451,000 people may die in heat related deaths according to projections by the Climate Impact Lab at the University of Chicago.
The full report from the University of Chicago’s Climate Impact Lab follows:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
5 French Casserole Recipe Ideas for Personal Chefs by Ruth Paget
Jane Grigson’s Vegetable Book is a weighty cookbook reference book (607 pages) with many European recipes that make excellent use of seasonal produce when flavor should be at its peak and the harvest abundance should keep prices low.
Five French casseroles that Grigson provides recipes for are easy and satisfying dishes that personal chefs at all skill levels can prepare:
*artichoke gratin
-This dish is made in a casserole dish with cooked artichoke bottoms and pulp from the base of the leaves mixed with quartered hard-boiled eggs.
-Mornay sauce (béchamel sauce with grated gruyère cheese mixed in) is poured over the eggs and artichokes.
-Cream is poured over the mornay sauce and bread crumbs are sprinkled on top of the casserole.
-Bake until bubbly.
*Variation 1 on artichoke gratin
-Use mushrooms instead of artichokes to make the casserole.
*Variation 2 on artichoke gratin
-Use spinach instead of artichokes to make this casserole. (Layer the spinach in the bottom of the casserole dish)
*Asparagus Fricassé
-This dish is made with cubed chicken, turkey, veal, or lamb; cooked asparagus, young peas, and béchamel sauce. Bake until bubbly.
*Variation 1 on asparagus fricassee
-Use cubed ham in the recipe and sprinkled bread crumbs on top. Bake until bubbly
Leftovers for all these casserole heat up nicely the next day.
These French casseroles are great market day dinner selections that allow cooks to make use of seasonal produce for flavor and lower purchase price due to harvest abundance.
Jane Grigson’s Vegetable Book is organized in alphabetical order by vegetable name, making it easy to look for familiar and exotic recipes with market purchases in hand.
Happy Cooking!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
El Niño Preparedness Suggestion by Ruth Paget
My husband Laurent kept 1/2 tank of gas at all times when we lived in Stuttgart, Germany where even a normal commute could be delayed by snow storms by up to 45 minutes to an hour.
Having a car run out of gas creates havoc during an evacuation for forest fires or other emergencies.
Our family still follows the German 1/2 tank rule for peace of mind.
We also kept blankets in the car in Germany in case of long delays while traveling.
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Europe + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
We did Taco Tuesday with a hard shell taco party pack with 12 tacos from Taco Bell. (You can opt for soft shells as well.)
The twelve tacos with seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, and cheddar cheese cost $28.66 or about $2.39 per taco.
I think this is a nice Taco Tuesday meal. These tacos are quickly made and come individually wrapped for easy clean up.
As leftovers, the tacos reheat well too.
If you do not want to heat up the house on a hot day, they are a nice option to have in the neighborhood.
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Vincenzo Viyelli, a physics professor at the University of Chicago, has been named a 2026 MacArthur Fellow.
More information about Vitelli’s work and the MacArthur Fellowship follows from UChicago News:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
Booth Chicago explains how jargon, shared professional vocabulary, promotes efficient team work in corporations in the following Booth Review article:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette Making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean is being sold by the University of Chicago Press.
A River Runs Through It is a fictional account of the American West that was initially rejected for publication because it featured too many trees.
Robert Redford directed its film adaptation and writes the foreward for the UChicago Press book.
Purchase information for A River Runs Through It follows:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Vhopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Harvest 2026 Dinner at Pub’s (Growers’ Pub) in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Some welcome cool air prompted my family to go to Pub’s (Growers’ Pub) in late September 2026 for an early harvest dinner at the oldest bar in Salinas, California.
Florence and Laurent began their meal wit generous cups of Monterey Bay clam chowder.
I ordered stuffed fall-weather mushrooms instead of my usual calamari. (Monterey County has some woodsy areas in the Santa Lucia Mountain Range that provide local mushrooms.) The stuffed mushrooms came 8 to a plate and were stuffed with ricotta cheese, chopped bacon, and parsley. The mushrooms were delectable hot bites. I really liked them.
Dinner salads came as starters for the main dishes. Cold baby greens and Thousand Island dressing are a refreshing starter I associate with places like Carl’s Chop House in Detroit (Michigan) where I grew up. I was allowed to go to Carl’s as a treat dinner for behaving well and getting good grades.
As my main dish, I ordered the bone-in pork chop with seasonal vegetables. The pork chop was two inches thick and served with a large portion of vegetables in a sauce that appeared to be cooking juices mixed with honey and Dijon mustard; it was delicious.
The seasonal vegetables were a mixture of summer and winter vegetables for someone who grew up in the midwestern United States like I did. The vegetables included:
-rutabagas
-potatoes
-onions
-yellow Italian squash
-spinach
Florence ate a flat iron steak with a baked potato, and Laurent ordered the halibut special with risotto.
For dessert, Laurent and Florence ate crème brulée. I was full and passed on dessert, but I noticed that Pub’s is offering Bananas Foster on its dessert menu ($24). This is an elaborate flamed dessert, but I might try that on my next harvest meal outing to Pub’s.
