The weather has finally cleared, the sun has come back to us and the garden is growing. Just to clean out my files, here is the last of our cold, wet spring dinners…. I hope. I still have half of a container of preserved lemons in the fridge…. I’m thinking they’ll be good in salads. Chicken with Chickpeas and Preserved Lemon Total time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 2 chicken breasts, cut … Continue reading →
I figured out why I've been in 'cooking limbo' lately. It's this silly 'regime' (diet) I've subjected myself to. Remember last year when I discovered that, while I was 'perfectly in the middle of my weight range' by U.S. standards, in France I was fat! In order to be 'perfectly in the middle of my weight range' by French standards I had to lose 14 lbs. At the time I … Continue reading →
I have not been following the US Health Care debate. I actually don't know if there still is a debate or if the dust has settled. I do know that I often get questioned about the French Health care system. After my visit to the doc yesterday I decided I could give one pretty equal comparison. I'm going to try to make it as unbiased as I can. In the … Continue reading →
Bedside manner. One hears about it on the medical television shows….. Doctors are supposed to have a 'good bedside manner.' I think that means they are supposed to be pleasant, concerned, helpful, kind and caring. American doctors (or so the TV shows lead me to believe) receive some, albeit cursory, training in 'beside manner'. French doctors don't bother. Don't misunderstand. They are very concerned about their patients. At times there … Continue reading →
Question: Why should one always wear sexy underwear for doctor's appointments in France? Answer: Because if you're going to parade around strangers, of both sexes and all ages, in your undies (or less) for the better part of an hour you'll want to look your best. A few weeks at the local gym prior to the appointment wouldn't hurt either. I didn't have enough warning for that. (The gym bit.) … Continue reading →
When I’m here I seem to spend the majority of my time driving: shopping, visiting family and friends and runnng errands. I used to know my way around without thinking…. Now I actually have to read the road signs. So…… Why is the sign for a LEFT exit on the RIGHT side of the road – rather than above or on the left side? I assumed, seeing the sign, (which … Continue reading →
I have never seen an issue in the US that incites such strong feelings in so many people. Even when protesting the Viet Nam war and having 'the nation up in arms' there was not so much passion, nor so much vitriol, about a subject. And so much of it unreasonable, un-knowledgeable and un-based in fact. I make that statement, not because I know so much, but with so many … Continue reading →
