Princeton Review suggested summer activities to help with college admissions:
Princeton Review Suggested Summer Activities
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Friday, May 30, 2025
Princeton Review Suggestions for Summer Activities reposted by Ruth Paget
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Monterey Park District summer activity brochure out reposted by Ruth Paget
In this week’s Monterey County Weekly, there is a brochure from the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District about summer activities around the region. Register early to assure your place.
Happy trekking!
The website has information as well:
Monterey Regional Park District
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Microsoft University Free online Courses reposted by Ruth Paget
Microsoft free online courses are a STEAM resource that is great for summer break learning:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Saturday, May 24, 2025
Khan Academy reposted by Ruth Paget
I share an opinion with Bill Gates that Khan Academy offers excellent online resources for pre-K to grade 12 learners, parents, and educators. I especially like their math resources.
Click for Khan Academy website
My daughter Florence Paget read through Khan Academy when it was first starting out. It is a hidden resource of STEAM education in Silicon Valley.
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Friday, May 23, 2025
Italy in Small Bites Cookbook Reviewed by Ruth Paget
Italy in Small Bites Cookbook Reviewed by Ruth Paget
Italy in Small Bites by Carol Field introduces readers to seasonal and regional snacks with recipes for easy to complex delights that pair well with fruity white wine or lemonade.
Six of the merenda, snacks, that I think should be in everyone’s Italian go-to dish repertoire include:
-frico – cheese melted in butter and allowed to cool.
-bruschetta – toast rubbed with fresh garlic and olive oil
-focaccia, flat bread pizza, with red peppers, garlic, and olives
-polenta bars (Italian corn meal that has solidified) served with Parmesan and grilled purple and crimson radicchio lettuce
-wild mushroom condiment for topping toast made with tomatoes, rosemary, sage, garlic, and pepper
-baked frittata omelets with Parmesan and herbs
Readers who might find Italy in Small Bites by Carol Field useful include:
-bartenders
-winery tasting room workers
-caterers
-servers
-event planners
-resort managers
-cruise directors
General readers might enjoy learning about the history of merenda, which is also part of Italy in Small Bites by Carol Field.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Majorelle: The Lorraine France Touring Game Created by Ruth Paget
Majorelle: The Lorraine France Touring Game Created by Ruth Paget
I named this touring game after one of France’s major decorative arts craftsman Auguste Majorelle (1825 – 1879), a native of Lunéville, France.
Lorraine is a rewarding region to visit for travelers interested in history, art, fine dining, and sips of mirabelle, yellow plum liqueur. The main cities are Metz, Nancy, and Lunéville. The medieval monastery at Gorze is the home of Gregorian chants and sister monasteries in Germany. Verdun is the site of one of the most important battles of World War I.
A two-week tour of the region would provide ample time to visit these places and indulge in some gala meals and shopping. (I have linked my blogs about these places into an itinerary. Click on the links to see the blogs.)
*Metz is a 3,000 year old city. Each district has a different history. The city is set up well for walking tours and has many cafés where you can take a break with a beverage.
Walking Tours:
Day 1: Exploring Franco-German Metz
Day 2: Cathedral District and Downtown
Day 3: May Day Metz
Day 4: Urban Ecology
*Metz Meals:
Day 5: Gala Pork Dinner:
Day 6: Gala Seafood Dinner
*Nancy is a city of majestic public art and decorative arts.
Day 7: Rococo Public Art
Day 8: Art Nouveau Museum
*Lunéville is home to a château inspired by Versailles and a current concert venue
Day 9: Lunéville Château Visit
*Gorze Monastery still uses ancient Roman sewers. You can spot a few Roman aqueducts on the way there. This is the site where Gregorian chants were invented.
Day 10: Gorze Monastery Visit
*Verdun is a major World War I battlefield site with a museum
Day 11: Verdun Museum Visit
I hope this Lorraine touring game will encourage you to think about traveling to Lorraine, France to experience its art and culture, indulge in some delicious food, and learn some history about France’s relations with Germany and Poland.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Monterey Bay Parent Summer Camps Issue reposted by Ruth Paget
Monterey Bay Parents Summer Camps magazine is out. Check out the listings below:
Monterey Bsy Parent Magazine Summer Csmps Issue
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Saturday, May 17, 2025
The All-Purpose Baker's Companion Reviewed by Ruth Paget
The All-Purpose Baker’s Companion Reviewed by Ruth Paget
The All-Purpose Baker’s Companion edited by King Arthur Baking Company is an excellent reference for things bread from around world, cookies, scones, crackers, pies, and cakes.
However, the recipes that convinced me to buy the book are its flour meal recipes (mehlspeisen in German) that help with keeping a household budget low while providing protein and calcium in most cases. The book’s recipes are precise and assist novice and experienced cooks with making the basic recipe easy so they can add ingredients rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin A.
The recipes that have helped me with menu planning over the years include:
-pancakes
-waffles
-French toast
-crêpes
-cheese blintzes
-banana bread
-pumpkin bread
-zucchini bread
-lemon bread
-berry cobblers
-pizza dough
-lemon bar cookies
-croissants
-brioche
Nutritionists might be aghast, but I have eaten all these items along with blueberry muffins and banana walnut muffins when I was a student at the University of Chicago for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I like these dishes, and they are easy to prepare.
Pancakes and waffles are versatile I learned from my Dutch friend’s mother in Detroit (Michigan). You can use syrup, sugar, or jam on them or savory items liked creamed chicken and vegetables. Croissants can also be treated this way.
Knowing how to make Detroit or grandmother pizza is a lifesaver in a blizzard. The pizza dough for this type of pizza is placed in the middle of a rectangular pan and pushed outwards. Spaghetti sauce can double as tomato sauce. There’s big savings in grandma pizza.
