Revolutionising Pear-Eating and other highlights/things I’ve learned this year
24 May 2012 4 Comments
in Life en France, Musings Tags: ERASMUS, france, musings, Strasbourg, student, study abroad, travel, travelling
All my life I’ve been eating pears wrongly, and it wasn’t until I had a pear bestowed upon me by Anna that I was shown the error of my ways. At first highly sceptical, I observed as she bit the stalk off and binned it, and then proceeded to eat the entire pear, barring the core and leafy-bottom bit of course. I believe at first I was powerless even to commence my own pear-consumption, being overwhelmed by the sheer radicalism of her actions. I was far from convinced, but, being the polite guest that I am, acquiesced to try her most unusual of methods. To my surprise, it made for a rather delightful experience, certainly less wasteful than my previous manner of pear-eating, and also seemed to create a better taste of pear, perhaps because my brain was not expecting an apple-taste due to me biting around the “core”.
The evidence of how little is left using the “Anna method” of pear-eating
So anyway, when people ask me what I’ve taken away from my experience in France, I am not sure if that will be how I will answer them, but it would certainly be a truthful way so to do.
My biggest “what on earth?!” moment would probably be in January, when the night after I skied into a rock (and was therefore in some pretty serious pain) the girl across the hall got me up at 3am to evacuate an unwanted male from her room. I’d never spoken to her before, and have since also never seen her. Another contender would be the guy who stepped over my back as I lay on my front revising in the park: personal space, ever heard of it?!
Culinary discoveries include: how easy quiche is to make, tabbouleh, cooking with lentils, and how good ganache is as an all-purpose dessert for the ovenless. Plus that you can make pizza dough with ordinary flour. And also that I do enjoy a nice Alsacian Pinot Gris or Gerwurztraminer.
Biggest “experiences” would probably have to be bathing in Baden Baden, and paragliding.
Knitting discoveries: I really like knitting hats, and really like knitting in the round so I don’t have to seam up afterwards.
Literary discoveries: how much I like Kazuo Ishiguro.
Miscellaneous discovery: English people find it difficult to comprehend the upbringing of a good Scots child to forever be resentful of the English, and particularly to loathe being called English. Also they are mocking of the beautiful Scottish accent. However I (grudgingly) accept that even the English people that haven’t chosen to study in Scotland (my previous proviso) may have some good qualities as friends 
On a more serious note, I’ve also been able to really appreciate how faithful God is, and how wonderful it is to be able to bond with Christian sisters and brothers from all over the world, no matter how short or long a time you’ll have with them. Trinity International Church, particularly the Youth Group, and Navigators have been wonderful, as well as really interesting with the mix of opinions on things which diverge from what can sometimes be a relatively homogeneously conservative set in Glasgow… don’t worry, though, nothing heretical 
Also really interesting has been talking with people of any viewpoint from all across the world, learning about differences in cultures and mindsets. It’s been amazing to have the opportunity to travel freely into Germany whenever I like, and the additional times when I went to Copenhagen, and am going to go to Luxembourg and Amsterdam have definitely whet my appetite for international travel, albeit that I definitely prefer being somewhere I can speak the language. I’ve learned that really, I don’t care too much for the “must-see” sights, particularly not if they involve cathedrals or art galleries… though history museums and art galleries in tiny doses can be interesting. Definitely better is just wandering about, getting tips from a local on where to go, savouring a hot chocolate and pastry in a café, admiring the architecture, and popping into a few of the locally-grown shops (ie not H&M and Zara).
I’ve also learned what I miss about Scotland (other than my friends and family, of course): the healthcare system definitely features, as well as golden syrup, Cadbury’s chocolate, every shop being open at lunch, and a lack of OTT bureaucracy. Plus not so many hideously creepy men. Other things are more nuanced: it is annoying that all shops close at 20h, and most are shut on Sundays, but at the same time it’s nice that the French go some way to having a better life/work balance sorted, and I can’t begrudge people a day’s rest! And the “bising”: I kiss more people’s cheeks on any given day than I previously ever had in my life before France, so please don’t be taken aback if I swoop alarmingly close and hover beside your cheek before realising what I’ve done and awkwardly transforming into a hug. I certainly won’t miss having my cheek scratched by guys who haven’t bothered to shave, and it can be annoying being expected to bise everyone if you walk into a room; but on the other hand it is a nice way to say hi to everyone, and can also finish off a conversation nicely.
