Entertaining, Food, Joyful Living

A Cozy Hygge Night

Bonjour! We're officially in the throes of the holiday season, which has me hankering to decorate, bake, make chili, and wrap gifts. The holidays are a festive time but also a portent of the gray, cold winter to come (at least in the Midwest of the United States), which has me planning ahead to make… Continue reading A Cozy Hygge Night

Entertaining, Food, Organic

Easy Holiday Appetizer: Honey Goat Cheese and Fancy Crackers

Bonjour! As the holidays approach, I get Very Excited about the coming season of gift-giving, decorating, and extra treats (edible and otherwise). And, as per usual, I am limiting les excursions out and about due to the persistence of the pandemic and my own (mild to moderate) reentry anxiety (vaccine booster notwithstanding). So entertaining à… Continue reading Easy Holiday Appetizer: Honey Goat Cheese and Fancy Crackers

Food, International Travel, Travel

International Food Finds at Walmart

Bonjour! I love to travel in Europe and look forward to doing so one day … in the far and distant future (though I did fly recently, le yikes!). Travel opens the mind, changes the routine, and introduces new ideas and ways of doing things. And the food! In the meantime, I enjoy incorporating what… Continue reading International Food Finds at Walmart

Entertaining, Food

German Brotzeit for Dinner

Guten Tag! It’s German week here on Joie de Vivre! Today’s post shares the delights of Brotzeit, a simple picnic meal that’s easy to prepare and enjoy at home. Later this week, How I Work will feature my dear German friend, Christiane, who introduced me to Brotzeit and Orangina. What Is Brotzeit? A German dachshund… Continue reading German Brotzeit for Dinner

Food, Recipes

Recipe: Tomato Soup and Quesadillas

"Soup's not a meal!" - Kenny Bania, Seinfeld Bonjour! The disruption of daily life by the coronavirus pandemic has forced many to “shelter in place” or “stay home, stay safe,” as we call it in the United States, and I’m noticing chatter online about how to prepare easy meals at home. I recently wrote about… Continue reading Recipe: Tomato Soup and Quesadillas