Supper Club Inspiration - Paris

We have scheduled our second New Orleans supper club, and this month's host is considering a garden party if the weather is nice.  I started thinking about where I would draw my inspiration for the next time we host.  A friend of mine who was married last week is in Paris on her honeymoon, and I have been living vicariously through her facebook updates.  And I thought, what better inspiration that the amazing meals we ate in Paris!

I am thinking about starting with mini-Croque Monsiuers.  That is my absolute favorite sandwich in the world.  Imagine how cute they will be!  I think we might have Inz Garten's lemon chicken with croutons over a bed of field greens in a mustard vinaigrette.  Maybe we'll end the night with Meringues Chantilly.   Also in Ina Garten's Barefoot in Paris, this dish is composed of baked meringue, raspberry sauce, whipped cream, and fresh berries.  Deeeelish!

I really can't think of a better place to find inspiration...

All images from my trip with Mark to Paris last May.  

Date Night

Photo Credit

It has been such a busy couple of weeks, that I feel like Mark and I haven't really seen each other.  Don't get me wrong, we've spent a ton of time together, but it was at parades or concerts or parties or weddings.  So tonight we've set aside a bit of time for a date night.  We're going to a great little neighborhood restaurant, Patois, that reminds me of our trip to Paris.  It is the New Orleans version of a French bistro.  We've only been for brunch (which is amazing and very affordable), but we've been dying to get there for dinner.  So tonight's the night! 

The menu is extensive and the options all look incredible.  For starters, I am between the Moules Frites served in a smoky creole tomato broth with saffron aioli and the gnocchi with mushrooms, jumbo lump crab, edamame, and parmigiano-reggiano.  I make it a point to order gnocchi or sweetbreads at every NOLA restaurant we go to.  My current favorite for gnocchi is Restaurant August and for sweetbreads it would be Upperline.

For my main course, I'm leaning toward the hanger steak with red wine and marrow reduction, red onion marmalade, and fries (I know Mark will get this and I will be jealous if I don't) or the almond crusted gulf fish with roasted potato galettes, buttered green beans, and a satsuma menieure (mmm!).

I can't imagine having room left, but the dessert menu is very intriguing.  I'd have to get the carmelized pain perdu.  It comes with bacon ice cream and candied pork belly.  Sweet and salty is my favorite way to enjoy a dessert!

Cheers!

Tasty Tuesdays: Lowfat Turkey Chili Taco Soup

Photo Courtesy of Skinny Taste

It's hard to believe that Mardi Gras was one week ago.  It seems like just yesterday, but it also seems like ages ago.  It's funny how you can plan all year for an event, and in just an instant, it's over.  With Mardi Gras behind us, tax season is in full swing.  That means late nights for this Nola Girl.  

I like having home cooked meals during tax season rather than staying late and eating dinner at the office.  It's nice to spend time with Mark, and eating takeout every night is no good for my hips (especially when work out time is limited).

This soup recipe is one of my favorites!  It's quick and easy and filled with ingredients you likely have in your pantry.  I like to add a little fresh cilantro and some lime juice, but it really is good just as it is.  

Turkey Chili Taco Soup

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes

Servings: 9 • Size: 1-1/4 cups • Old Points: 3 pts • Points+: 5 pts

Calories: 198.8 • Fat: 1.4 g • Carb: 29.7 g • Fiber: 7.0 g  • Protein: 19.5 g

  

• 1.3 lbs 99% lean ground turkey
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 10 oz can rotel tomatoes with green chilies
• 15 oz canned or frozen corn, drained
• 15 oz kidney beans, drained
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 16 oz fat free refried beans
• 1 packet taco seasoning (you can use 40& less sodium)
• 2 1/2 cups fat free low sodium chicken broth

In a large pot, brown turkey on medium heat, breaking up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. When cooked through, add onions and pepper and cook 2-3 minutes. Addtomatoes, corn, beans, tomato sauce, refried beans, taco seasoning and chicken broth. Bring to a boil and simmer about 10-15 minutes.

Serve with a few baked tortilla chips and your favorite toppings such as low fat sour cream, jalapeños, reduced fat cheese, chopped scallions,  onions, or chopped fresh cilantro. Freeze leftovers in individual portions for future meals.

Happy Mardi Gras

We started our day off very early.  I didn't have any creative energy to put together an actual costume, so I threw on Roxy added some gold glitter for eye shadow and green glitter lips.  The little girl who lives next door said I made a great Mardi Gras Maniac.  Tis the season!

