Parisian Soirée: Paris-Themed Event Inspiration

Wouldn't it be most splendid to ring in my Champagne 30th Birthday with the la tour Eiffel shimmering in the background?
However, our budget this year unfortunately will not allow my dreams of a Party in Paris to materialize.
That does not mean I can't bring Paris to me!

As my 30th birthday approaches, classic Carol of course is already googling and thinking about how I can make my day extra special. It's only 9 weeks and 4 days away.....

I know I shouldn't even be the one handling this (it's my birthday after all), but the event planner in me just can't help it!
I may not even have a big shindig, but a gal can dream and conjure up the perfect Parisian party in my head can't I? Sure I can.

If you love Paris as much as I do, and are looking for some très beau inspiration, look no further!
I scoured the net trying to find chic and lovely Parisian-themed party ideas without it being overly chichi or childish.
Check out my vision boards below (click on photo for larger image)!

What's a Parisian Party without pâtisseries délicieuses?

And of course, there needs to be lots of fresh and darling flowers too!

Photo by Sarah Yates Photography

You will surely make this an event you will never forget!
Paris is always a good idea.

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A Taste of Paris: Dempster's® Farmhouse™ Country White Bread Review & Giveaway

I still remember the tantalizing scent of fresh bread being made in a Parisian boulangerie.  You can never forget that aroma.

When we were staying in a Pied-à-Terre in Paris, there was a local Boulangerie situated just a few steps away but when those windows were open, especially early morning, you would catch a whiff of baking bread.  Oh my goodness was it heavenly.  Some mornings, my husband and I would drift over there following the enticing trail and choose from a variety of freshly made french bread (we love baguettes!) to bring back the the apartment for a petit-déjeuner (small breakfast) coupled with freshly brewed coffee.

My name is Carol and I am addicted to Carbs. Guilty.as.charged.

When I was introduced to Dempster's® Farmhouse™ Country White Bread my mind instantly went back to my memories in Paris.  The thickness and texture of the bread reminded me of the fresh thickly cut slices of bread I would have there. It's perfect for dipping or coupled with some warm, hearty soup.  One of my favourites during the colder months is French Onion Soup.
This bread goes superbly with it! Try this easy dinner recipe tonight!

French Onion Soup
Adapted from Love Paris, Love Food by Kate Whiteman

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup unsalted butter (splurge for the French butter!)
• 1 1/2 pounds onions, very thinly sliced
• 1 t sugar
• 2/3 cup dry white wine (or substitute water if you don't have any on hand)
• 5 cups good beef stock (I cheat and make 5 cups using Better Than Bullion beef cubes from the grocery store.)
• Salt and pepper
• Toasted slices of bread (preferably Dempster's® Farmhouse™ Country White Bread or a baguette)
• 1 3/4 cups freshly grated Gruyere cheese

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, add the onions. Sprinkle with sugar and saute for about 5 minutes. The onions will start to caramelize.
2. Turn the heat down as low as possible and cook the onions very gently for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure they don't burn. The onions will become very soft and a deep nutty brown.
3. Add the wine and let it bubble for a few minutes. The alcohol will burn off, leaving the wine flavor behind. Pour in the beef stock and stir. Scrape any onions from the bottom of the pan.
4. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer the soup for 30 minutes.

Fancy Finish
Season the soup with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into individual heatproof bowls. Heat the broiler to high. Float the sliced bread on top of the soup and sprinkle with freshly grated Gruyere cheese. Place the soup bowl under the broiler until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown.

Easy Finish
Season the soup with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into individual bowls, floating sliced bread on the top. Top with freshly grated Gruyere cheese.

Bon Appétit!

My family and I both absolutely love this bread.  Dempster's has never disappointed with any of their baked goods and definitely hit it on the nail with this new recipe.

I put it to the test with my 4 year old bon vivant, aka the peanut butter and banana sandwich expert, to see if it was a hit or miss.
Sure enough, she loved it!

For more updates, recipes, cool contests and giveaways and more, make sure you're following Dempster's on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.

There's so much you can make with this bread, I want to give you the opportunity to try it out for yourself.

Two of my readers will win 4 Dempster's coupons each just by commenting below and telling me what they would make with their Dempster's® Farmhouse™ Country White Bread.

Simple!

Using rafflecopter, you have more ways to win with additional entries.

Open to Canadian Residents only. Contest Ends November 16, 2012.

