Beach Days

Happy Friday!

This summer, we spent a lot of time on the beach!

Well, especially our son James and I. 

We go during the week, while daddy is at work. 
(less crowded) 
Not fair to my husband, but we always make it up to him over the weekend, 

by doing something fun.

Until about 2 weeks ago, it had been particularly hot in LA. 

Above 100 degrees!

So the best place to be was by the ocean, where it is always much cooler. 

It has certainly cooled down quite a bit. 

Now in the comfortable high 70's low 80's, fall has definitely arrived. 

I never complained though, I love the beach 

and so does baby James.

We had the visit of one of my sisters from Paris. 

She arrived on August 23 and since then, it had been 

beach, beach, beach! 
Almost everyday! 

She stayed with us for two weeks and we had a lot of fun. 

Then my parents arrived and they also love the beach.

Mum and dad have been here for about a month and a half and we are having a blast! 

My parents are the nicest, most easy going people. 

We all get along so well and so it is a true pleasure 

to have them around. 

I wish they lived closer...

Bordeaux, France is not exactly on the doorstep.

Anyway, that is why I have not been able to do much blogging recently.

I would like to share with you a few photos 

of our beach days.

My husband is from Santa Barbara and we love the beautiful beaches there, but here in LA, 

we have a couple of favorite ones.

The private beach of Paradise Cove, in Malibu

Love, love it there! 

But we keep that beach for the weekend with my husband (longer drive).

My dad (papi) and baby James
having a splashy time!

My beach boy!

Paradise Cove has been featured in countless productions, over the years. 

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"The boys" in American Pie 2

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Rene Russo and Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon 4

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Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson in Indecent Proposal 

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Front cover picture of Surfin' Safari,

taken by photographer Ken Veeder in a photo shoot, on the beach at Paradise Cove, that also produced the cover for the band's 1963 album Surfer Girl (below).

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For the fans of Britney Spears, the music video for her 1999 hit song Sometimes,
was also filmed at Paradise Cove.

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On the pier

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Marilyn Monroe posing on a cliff above the restaurant.
A framed copy of this 1952 pin-up of Marilyn, photographed by J.R. Eyerman, is displayed at at the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe 

Great view of the pier on this one!

Manhattan beach

It is so lovely there! 

A 30 minute drive from our home (Silver Lake) 
and we find ourselves in a true beach town. 
There is not a single thing I dislike about Manhattan beach. 

It is just perfect! 

The motto there is "Sun, sand, sea" and it is a hotspot for beach volleyball and surfing. 
Every August, the city hosts the Manhattan Beach Open Volleyball Tournament 
and the International Surf Festival. 

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Collecting sea pebbles

My dad always digs a little wading pool for James.
James never forgets to ask his papi:
"Papi, papi! Petite piscine!"

Running under the pier

Loving the sand!

Hanging out in his beach chair

Enjoying a delicious ice cream at the local creamery

We often stay until the sun goes down.

I love Manhattan Beach!

Have a great autumn weekend!

Thanks for stopping by,

Alexandra

Easy and Nutritious Quinoa Pudding

This quinoa pudding is a nice twist on traditional rice pudding.

Quinoa (pronunced keen-wah) originated in the Andean region of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia, where it was domesticated 3,000 to 4,000 years ago for human consumption, though archaeological evidence shows a non-domesticated association with pastoral herding some 5,200 to 7,000 years ago.

Locally referred to as chisaya mama or mother of all grains, it kept the Incan armies strong and robust.

It was the Inca emperor who would traditionally sow the first seeds of the season using golden implements.

Quinoa is considered one of the best sources of protein and amino acids by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Just recently, when I made rice pudding for my family, I started looking into more options to make a pudding without using the traditional rice. 
I often make semolina pudding and tapioca pudding, but I wondered if using the superfood quinoa would work as well.
After experimenting  a couple of times, I think I got it just right.

Here is the easy recipe for this thick and creamy pudding.

Enjoy this nutritious gluten-free dessert, 
which also makes a healthy and tasty alternative to oatmeal 
for breakfast (hot or cold).

Also a wonderful recipe for the little ones! 



INGREDIENTS:
(Yields 4 to 6 servings)

∙ 1 cup of quinoa 

∙ 4 1/2 cups of whole milk

∙ 4 tablespoons of sugar

∙ 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

∙ 1/4 teaspoon of salt

DIRECTIONS:

∙ Place the quinoa in a mesh strainer and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Allow to drain. 