Pub’s in Salinas, California is a nice place to experience a country town meal that offers the best of the countryside.
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe's Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Parisian Wine Bar Outing at DeTierra Vineyards Tasting Room in Carmel, California by Ruth Paget
I went out for an unexpected wine tasting at DeTierra Vineyards Wine Tasting Room in Carmel, California.
My husband Laurent and I were exchanging red DeTierra wines for whites, because our daughter Florence Paget is filming food content that mostly features chicken, seafood, and ham dishes. (You can find her videos on Instagram.)
DeTierra is so well organized that they can accommodate a serious taster like Laurent who was sampling DeTierra’s North Coast Brut champagne-method sparkling wine and me who drank a respectable pinot gris to participate in the tasting.
We ordered the cheese, charcuterie, and fruit board ($25) to go with the wine for a light lunch. I liked how this board was organized to appeal to tasters who like Italian, French, and English flavors with their wine.
This generous board was made up of:
-Genoa salami
-San Daniele prosciutto
-cheddar cheese
-brie cheese
-baby Swiss cheese
-whole wheat crackers
-fig jam
-grapes
As I sipped the pinot gris, I told Laurent I was reconnecting with my English heritage as I placed slices of brie cheese on top of the wheat crackers with the fig jam dolloped on top. This creamy, sweet combination did taste good with the mildly sour and refreshing flavor of the pinot gris. (Pinot gris is not as sour as a Portuguese vinho verde, but does have a pleasing sour taste that is good for quenching thirst on a hot day.)
The salty Genoa salami and prosciutto were a nice flavor contrast to the fig jam. The grapes freshened everything up. I liked the board very much, which was surprisingly filling.
We finished our lunch with a Cabernet franc wine used in the Bourguil and Chinon wines of the Touraine region in France.
I enjoyed our impromptu lunch around opening time when the tasting room was not full. DeTierra offers Napa worthy tastings, but it is a nice place to rest up while doing some Carmel business for locals as well. (Located at the corner of Mission and Fifth)
There is even a hidden passageway to the left of the entrance of the tasting room, so visitors can say they know of at least one Carmel secret passageway.
DeTierra's Wine Tasting Room allows you to have a Parisian wine bar experience without leaving California's Central Coast.
Happy Tasting!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
The EU Preparedness Strategy from the European Commission has some useful ideas for the US like having 72 hours (3 days) supply of emergency food and water.
This is not specifically mentioned, but a grill to cook food might be useful even one as small as a hibachi.
The Preparedness Strategy from the European Commission follows:
https://commission.europa.eu/topics/preparedness_en
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
I received digital coupons by email today from Raley’s Nob Hill in Salinas, California for many different varieties of sausage sold at $4.99 for 6 pudgy sausage links including German bockwurst and Polish kielbasa.
Kielbasa is always good cooked with sauerkraut. I brown bockwurst on all sides then add water to the pan let the sausage heat up. I like to eat bockwurst with Dijon mustard from France. I also like pilsner beer with sausage.
These meals are good all winter long not just at Oktoberfest time.
The $4.99 price for the sausage is for Raley’s Nob Hill members in Salinas, California.
You can sign up for the membership app online or in the store.
Making German or Polish sausage at home is like taking a trip to Europe during Oktoberfest.
Nob Hill Salinas, California information follows:
Note: You can chop up this sausage cooked and add it to cooked rice and eggs to make a delicious refried rice.
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
I have used US Census data to put together grants and proposals throughout my life and think the following book published by the University of Chicago Press could be useful and informative:
Data Are Made, Not Found:
A Story of Politics, Power, and the Civil Servants Who Saved the US Census
There is a 30% off discount when using the promotional code in the link to UChicago Press below.
Purchase information for this book follows:
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/1a0d88d74de1a14e
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games+ 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
The Carmel International Film Festival 2026 is taking place from October 1 to October 4.
Festival details and ticket purchase information follow on the festival website:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
Baking at Home Saved Money by Ruth Paget
The $60 rye sourdough bread selling in New York has me thinking that baking more often at home is a good idea.
A tremendous resource for doing this is Mark Bittman’s 2,066-page cookbook How to Bake Everything.
It is $11.99 on Kindle today (9-25-2026). (I originally bought it for $2.99 bought the price has increased.)
Purchase information follows on the link below:
Happy Baking!
By Ruth Paget
Savory Fruit Ideas for Personal Chefs by Ruth Paget
I re-read Jane Grigson’s Fruit Book with more than 400 recipes for both sweet and savory dishes as follow-up reading to my Wisconsin 2026 Dairyland Vacation.
Wisconsin shares the same fall bumper crops with California, and I was looking up savory fruit recipes for apples, pears, plums, and cherries in Grigson’s go-to fruit recipe book featuring mostly European dishes, especially those of France.
Stand-out recipes that help deal with a surfeit of fruit follow:
*For apples
*Cauchoise Salad with Avocado Cream
-This dish comes from the Pays de Caux (chalk country) north of Rouen, France in Normandy where my husband Laurent went to business school.
-This salad is made with a topping of celery, potatoes, apples, lemon juice, walnuts, and cubes of smoked country ham that is served over lettuce. The dressing is based on vinegar and oil with avocado blended in.
