Day trip to Metz, France (2005)

Back in 2005 my family went on a short day trip to Metz, France with some wonderful friends of ours, the Kirks. We went to see the weekend flea market out in front of the old Saint Etienne Cathedral - which features stained glass windows designed by Marc Chagall. The St. Etienne cathedral in Metz, was made in the 14th century by joining together two perpendicular churches: the nave of Saint-Etienne, built in the 13th century, was attached to the north side of an older Roman church. In the 15th century, a transept and a choir were added. This nave is the third highest in France.

On our day visit, we visited the Cathedral, ate some wonderful sweets at a coffee shop located just across the street, and drove around the city a bit before heading back. It was a nice morning and we would have loved to stayed longer but were not able to. Here are some Pict's of our little adventure that day. Hope you enjoy.

Walking down the very narrow "sidewalk"


Along the store fronts there was this little tunnel of stairs leading to private apartments

Some beautifully ornate windows and doors along the way


A neat looking stop light

My daughter and dog walking along the way to the cathedral. My dog Euro felt it was his duty to run and chase the birds away that were walking around the plaza (the people that saw this all laughed and enjoyed watching him at work. It was pretty cute and funny to say the least)


We stopped off at little coffee shop across the way from the cathedral and enjoyed some treats!



The flea market was really big and we were rather busy shopping, but we did manage to get a few Pict's of a few merchants.

Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Metz

The inside...



The Saint Etienne Cathedral is world famous for its stained glass windows by Chagall (below are some of them). Chagall is among the celebrated painters of the 20th century, he is associated with the modern movements after impressionism.

There were some more Pict's I took this day but I've been working on sorting them still. Hope you enjoyed these at least. :D

REESE’S Peanut Butter Cookie Bites (not SB friendly)

These cookies are SOOOO easy to make and are SOOOO Good!!! It's one of the first cookie recipes I learned to make as a child and its one that I've enjoyed over the years as well. I really don't recall where we got the recipe from so I can't really give any credit, but I can pass the recipe on to you all..... Enjoy!

FUN FACT: REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups turn 80 years old in 2008!!!! (for more interesting things about Hershey Products click here)

REESE’S Peanut Butter Cookie Bites (not SB friendly)

To make the cookies:
Take 1 Pillsbury refrigerated Peanut butter cookie log
1 pkg. Reeses Peanut butter cups miniatures, unwrapped

1. Slice the raw cookie log in 1/2 inch slices. Each slice cut in half, and then in half again to make 4 little triangles.
2. Take an ungreased mini muffin tin and place one cookie triangle in each muffin hole.
3. Bake as directed on cookie package.
4. Take out of the oven and place one Reeses Peanut Butter cup on top of each cookie and let melt (I press the candy lightly down into the cookie).
5. Let cool and the pop out and onto a serving plate.
   

Hint:If the cookie seems to stick, run a butter knife around the edge of each cookie to release it. Make sure the cookies cool completely (the chocolate in the candy needs to set up) before serving.

NOTE: I have also made these cookies with a Peanut butter cookie mix. I mixed the cookie dough as directed in the recipe or on the pkg.
Take a little less than 1 Tab of cookie dough and roll into a little ball, placed in the miniature muffin tin as stated above and cook to the time suggested on the cookie recipe or package. After they came out of the oven, and while still hot, I placed a Recesses Peanut butter cup in each cookie center.

ENJOY!!!




YUMMMMMMMY!!!!!!

Lipton's Spinach Dip (p1-2)

I went to a friends pot luck - BBQ a few weeks back and enjoyed some really great food. One of the guests, a friend of mine named Sunny, always comes with many wonderful yummy dishes to share. One of the items she brought to this BBQ - I almost made myself sick from as it was SO good, I couldn't stop eating it. It was a spinach dip with some fresh French bread for dipping. This dip not only looked really pretty and impressive in the pretty serving dish, but it tasted so good!!

I loved the texture as its creamy yet has a bit of a crunch (chopped water chestnuts). I had to inquire about this wonderful dip and was shocked to find out it was as simple as it was. Sunny said she got the recipe from the back of a Lipton's vegetable soup box. How great is that....its good and easy to make! Recently I went to the store and I picked up some Vegetable Soup mix as well as the rest of the ingredients and whipped up some for the family to enjoy. Its a great dip and one that I will defiantly make again!!!! Thanks Sunny for another wonderful recipe!!!!
For other Lipton recipes click here

"Perfect Party Spinach Dip"

1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Vegetable Soup Mix
1 (8oz) sour cream
1 cup Hellmann's Mayonnaise
1 pkg (10oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 can (8oz) water chestnuts, drained and chopped

In medium bowl, combine all ingredients; chill 2 hours. Serve in a pretty dish with your favorite dippers.... like fresh French or Italian bread, crackers, cheese & or assorted veggies. ENJOY!!!

( A note for strict South Beachers: Some people do not recommend Liptons Soup mix due to the high sodium and such in the packets. Others feel that if its not indulged in often than its not a problem. Personally I don't think it would really be that bad if you had this once in a great while and balance it out with loads of veggie dippers. Another suggestion I'd offer is to share this dip with friends and family and not eat it all, like I almost did...ha ha.)

Rum Cake (Not SB friendly)

This wonderful cake recipe comes from a site called: Bake or Break; Adventures of an amateur baker.They have some wonderful recipes so do visit their blog link above.
This recipe is very easy to make and is extremely good. I loved the texture extreme of this cake from the moist butter rum to the slight crunch of the toasted pecans. I made this and took it to a BBQ and everyone LOVED it. Enjoy!
Rum Cake (Not SB friendly)
Cake:

• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 package yellow cake mix
• 1 package instant vanilla pudding
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1/2 cup oil (vegetable or canola)
• 1/2 cup rum

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease/flour/spray a 10-inch tube pan or 12-cup Bundt pan. Sprinkle nuts in the bottom of the pan. Set aside.Mix together cake mix and remaining ingredients. Pour batter into pan over nuts. Bake for about an hour, or until done. Let cake cool.Invert cake onto serving plate. Prick all over the top of the cake with a toothpick.

Rum Glaze:

• 1/2 c butter
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 c granulated sugar (or see note below)
  
• 1/2 cup rum

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in water and sugar. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and gradually add rum while continuing to stir. Drizzle part of the glaze over cake. Allow cake to absorb the glaze. Repeat with remaining glaze until all used.
***Note: As an alternative, use 3/4 cup sugar and add 1/4 cup corn syrup to help prevent the granulated sugar from crystallizing.

Ready to bake








Fresh out of the oven











Just after pouring the butter rum
on top








(this is not a very good picture of the cut cake, but trust me.....Yum!!!!!)