Friday Favorites: Yummy Delicious and Delightful

Today's favorites include a cheese that takes me right back to our suite at the Hotel Elysees Regencia in Paris; it's an herbed goat cheese that closely resembles the flavor of the cheese that Mom, my sisters, and I picked up in a fromageri on a side street in Montmartre during our trip last year. We savored that cheese, along with a baguette, a bottle of red, fresh strawberries, and lemon tarts that were also to die for; it stands out in my memory as some of the best food that we had on the trip.

My sister, Barbie, works in the marketing department of the Albertsons Corporation and she discovered this particular cheese while doing product research. Being a good sister, she immediately texted me a picture and told me to shake my booty down to my local Safeway, where the imported cheese was on sale buy-one-get-one-free; I did not have to be told twice.

I served the cheese to the Booster Club this past Wednesday, along with a basket of freshly baked and sliced French baguette and, the Boosters are  now in love with French goat cheese.

They are welcome.

While I'm on the topic of yummy things, yesterday, I made a corned beef and cabbage boil that was to die for. Mom had called me earlier in the week to recommend a new cooking method for the brisket-using the crockpot and a can of beer, rather than the traditional method of boiling on the stovetop. So, I tried it, and, I can truthfully report that it was the best damn corned beef that I have ever made, and; I've been making corned beef and cabbage for St. Paddy's since Hugh and I got married.

Along with the corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots, I served an Irish soda bread that was just about the best thing that I have eaten since I gave up sweets for lent. The raisins in the bread provided just enough sweetness to satisfy my craving while not making the bread overly sweet. Totally delightful.

Also delightful? The weather, while windy and intermittently chilly, is still nice enough to enable me to break out the capris and sandals.

And, while on the topic of things that delight me; I just received my first box from my new Glossybox subscription and I am over-the-moon happy with the purchase.

Glossybox is a monthly subscription for makeup and beauty products. Most of the products are full-size, not sample-sized like you might receive with other subscription programs, and, the products are high quality, name-brand items that retail for far more than the cost of the box.

This first box included hand lotion, moisturizing eye cream, eyeliner, lip gloss, and a foundation brush, all of which are items that I know I will use, so, nothing will go to waste.

Some people might be uncomfortable with the idea of buying products blindly, but, I have always been a huge fan of the element of surprise; I think it started with the excitement of not knowing which cards would come in the Charlie's Angels trading card packs that I purchased at the local five-and-dime when I was a kid. Or, from the fun of buying grab-bags of scrapbooking supplies later in my adulthood, but, either way, I love it.

I can't wait until next month's box arrives.