*Normandy Pork with Apples and Cream
-This dish is made with pork tenderloin, onions, Calvados (apple brandy), cider, beef stock, and double cream mixed in once the pork is cooked.
-The dish is garnished with sautéed, sliced apples
*For Pears
*Pickled pears to served with ham, salt pork, or duck -For this dish, you pickle pears in a solution of sugar, vinegar, water, cloves, all spice, and cinnamon sticks
*For Plums
*Pork in the Vosges Style
-This dish calls for yellow mirabelle plums and 3 cooking vessels.
-First, you brown the pork in a Dutch oven and cook it with 2 cups of white wine either stovetop or in the oven.
-Then, you sauté chopped onions slightly in one pan and simmer the mirabelle plums in water in another pan
-When the pork is done cooking, you place the onions on a serving platter with the pork on top of the onions. Next, you place the plums around the pork with the mirabelle cooking juices spooned over the pork.
*For Cherries
*Pickled cherries can be served as part of an hors d’oeuvres tray to go with sparkling wines and kirs made with sweet white wines.
-These cherries are preserved in a solution made up of white wine vinegar, brown sugar, cloves, juniper berries, lemon peel, and cinnamon sticks
Note: The French routinely use surplus fruit to make brandies, eau-de-vie for drinking or cooking (calvados-apple brandy, Poire-Williams – pear brandy, mirabelle – yellow plum brandy, and kirsch – cherry brandy)
Jane Grigson’s Fruit Book mostly provides recipes for sweet dishes, but her savory fruit recipes not only taste good, but they can save you money when they arrive in fall. (I am assuming that abundant supply keeps the price down.)
Fruit lovers and personal chefs can find many creative ways to deal with seasonal fruit for immediate consumption and to preserve for the winter months in Jane Grigson’s Fruit Book. Restaurants and personal chefs might be interested in offering pickled fruit products as add-on products using the recipes in Grigson’s book as well.
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Austrian baker Tim Auer of New York City is selling rye sourdough bread for $60 a loaf. It sold out on the first day of sale.
Details about why the bread costs so much follow in People:
https://people.com/new-york-city-bakery-goes-viral-for-selling-60-bread-12132692
Ad Astra Bread Company in Monterey, California is very reasonable compared to New York rye sourdough.
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Good Deal on Roasting Chicken at Raley’s Nob Hill in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
I received a digital coupon for Foster Farms Whole Fryer chicken at .$.97 cents per pound today as a Raley Nob Hill member.
That is a good price.
A simple dish you can make with this is lemon - garlic chicken stuffed with used lemon rinds, garlic, and thyme. Potatoes can go around the chicken that sits on a bed of chopped onion with a cup of olive oil and lemon juice drizzled over everything.
I use a covered metal Granite baking pan to hold these items and bake in a preheated 450-degree oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
This tastes great with a good Pilsner like Pilsner Urquell from the Czech Republic.
You can boil the carcass with onions, carrots, and celery and skim the surface to make a good broth you can freeze in ice cube trays and eventually store in a ziploc bag to add to soups.
Note: I always think of the town of Menton in France’s southeastern corner when I make this dish. Menton is the lemon capital of France.
Note: You can sign up to get the members app online or in-store.
Happy Cooking!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
The University of Chicago Aims of Education Address promotes the value of a liberal education for creating agile minds needed in the 21st century.
English professor Kenneth Warren will deliver the Aims of Education address on September 24, 2026 at Rockefeller Chapel.
The Address will be webcasted.
More details about the speaker and Aims of Education Address follow:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
Fish Ideas for Personal Chefs by Ruth Paget
I read Jane Grigson’s Fish Book (563 pages organized by 52 species of edible fish with an index) as a follow-up to my Wisconsin 2026 Dairyland Vacation.
Grigson mostly deals with ocean fish, but her techniques and sauces work with freshwater fish too, which abound in Wisconsin’s rivers like the Wisconsin River and the Fox River and bordering Great Lakes.
When I was a child growing up in Detroit (Michigan), my mother took me on driving vacations from Detroit that led us through Gary (Indiana) and Chicago (Illinois) on the way to the relatives’ homes outside Madison, Wisconsin.
My grandparents had a cabin on the Wisconsin River, which runs to the Mississippi River, where we ate bass filets fried in bacon grease with hand-mashed potatoes. A side of canned green beans rounded out the North Woods meal. This is one of my favorite Wisconsin memories.
Grigson’s fish book provides recipes from around the world that work with fish from any US state. Her seasoned butters, sauces, and mayonnaise toppings provide easy, great variety for poached or fried fish:
-anise butter made with licorice-flavored pastis and butter that you can just melt on fish and sides like rice pilaf
-orange butter made with bitter Seville orange juice. This butter lightens fried fish and adds perkiness to pilafs and peas
-sauce au cidre gets is equally perky flavor from dry apple cider
-Pernod remoulade is a mayonnaise made with licorice-flavored Pernod mayonnaise
Four stand-out recipes that personal chefs might be interested in include:
-clam farcies (stuffed clams) made with a mixture of mushrooms, bacon, parsley, and chopped clams served on clam half shells
-cod with mushrooms made by frying cod and serving it with sautéed mushrooms on top.
