New "Things to Treasure" Laduree comes to New York, Essence, Town and Country, Real Simple Family and Golf reading for children.

Laduree has arrived!  

Momofuku cookies are divine, Crumbs bakery has scrumptous cupcakes,  but we have to stop for a minute and consider what Laduree will unleash in New York City this fall.

If you have not eaten a macaron before, wait, have one from Laudree on August 22nd and let the obbession begin.

Laduree is a Parisian patisserie founded in 1862  and it is most famous for it's double decker macarons. The bakery is credited with inventing the double decker macarons. There are Laduree shops all over the world in addition to four in Paris, there are bakeries in  London, Milan, and Istanbul among other places but never one in New York City. They will open a store this month, on August 22nd  at 864 Madison Ave, NY ( between 70th and 71st). The location will have two areas one for enjoying macarons on site and the other for orders ( mine included) .

It is said that in the 16th century Catherine de" Medici brought the macaron from Italy to France. Louis Ernest Laduree was a miller, who opened a bakery on the Rue Royale in Paris. In the 1930's his second cousin Pierre Desfontaines, invented the double decker macaron, a flavored ganache between two macaron shells. If you have had a macaron, if not well made, the ganache can be too sweet, too crumbly or too pasty, it has to be just right, the shells and the ganache, Laduree always seems to get it right.

They come in fantastic variations by season Mint and Strawberry, Lily of The Valley, Almond Morello Cherry, Granny Smith Apple and other delicious flavors.

Find yourself at Laduree this month or get on the phone and place your order!

Town and Country and Essence have new editors and this is change I can definitely believe in.

Town and Country's editor is Jay Fielden of Men's Vogue fame, Pamela Fiori left months ago and the void was filled briefly by Stephen Drucker but this is my second Fielden Issue and it is excellent. The articles are insightful and colorful, I read the magazine from cover to cover.  There is some interesting insight from Ashraf Kahlil  about the changes in Cairo, from both a colonial and present day view. There is a profile of the three homes owned by the late reclusive heiress Hugette Clark, a wonderful story about the relationship between a woman and her favorite scents by Gully Wells then last but not least two stories about Ernest Hemingway and his family. The magazine has zoomed to the top of my to read list, the stories have great depth, grab a copy or download it now! The fashion is still there but the magazine now has so much more.

Constance White has had a significant career in fashion from her role as the NY Times Fashion contributor, to EBAY fashion director and now to editor in chief at Essence magazine. Her second issue is stunning, Essence has gone global, the stories, beauty and fashion reads have a global perspective and that is truly refreshing. There is a story about Women from the Diaspora which covers black Brits, another profiles women from countries all over the world and what they are wearing,  and under Work and Wealth excellent tips for Storage Ssolutions at home and do not miss the Reader's Choice awards!  Another one for you to read cover to cover.

Real Simple is one of my favorite magazines, I love the stories about family and cooking among other topics and  now we have the same fantastic formula with Real Simple Family, it is a single issue magazine and you need to grab it before it is gone. They cover great issues from how to tackle homework battles, to fixing boo boos to schedule streamlining. Fall 2011, is on newstands or downloads now.

I was at the PGA Championship today and met wonderful author Susan Greene who was promoting Count on Golf and my daughter loved it for her read before bed tonight and we loved it because it exposed her to something new and she was counting and spelling at the same time with Jimmy the bear, it was fun.

The books are

Count on Golf- counting from 1 to 10 using golf accessories and rhymes .

The ABC's of Golf - Learn the alphabet and the game from A to Z.

Consider it Golf- Rhymes and Etiquette and golf safety.

Opposites with Golf- learn the game using the concepts of opposites.

Junior golf Journal - Track progress and enjoy memories.

Worth every penny!

Enjoy your new treasures and please send us your feedback about those delicious macarons.

FashionMom

"Cookery" - CookBooks- Some of The Best Reads!

