Croque Monsieur

Of course I have tried a lot of delicious food here in France, but the thing that makes my senses light up is the Croque Monsieur. Yes it is just the good ol' toasted sandwich a.k.a. toastie, yet it is so simple to make. I swear even the President of France probably requests it for a snack (with the top price ingredient of course!)

Seems as the French are cool to name it Croque Monsieur...instead of the typical 'grilled toast.' Makes the sound of it more chic when ordering it at your local café or bristo. "I'll have a croque monsieur please." 

All it is is just bread, butter, cheese and ham. Grill it in the oven or a toaster and voilà a simple snack with or without a nice salad. 

There are variations of this grilled toast such as the Croque Madame which is similar but with an egg on top. 

Normally used with emmental or Gruyère cheese, but whatever cheese you want it doesn't matter. 

It's so delicious I can eat 4 of them! MMMM.

Here is a simple receipe - nevertheless you can pout whatever you want in your 'croque monsieur' 

You need:

4 slices of bread

2 slices of ham

grated cheese or 4 slices of cheese (Gruyère or chosen cheese)

butter

Griller toaster or you can use your oven, set to grill on 250 degreesC 

What to do:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 250 or your grilled toaster

2. Butter the 4 slices of bread

3. On the non-buttered side, put your slices of ham on one side of each bread

4. Put your grated/sliced cheese on top of the ham

5. Place the non-buttered side of the other piece of bread on top of the cheese and place in the oven/ grilled toaster.

6. When it looks golden remove from oven/toaster

7. Cut in half..enjoy with a salad or on it's own

Bon appétit!

I feel pretty...oh so pretty...

Make up. You would expect every female species to be an expert at it right? Wrong. I am one of the few that is make-up challenged. Of course I do dab in a bit of make up every now and then for special occasion, for example costume parties, weddings, concerts, parties etc..., but for everyday wear I am so lazy...or just rephrase "I like the au naturale look."

I have a lot of respect for women who apply make up every day and depending on your job a huge respect. Being a nurse I have no time applying make up for my shift. All it is is face moisturizer and lip balm..well okay if I really really feel like then probably a hint of mascara or eye liner. But as mentioned for me I prefer when its just for special occasion.
 Of course like every girls make up is an essential part of femininity and to accentuate areas of your face especially the eyes and how it compliments your daily wear etc... . Being a young girl, it was fun to go through your Mum's make up kits and try on the brightest lip stick and black eye liner trying it on yourself...til your Mum takes a photo of your beautiful facial artwork which she say 'You look so pretty'...only  to realize you look like a Picasso artwork.

Picture and quote found with thanks to http://scabenga.co.uk/my-posts/damn-you-jordan/

Girls who say, “a lot of guys are after me”, should keep in mind that low prices always attract many customers.

 I am in a place where taking care of how you dress and look is a must. I think it really is beginning to have an impact on me. I am not going to raid Sephora and get all the must haves and you need, just need something simple to hide all that dark circle, blemishes and discolouration. Last week I went with a friend to buy a fond de teint (foundation) as I did not know what colour that blended with my skin, needed help with the Clinique assistant. Yes foundations do work wonders.

The only exception for bad make up is for costume parties, the 80's and photo shoots for a theme etc..it can be caked on as much, but the annoying part is removing it..unless it is permanent makeup and you can sleep on it. If only there was an invention of peel-off make up then no need for a make up remover then.

Let me know if you've created peel-off make up. I'll order right away.

I'll definitely maybe talk tonight.

As I am sitting here on the bed, I am reminiscing the concert which was on last night. I haven't blogged for a while and I am definitely itching to type one. I've got plenty that I want to type about but it seems as if I have writer's block or that P word - procrastinating.

Ahh Oasis, how I have such a soft spot for you. The first time I heard Wonderwall, it gave me goosebumps and from then on I have been a [massive]* fan since 1995. Like every other fan of a music group you will have all the albums, collecting news paper clippings, photos (and before Internet) I use to buy a lot of 'TV Hits,' 'Q-Music magazine,' NME' and so forth just for any articles on Oasis and the famous 'Gallagher' brothers. Yes I admit I had posters, even a t-shirt with 'Oasis' on the front, but no..not a tattoo of the brothers (I was young at that time so obviously under age!..and a good idea NOT to get one of your favourite band!)..and yes I had a crush on Liam.

It has been 10+ years after and I still love them. Despite them breaking up and are respectively making their own music - Liam with Beady Eyes and Noel and his High Flying Birds. I have to admit that 'team Liam' it really hasn't had much of an 'oomph' for me, but team Noel, that guy is bloody brilliant! Musical and lyrical genius. I am sure he is up there with the rest of the great musicians out there, dead and alive.

Last night (Tuesday 9th October) Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds performed at Lille's Aéronef. A mixture of French, English (and as quoted by Noel :"England's very far!") and an Australian (!)

Jake Bugg, an English musician was supporting Noel commenced the show with his folk-ish/country rock songs. In between his 'thank yous,' the audience were shouting "NOEL!!!!!" I was sure they just wanted Noel to come on rather than him (guys...let the dude perform.) Jake performed a few of his new songs, which I felt he was channelling Richard Ashcroft from the Verve and Oasis of course. He was good as well, but of course like everyone else couldn't wait to see the man himself - Noel...or what the French pronounced 'Noël.'

As Jake finished his song the audience cheered, the lights dimmed, while the crew/roadies dismantled, shifted, moved, sound checked microphones, guitars before Noel and his High Flying Birds arrived. The lights turned dark blue and everyone started cheering and whistling.  
The first song, everyone started dancing, bobbing their heads and waving their hands in the air (like they just don't care) and singing..yes regardless of the language, people did singalong - especially the die-hard fans of Oasis/Noel...not that I am referring to anybody.

Noel sang a mixture from his solo album "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds" and classic Oasis..and to jog your memory - Talk Tonight, Little by Little, Whatever, Don't Look Back in Anger...Ahh memories back in the days. A brief period where Noel was changing his guitar and a few people from the audience was firing random questions.

How are you feeling?
What'd you mean I'm feeling? Psychologically feeling, mentally feeling...I'm feeling good. Have you finished? (the person I couldn't hear what he/she was saying but said they were finished questioning him)..cause I've got a gig to do! Yup that person just got owned by Noel!

Noel finished with that awe-inspiring song "Don't Look Back in Anger." We were all hoping he would do an encore, nevertheless the crew started dismanteling the instruments. It was one of my friend's idea to stay a little longer, in hoping to catch a glimpse of Noel. Outside Aréonef we saw two black bus coaches, assuming that it was the bus driving the crew around France. We went there but of course noone was there yet, so we crossed the road and saw the crew, who were waiting for the truck to pick up the packed instruments. I asked one if they knew where Noel was...he didn't have a clue. So we waited around. We looked at every direction to see where he would leave.


One hour later I spotted one of the musicians walking on the overpass. I pointed out to my friends that there was one of the band members and I was assuming he would follow..indeed. We quietly crossed the road and as they were walking down the stairs, one of the members saw some 'people' with camera (us) - "no camera." Noel signed someone's ticket..looked at us..hesitated then said "alright, if it's necessary" and cheese! The four of us.

Lucky buggers we were, considering that they turned down the rest of the people.

I felt like a little kid with a new toy. I am over the moon as I got to met my idol for a brief moment.

I can die happy now.

*1995 - 2001 a massive fan. Of course I still am a fan, but not crazy to have my room covered (it was close though!).