-mullet baked with licorice-flavored fennel and pastis
-mullet Charente style, which is sautéed and then baked briefly with tomatoes, parsley, garlic, dry white wine, and Parmesan cheese
Fish lovers, personal chefs, and lovers of French food can all find delicious recipes to try in Jane Grigson’s Fish Book, which remains a classic recipe book.
Happy Cooking!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Make it Monday for Home Cooked Meal Night Ideas by Ruth Paget
-Pasta with butter, shredded Swiss cheese, and strips of prosciutto with boiled eggs on the side or in the pasta. Pasta made from 00 flour has a high protein count.
This is a modified Schinkennudeln (ham and noodle pasta dish) from Germany that is a baked casserole there.
I have eaten this for years and like it.
-Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwiches are also good
-I have made breakfasts for dinner too. (Bisquick pancakes and syrup are all-American dinners in my book.)
Note: Walmart carries all these ingredients at a reasonable price. There are two Super Center Walmart Stores in Salinas - one on North Davis and one on North Main. Target on North Main generally carries these products as well. Costco sells jugs of maple syrup.
Happy Cooking!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lesson written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Rancho Day, a free family day event is going to be held at the Adobe in Salinas, California on September 26, 2026.
This event will feature:
-historical re-enactments
-blacksmithing
-dancing charro horses
-cowboy roping
-produce sales
-food trucks
Details about this event from the Monterey County Weekly Online Calendar follow:
Have fun!
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture blogs
-writer of 1900+ Central coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory blogs
The Monterey County Weekly Online Community Calendar lists a West Coast Shellfish Boil with a side of Paella at the Esteban Restaurant in Monterey, California on Monday nights.
This looks like a really good deal at $30 per person with free parking.
Details from the Monterey County Weekly’s online calendar follow:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
The Northern California Renaissance Faire is Coming Up in September and October 2026 in Hollister, California!
The Northern California Renaissance Faire is being held from September 20 - October 25, 2026 in Hollister, California.
Information about the Renaissance Faire and ticket purchase details follow:
Have fun!
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about Dan Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
The Malaysia inspired Malaya tea room in Alameda, California offers a nice afternoon tea service. Everything looks very appetizing and pretty generous.
The following TikTok video shows what Malaya offers:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTUKqWACC/
Pinkies up!
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 190+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Shallow Pot Pasta Boiling Benefits by Ruth Paget
When I first saw Giada de Laurentis boil pasta in a shallow pot, I thought that was a very safe method.
You lift cooked pasta out with tongs and can easily transfer it to a skillet of sauce next to it on the stove. You can let hot water cook before emptying the pot.
The following blog also states that cooking pasta this way saves energy and money as well:
https://www.tastingtable.com/1442548/boil-noodles-shallow-pan-time-saving-pasta-hack/
A little food for thought.
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
This article in the Monterey County Weekly about a high school with a coffee shops job skills class in Seaside, California looks interesting:
A lot of coffee shop seem to be offering food options in addition to diners and fast food chains that make them a growth industry.
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games such as Vienna, Matcha, and Ballotin
Educator Night complete with mahjong lessons is October 2, 2026 at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, California.
Details about attending follow on the link below as well as information about upcoming exhibitions:
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_personal/1a0b6c05943f617a
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
$2.49 per pound for fresh pork loin at Raley’s Nob Hill in Salinas, California for Raley’s Members reposted by Ruth Paget
I received a digital coupon today for Raley’s Nob Hill members for ogress pork loin roast sold at $2.49 per pound for Raley’s members.
You can sign up for the membership app online or apply in the store.
A good recipe for roast pork loin is made with prunes like they make it in France’s Touraine region.
I have posted a recipe for roast pork loin with prunes below from the Pardon Your French website:
https://www.pardonyourfrench.com/braised-pork-loin-with-prunes-porc-aux-pruneaux/
The recipe is easy to put together. I like to drink Sauvignon Blanc with this dish to offset the sweetness in the prunes.
This is a nice recipe for a personal chef to know how to make.
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Centet
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
-
Gaming Takes Over the LA ComicCon from October 30 - November 1, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Details about this year’s ComicCon and ticket purchase information follow:
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/1a0b54644501349f
Game on!
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
3 Oktoberfests are Happening in Monterey, California in 2026!
Peter B’s brewpub at the Portola Hotel in Minterey, California will be celebrating Oktoberfest between September 19 - 24, 2026 (except on Wednesdays).
Details about Oktoberfest at Peter B’s in Monterey, California follow:
https://www.portolahotel.com/events/oktoberfest-at-peter-bs
Alvarado Street Brewery downtown will also host an Oktoberfest on September 20, 2026 at Colton Hall. Details follow:
Oktoberfest at Tipsy Putt Monterey Information:
https://tipsyputt.com/event/oktoberfest-at-tipsy-putt/
There will probably be some impromptu celebrations elsewhere.
Prost!
