The house is quiet, except for the pitter-patter of tiny toddler footsteps and voices. All family is now home safe in the comfort of their own homes. As I sit and look around at the devastation around my house, the piles of laundry yet to be done and the presents yet to find a home I sip from my glass of Beaujolais Nouveau red wine, take a deep breath and relax. Home.

This evening we quickly bathed and tucked the kids into bed since they haven’t made their bedtimes in say… about a week. For Christmas, Miles got me a fabulous cookbook that I would very highly recommend to anyone and everyone. The book, My French Kitchen, is written by Joanne Harris who is the author of Chocolat, one of my all time favorite movies. The recipes are simple although you do have to go to Whole Foods to find some ingredients like fresh tarragon. The photography is exquisite and the selections are divine. From creme brulee, ratatoullie (no, it’s not just a movie) and spinach gnocchi. The list goes on and on. Tonight I drug Miles into the kitchen to teach him a thing or two. He was in charge of the chopping of the vegetables and in the middle of dicing the shallots, with tears in his eyes, told me how overwhelmed and grateful he was with the meal. Funny guy.

Together we made filet mignon with a tarragon cream sauce on top of a portobello mushroom served with a side of roasted asparagus spears and sliced baguette. The entire process took 20 minutes. Need I say anything else?