Vintage Cookbook



Some of the cookbooks in my home are just for display. I am not ashamed to say it, they look good in the kitchen.
The Tartine and Tartine Bread cookbook covers look so good. The venerable Alice Waters wrote the foreword for  the Tartine book after all!  I wanted to have it for display because I do not bake much. The breadmaker comes out, I bake and that is it, nothing fancy or flashy.  They do have some great recipes in the Tartine book but if the recipe takes up almost an entire page, my eyes start to glaze over. Patience,patience. And reality, the weekend arrives and all the enthusiasm to cook gets eaten by outings, shopping, errands and plain old exhaustion.
I  love cookbooks because I get a warm, happy feeling when I see them, I want to cook. Same thing with Nigella Lawson, I think she is phenomenal and her cookbooks are fantastic. I started reading Ms Lawson's recipes years ago in British Vogue when she was their food contributor and I was hooked. Her writing style was cozy, infectious and fun. I wanted to be Nigella in the kitchen.  I actually curled up on the sofa to read the Nigella Express Cookbook. Cooked anything? not yet. I drove DH crazy looking for Cream of Tartar for the Forgotten Pudding on page 136 of Nigella Express ( he remembers well).  Have I made it yet?.....well no. And, I have at least 30 recipes with tabs in that cookbook alone. She has the best recipes.  But can she actually get you to cook them? or just read and fantasize about it?  I know that Rachel Ray has millions of fans and I have actually cooked some of her recipes and they were all fantastic. Of course her 30 minute meals is on this list!
One of my dear friends in Ohio is a fantastic mom who cooks and bakes fantastic recipes often and I always admire her ability to do that and balance everything else as a mother to twins. Another friend in Canada gets me every time she sends a picture with a delicious meal she prepared and she always generously shares her recipes. There are many hard working heroines out there!
But how much time do I have? Not much. I like fast and easy but cookbooks are also wonderful to read depending on the author.  I like my mother's recipes best and that is how it is for most of us. But there are some great books out there.

The Food Network influenced some of the choices since we became familiar with some chefs from their shows on the channel.
Who are your favorites chefs? What are your favorite cookery books?  You may not like any of our picks and I am sure that we missed many cookbooks. We  would love to get your feedback.

Here are some of our  best reading and cooking Cookbooks out there!

Tartine Bread( inside look). by Chad Robertson and Eric Wolfinger

My favorite cookbook. My favorite cookbook author. My favorite TV show in Food Network

http://www.foodnetwork.com/nigella-lawson/index.html

Her latest one!

Sauces by James Peterson

Gravy as we call it. Pass the bread please!  This book has some great sauces for any and every occasion, watch out it is heavy!

What's Cooking in Guyana Link

Cuisine from the South American country. Chock full of recipes reflecting the contribution of five different races along with a  pinch of  British sensibility. Amazing food!

On Food and Cooking
Food and Cooking
Amazing read. The science of cooking combined with history and food. He examines the nature of digestion and hunger among other topics, truly amazing read

. La Cocina De Mama by Penelope Casas La Cocina De Mama link to Amazon
Great Spanish recipes, love it!





River Road Recipes by The Junior League of Baton Rouge River Road Recipes
Authentic creole recipes.


Lost Recipes by Marlon Cunningham Lost Recipes
Loads of comfort recipes.


How to Grill by Seven Raichlen How To Grill
That beer can chicken is truly delicious!


The Best Ever Vegetarian Cookbook by Linda Fraser  The Best Ever Vegetarian Cookbook
You will not run out of options with this great book!

Rachel Ray 30 Minutes Meals R Ray link
Be sure to check out 30 minute part 2.



Meals Made Simple by Real Simple Real Simple Meals
Great recipes from one of our favorite magazines. Easy and delicious recipes for all palates.


Once Upon a Tart- Frank Montesana and Jerome Audureau
Passionate foodies open a restaurant. What an adventure.

Hot Sour Salty Sweet by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid Hot Sour Salty Sweet Link
Great tour to Southeast Asia and its cuisine. Travel with the authors and learn how to use some those products in your grocery aisle.


The Foods Of the Greek Islands by Aglaia Kremezi Foods of the Greek Islands link
Delicious recipes from one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. The Greek are known for their use of greens to make anything, and there are some great recipes in this one.