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Carmel Valley Uncorked Wine Tasting and Paella Dinnet is being held on October 11, 2026 at Jerome’s Carmel Valley Market in Carmel Valley, California.
Ticket purchase information follows:
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/1a0b0f66a929e6f5
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Forbes magazine placed CSU - Monterey Bay 4th amongst California’s universities with a suburban campus.
The staff, faculty, and students are all working hard.
Forbes is especially impressed with job skills outcomes that the university focuses on.
The CSUMB announcement follows:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Baked Salmon with Honey-Dill Sauce Made and Filmed by Florence Paget reposted by Ruth Paget
My daughter Florence Paget filmed herself making baked salmon with honey-dill sauce for a quick weeknight dinner with green beans on the side.
Salmon actually swim down from Washington to Northern California, so we can easily find them at the store.
If you bake salmon yourself, it is about half the price you would pay for a ready-to-bake fish at the store.
Florence’s recipe is easy to put together, and is something my French mother-in-law would have liked.
Florence’s TikTok video of her recipe for baked salmon follows:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTUt9ScTy/
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle games
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
AA Large cage free, 18-count eggs are $2.99 for members at Raley’s Nob Hill I saw in my Raley’s members email today.
You can sign up for the Raley’s Nob Hill app online or in store.
I have a recipe for refried rice using eggs that follows:
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2022/05/california-refried-rice-recipe-by-ruth.html?m=1
Happy shopping and cooking!
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
San Jose State University will join a $30 million dollar National Science Research Center funded by National Science Foundation studying turbulence in various systems from the atmosphere to oceans.
More information about this initiative involving expertise in AI technology follows:
https://blogs.sjsu.edu/newsroom/2026/nsf-tempest/
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
In my weekly Raley’s Nob Hill members email I saw that thighs and drumsticks are $1.47 per pound today(9-16-2026).
Nob Hill in Dalinas, California carries these items while supplies last. You can sign up for the membership app online or sign up for the Raley’s member program in the store.
One recipe that you can make with these items is coq au vin - video follows:
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/09/coq-au-vin-made-and-filmed-by-florence.html?m=1
You can also make French mustard chicken with thighs and drumsticks:
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/09/french-mustard-chicken-made-and-filmed.html?m=1
Bon Appeti!
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage travel games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley history Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
My daughter Florence Paget has made a Final Cut of her ranch dressing recipe using measures for seasonings in her dressing, which bring all the flavor and balance to the final dressing.
The TikTok video follows:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTUgT1UyN/
I like this ranch dressing with broccoli slaw in addition to traditional salads.
This simple dressing is fun to make with children who seem to eat salad if they can have ranch dressing, This ranch dressing is also a good dip for vegetables at a party.
Happy Cooking!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about Dan Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9music theory games
Readers interested in archaeology might be interested in the following book from the University of Chicago Press on sale today for $1.99 on Kindle:
The Early History of the Ancient Near East: 9000 - 2000 BC by Hans J. Nissen
Purchase information follows:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EZ8OKQC?_bbid=360215990&tag=core_cohort_a_email-20
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
The University of Chicago Press is offering six books for sale for Hispanic Heritage Month including The Female Vampire and The Lighthouse Tattoo.
Purchase information about the books follows:
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/1a0aa33ae26f35f4
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
-
The University of Chicago Obama Foundation has named its 2026 -2027 scholars who will pursue work in community development.
Biographies of the scholars follow:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, ZMartying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
The University of Chicago Press is distributing Reaktion Press book Medieval Guide to Healthy Living by Katherine Harvey.
The University of Chicago writes that medieval medical concerns resemble many that we have in the 21st century.
Book purchase information follows:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Nutritious Norwegian Lefse Potato Bread by Ruth Paget
After eating at Norske Nook in DeForest (Wisconsin) on my 2026 Wisconsin vacation there, I purchased The Last Word on Lefse: Heartwarming Stories – and recipes too by Gary Legwold as trip follow up reading and as a souvenir.
From the opening sentence, you can see that Legwold wants to preserve a cooking tradition that is practiced by Norwegian grandmothers but not by children and almost no grandchildren.
The tradition that Legwold is researching and writing about is the making of Norwegian potato lefse bread by home cooks. Lefse provided early Norwegian pioneers in the Upper Midwest of the United States by the Canadian border with food during harsh winters. In Europe, lefse is important for sustaining the Norwegian population during the German occupation of Norway during World War II.
Corporations took over the role of making lefse for many people and ship it all around the US to Norwegian-Americans. Legwold visited several firms making lefse first, but sought out the grandmothers who make lefse from boiled potatoes not instant mashed potatoes.
When he found grandmothers who made lefse in towns of 2,000 in Minnesota, for example, Legwold documented how they made lefse in step-by-step photographs in his book. The steps break down as follows in lefse making:
1-boil potatoes
2-mash potatoes
3-put mashed potatoes through a potato rice
4-add recipe ingredients to form a dough and roll dough into thin sheets
5-cook the dough sheets on a griddle turning once
6-fold the cooked lefse into triangles
Obtaining thin sheets of dough is difficult. Dough tears when it is rolled thin. Legwold suggests using a pastry sheet over a grooved Norwegian rolling pin and placing dough on a pastry sheet on a board to roll out.
