Ssssh can I tell you a secret?

inside all us larger ladies is a skinny one fighting to get out!... and yesterday I think I fell on the solution!!... The Skinny French Kitchen by the very talented and equally glamorous Harry Eastwood.
 Anyone swept away by the need to live the life of Julia & Julia last year, this book MUST be an addition to your cook book collection... not only does it live the dream of french cooking but it also has a "Skinny Secret" for every recipe.
How fabulous is that?...
If I say that just opening the book to the first page had me hooked and that was prior to reading a recipe ... The inside cover is a crafters delight... vintage map of Paris embellished with luggage tags, keys & tickets... the need to now jump on the eurostar and head over to Paris to forage in the flea markets is quite high!.. all this prior to reading a recipe!

Talking of recipes, anyone who can give me the following:
* Bavette a l'Echalotte
 * Pommes de Terre Sautees
* Profiteroles au Chocolat
for 700 cals has me loading this book into my shopping basket.
Torn between so many mouthwatering recipes....mmmm which one is going to be made first? Loving the Skate with sauce vierge.

Harry was in work yesterday to launch her cupcakes (cupcake post to follow) and sign her new book .. I dashed down from desk very quickly between meeting's to meet and greet, exchange twitter details and grab a copy of this fabulous book.
I then spent the afternoon dribbling at each page, reminiscing Ladies that Lunch day in Paris last year and scouting websites to book a weekend in France for flea market finds and food!

• Off now to compile shopping list for the weekend... Bon Appetit!!... recipe results will be posted next week!

Get the batter whisked!...

Today is pancake day!....
A day that always makes me think of my nan. No one made pancakes like her. A day she was guaranteed to see all her grandchildren as we all popped in for her to get busy with the batter!!
When in London I'm either a plain, sugar & lemon lady or a fruit & sultana girl (nannies fav!!)

Pancakes are also a must for me when in New York!... Here are some that I had on Boxing day morning!... A must with bacon, maple syrup and fruit ( must have my 5 a day!!!!) for me. an indulgent NY treat!

So however you have yours enjoy!

A Night at the Opera..

Friday evening saw me at the beautiful Royal Albert Hall to watch a performance of Puccini's Madame Butterfly.

This was my first foray into a full scale Opera and I loved it. The opera is performed in the round and is set upon a water garden which is magical. As with most opera's no happy ending but a rollercoaster of emotions throughout.

I went with my friend who out of all us is the most cultured!... we dined in the brasserie before hand which was lovely, it was nice to de-stress from work before the performance started.
A lovely evening... and who knows possibly my next foray into the operatic world will be Verona!

March reads.......

Today is World Book Day... so what better than to talk about what books i'm looking forward to reading in March... here are my Books to Eat for this week!

The Girls Guide to Homemaking ~ Amy Bratley. I fell in love with this cover on site and knew that I had to have it...."On a mission to have the perfect home, Juliet hits a major stumbling block - reality!...Heartbroken she seeks solace in her grandmothers 1950's manuals..."... can't wait to start reading

A Perfect Proposal ~ Katie FForde. Never been disappointed with any of Katie's books. I have 5 authors which are a must and Katie is one!... the perfect curl up in the armchair, tea, biscuits & book moment i'm VERY happy!...looking forward to this one.. She's surpassed herself with this one, set between Little England and the Big Apple, i'm hooked already!

Friends, Lies & Alibi's ~ Debby Holt. The story of 3 friends that have been friends forever... 3 reviews say it's the perfect bad weather escapism... set in and amongst Bath... can feel a weekends away coming along!

.... happy World Book day... enjoy whatever your reading!

March Magazines....

This week the April monthly subscriptions fell through the letterbox.... here's my 2 foodies ones... Delicious and Sainsbury's... both for me offer so much more than a food mag... Delicious does exactly what it say's on the cover.. and this months marshmallows look scrumptious!.... and Sainsbury's this month has a cake & Cookie supplement which is just fab!!!... Both mags will be devoured this week, Delicious was started whilst watching the master himself Raymond Blanc making cakes & pastries on Tuesday evening..Mmmmm
Also in Sainsbury;s at the weekend I picked up their Baking Book, which is filled with some very yummy recipes, which I am looking forward to trying!
Just waiting for postie to deliver Country Living and my monthly mags will be complete!
I have a few foodie things coming up in the next few weeks... so pop back and I will keep you posted!