Everyday Italian 125 recipes by Gaida DeLaurentis - Another chef who makes cooking very exciting and simple. I love her enthusiasm for food, which translates to her book. Check out her home line at Target, very cute. Gaida for Target

The French Laundry Cookbook by Thomas Keller French Laundry- We all want to know how he creates that magic, the cookbook is the closest like me you will ever get!

The Barefoot Contessa Family Style by Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa
I wish she could just cook a few meals for me, she makes it look so easy.

 Molto Italiano - Mario Batali
For those who have not had the privilege of eating at his famous  restaurants Babbos in New York. He has a wonderful show in Food Netwook.

Anthony Bourdain - Honorable mention to the man who opens a door to  life, culture and food from far flung places all over the world. Mr Bourdain plays a crucial role by giving us history lessons about different cultures and cuisines and I am grateful for his curiosity everywhere he goes and everything he does. Please try to read all of his books if you can. Check out his show on The Food Network, you have been missing a real treat.
Some of his best episodes - His visit to his wife's ancestral home of Corsica, his visit to Paris with famed chef Eric Rupert and his visits to Ghana,Namibia/South Africa and Vietnam. Simply amazing.
Cook's Tour LInk



One last one... the book that many people say changed the way they look at food.
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Link
" A fascinating journey up and down the food chain" Amazon.




Happy Reading!

All Things French Week- " Le Temps De Lire" French Culture and Lifestyle Books.

These our French culture and lifestyle book choices. They help provide some insight into the French culture.



Debra Olliver
Entre Nous: A Womans' Guide to Finding her Inner French Girl.
What French Women Know: About Love,Sex and other Matters of the Heart and Mind.

Lavender

Carol Drinkwater
The Olive Farm
The Olive Tree
The Olive Harvest
The Olive Route- Audio
Memoir and travelogue, these stories tell journey of English writer Carol Drinkwater and her husband from thier purchase of a Olive farm in the south of France. At times poignant,Carol reveals her struggles to have a baby while juggling her new roles on the farm.

Olives at a Provencal Market

Helena Frith Powell

All You Need To Be Impossibly French- A Witty Investigation into the Lives, Lusts and Secret of French Women.

Mireille Guiliano

French Women Don't Get Fat

French Women for All Seasons- A Year of Secrets, Recipes and Pleasure.

Women,Work and the Art of Savoir Faire

French Women Don't Get Fat Cookbook

Ann Barry

At Home in France.

Betsy Draine

A Castle In The BackYard: The Dream Of A House in France.

Peter Mayle

A Year In Provence

Encore Provence-New Adventures In The South of France

Toujours Provence

French Lessons- Adventures in a Knife,Fork and Corkscrew

Provence A-Z, A Francophiles Essential Handbook

Aquired Tastes

Michael Sanders

From Here You Can't See Paris, Seasons of a French Village and its Restaurant

Pont de Alexandre Bridge

 

Michael Sadler

An Englishman In Paris: L" Education Continenale.

An Englishman A la Champagne

Mary Roblee Henry
A Farmhouse in Provence, An American finds old stones,new wine and love among the French.  

Yvone Lenard

The Magic of Provence- Pleasures of Southern France.

Love in Provence- Romantic Adventures In The South of France.

Patricia Wells

At Home in Provence- By Patricia Wells and Robert Freston

We've Always Had Paris..... and Provence:  A Scrapbook of Our Life in France.

Catherine Millet

The Sexual Life of Catherine M.

Marguerite Duras

The Lover

Simone De Beauvoir

The Second Sex

Au Revoir!

These books are available at online book retailers and book stores.

Thank you for joining us for day 3 of All Things French Week!


Images courtesy of istockphotos


 



Magazines for Children

I love to read magazines and there are many magazines for our children too. They can also log on to websites to read and get further information.


Here are a list of some great sites for children.


Sports Illustrated for Kids
SIkids.com
Sports Cards of course, games, puzzles and sports trivia.



Time for Kids
timeforkids.com
News, Homework helpers, games and magazines. Teachers and kids are the focus.

Girls' Life
girlslife.com
Note ages 10 to 15, advice on body, style, fashion and fitness.

Boys' Life
boyslife.org
official magazine of the Boy Scouts of America. Your pics section features pictures of adventures of boys everywhere, very cool. Also covers outdoors and gear.