Legwold provides several recipes for sweet and savory lefse. Legwold’s grandmother’s recipe calls for:
-riced potatoes
-flour
-margarine
-carnation milk
Potato lefse provides carbohydrates for energy, protein, Vitamin C, potassium, and some Vitamin B6.
I am not Norwegian (perhaps by osmosis), but as a former small town Wisconsin dweller, I have attended lutefisk suppers where potato lefse is served. I like it with butter, but many people eat it with butter, cinnamon, and sugar.
Based on its nutrition profile, I think lefse is worth learning how to make for potato lovers.
People interested in recording how traditional foods are made in their family might The Last Word on Lefse by Gary Legwold to be a useful guide. Anthropologists and historians might like this book as a guide for this reason as well.
Note: Lefse is usually eaten as part of a lutefisk dinner. My blog about Legwold’s book on lutefisk follows along with general notes on Norwegian culture:
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-last-word-on-lutefisk-reviewed-by.html?m=1
Happy Eating!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe's Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novogod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcanagel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
My daughter Florence Paget made French Mustard Chicken with Dijon mustard (poulet à la moutarde) recently.
This French pantry specialty makes a grand lunch approachable for everyone who would like a taste of French culture.
Florence’s TikTok video follows:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTU9BQJuq/
Bon appetit!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
I learned on TimTok today that Mexico was named the world’s #1 cuisine for 2026 by Travel & Tour magazine.
I have reposted the announcement I saw in the link below:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fernandacortesx/video/7683727040704498974?_r=1&_t=ZP-99eYTFJzGTm
TikTok has some information on Mexican food being protected by UNESCO. (The other UNESCO protected food is French.)
I have listed the TikTok UNECO information on Mexican food below:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTUuNhwwA/
We have some great places in downtown Salinas, California for Mexican food for diners interested in Mexican food:
Villa Azteca
Michael’s
Taquito’s (across from the Salinas Sports Complex - Rodeo on Main Street behind the Steinbeck Center about 4 blocks away from downtown)
Super Pollo - South Salinas
Guadalajara Grill - South Salinas
Burn provecho!
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
High school students interested in scholarships to study abroad or hosting students from overseas can start researching what is available now at Youth for Understanding’s website below:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central CoastCalifornia lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
The Festa Italia 2026 will be held from September 11 - 13, 2026 in Monterey, California.
The festival features food, entertainment, and bocce ball.
A link to the festival website follows (the headline is cut off on phones, but everything else fits):
https://festaitaliamonterey.org/
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
-creator of online exhibits San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Oceanside Terrace Meal at the C Restaurant, part of the IHG Hotel Group, on Cannery Row in Monterey, California by Ruth Paget
My husband Laurent, our daughter Florence Paget, and I went out for a festive fall meal at the C Restaurant on Cannery Row in Monterey, California.
We sat on the oceanside outdoor terrace where all seats are good ones, if you like a cool ocean breeze. (Heaters are available.) We ate a hearty 4-course meal and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves by the bay.
Laurent and Florence began their meal with generous bowls of clam chowder. I ordered my favorite deep-fried calamari that was fried with green beans that resembled tempura and flavored with deep-fried orange slices to give this dish a somewhat sweet flavor. I loved the chipotle-aioli garlic mayonnaise that was pungent and spicy at the same time.
Laurent and Florence ate superlative prawn and Dungeness crab with thick-ribboned pappardelle pasta as their main dish.
I ordered the white corn ravioli stuffed with homemade ricotta cheese that sat on a bed of sautéed Bloomsdale spinach. The ravioli was topped with sautéed chanterelle mushrooms, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and tarragon-butter. That was delicious. I enjoyed every bite of it. (Laurent also let me try some of the superlative seafood pasta, too.)
For our third course, we ordered the Farmhouse Cheese Platter that came with:
-orange mimolette cheese from France
-creamy Brillat Savarin from France
-Iberico Curado from Spain, which resembles manchego
-dried fruit chutney – super sweet
-brown bread crostini baked with dates and chestnuts
Florence ordered the butter-sautéed brioche with ice cream as dessert to share. That was delicious as well.
I love living in a region where I can eat meals like this about 30 minutes sway from my home in Salinas, California.
Thank you Monterey, California for the lovely fall 2026 meal.
Note: When Laurent and I lived in Paris, we would go to oceanside restaurants in Deauville and Honfleur to eat. We would also go Laurent’s paternal grandmother’s house in Sables-d’Olonne on the Atlantic Coast and do the same thing. (All good memories that involved eating lots of raw oysters with sancerre wine.)
Bon Appetit!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
I read a McKinsey Insights article entitled “How do we Reach Global Prosperity by 2021?” Published on August 5, 2026.
This article defines Switzerland’s average personal income of $80,000 as the prosperity goal for all adults by 2100.
McKinsey did not provide a link to copy, but you can find this article, if you have the McKinsey Insights app.
What is helpful in this article is setting the dollar amount goal instead of a vague term like better income, which can be a very different amount for different people.
