a least 7 cats on the farm.  Some are even half domesticated, but I don't think they would be able to feed themselves.  The white cat has decided to live inside the house, much to dismay.  The owner wanted a lot of cats so they can chase mice.  Only the female cats do the work. lol