Deep breaths… beaucoup…

what a week! let me tell you in a snapshot:

work finally calmed down and I had a breather by the end of the week 🙂

chatted and caught up with some friends 🙂

my friend made some deeelish paneer and served it with some yum yum tomato gravy. She told me a basic Indian dish has

• a start with some neutral oil with some whole cumin seeds tossed in to toast, then
• base of garlic, ginger and onions. After that,
• spices – powder form: chili, turmeric, corriander, cumin.
• Can also add other fun stuff like: cinnamon, garam masala, cloves, etc 🙂 Deeeelish!

I tried making Beef Keema: also recommended by same aforementioned friend with this recipe and the whole spices smelled amazing! Then the recipe at the very, very end called for adding a cup of water and I was very wary, but I did it…. and I instantly regretted it 😦 It totally diluted everything and it wasn’t tasty at all #sadface! Must try again with 1/3 cup water max!!

Had some more red wine this week from Bordeaux. No many Pic Saint Loup options from Monoprix… I’ll need to try some more boutiques maybe? I do like this lil boutique, L’Envie, by Marché carmes 🙂

More recipes I tried was this deeelicious salad vinaigrette with Chinese Black Vinegar. I was trying to think of ways to use it up and behold: This random All Recipes recipe is super yummy! Good balance and I subbed caster sugar with honey / maple syrup: still damn good!

I visited the family and we had a fun time making Japanese Chicken Curry together with JustOneCookbook’s recipe 🙂 I liked adding the apple and honey 🙂 We also watched the new Spiderman together too. It was alright 🙂

Also, got to visit a friend and enjoy some delicious madelines and brownies she made for her husband’s birthday 🙂 Very kind of her!!

Sigh…. I’ve followed up on my visa via email twice last week and also submitted a contact form on the main website to request / suggest a meeting (RDV). We’ll see… I’m not holding my breath 😦 I’ve given my notice for my room but I’ll keep emailing… I hope to stay!

I have somehow pinched my sciatica nerve and it’s been really bothering me! Hard to do any exercise now so just walks. At least the cheese shops are nearby 😀 I went to Deux Chavanne in Marché Carmes and they were friendly enough there as some staff get really judgy and impatient if you don’t buy a lot.