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
Three important take-aways from the 2025 World Health Organization’s Report on Global Food Insecurity via include:
1-On a global scale, food insecurity deceased
2-Rural areas experience more food insecurity
3-The cost of a healthy meal has increased globally
The report follows at the link below:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Relatively Low-Cost Fall Vegetable Sheet Pan Bake by Ruth Paget
Fall vegetables are easy to cook, if you bake them on a sheet pan. They are a great personal chef item.
I often made fall vegetables this way when I lived in Wisconsin outside Madison. I would eat them with cheddar cheese on the side and a glass of low-sugar cranberry juice.
I thought I had a pretty good lacto-ovo vegetarian meal this way. There was calcium and protein in the cheese, vitamin C in the cranberry juice, and many nutrients in the vegetables. Iron was the one nutrient missing in large quantities in this meal, so I did eat chicken and beef at other meals with the express purpose of obtaining some iron.
The cost of this meal was very low in Wisconsin. I could take one or two of each vegetable and still get a pretty nice meal together.
The following is very loose recipe whose quantities can change depending on what is available at the supermarket or market:
Ingredients:
-1 cup olive oil
-crushed garlic and/or shallots
-potatoes cut into fourths
-carrots cut into fourths
-turnips cut into fourths
-rutabagas cut into fourths
-celery cut into two-inch sections
-red onions cut into fourths
-sea salt
-thyme or herbes de Provence
Steps:
1-Place olive oil and crushed garlic and/or shallots in a large bowl.
2-Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
3-Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
4-Add the chopped vegetables and turn them with a spoon to thoroughly coat them in olive oil and garlic.
5-Place the vegetables on the sheet pan and place them in the oven. Bake the vegetables for ½ hour. Take the vegetables out and place them on a counter. Close the oven door to retain heat. Starting at a top-left edge, begin to methodically turn over every vegetable on an opposite side.
6-Place the vegetables back in the oven and cook for another ½ hour from the time you place them back in the oven.
7-Poke the vegetables with a fork to test for doneness. Carrots, turnips, and rutabagas take the longest to cook. If you want very tender vegetables, cook the vegetables another 15 minutes or finish them up in the microwave.
8-Season with sea salt and thyme leaves or herbes de Provence.
Note: This blog is also a follow-up to my Wisconsin 2026 Vacation series of blogs.
Bon Appétit!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about Dan Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making,and the Carmel Valley History Center
-writer of 1900+ Central Coadt California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
The University of Chicago has already raised $100 million as part of a $300 million initiative to fund scholarships for students from rural and small town backgrounds at the university.
For more information about this initiative, I have posted a link below from the University of Chicago News:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
Coq au Vin Made and Filmed by Florence Paget reposted by Ruth Paget
My daughter Florence Paget made coq au vin, a French chicken stew made with wine, and filmed herself doing it in the following TikTok video:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTUU3FuYS/
Coq au vin is a nice dish that you can cook with drumsticks, thighs, and wings even.
Bon appetite!
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Super Useful Lemons from Costco in Sand City (outside Monterey), California by Ruth Paget
On my family’s recent outing for groceries, we bought a 3-pound bag of lemons for $5.99 (as of 9-5-2026) at the Costco in Sand City, California outside Monterey.
Some quick and easy uses for lemons include squeezing it in or over the following items:
-iced Darjeeling tea
-Italian sparkling water
-lemonade
-fruit salad
-poached or fried fish
-rice pilaf
-deep-fried Monterey Bay calamari (squid)
I also learned from my Greek-American roommate’s mom that you can add lemon to:
-homemade or canned chicken noodle soup - (if you are using canned chicken noodle soup, you might want to add crushed garlic and chopped parsley as well)
-roast chicken and potatoes along with garlic, olive oil, and oregano before roasting it
-purée of canned white cannellini beans with lemon juice, crushed garlic, salt, white pepper, and olive oil for a simple bean dip – (I also have done this with black beans and borlotti beans to make simple dips)
My favorite lemon recipe to make with lemons is marinated lemon and garlic shrimp that I put on skewers and grill with oregano sprinkled on at the end with sea salt. I made this all the time when I lived in polar vortex Germany during a swine flu epidemic and believe this dish saved my life.
These are my favorite savory dishes to make with lemons. For sweet dishes, I like lemon meringue pie and lemon bar cookies.
Happy Cooking!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe's Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
I purchased The New Vegetarian Cookbook: 500+ Recipes for a Lifetime of Great Meals by America’s Test Kitchen today for $4.99 on Amazon Kindle today (9-8-2026).
I like just about anything America’s Test Kitchen produces. I have posted a link to the 639-page book below:
Amazon might be doing double points today as part of its rewards program.
Happy Cooking!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
-
Watermelon Harvest is in at Trader Joe’s in Marina, California by Ruth Paget
While out shopping with my family this weekend, I saw seedless watermelons advertised for $5.99 (price as of 9-5-2026) at Trader Joe’s in Marina, California by CSU-Monterey Bay.
Seedless watermelons are perfect for a Greek salad I ate when I would go to Greek – American backyard parties with my college roommate from the University of Chicago.
There are online recipes for the following salad, but many seem to use sweeter salad dressings than I recall for this salad.
