"Special" Tacos

Over the weekend we tried something new. I'm talking really new, as in: I never even though of trying this before moving to France, unlike foie gras, escargot, and the like. No, it wasn't until moving here that we realized that cow tongue (yes, you read that right) is a viable dinner option.

So, in the spirit of not totally grossing out and running loyal readers out my blogging world, I am just going to forewarn you that if you are the least bit squeamish and think that looking at pictures of cooked, peeled and cut-up beef tongue might scare you away from future posts, do not continue reading after the jump.

*Edit: I realize now that I wasn't very clear in the title but "Special" tacos is what my mother wrote in a wall post on Facebook probably because she was too grossed out to write what they actually were.

Minty Lemonade

Walking around the grocery store the other day I noticed some Minute Maid lemonade with a hint of mint and though to myself, "Well, isn't that a good idea?". "Lemonade" as we Americains know it does not really exist here in France. What does exist is delicious, don't get me wrong; Loriana is the major producer (which can be bought in US supermarkets) of what is essentially sparkly water with a hint of lemon, which I love at times but doesn't hit the spot and cool you off quite like the intense lemony jolt of lemonade back home (Newman's Own, anyone? Yum!). Anyway, here is the rundown, without pictures (you try taking a pretty drink picture without ice!), on how to make this refreshing summer drink with a twist!

Minty Lemonade

1 part lemon juice 

1 part mint simple syrup (instructions below)

2 parts water

Mix together and chill. 

Mint Simple Syrup

1 part sugar

1 part water

1 handful of mint leaves

Mix everything together in either a sauce pan or a microwave safe measuring cup, making sure to "muddle" the mint in with the sugar a bit just to break it up. Bring to a boil and mix together to dissolve all the sugar. Strain out the mint leaves before using in the lemonade.

 

If you want some hard numbers to go by, here's an example for a recycled 2L jug:

2 cups lemon juice

2 cups simple syrup (1 1/3 c sugar and 1 1/3 c water and the mint)

4 cups water

And at the suggestion of a friend, we've using this [yummy on it's own] lemonade as a mixer with gin. Talk about beating the 96º heat!

July! Already?

What July means to me:

1. We have lived in France for almost 1 year.
2. We only have 5 months left in France to do everything we want to do!
3. We only have 5 months until we get to see (or at least be in the same country as) all (with the exception of those staying in France) of you!
4. We need to start looking for jobs (eek!). 

And now, on to the update:

Last Saturday we...

 ...made a nectarine pie...

...loaded up our minute grill...

...and had a picnic on the lake...

...with Leah and Kyle (and Sarah, but she came after the picture-taking).

It was great fun!

Then on Sunday we:

 Whipped up some of my dad's super-secret-special-chicken-wing-sauce,

Slapped it on some wings,

And had a ourselves a feast (don't worry, that's only half the fries) complete with the most amazing french fries ever. They were blanched in a saltwater brine before frying meaning the salty goodness went throughout these impossibly crispy fries. 

Oh, and we played frisbee on the lake then used the frisbee to forage for cherries.

On Wednesday Leah and I went over to visit Janice and the girls.

We sat on the couch and made Kimber smile an evil smile.

I let Kimber take a picture all by herself (I love having an indestructible camera!).

Leah made faces at Katelyn (or Katelyn made faces at Leah, I'm not sure which).

Kimber "ate" dinnner (Janice, maybe you should buy a dog?).

And Katelyn made some sweet faces at me.

On Thursday we drove to Luxembourg...

...where they spell some product names differently?

And where I can buy cream cheese for these yummy sourdough babies.

On Friday we had a baby/momma/friend get together in the blessed air conditioning at GTL (it was 94ºF)

Vicki and Lorraine are on the left, Janice and Katelyn are in the middle and Rajasree and Shraddha are on the right. All three babies were born within 2 weeks of each other.

We had a great time eating chocolate chip cookies and some amazing samosas (thanks to Rajasree's mom)

And we played "pass the baby" with Shraddha and

And Katelyn (that's Satya, Shraddha's dad and Rajasree's husband)

While Lorriane blissfully slept through it all, until she got hungry, that is. 

And later that day the bean plant came down. It needed more sun :-(

On Saturday (another 94º day)

We enjoyed lots of gazpacho (more cold veggie soup, I know, I'm obsessed) and cold beer.

And our first and last French 4th of July started off with a hometown favorite

The tomato, sprout and gouda (it should be  meunster, I know) bagel melt.

And later that day we went to Janice and Jeramy's house for a dueling grills BBQ

And while the boys grilled in the heat and the smoke...

...and boy there was smoke!...

...we stayed inside with the babies in their newly installed air conditioning!

 Then we ate an American feast

And played some intense board games.

It was, as always, a great night with great friends. Thanks so much for hosting us Dickersons!

And finally, yesterday

We ate cheeseburger flavored chips that, seriously tasted like cheeseburgers!

And we experimented with a new spaghetti and meatball recipe which was so good I believe it will now be our go-to recipe.