And there are so many things I’ll miss about Strasbourg (again, excepting the people that are a given): being able to cycle everywhere, the comparatively great weather, lack of hills, going to market a couple of time each week, the bread, the Orangina, and the beauty of the city. But hey, flights are relatively cheap so I’m sure that I’ll come back soon 
Tabbouleh
22 May 2012 4 Comments
in Recipes, Vegetarian Tags: meals, recipe, recipes, student meals, vegetarian
Tabbouleh is a somewhat nebulous concept. I have come across it many times over the course of the year: at the cooking classes which I attended, at picnics, at Pot Luck, and prepared by a friend for a lunch at Baggersee. The ingredients appear variable: the base is apparently meant to be bulgar wheat, but in most of the dishes I’ve sampled it has been couscous in centre stage. In terms of additions, again anything goes: most common seem vegetables, but I tried one at a picnic a few days ago containing tuna and crab. It can be served hot or cold, and keeps for several days.
The following is an outline recipe for about 4 servings: the trick with couscous is following the packet instructions and not drowning it, so check how much water you should add to your variety.
1 cup couscous
1.5 cups boiling water
1 vegetable stock cube
2 tbsp olive oil
Veg chopped finely: pepper, onion, shallot, tomato…
Handful of raisins, soaked in boiling water for a few minutes
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp dried mint / some fresh mint leaves
- Mix the couscous with the crumbled stock cube and 1 tbsp of oil. Pour the boiling water over it and cover with clingfilm or a plate.
- After 5-10 minutes (in which you can chop the vegetables), fluff up the couscous with a fork.
- Stir in the other tbsp of oil, the vegetables, raisins, lemon juice, and mint. Add some parsley if you’re feeling fancy.
- Enjoy immediately or leave to cool.
Creamy Salmon Pasta
21 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Fish, Recipes Tags: cooking, fish, healthy, meals, recipe, recipes, student meal, student recipe
The closer I get to leaving, the less inclined I am to buy anything which I’m not going to use up. I’m investigating vinegar or lemon-juice rinses for my hair conditioner which is about to be finished, and am just accepting life for the next 10 days without couscous, rice, or soy sauce. Which was a bit annoying a few days ago when I decided to cook something salmony as soy sauce goes really nicely with salmon (mind you, the recipe I’ve got for that also involves an oven… I’m about to stop going on about my lack thereof, promise ). On the plus side, I get the satisfaction of not wasting any food. Necessity is the father of invention after all (even if googlefight seems to think that doubt is), and having a passing desire for salmon, a separate craving for boursin (essentially, posh cream cheese), and there being some tasty-looking green beans at market led to this concoction.
My camera has still not recovered from its unfortunate Instagram envy, so the picture quality continues to be fluid (to the left of the picture, anyway).
Galettes / Rosti / Hash Browns
13 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Meals, Recipes, Vegetarian Tags: recipe, recipes, store cupboard, student recipes, vegan, veggie
Call them what you like, these are a great way of using up your basic kitchen vegetables and are easy to jazz up: apple compote, brie, tomato…
Two options: with eggs or without. The quantities are a bit hit and miss, these are what I used to make meal for myself, but adding just a little would probably make enough for two – it’s just that grated potato does tend to turn green after a wee while, so it needs to be used at the time and not saved for the next day. The carrots and onions are optional, just give the outcome that bit more taste and healthfulness! (Probably leave them out if you’ll be adding apple compote.)
Option 1 (with egg)
Probably makes the best of these potato-pancakey things.
1 large potato
1/2 medium carrot
1 small onion
1 egg
About 2 tbsp flour
Salt, pepper, salad herbs to flavour
Some oil for the pan
- Grate the potato and carrot
- Chop the onion really finely and stir into the grated potato and carrot
- Beat the egg, and stir it in with the herbs
- Heat the oil in the pan so it’s really hot, then turn down slightly
- Drop portions, each about the size of a ladle, into the frying pan. Press down to flatten slightly.