Another big money saver is making croissants at home. Use egg wash to give the exterior a crunchy bit.
Readers interested in the following careers might find this book useful:
-fundraisers
-event planners
-chefs
-caterers
-cruise directors
-restaurant managers
General readers might find some tips for lowering household expenses in The All-Purpose Baker’s Companion edited by The King Arthur Bakery Company.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
A Promenade in Aiken, South Carolina by Ruth Paget
A pretty promenade in Aiken, South Carolina:
White chocolate covered ganache filled chocolates for nibbling (above - photo by Ruth Paget)
A cupola topped by a weather vane on the new courthouse allows hot air to rise up out of the building beneath it. A similar cupola sits on top of Mt Vernon in Virginia. (Below - photo by Laurent Paget)
A Palladian inspired window on the old courthouse. Monticello outside Charlottesville, Virginia has similar windows on a smaller scale. - (bottom - photo by Ruth Paget)
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
StubHub sells Broadway, Concerts, Sports reposted by Ruth Paget
StubHub sells Broadway, Concerts, Sports by venue online. They have an app. StubHub.com
Happy scrolling!
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
The Complete Book of Cheese Reviewed by Ruth Paget
The Complete Book of Cheese Reviewed by Ruth Paget
The Complete Book of Cheese: History, Techniques, Recipes, Tips by Anne-Laure Pham and Mathieu Plantive provides readers with all the information they need to obtain the best value for their money when buying elite cheese products, especially French cheese.
The Complete Book of Cheese contains information such as:
-cheese production processes from selection of milk to aging
-French cheese classification system
-cheese buying tips
-pairing suggestions for beverages and food
-cheese board composition ideas depending on event
-cheese recipes for appetizers, savory dishes, and sweet desserts
The French cheese classification system helps with purchasing decisions and is broken down as follows:
-fresh cheese
-blooming-rind cheese
-washed-rind cheese
-uncooked pressed cheese
-cooked pressed cheese
-blue cheese
-goat cheese
-processed cheese
-stretched curd cheese
-whey cheese
Among the cheese recipes, there are recipes for fondue and raclette. These two dishes are quickly eaten and require lengthy preparation time. If you want to make these dishes from scratch, the recipes are well written but require patience.
The recipes I prefer are veal cordon bleu (pan-fried veal with ham and melted cheese), tartiflette (made with potatoes, bacon, onions, and cheese), and a dessert crisp made with Beaufort cheese, pears, and ginger. People interested in the following careers might find
The Complete Book of Cheese useful:
-sommelier
-server
-bartender
-elite grocery store worker
-chef
-caterer
-health inspector
General readers might enjoy the great introduction to the world of cheese in The Complete Book of Cheese by Anne-Laure Pham and Mathieu Plantive.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
78th Cannes Film Festival starts today reposted by Ruth Paget
Click on the link below for information about films being shown at the 78th Cannes Film Festival and news releases:
Cannes Film Festival Media Page
Make a Salade Nicoise to eat while reading each day’s updates!
Salade Nicoise ideas:
A goat cheese and dandelion greens salad would also go well with red carpet viewing;
Goat Cheese and Dandelion Greens Recipe Idea's
Salmon Salade Nicoise Ideas
Happy Film Watching!
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Sunday, May 11, 2025
In Search of Total Perfection Review by Ruth Paget
In Search of Total Perfection Review by Ruth Paget
Readers who like chef’s travel books with recipes will find much to love in In Search of Total Perfection by Heston Blumenthal, owner of The Fat Duck, a 3-star Michelin restaurant in England.
Blumenthal traces the history and industries behind contemporary British favorite menu items including the foreign sounding ones that have been transformed a bit for British tastes. He goes a step further for some recipes by putting gastronomical claims to scientific tests like MRIs.
His rationale for travel is to find the best model to emulate for inclusion on British menus including his own, which drives him to dine on steak at Delmonico’s in New York, Bresse chicken in Burgundy France, and Amadei chocolate for his Black Forest cake among his travel activities.
I am always on the lookout for 3-star Michelin recipes when I read chef’s travel books so I can try some of the simpler recipes at home. The simpler recipes in In Search of Perfection are made up of about 5 to 7 basic recipes that are put together simultaneously by a team of cooks who often outnumber restaurant diners at The Fat Duck.
I love all the sections about the various “industries” that go into making food products mentioned in the book. These sections prompt you to savor and enjoy food rather than gobble it for the dishes described below in this 436-page book:
1-Roast chicken and roast potatoes
2-Chicken tikka masala
3-Peking duck
4-Steak
5-Spaghetti Bolognese
6-Chili con carne
7-Hamburger
8-Bangers and mash
9-Fish and chips
10-Fish Pie
11-Pizza
12-Risotto
13-Black Forest gateau
14-Treacle tart and ice cream
15-Baked Alaska
16-Trifle
In Search of Total Perfection by Heston Blumenthal could help readers interested in the following careers:
-anthropologist
-chef
-restaurant worker
-restaurant critic
-pastry chef
-travel planner
-recipe developer
-cookware salesman
-film crew worker
-restaurant publicist
Readers who would enjoy learning about the history, industries, and science involved in everyday food items will like In Search of Total Perfection by Heston Blumenthal, especially with its bonus recipes given with step-by-step directions.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
Monday, May 5, 2025
French Mustard Chicken Video by Florence Paget posted by Ruth Paget
Florence Paget made her first food video featuring French mustard chicken (poulet a la moutarde).
This is a delicious recipe. The hardest part of making it is browning the chicken.
Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
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