Dinner last night

So, perhaps I was inspired by the giant pots of n'importe quoi at the fête des vendanges yesterday, but I decided to make myself a huge pot of yum for dinner.

The rice beginning to soak up the ratatouille juices in the pan.

Ingredients for "pseudo-jambalaya à l'étudiant":
2 sausages
1 pack of 2 minute rice (I used mediterranian flavored)
leftovers from can of ratatouille (about 1.5 - 2 cups)
couple spoonfuls of canned corn

makes: 2 large servings or 3 medium sized servings.

Instructions:
1. brown sausage in large pan until amost cooked through
2. remove sausage from pan and place on a cutting board. While you cut up the sausage into smaller pieces, put the ratatouille, and corn on the pan to warm up. Follow instructions for 2 minute rice in the microwave, but leave slightly undercooked.
3. Once ratatouille and corn look warmed, throw the sausage in the pot. Throw the rice in on top and let the rice and sausage finish to cook in the ratatouille juices.
4. Once the sauce has reduced/ thickened to desired consistancy, serve yourself and enjoy.

The finished product, steaming hot next to a Stella.

Total price fo the whole pan was 2.02 EUR. And I only ate 1/2 of it. What a delicious way to end a foodie day. This has been my favorite use of the ratatouille yet.

Photo Shoot at the Eiffel Tower

Petit déjeuner du jour:

After buying some tomatoes, grapes, and some tea cookies at Franprix, I got myself ready to take some photos for my photography class. This week's assignment: take a picture of the Eiffel tower that isn't boring. This is much harder than it sounds.


I met my friend Zoe, who is also in photo class with me, at the Eiffel Tower at 3. We took turns being eachother's models and critics. I think I got some pretty good shots at the end of it all. I'll want to photoshop them before posting -- I'm only showing you some of the raw photos now. This means the photos look really gray and dull because I made every effort to keep the bright sun from washing everything out. I promise you, this was a beautiful day! Come this Friday, I'll have lots of polished photos to update!


I came home starving (I'd gotten up late so I'd only managed to eat some tea cookies, some grapes, and faux-rangina), so I prepared myself a feast of pasta with grilled chicken in tomato sauce, tomatoes and cucumbers in pesto and balsamic, and a massive bowl of ratatouille.


Today was a big homework day, but I've managed to get it all done.

Next projects:
1. find Jay a 2 month sublet
2. buy trip to Bruges and Brussels

Total damages today:
groceries (4 tomatoes at 1EUR a kilo, grapes at 1,29 a kilo, and bag 'o' tea cookies at 1,29 EUR): 2,26 EUR

Spéos and the Opéra Bastille

Today I visited the other photo atelier, Spéos, and was disappointed to discover that they make all students start with a non-digital, black and white camera. And they have class on Friday. I'm thinking Vermès is looking better and better.

After an afternoon French class, our group got a private tour of the Opéra Bastille. I am still in shock of how utterly fantastic this tour was. When we arrived, we descended down 6 stories and arrived at the bottom of the theater's massive elevator which is in charge of bringing up and down any and all sets for upcoming shows. The first thing I saw when we walked through the doors was the set for La Bohème.

I don't know how to say how happy I was. I got to walk around on the set for La Bohème. Me. Pretty much a dream.

We saw many other fabulous things as well (the Opéra Bastille is HUGE!). They even make all their own props, costumes, sets, etc... right on site, so we got to see some of the crazy things in progress. I did not know that such amazing things could be done with styrophome.



When we finally stepped out into the seating area, I plopped myself down in a seat that I thought was assez bon only to hear a huge gasp come from the mouth of our adorable and hilarious guide. "Madame la Présidente!" he says as he reaches for my hand. Apparently I had chosen the seat in the Opéra where the President sits. My butt has touched the same seat cushon as President Sarkozy (I don't know if I should be proud, amused, or disgusted by this...).

Feeling pretty proud of myself for having such expensive taste, I went and bought myself some really dirt cheap fruit and veggies to add to my dinner for the night.

For dinner:
entrée: tomato with oil and vinegar
plat: spaghetti with bolognese sause
dessert: tiramisu gelatto (and 1 petit ecolier cookie)

Total Damages today:

kinder bar for petit déjeuner en route: ,80 EUR
Orangina: ,80 EUR
Petit Ecolier cookies: ,80 EUR
Apple: ,14 EUR
Tomato: ,17 EUR