christmas does not have to be a massacre

...of animals that is.

I can't remember what it's like in America, but here in France they are all about "let's-eat-as-many-animals-as-we-can-in-one-meal." It's heart wrenching. I mean, really, what has that cute little duck EVER done to you?

Anyway. I'm going to dinner with the in-laws, and I decided to bring my own main. I'm sick of picking at bread and trying to explain why I'd prefer not to consume murdered flesh. (Do I sound like a cliché? I didn't used to be like that, you know. But, the world and everyone in it has changed me. Thank you for that?)

I wanted something that looked lovely and was filling. I found this recipe for Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed with Wild Rice Salad by Beard and Bonnet from one of my new favourite blogs: Oh My Veggies!

Hello. I'm a delicious acorn squash with wild rice and other goodies. Eat me.

It turned out exactly how I dreamed it would--and I cannot wait to eat it. But I will. For 4 more hours.

Stay cool my friends. Also, try to eat less meat for the holidays. Think about all the room you'll save for dessert!

trop mignon.

So. Winslow loves beans, and tomatoes, and spinach, and corn, and zuchinni, and well...she eats anything really. A really un-picky parrot according to the standards of parrot books and on the Internet. She also is ridiculously cute and curious. Although, I wouldn't call her a "morning parrot."

In the last week, we've taught her "step-up," and she loooooves it when we scratch her neck and under her chin.

Come visit. She loves new people!

it's called progress.

Such a big girl now!

Awwwww!

chocolate pasta with creamy wine sauce.

Yesterday was Toussaint Day (All Saints Day), so of course France had the day off. To enjoy this mid-week break, Vincent and I headed to the big city to see the Salon du Chocolat. Yes, that's right. A chocolate festival.

People, I have never seen so much chocolate in my life. Pretty overwhelming. Vincent tasted his heart's delight, while I envisioned being stampeded by over-eager chocolate eaters. I did get a chocolate cookbook though and even met the author himself! Crazy British bloke who was enthusiastically explaining the art of chocolate making to any French person who didn't know English to walk by!

One of the best finds of the day was just too mysterious to pass by. Chocolate pasta. Those Italians really stretch pasta to the limits of imagination!

When we got home I scoured the Internet for what we could do with this food anomaly. When I saw this recipe for a creamy white-wine sauce I knew we had found something important, perhaps even life-changing. I mean it has cream, wine.... chili peppers. All the ingredients needed to make happiness.





Although it all took a little longer than expected to make (as usual, when I'm following recipes) the result was a pretty happy, creamy, wine-y dinner.The chocolate pasta didn't have as much flavor as I had hoped (or feared), but no matter. We ate, we drank (or I did, Vincent is such a teetotaler sometimes), and we were merry.

world, meet winslow. winslow, meet world.

This is Winslow. S/he is our new Bronze-winged Pionus.

I am so excited, I may actually burst with happiness.