This step is very important. 

A thorough rinse will remove the natural bitter coating of the quinoa.

∙ Combine the milk, sugar, vanilla and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cover, but leaving a small opening to allow the steam to escape. simmer for 25 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.

∙ Remove the lid and continue simmering for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

∙ Pour into the bowls and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving (if served hot). 

∙ Top with fresh berries and/or sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.

If eaten cold, the pudding may be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by,

Alexandra

Quick and Easy Chocolate or Vanilla Pudding

Warm or cold,

 la crème au chocolat (chocolate pudding), was a part of my childhood routine.

Growing up in France, my mum used to make us (my sisters and I) this delicious and comforting treat.

Real crème au chocolat should be rich, decadent and bursting with chocolate flavor.

It should have a smooth and creamy texture and a strong taste of cocoa.

Wonderful as a dessert (what better way to end a meal!), 

or for the goûter (afternooon snack).
Our son loves it!

(See the previous post where I talk about 

the chidren's goûter in France, HERE).

When I made crème au chocolat  yesterday, I decided that this recipe should absolutely be shared with you.

It is surprisingly easy to make 

and takes only 15 minutes to whip up from start to finish!

The pudding is thickened with the combination of cornstarch and egg yolks, which gives it a custard-like quality.

You may use cocoa powder, good chocolate or 

a combination of both.

My mum actually melts the chocolate in the milk, 

but I find that using cocoa powder instead, is a little quicker.

You should use whole milk to give the pudding 

a rich and creamy flavor. 

Of course, if you only have 2% milk in the house, 

it would still be okay. But I would not use a milk lower in fat, 

or the pudding would lose a bit of its magic.

This chocolate pudding may be simple, but simplicity is often just what you need.

Rediscover 

homemade pudding's comforting simplicity.

This recipe also makes a downright delicious vanilla pudding 
if you just leave out the cocoa powder.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 tablespoons of sugar
• 1/4 cup of cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder (if making chocolate pudding)
• 2 1/2 cups of whole milk
• 4 large egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

• In a medium saucepan, off heat, whisk together sugar, cornstarch and salt. If you are making chocolate pudding, add cocoa powder.

• Very gradually, whisk in the milk (just a few tablespoons at a time), making sure to dissolve the cornstarch thoroughly.

• Whisk in the egg yolks.

• Whisking constantly, cook over medium heat.

• When the first large bubble forms and sputters, reduce the heat to low. Still whisking, cook for 1 minute.

After whisking for 1 minute.

• Remove saucepan from the heat. Then stir butter and vanilla extract into the hot pudding. Yummy!

• Divide among 4 serving dishes.

• Chill the crème au chocolat for at least 3 hours (if eaten cold) and up to 3 days.

Voilà!

Notes:

If there are any small lumps, you may optionally run the pudding through a fine mesh strainer to remove them.

•••

If you dislike pudding skin, you may want to put plastic wrap on top of the pudding 

and smooth it gently against the surface, before refrigerating.

At home, we do not mind the skin,

I actually like it!

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by,

Alexandra

Second Birthday Party

Sarita Relis Photography

I cannot believe that 2 months have already passed, since we celebrated our son's 2nd birthday.

I would like to share with you some photos of that memorable day 
as well as a wonderful recipe for a

Chocolate Dream Cake

We had James's 2nd birthday party at nana and grandpa's house in Santa Barbara, like we did last year.

It was a convivial gathering of family and friends in the garden and we all had a lovely time. 

We wanted a casual barbecue. 

On the menu, 

  Tasty hamburgers and hotdogs with all the trimmings, 

Nana's famous potato salad,

A delicious Caesar salad,  

A huge fresh fruit salad.

I had also ordered a few dozens cupcakes from our very good local cupcakery.

Vanilla, Red Velvet, chocolate and coconut were the flavors we chose.

Sarita Relis Photography

Sarita Relis Photography

I also wanted to bake a very special yummy chocolate cake for our very special birthday baby boy.

I wanted it to be super moist!

I searched online and I found a recipe on Pinterest (HERE) for a Chocolate Dream Cake.  
I only used the recipe for the dark chocolate cake and opted for my personal favorite frosting, no glaze. 
(Recipe HERE)

What is a dream cake? 
A Dream Cake is a layered cake that is so moist 
and so delicious that it is dreamy.