My very loose recipe for this harvest salad follows:
-seedless watermelon cut into squares
-feta cheese cut into squares
-peeled and sliced cucumbers
-1/2 sliced red onion (It is tempting to use more red onion, but it can quickly overpower the flavor of a dish so taste as you add, if you add more.)
-seeded black Kalamata olives
-lemon and olive dressing with oregano
This salad was chilled with the dressing tossed into it right before serving. We ate slices of Greek bread with the salad to soak up the dressing and watermelon juices.
The Greek watermelon salad quickly transported me from Skokie, Illinois to Crete in Greece with a glass of bitter retsina wine or sweeter roditis wine when we were older.
For watermelon memories in Monterey County California, Trader Joe’s in Marina has easy-to-work-with seedless watermelons on sale now.
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe's Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
Once Labor Day is over, take inventory of your bar and restock.
BevMo has locations in Salinas and Carmel ( California) with lots of parking.
I went to Tierra Liquor and Deli today (Labor Day) and saw they have a large selection of red wine for sale too. They are located at the crossroads of Corral de Tierra Road and Highway 69.
Fall is a great season for making Burgundy beef.. (October is called the slaughter month in many cultures for the killing of surplus number of farm animals before winter). The recipe for Burgundy beef is pretty easy. I have attached below my daughter Florence Paget’s video of how to make Burgundy beef:
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/08/boeuf-bourguignon-video-filmed-by.html?m=1
The beauty of Burgundy beef is that you can make it with stewing beef that is less expensive to buy and still obtain tender beef at the end of cooking. Our family uses pinot noir wine to make this dish.
There is also a Belgian French dish called carbonnade that is beef braised in dark beer that is often made in fall.
Jacques Pepin has a recipe for carbonnade in Food and Wine on the link below:
https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/carbonnade-la-flamande-flemish-beef-stew
Another French recipe that features wine as a stewing liquid is coq au vin. My daughter Florence Paget made coq au vin and filmed herself cooking in the following video:
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/09/coq-au-vin-made-and-filmed-by-florence.html?m=1
My blog on sustainable wine practices explains how to make wine vinegar from old wine:
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/sustainable-wine-culture-practices-in.html?m=1
Clearing out the bottles of summer party wine clears the way for the Beaujolais Nouveau.
Happy Cooking!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1000+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
-
Double Protein Greek Yogurt Personal Chef Recipes by Ruth Paget
As a follow-up read after a visit to the Athens Restaurant in Westport (WI) on 2026 Wisconsin summer vacation with my husband Laurent, I read The Greek Yogurt Kitchen: More than 130 Delicious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal by Toby Amidor.
Amidor is a registered dietician and writes that the reason Greek yogurt is so good for you is that it is regular yogurt that is strained. The concentrated result that is left has twice the protein of regular yogurt. Greek yogurt has a large amount of calcium and probiotics, making it good for bones and gut health, too.
Amidor goes into more detail about the benefits of Greek yogurt in the book, but increased protein, calcium, and probiotics are enough to sell me on the product.
(For example, I routinely drink kefir, a drinkable yogurt following a Ukrainian recipe in the morning. Kefir is sour and thick, which puts off many people, but the health benefits outweigh the taste for me.)
One of Amidor’s first recipes in the book is for tzatziki sauce made with paper-thin cucumber slices you obtain using a microplane slicer, Greek yogurt, olive oil, salt, and white pepper. I ate this refreshing sauce with a gyro sandwich at the Athens Restaurant in Westport (Wisconsin), which has encouraged me to see out Greek yogurt recipes for health benefits in Amidor’s book.
Two crustless quiche recipes seem very easy to make since they resemble casseroles and can be made in three steps.
The first recipe is for a crustless broccoli and cheddar quiche made in three steps:
1-Sauté the vegetables in oil and then place them in the bottom of a casserole dish.
2-Plae shredded cheddar cheese on top of the vegetables.
3-Place the egg, milk, and Greek yogurt mixture on top of the cheese and bake.
The crustless mushroom recipe in made in a similar manner.
Amidor’s true genius dish is a puréed white bean dip made with canned white cannellini beans, olive oil, Greek yogurt, salt, and paprika. This dip can easily be made with pantry ingredients and is very good for you. Vegetables and cheese crackers can be used for dipping.
Personal chefs and caterers can find many healthy recipes to suggest clients in The Greek Yogurt Kitchen: More than 130 Delicious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal by Toby Amidor (available on Amazon Kindle), which make this book a useful purchase.
Note: Tierra Liquor and Deli located at the cross section of Highway 68 and Corral de Tierra Road outside Salinas, California sells Greek yogurt, feta cheese, Greek dips and spreads, and Greek soups. These items are stored in refrigerated cabinets.
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe's Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
I bought Istanbul by Ozlem Warren today on bookbub.com for $1.99.
I bought Istanbul based on Caitlin Blue’s review of it on TikTok. I especially liked the photos she showed from the book.
I am looking forward to reading this book and trying some appetizer recipes.
A link to the book in site follows, which links to Amazon Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4FGMSWR?_bbid=358775407&tag=core_cohort_a_email-20
Happy Cooking!
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games