Eggs à la...Paris

I haven’t written for a while and I have a laundry list of excuses, but let’s just say, I’ve been busy and perhaps, uninspired.

After spending this weekend couch-ridden with a flu and infection, I had a bit of time in between feverish naps and movie watching, to do some of the other things I love, like write and draw.  

With my usual appetite returning this morning, I felt it necessary to make one of my favourite breakfast foods, inspired by Paris, a foreign film I watched last night.  This super easy version of scrambled eggs, which I discovered in Paris a couple of years ago, seemed to be a hit last weekend with my house guests (three hungry musicians who were on tour).

 

This isn’t a 'proper' recipe, but try it out your own way, and I promise it’ll add some exciting flavour to just plain old scrambled eggs.  

(The ingredients below serve two people; adjust accordingly for smaller/larger servings) 

Break 3-4 eggs in a bowl

Sprinkle garlic powder over the eggs

Sprinkle about a teaspoon of ‘herbes de Provence’ over the eggs

Add the cheese of your choice: 

Grate cheddar; slice Brie or goat Brie (without the rind); or break up herb/peppercorn goat cheese or feta

Add fresh ground sea salt and pepper (or regular salt and pepper)

Whisk eggs and ingredients together

Melt butter/margarine in a pan over medium heat, add the eggs and scramble away.  Serve with the sides of your choice.  My favourite sides: maple bacon and home fries.

Bon appétit!

Room to Read

I just began reading John Wood's novel Leaving Microsoft to Change the World.  I'll get into how that came about, but first I'd like to reflect on my own love of reading.

In his second chapter, Wood reminisces of his childhood love for reading.

His reflection brought memories of my own childhood rushing back: the Sunday mornings I spent reading the comics, while my parents read the news of the world; the nights I hid a flashlight or a reading light beside my bed and stayed up reading storybooks, then Nancy Drew novels, National Geographic magazines and a variety of other novels, way past my bedtime.

It's when I think back to those times, which were critical to my development, that it breaks my heart to learn that over 700 million people worldwide are illiterate, and especially that over two-thirds of these are women.

I only learned those astonishing facts of illiteracy yesterday, because the head of Room to Read's Toronto chapter came to my work to talk about this charitable organization dedicated to educating the world's children.  

As our presenter mentioned, and as John Wood remarks in his book, women are typically the caregivers, the teachers - "if the mother is educated, it is much more likely that education will be passed on to the next generation."

John Wood is the man behind Room to Read.  His vision began after visiting a school in Nepal and learning their library consisted only of a locked cabinet. The cabinet held books backpackers had left behind, but these books were completely inappropriate for children, like old Danielle Steele romance novels and backpackers' guides to Mongolia.

The presentation yesterday and already the first two chapters of Wood's book have struck a chord within me.  My friends and family know I've been talking for some time now about how I'd like to make a difference in someone's life, or in the world, and do something that satisfies my soul.  It may take days, months or even years to do it, but  I'm going to start by educating myself, so I can educate others.  Hopefully, I'll start by helping out with Room to Read in some capacity, and by passing on some of my life experience to help others.

I will write more about Wood's book, maybe as I read or maybe once I've finished.  I'll also keep you posted on any events Room to Read holds to raise money for building schools, 'reading rooms' (their term for libraries), sponsoring young girls' educations, and publishing local/dual language books for children in developing countries.

John Wood expressed my feeling perfectly when he wrote, "...I simply could not imagine a childhood without books."  So, why then, should so many children live without this necessity?

If you want to learn more: http://www.roomtoread.org.

People You Know

Hailing from mean streets of the village, People You Know's own infectious brand of indie pop-rock gets everyone on the floor.  They've inspired me to bust out a tune or two, dance like no one is watching, and put some bottled-up lyrics down in ink.

Whether you're standing in front of the stage nodding your head, or dancing up a storm wherever there's room, People You Know understand what makes their fans tick.

With Iman Kninja on drums, you won't miss a beat.  Iman is one drummer that you just have to see in action.

Devon Clarke gives meaning to the word groove with her soulful bass lines. And belting out harmonic back up vocals, Devon rocks out like it's nobody's business.

And then there was Aimee Bessada.  Well, the girl can definitely play guitar. With a unique raspy quality to her voice, Aimee belts out PYK’s upbeat tunes and lovely ballads in a way that makes you believe her words are meant for you alone.

This threesome is definitely worth checking out.

Check out PYK on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/peopleyouknowmusic.