- Cook for 5-10 minutes then flip over and do the same
Option 2 (eggless)
1 large potato
1 small onion
1/2 a medium carrot
Salt, pepper, salad herbs to flavour
Some oil for the pan
- Grate the potato and carrot, and squeeze in some kitchen roll to get as much moisture out as humanly possible
- Chop the onion really finely and stir into the grated potato and carrot
- Heat the oil in the pan so it’s really hot, then turn down slightly
- Drop portions, each about the size of a ladle, into the frying pan. Press down to flatten slightly.
- Cook for 5-10 minutes then flip over and do the same
My camera has Instagram Envy
12 May 2012 1 Comment
in Life en France Tags: ERASMUS, france, life, revision, Strasbourg, study abroad, summer, year abroad
At least, that’s the only way I can explain it. I’ve a couple of weeks” worth of journal photos; updating the blog was not a justifiable method of procrastination during the revision period. But now, after exams and after a day at Baggersee beach in the 30oC heat (don’t be too jealous, it’s back down now), when I come back to update ze blog I find that my camera has decided to give everything a soft blur, not ideal for taking a picture of text. You’ll just have to ask to see my journal upon my return if you want the full effect 
Apart from revising, I also fit in seeing Hunger Games – good – Avengers – great – revising in the park (lots of) – probably the best place to revise – some ice-creams – delicious – a prayer meeting for Strace Ta Rue, a “camp d’évangelisation” that’s putting on street shows in Strasbourg the first week of July… and since exams finished, chatting, splashing in the water, and reading some Kazuo Ishiguro on the beach.
Exams were ok, I think. It’s just a really weird learning style here: the teacher dictates, you copy word-for-word, you learn (as best you can, I definitely had to condense a lot as learning by heart 120 pages per subject of notes wasn’t feasible) word-for-word, and then in the exam you reproduce exactly what the teacher has said to you weeks earlier. It seems like it would have been really straight-forward and easy to do had it been in English – the equivalent of “KU” questions in Standard Grade – but just being in French made it very much more difficult. But hey, OVER NOW.
Ice-creams and revision in Parc de la Citadelle… great mix
The stork at the park had no qualms about approaching us when revising in Parc de l’Orangerie… mind you, neither did a French guy who, when I was “in his way”, found it perfectly acceptable to approach and step right over my back when I was lying face-down revising. Chalk it up to weird French concepts of personal space, perhaps?
End of revision: we chose Haribos on the basis they were the sweet least likely to melt at Baggersee beach… however this turned out not to be the case. The resultant goo was very tasty at least! I think it was also at this point that my camera decided it wanted to be hip and cool and blurry…
Chocolate Chunk Cookies
02 May 2012 1 Comment
in Cookies, Recipes Tags: afternoon tea, chocolate, cookies, recipe, recipes
I have a feeling the cupcake maker really didn’t do these cookies justice (giving them quite a cakey consistency), but the people who’ve tried them have liked them, so that’s recommendation enough for me to post the recipe in turn. It’s going to be so weird having access to a proper oven again and turning out cookies that don’t look identically small and cupcake-shaped!
225g butter
150g / 3/4 c sugar
150g / 3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
350g / 2 1/2 c plain flour
150g chocolate chips
- Beat the butter until it is creamy
- Beat in the sugars and cream for 2 minutes
- Lightly beat in the eggs and vanilla until just incorporated
- Stir in the salt, bicarbonate of soda, and baking powder
- Gradually add in the flour until it’s incorporated
- Stir in the chocolate
- Drop spoonfulls onto a plate and refrigerate for a few hours
- Bake at 170oC for about 15 minutes
Chorizo and Beans
27 Apr 2012 4 Comments
in Meals, Meat, Recipes Tags: dinner, lunch, meal, recipe, student meal, student meals
Nothing too fancy here, but a great quick dish with about 2 of your “5 a day” in addition to some meat and beans for all you protein lovers out there. Does stain, of course. You might want to watch out for that… While I’m here, let me just recommend Frugal Feeding for all your tasty-yet-inexpensive feeding needs. And as an added bonus, the author is as prone to sesquipedalianism as I.
(serves 2-3)
Parliament, Hike, Hair
24 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Life en France Tags: ERASMUS, france, recipe, Strasbourg, study abroad, year abroad
Best hair reactions:
- Gran “Best to do that sort of thing when you’re out of the country”
- Andie “So did you misread the packet and it was meant to be red?”
