watch.listen.snack. (💫a free-for-all)

Fête de Noël in Nice, a return to fun... and I may officially be a witch!

Flocked trees and ancient statues, Christmas in Nice!

Quick-fast. News up top:

We’re having a delightful time over on the Writers’ Advent(ure) Calendar. If you’d like to join in… I mean, who wouldn’t? A writing prompt in your inbox every morning for the rest of the year? You know what to do:

Here’s a taste to wet your whistle:

Writiing Advent Calendar Day 7

5.18MB ∙ PDF file

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Bonjour-Bonjour!

At a café in vieille ville Nice I had a long and lovely conversation with an electrician who sat beside me and commented on my drawing… yes, drawing. I’ve taken to bringing a sketchbook out in the world and attempting to draw one thing everyday. I happily report to you that I suck! It’s perfect. It’s important to suck at something… to cultivate resilience.

The electrician, who spoke no English, asked me about my drawing. We talked about hobbies, and meditation, and laughed together. He mentioned inspiration and expiration and calming one’s nerves with breathing. I must say, it was a delight.

Meanwhile Joel was getting to know the people beside him. A young couple, the man from Malaysia and his French girlfriend. As I stood to leave, the man said to me, “Do you mind if I ask a personal question?” Well, you know me! J’adore les questions personnelles!

“Quel âge avez-vous?” Oh man, a softball question!

Joel lied. “70,” he said. And yes, Joel, who just turned 69 has decided to simply answer 70 all year long so he doesn't have to endure the jokes. I know! Joel? Le roi de blague de papa!! You’d think he’d wiggle his eyebrows at the very least. I gladly offered up my age, 63, and the man said, “When I grow up I want to be just like you. Traveling, having good energy, relaxed.”

Well, let me tell you…. we have been through a lot of crap and therapy to get to this place of good energy. And, if you read my last newsletter you know we are still mucking along.

It’s funny, I read recently, or I heard, (see, I am 63… I cannot for the life of me recall where I saw this) but someone asked someone if they’d rather go to a wedding or a funeral. And, the person responded, “A funeral because it’s more honest.” I get it. What’s done is done. I want an ice cream truck at my funeral so everyone can have a good time. But a wedding, even though the promises may turn out to be false… in the moment there is joy and exuberance and dancing and love! Which would you choose?

our wedding…so happy…such babies!

I digress.

So we told this man who liked our energy and wanted to be like us when he grows up that we wished it for him and his petite amie. And then I reached my hand in my pocket and found a stone I’d picked up on the beach. I held it out to him. “Keep this. Safe travels.”

It was a small gesture. He became a bit weepy. “That’s a powerful talisman,” the girlfriend said. He slipped it in his pocket and we did the three kiss thing (cheek-cheek-cheek) as we said goodbye. “Enchanté!”

Yes, enchanted. And I guess now I’m a witch!

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Have you ever given or received a powerful talisman?

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watch:

There is new season of CALL MY AGENT, and it’s just as much fun as the other seasons. Here in France it’s called DIX PERCENT, and we arrogantly began watching it in French with French subtitles until we had to admit we didn’t know what the hell was going on and switched over to English subtitles.

The show focuses on a top Parisian talent agency — the fictional ASK — and the agents constant juggling to keep their star clients happy after the sudden death of the founder.

Placating demanding stars (played by real life French celebrities who appear as themselves in each episode) comes with funny challenges about bad scripts, bad costumes, contract woes, love troubles, broken bones, etc… The agents try to keep the business running while in the midst of their chaotic and lowbrow personal lives. Affairs, babies, patrimony, dinner parties, hangovers! Bien sur, it’s a bit sudsy, but in the most delightful way!

Plus, Paris street scenes! Witty banter! The wonderful cameo appearances of famous French actors!Isabelle Adjani, Juliette Binoche, Cédric Kahn, Charlotte Gainsbourg. I’m all in!

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listen:

Now I want a fake chicken!

Have you listened to Amy Poehler interview Ina Garten? Holy cow! The whole conversation was a joy! Ina brought Amy a gift, they drank a bit of Prosecco, what’s not to love? Here’s Ina waxing poetic on community and roast chicken, her most requested recipe (watch a video of Ina preparing it):

“It’s not about the chicken; it’s about how when you cook, everybody shows up and you create a community around yourself,” Garten responded. “I didn’t know that until I started writing cookbooks, but it’s a really important thing. We all need to feel like we’re part of something … and a roast chicken is the most basic thing. I don’t think there’s a culture in the world that doesn’t have some kind of roast chicken.”

Honestly, I got a little weepy!

Finally, the three secret ingredients to zhuzh up a dish? Something with zing… lemon juice or vinegar or parmesan, they’re the duct tape ingredient trifecta!

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I need a little help! You know how Spotify does that year end thing about your listening age? Well, mine came it at:

Not going to lie, I was a bit mortified! But it makes sense. When I was a kid and friends were listening to Prince, I was into the strange combination of Billie Holiday and, wait for it…. Fred Astaire. I had 3 record sets of each and I memorized the songs.

So, who should I be listening to?

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snack:

I’m pretty happy here in France! And yet, along with missing family and friends, I also miss baking. Were I home just now, I’d make these:

Chocolate Shortbread

• 2c all-purpose flour (I use ww pastry flour with great success)

• ½ c unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder (the best you can find)

• 1c salted European-style (or cultured) butter (2 sticks), room temp

• ⅔ c granulated sugar

• 1 large egg yolk

• flaky sea salt (I 💛 Maldon)

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and cocoa powder.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in yolk, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Mix in flour mixture until just combined. Form the dough into a disk, wrap in wax paper (or plastic wrap) and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to 3 days).

3. Once chilled, remove the wax paper, sandwich dough between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll it out into a ½-inch-thick slab. Leaving dough between the parchment, place it on a baking sheet or large plate and refrigerate for 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours).

4. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

5. Pull dough from refrigerator, and remove parchment from dough. Using a small circular cookie cutter or a small glass (frankly I use a shot glass) cut out as many circles as possible. Transfer them to the prepared cookie sheets. Reroll the dough scraps and repeat.

6. Sprinkle each cookie with a tiny bit of salt flakes and press in with your palm.

7. Bake cookies for 18 to 23 minutes, until puffed and set, rotating the cookie sheets halfway through. Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely.

8. Try your best not to eat a bazillion at once!

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

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That’s about it. Thanks for reading. It takes a minute to put these weekly newsletters together. If you enjoy them every week, why not subscribe?

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Here is your prize for reading to the end: Stanley, who is now French and demands croissant!

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Please, remember to tell your people you love them, and take good care of your skin.