Voilà!

I forgot to take a picture of the inside of the cake, so I found this photo online which very much looks like 
James's cake, only a bit shorter.

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Sarita Relis Photography 

Baby James feeding his toy bear.

Sarita Relis Photography

James definitely enjoyed his Chocolate Dream Cake
and I also got a lot of compliments from our guests!


INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups of all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup of cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 2 teaspoons of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 2 cups of water (I know, it is a lot of water! But do not worry, it works!)
• 2 cups of sugar
• 5 oz of dark chocolate, chopped
• 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (I used canola oil)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 6-inch round cake pans. The original recipe called for two 8-inch pans, but I wanted a smaller and taller cake. It worked out great. Then set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine water and sugar. Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add the chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally, until melted. 
• Whisk in the vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Wait 5 minutes (to cool a little bit), then quickly beat in the eggs (do this fast so that they do not cook) into the chocolate mixture, until combined. Whisk in dry ingredients, until smooth.
• Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, OR until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let cakes cool in pans until cool to the touch.
• Remove from pans and cool cakes completely on a cooling rack, before frosting.

Note:

I actually wrapped my 2 cakes in waxing paper and froze them. Then on the actual day, I let the cakes thaw at room temperature for a few hours before frosting.

It turned out great and I did not have to stress about baking on the day of the event.

I decorated the cake with pretty red sugar sprinkles.


•••


The birthday theme that we went for this year was 
Fire Engine!

Sarita Relis Photography 

The decorations were custom-made by a lady that I know. 
I found her on Etsy last year, for our son's 1st birthday.
She made the birthday banners, cupcake toppers, 
napkin rings, drink labels, food/drink signs, 
party favor tags 
and I always ask for a special welcome sign.

I displayed my husband's old vintage fire engine 
from his childhood, 
on a very handy little red stool (HERE) 
that I found on Amazon.

I also got some fireman party hats from there.

Sarita Relis Photography 

This time, I used the drinks labels on plastic reusable Mason jars. 
I thought everyone could take theirs home, as a party favor.

I love Mason jars!

Also found on Etsy, 
the seller had various colors for the lids and of course I picked red to go with the theme.

I bought red and white paper straws from my local paper shop, stuck the labels on and 
here they are!

Sarita Relis Photography 

 Don't they look so pretty?

Sarita Relis Photography 

The main party favor was a freshly baked, custom-made 
fire engine sugar cookie.
The baker was also found on Etsy.
Can't you tell I love Etsy?

Sarita Relis Photography

 I was very pleased with them.

So cute and delicious!

We decorated the garden with a lot of helium balloons.
An assortment of red, white and a few black ones.
Also some red paper lanterns.
I love paper lanterns!

Music was playing
and bubbles were floating all around.

Good times!

Sarita Relis Photography
Bubbles!

Baby James could not wait to open his presents.

We also had an art and creative play area for the children.

Sarita Relis Photography 

Sarita Relis Photography
Kids at play

This year, we had 2 art projects for the kids:

Decorate your own apron

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Decorate the wooden people sticks

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And lots of drawing!


I went to the arts & crafts section of our closest 
Lakeshore Learning Store 
and got a few fun things:

• Dot Art Painters
• Large Crayons
• Washable Markers
• Stamper Markers
• Washable Watercolor Brush Pens
• Sticky Wiggly Eyes
• A Roll of White Drawing Paper

James had a BIG birthday surprise in the back garden!

A swingset!

Thank you nana and grandpa!

Sarita Relis Photography
James blowing the candle.

James's birthday hat and tee-shirt were custom-made by a lady I know in Pasadena.
I first met her last year, when she made our son's 
1st Birthday Cake Smash outfit.
I also found her on Etsy. 

I made the cake banner.
I think a cake banner, or bunting cake topper, really embellishes a birthday cake 
and makes it even more festive...

Sarita Relis Photography
...and James liked it!

I cannot believe our baby boy 
is now 2 years old...

Sarita Relis Photography
Our little prince

Sarita Relis Photography 
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Thanks for stopping by,
Alexandra


P.S. If you are interested in any of the custom-made 
birthday items, I will be happy to share the links.

Photography by Sarita Relis
http://www.saritarelis.com/