It puts me in mind of a poem brought in by Ruth to an English secondary school class, possibly first year:
Warning by Jenny Joseph
WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR PURPLE
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spitYou can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxesBut now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
Always struck a chord with me, not sure why Minus the sausages. Yuck.
Anyway, so I’ve just about got over having to run to my mirror every 15 minutes and grinning maniacally while saying “ARGH MY HAIR IS PURPLE YAY” (In the midst of intense revision here, cut me some slack.) Life chundles on, leaping towards my departure, a fact which is really not helped by one of main topics of acquaintance-level conversation being “Will you be glad to be home? Will you miss France?”.
- Yes it will be lovely to see my Scottish friends again; no it will not be nice to leave my French, English, American friends behind.
- I will love not having to stress about proper grammar in my speech; le fait de parler en francais semi-courrament va me manquer.
- Having a proper kitchen and bathroom will be fantastic; the bother of finding a flat / mate leaves me unmoved (on that note, if anyone’s looking for a flat/mate in the West End, please do let me know – hard to be motivated from so far away!).
Basically, there is a mix of positives and negatives in any situation. But fresh from about 4 sermons in a row on how God has a plan for our lives and is in control, I’m not too worried. To go Spanish on you, Qué sera, sera… whatever will be, will be. Erasmus has been and continues to be amazing (apart from the small matter of studying for exams) and I’m still here for a month, which is 1/9th of my total time in France after all.
Dwelling on the past and worrying about the future are both a waste of time. My aim is to rejoice in and make the most of opportunities in the here and now, so that future Sarah in a stray period of reminiscing never does say “I wish past Sarah had just gone on that trip / taken that chance to relax / had that picnic in the park / got off her bottom and done some work!” (Yes, I’m aware that this makes me sound mildly schizophrenic, but that’s how the inner monologue of Sarah rolls.)
The journal:
That’s Parliament finished, terminating in some of the most random assignments of the year. I’m so glad my Higher Modern Studies has come in handy in answering the questions about the Welfare State from some student in at Herriot Watt university.
Last “life in France” blog, I believe I forgot to inflict upon y’all the song that I was currently singing. Last time, it was definitely Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know. While revising and writing this blog in between times, “I love Rock and Roll” came into my head… took a while before I realised the last time I’d belted that out was on a tiny foam-raining German dancefloor. Don’t think I needed those memories coming back, but there you go.
Caramel and Butterscotch
23 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Desserts, Recipes Tags: dessert, ovenless, recipe, recipes, sugar, sweet
Butter and sugar, how I love thee. And combined with some (whisper it) condensed milk and that height of British marvels that is golden syrup… om, nom, and double nom. Of course, it does sometimes happen that you’ve not got any lait concentré sucré to hand (maybe you’ve used it all up making Tablet?), in which case the humble single or double cream may be substituted for a thinner result. And as all countries have not got Messrs Tate and Lyle to rely upon in times of need (or in the day to day), some runny honey will also give your caramel or butterscotch a taste which is definitely acceptable.
Herein presented are two recipes. The former is thicker, and slightly sweeter. Both are true to their Scottish VERY sweet tooth heritage and disgusted the Peruvian girl cooking pasta next to me. Both have quantities which can be taken with a pinch of salt… I tend to just shake in a bit of this and a bit of that, but the quantities provided seem about right. Both taste great after 5 minutes of heating but even better after 20.
And then, the question is: what to do with them? I went for caramel popcorn with the former (pour over freshly popped corn, stir or shake, then enjoy… wash hands after eating and before knitting), then good old-fashioned eating with a spoon, then included a caramel layer in a batch of brownies in order to stop myself from eating the whole pot. The butterscotch would have gone brilliantly with ice-cream, but alas that was not to be and so I substituted some fromage blanc (though I’m unfamiliar with UK yoghurt products, I think that would be equivalent to Greek yoghurt, perhaps)… and then returned with my spoon for the rest.
So, without further ado:
Caramel
100g butter
1 tin condensed milk
1/2 cup white sugar (100g)
1/2 cup brown sugar (100g)
4 tbsp golden syrup / 2 tbsp honey
- In a saucepan over the stove-top, melt the butter and sugars, then add the condensed milk and honey.
- Stir to avoid the appearance of brown bits (means you’ve burnt it), keeping it at medium-hot heat. You might even be best whisking it.