My sister, Mark and I went down to the Quarter to look at all of the fabulous costumes.  I would say that the most popular choice this year was the black swan.  There were some really great versions on Bourbon and Royal today.  We met up with some friends and watched as the Krewe of St. Ann made its way down Royal.  What an eclectic group of revelers.  It's so fun to see all of the varied ways people celebrate Fat Tuesday.

As Carnival 2011 comes to an end, I have to say it has been the best one in years.  And while I am sad to see night fall on St. Charles Ave., I am ready to pack away the glitter and the beads and the fake eyelashes and, yes, even Roxy.  Tomorrow we will begin the season of Lent.  We will get our ashes and give up our favorite things and begin a season of sacrifice.

For now, there are still a few hours left.  I will spend them watching Carnival documentaries and the Rex ball on WYES.  

Happy Mardi Gras, yall!

Oh What a Night!

It has been a full 24 hours since the Krewe of Muses hit the streets of New Orleans.  What a fabulous day we had!  I'll have more pictures to post later once they're all downloaded, but I thought I'd give you a sneak peak into our day.

Sarah and I on the Float 19 party bus!  It was awesome.  It came with a Snookie pole, if you know what I mean, a fog machine, and a sweet stereo!  I started the day in my new purple wig named Foxy!  I'm in love with it!!

This wasn't the first time a bunch of blue haired ladies dined at Galatoire's, but non have ever looked this fab!  

We entered the pre-party led by our float lieutenants and our amazing sign!

Sarah and me on the dance floor!!!  We did enough "rain" dancing to keep the bad weather away!

There were two amazing announcements made at the preparty.

The first - we were the winners of the headdress contest!!!!!!!!  This means we get to ride in float one, the title float, in 2011.  I think we screamed for five solid minutes when they made the announcement!!!

Second - You know how much I love the HBO show Treme.  Well.....  they set up three locations along the route to film the parade for one of their upcoming episodes.  How flattering!!!  They know a good thing!

I saw so many of you on the route.  It was truly amazing!  I hope you enjoyed the parade as much as I did!!!

Krewe of Muses 2011 Theme Revealed

YAYYYYYY!!!!

Parade day is finally here!  As you read this, I am putting on my purple wig named Foxy, fabulously long and glittery fake eyelashes, goddess costume, and readying myself for our party bus that will take us to our luncheon at Galatoire's that leads us into our pre-party where we will load our floats that will parade down St. Charled Ave. and drop us off at the CAC for the afterparty featuring Trombone Shorty and the Orleans Avenue.  Whew!  Catch all that?  It's going to be a LONG day, but it will certainly be a fun one.

As you know, Muses theme changes annually and remains a secret until the day of the parade.  Ready?!?!

Krewe of Muses 2011 - Dancing With the Muses

Each of our floats has a title that corresponds with a socially and politically satirical version of your favorite dances.  

This is the drawing of my float...  Cokey Pokey.  We are representing Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Amy Winehouse and their dirty little secrets.

In no particular order here are the others...

Krewe of Muses - Float 19 is Loaded!!!

Woooohoooooo!!!!  Tonight, I spend my evening at Mardi Gras World East loading up my float with all of the extra beads I ordered and the shoes I decorated.  

Look at all those beads!!!

We had to navigate through a den full of floats before we found mine, float #19...

 This is what I saw when I got in my space.  I say space even though that's exactly what we had none of!  Look at all of these goodies.  I spent some quality time with my throws and got them as organized as I could, and what I left with was...

 A walkway, and a slightly less overwhelming pile of trinkets.  I hung the plush animals (portions of the sales when to restore the wetlands!), black and gold footballs, and Museuzelas since they take up so much room.  I stacked my lighter beads in one bag since it's easier to throw those at the earlier part of the route.  The closer you get to downtown, the farther away the crowds are, making it impossible to toss a light weight bead into the crowd.  And I stored my glittered shoes in marked bags that I can have quick access too when I see someone shoe worthy (hint, hint, we LOVE signs).

Well, tomorrow's the big day!  Each year I wonder if the childlike excitement with which I approach this day will go away.  It never has! 

If you happen to be on the route tomorrow, I will be...

on FLOAT #19

DRIVER'S SIDE/NEUTRAL GROUND SIDE

BOTTOM LEVEL

SECOND TO LAST RIDER IN THE WELL