Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Nouvelle Année!

New Year!

IMG_2183Excusez moi for my French, I’m studying French on line…for hope that I could travel to Paris this year and so that I won’t starve there. Un hamburger, sil vous plait (hamburger please)…avec des frites (with fries). Combien ça coûte? (How much is it?). OK…I have to learn how to count in French too.

Wow! ‘Holiday’ days were gone in a rush weren’t they? I was way too relaxed (in other words, lazy) in those short weeks and I’m so not ready for new post though, I was cooking and experimenting with new recipes not for my blog sake but for my enjoyment. So I must say my New Year is going well so far (no kidding, just 6 days in but hey, I’m talking about positive attitude here)…I hope you’re doing well also. And thanks again for your kind comments. You are much too generous. 

Conversation of last December - Kids are not coming home for the holidays this year again?…we should go somewhere…Disneyland the happiest place on earth? My husband frowned, we went there two Christmases ago!  He can’t take crowds very well…How about Seattle? Plea, please?
Here are some iPhotos I took during holidays including the first photo of sunset view from our hotel room, Paramount Hotel has lots of charm. clean and roomy, a stylish bathroom with deep soaking tub,a separate shower and water closet. The staff were nice especially Tom the concierge. The valet parking was free if you brought three non-perishable foods to donate during holiday season.

IMG_2155We dined at authentic French restaurant Maximilien Christmas Eve. I over heard waiters talking in French…my chance to practice French…ahhhh, Oui, Merci…Je ne sais pas…ha ha ha…Au revoir!…pathetic…I know. Picture below is escargot.IMG_2163The view from the restaurant…such a bad photo!  So sad.
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Almost everything was closed in downtown Seattle on Christmas Day except movie theaters. We got in the line for 30 minutes and enjoyed “The Imitation Game”  We like Sherlock…I mean Benedict Cumberbatch the actor.IMG_2168

4 hours to go till the dinner reservation on Christmas Day. Japanese operated Food Truck ’Gourmet Hotdog” We shared the Yakisoba hotdog to tie us over.IMG_2173A day after Christmas, phew! stores are back in business! I bought “Hiyoko’ knock-off Japanese pastry at Asian Market. Check my ‘Chick’ recipe here.IMG_2189We had a lunch at popular ramen shop, Samurai Noodle. Awesome!IMG_2192

Back Home, my husband baked Pittsburg Pretzel Bread for New Years Day. It tasted more like brioche than pretzel though we liked it all the same.IMG_2196I used the bread in an appetizerIMG_2194For the first cake of 2015, I made a Strawberry Shortcake using a new recipe I spied on Cookpad.com. IMG_2198 IMG_2202

I would like to post something next Tuesday…wishful thinking of course.

DSC_5651_edited-1My last year’s painting project…was on the back burner, I simply couldn’t finish it so this will be this year’s project…goody, I have a head start! Life is good!

25 comments:

  1. Happy 2015, Nippon Nin!

    I love your first photo showing a beautiful sunset at Seattle... What a romantic view!

    What a great way to kick start a new year... and it is to eat many delicious food. I like your strawberry shortcake!!! Great "spying" job... hee hee

    Zoe

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    1. Happy New Year Zoe! And thank you for your comment.

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  2. A grandeza dos amigos são como as flores raras: sua magnitude fica para sempre.
    (Cristina Beloni)
    Obrigada por compartilhar comigo este 2º aniversário do blog Algodão Tão Doce !!!!
    Um doce abraço, Marie.

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    1. Muito obrigado pelo seu comentario. Eu amo o seu blog!

      Happy blog anniversary!

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  3. Sounds like you had a great holiday season! Your strawberry torte looks splendid, but my favourite is that salmon appetizer.
    Happy New Year to you and your family!
    Angie

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  4. 新年、明けましておめでとうございます。 今年はパリに行かれるのですか。 楽しみですね。 美味しそうなショーケイキです。 猫ちゃんの絵画も素敵です。
     良いお年を過ごして下さい。

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    1. 明けましておめでとうございます。 コメントに感謝しています。 いえ、パリに行けたらいいなと思っているだけです、今のところ。 今年は2回、日本に行く用事があって、経済的に難しいです、来年には必ずと思ってます。

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  5. amazing painting :-)) and looks like a fun trip happy new year

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    1. Thank you Rebecca. Scotland was not in my bucket list until I saw your blog...what a beautiful country!

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  6. Looks like you spent the holiday season in such a nice way. I like the first photo of my favorite twilight time. The view from the restaurant’s window reminded me of nightscape of Kobe for its large Ferris wheel. Seattle and Kobe are the sister cities.

    Talking of French language, I struggled especially with numbers at college. French counting system seems to be tricky. Up to 69 is not so confusing, but 70 is “sixty-ten”, 71 is “sixty-eleven”, that’s easier, but 80 is “four-twenties" 90 is “four-twenties-ten”, 91 is “four-twenties-eleven”….. ???! Even in English, number is my weak point because large numbers are classified by “three digits” in English but “four digits” like 1-man (1,0000),1-oku (1,0000,0000), or 1-cho (1,0000,0000). I need to be very careful in oral English. Anyway, you have good motivation to learn, so keep up good practice. The sleeping kitty in the painting made my heart warm.

    Yoko

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    1. 明けましておめでとうございます。 ようこさんのいつも素晴らしい写真に感動してます。
      そうなんですよね。フランス語は本当に難しいです! がんばります!

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  7. Looks like you had a fun and YUMMY holiday! Happy New Yea! And that painting, beautiful!

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    1. Thank you Danae. Cheers to your courageous family!

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    1. Thank you Jalna. I have to make the clam dish for lunch after seeing your blog..sounds like easy to make and I always have can of clam in my pantry.

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  9. OMG! Happy New Year! You had a delicious holiday!

    PS. I'm organizing a chocolate contest on my blog. Maybe you'd like to join us? :)

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    1. Thank you Marcela! I hope you had a wonderful holidays! Love your blog, oh so delicious!

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  10. Happy New Year, Nipponnin! Is it you who painted this cat????? I am blown away!
    All the food looks fabulous. You are both such excellent bakers! I have never heard of yakisoba hotdog, but I wish such food trucks existed here... It looks delicious. Let me know if you need any help with your French! I hope your holidays in France will give you a chance to practice it!

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    1. Thank you so much Sissi! You speak French? Awesome! At this point of my French study is like, Je ne comprends pas. very difficult!

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    2. Yes, I'm bilingual Polish-French (I also live in the French-speaking part of Switzerland). Haha! I can tell you the same about the Japanese!!!! Very difficult. Seriously, don't hesitate to ask me if you have any problems or questions.

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  11. 明美さん、明けましておめでとうございます!どうぞ本年も宜しくお願い致します(そしていつかお会いできますように~(笑))!いつもホリデーの後の写真を見るの楽しみにしてます。美味しい写真が一杯だから。今年もたくさんレシピをシェアして下さい!

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    1. お久しぶりです。 怠け者の私だから、ついついご無沙汰してしまって、ごめんなさい。 今年もよろしくね。 ブログのチヂミおいしそう!今度試さなくちゃ!

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  12. Happy new year my friend,
    too bad that your children can't coming by this years, i hope all best things happen this year for you!!!!

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    1. Happy New Year to you! I still not cooking like you but your blog is eye opening! Like whole new world! Looking forward to see more of your culinary wonders!

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