American Girl
Americangirl.com
American girl characters of course. Check out girl buzz, girls can send e cards to friends. They can shop for anything related to their favorite girl on this site.


National Geogrpahic For Kids
kids.nationalgeogprahic.com
Information on wildlife, sciene and techonolgy and extreme sports.



Kids Discover
kidsdiscover.com
Ice Age, Roman Empire, energy and more.


Range Pick
nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick.aspx
For kids 7 to 14. Nature news, animals and plant crafts.





Parents Magazine.
Image courtesy of istockphotos

More Books for the Loves of our lives - Books for Children

One of our most popular posts was a story on Sunday November 7th,http://fashionmom-w.blogspot.com/2010/11/books-for-loves-of-our-lives-holiday.html?spref=bl which covered holiday books for kids.


After getting additional feedback from friends and family I have added a second list of classics our children can enjoy for the holidays and beyond. I may not have all of your favorites but I hope you like this list.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter- The adventures of Peter Rabbit in Mr MsGregor's garden. It is available in 36 languages, talk about classic.







Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl- 10 terrible children won tickets to the Wonka factory. 5 of them are tested by Mr Wonka to see who can take over the factory.

Treasure Island by RL Stevenson- Swashbuckling story of pirates, maps and one legged seamen. A must have and read for every child

The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton- Jo, Bessie and Fanny and the magical tree and their new friends Mr Whazisname,The Saucepan Man and Moonface. One of my favorites as a child and soon to be my daughter's too.








Lord of The Rings( The Hobbit) by JRR Tolkein  - Tolkiens' epic story of the battle for Middle Earth, but wait there are books before this one. I recommend  The Hobbit (Ther and back again). The prequel to all of the wonderful books and movies.



The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle- A furry hero munches his way through plums and other fruits before changing into a butterfly. Amazing illustrations and translated into 50 languages.








The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr- Sophie and her mom are at home when an insatiable tiger eats every morsel in the house. You will have to read the book to find out how this truly wonderful story ends.







The Dark Materials( middle and high) by Philip Pullman- People are familiar with Pullman's Golden Compass. Get the boxed set and follow the adventures of Lyra, Will and Pantamilion on their fantasy adventures.






Jazz Fly 2 - by Matthew Gollub was recommended by one of our readers, she said her daughter loved it!




The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein(also in Spanish)- One of my dear friend gave my daughter this book, she loved it from her childhood.







All books are Available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble online.

So Much to Discover for the entire family- Discovery Channel

It is one of my favorite channels on TV and I also love their wonderful catalog and online store.


Here are some of my favorite picks from the Discovery Channel! Happy Learning!

Floating Desktop Globe




Super cool for big and little boys and girls. Plug it in and watch it float, very cool.

Metal Frame Micro RC Helicopter.




To for big and little boys.
My husband loves this when he needs to think or blow off some steam. It is funny to watch our little girl run behind it at home.

Great for the Curious




Can be taken apart and put back together again.

I just love to sit and watch this stuff.




Levitron Anti Gravity Globe

Suspended in mid air by a break through magnetic levitation design. Wow!


Gadget Heaven!
 and Trilingual too! This could keep them busy for hours!



Smartphone,MP3 and Trilingual remote for songs, lights and sound effects. 18 months and up.


Bi Lingual Light and Sound Phonics- sorry anything will more than one language is a magnet for me.




Phonics in English and Spanish. For ages 3 plus.


Kill two birds with one stone, counting and money smarts! Teaching Cash Register. 3+




My Discovery World Interactive Map




Move a 3 D plane from continent to continent to learn about different animals and places all over the world!
Ages 3 +




Create sculptures even beginners will love it.
Had a motor and pedal like the pros.

For 8+

Slide and Shoot   Video Camera for Girls
for 8 and up.




Future Farm Eco System



Learn about the  the life cycle of plants and hydrophonic systems. Truly a great gift. Fot 10+




Winner of the Creative Child Toy of the year award. Build a police siren,musical doorbell. Everything comes with snap together parts.

So much more, don't forget the Planet Earth and Life series.

Enjoy!

Top Books of 2010

it is that time of year.

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