- Continue in this vein for about 20 minutes.
- Watch out for burning sugar.
- Take it off the heat and let it cool a bit then enjoy!
Butterscotch
50g butter
4 tbsp / 50g brown sugar
4 tbsp / 50g white sugar
150ml cream
2 tbsp honey
Couple of drops of vanilla
- Melt everything bar the vanilla and honey in a pan, then add the vanilla and honey.
- Keep stirring over a medium-hot heat for 15-20 minutes
International Wedding, Parisian Art, Ellen Invasion, German Clubbing, Europa Park
17 Apr 2012 4 Comments
in Life en France Tags: ERASMUS, germany, Paris, Strasbourg, study abroad, travel, travelling, year abroad
This past fortnight has been one of those “il faut profiter du fait d’etre étudiant Erasmus” (you need to make the most of being an Erasmus student) periods. Swiftly followed by a harsh bump back to reality in the form of exam revision – I have one exam on Monday 7th May, 2 exams on the 9th, and 2 on the 10th, all for completely disparate subjects and a mix of oral and written formats – hence the belated blogging update.
(as ever, click to embiggen)
First off, the church wedding of Mr and Mrs Fogle, otherwise known as Ethan and Jessye… once we got there (bus service let us down) the ceremony was lovely, Jessye’s dress gorgeous and very ‘her’ with the dangling hearts, and the international aperatif (finger-buffet) afterwards excellent. As my first church wedding, it’s set a high standard.
Then spent Easter Sunday with some English and American people from church getting a bit of grief for my accent and pronunciation of sword and suit, but having some nice ice-cream and tea (separately). Quick survey: who here would traditionally roll eggs down a hill for Easter?
Toot-sweet, off to Paris on the TGV where I caught up with the family and caused much confusion by speaking French to the hotel receptionnist. Parisians! (Or as Mr Leiper, high school French teacher, would have us say: “Parisites!” Got to love a Mr Leiper joke…).
While there, arranged for the lovely Ellen to come spend the night and receive some top tips for Strasbourg tourism, which she did and it was great. Thankfully the weather was much more obliging than it had been for my previous Glasgow university visitors, so she had a nice stroll up to the European Institutions on the Thursday before Navs and then we had a [insert synonym for lovely, I don't want to overuse] morning on the Friday seeing Petite France and the Cathedral before meeting Cara for lunch, where I’m happy to say I completely converted Ellen to the wonder that is Alsacian wine. As a side-note, my family appeared to be under the impression that I’ve turned into a bit of an alcoholic or “wino”… they were the ones ordering wine with every Parisian meal. Just sayin’. But for the avoidance of any doubt, following the wine route I do enjoy a nice glass (or two on special occasions) of Pinot Gris or Gerwurztraminer, but am definitely not at the stage of sneaking my bottles out under cover of darkness.
Anyway, after a trip round the Alsacien Museum with Ellen and Cara, it was back to dear Paul Appell to grab my stuff, and off to Achern on the Deutsche-Bahn to visit Andrew’s warehouse (Anna got to play with the forklift truck!) and prepare for hitting the German clubbing scene. We’d belatedly found out that it was 16+ night in the club on the industrial estate (cue girls looking 12 wearing little but make-up) but still reckoned our chances were better there than in the swingers’ club next door. Some interesting music choices were going on; upsettingly given we were the only ones giving it yaldi on his secondary dancefloor, the DJ refused to play either Nena or Rihanna. He did shower us with foam which he appeared to believe made up for this deficiency…
After spending the night on the office floor, Saturday afternoon was a general “sorting life out” few hours, uploading facebook photos, downloading lecture notes, etc, etc.
Then Sunday dawned bright and drizzly and it was off to Europa Park on the 7h45 bus. Germany’s biggest theme park, it was a bit too wannabe Disney and not quite bold enough in its own right for me – I love a good rollercoaster and there were a couple, but it would have been better if they’d concentrated on beefing them up rather than fitting things up with your general M&Ds type rides. Still, the drizzlieness of the day meant that comparatively few had ventured forth, and the only queue of more than 10 minutes was 20 for Europe’s only Wooden roller-coaster. Maybe I was just prejudiced because the Union Jack bit of the park was named England.
Since getting home on Sunday, it’s been mostly revision time. So much more difficult in French, who’d'a thunk it?!