**Disclosure: I am a member of the MLF Connects Program.  As part of my participation in this program I have received compensation, however all opinions expressed are my very own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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How To Fake French

I'm not a French-Speaking Pro but I love Paris and having traveled there, this video just makes me laugh.

LOL of the day for all you French-Lovers & those that plan to visit there soon.

Tips #2 and #4 are the greatest! Ha-ha!

Amusez-vous bien!

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Taste of Paris: Quick Coq au Vin Recipe

J'aime beaucoup la cuisine française!

You can't deny that the French know their food. 

They have an exquisite palate and they put so much love and passion into their meals. 

I know because I've seen them cook live!

One of my favourite French dishes is the ever so famous, Coq au vin.

Coq au vin is stands for "Rooster in Wine". It is chicken cooked in red wine (usually burgundy), bacons, mushrooms and optionally garlic. Usually served over a bed of thick egg noodles or by itself with a delicious chewy baguette.

The only thing with this dish is like most hearty meals, it takes a while to make due to slow cooking.

It's amazing what one evening of laziness, extreme hunger and some red wine could do for you.

I cut the time in half while making Coq au vin and it still tasted just like it's been cooking much longer!

Cooking uncovered over high heat, the liquid reduces and concentrates its flavors in a fraction of the time required for the traditional long-simmered dish.  Voilà!  
Bon Appétit!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 6 (4-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken thighs 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 6 cups quartered cremini mushrooms 
• 2 cups (1/4-inch-thick) slices carrot 
• 1/3 cup (1/4-inch-thick) slices Canadian bacon
• 1 cup dry red wine 
• 1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth 
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste 

Preparation:


Combine flour, thyme, and salt in a zip-top plastic bag; add chicken. Seal and shake to coat. Remove chicken from bag, shaking off excess flour.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 8 minutes or until browned, turning frequently. Remove chicken from pan.
Add mushrooms, carrot, and bacon to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in wine, broth, and tomato paste; cook 9 minutes. Return chicken to pan; cook 8 minutes or until chicken is done.

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A taste of Paris: Boeuf Bourguignon

While strolling the streets of Montmartre, the hubs and I decided to have dinner in one of the wonderful restaurants.
We settled with La Boheme du Tertre, a lovely restaurant just enveloping the corner of Place du Tertre before heading to see the Sacre Coeur Basilique. We got beautiful seats so we could admire the artist's and the passerby's.

It was here that I discovered the most delicious Beef Burgundy or as they call it, Boeuf Bourguignon. The meat was so tender and the sauce was just perfect with a nice smoky and sweet flavour.

 Boeuf Bourguignon at La Boheme du Tertre, Montmartre

Our spectacular view from our seats.

When I got home, I just had to replicate this dish that I just fell in love with along with the lovely place it was situated in. :) 

My hubby is my biggest critic, well actually, my daughter is (she doesn't care about hurting my feelings, she'll just tell me if she liked it or not!) so they were the first to try. And they LOVED it! Wasn't exactly like the one I had but just as good, in my own special way. 

Here is the recipe:

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

4-6 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into pieces

• 2 lb. beef stew meat (in cubes)
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. oil (vegetable or corn)
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1/4 cup flour
• 3/4 cup red wine
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 4-6 stalks of celery, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 cup of white mushrooms cut in halves
• 1/2 bag small frozen white onions
• 1/4 tsp. thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• (1) small can tomato paste
• 2 cups instant beef bouillon (2 tsp. dissolved in 2 cups hot water)
• 5-6 pitted green olives (if you like, if not, no need for them - I just love green olives)

Preparation:

1. Fry bacon in oil in a large kettle on medium heat
2. Sprinkle beef cubes with sugar
3. Brown beef in oil with bacon
4. After browned slightly, stir in salt, pepper and flour--stir to coat meat
5. Then add the 2 cups bouillon, wine, worsh. sauce, thyme, bay leaf, and tomato paste
6. Cover and bring to a boil
7. Simmer 45 minutes, stirring occasionally--meat will be tender
8. Add carrots, celery, and green olives, but NOT the onions (*If stew is unable to be made the night before, add the onions with the carrots, celery and green olives when cooking the day of*)
9. Cover and cook 30 minutes until vegetables are tender
10. Add onions and mushrooms, and add 2 more Tbsp. wine and refrigerate overnight then heat for 15 minutes on med heat with lid (or cook on low heat for another 20-30 mins with lid on if same day*)

This dish tastes the best when it's been sitting overnight, but just as good after a few hours of slow cooking.

Serve with egg noodles and voila!

Bon appétit!

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