Found: animal crackers!

Brought to our shelves at Monoprix by Cadbury, these animal crackers are 1.23€ a box. Zanimo are biscuits in the shape of animals, half covered in chocolate. Works for me!

Pepperidge Farm roundup

We've come a long way since the arrival of the first Pepperidge Farm cookies just a few years ago. Now, on any given stop by the local Monop' you can find a wide selection of cookies by Pepperidge Farm, all in the 3 to 4 euros range.

Time to celebrate by dunking!

What's in season in Lyon

According to Fruits-Légumes, here are some of the items you should be stocking up on at Lyon's markets in October:

beets
broccoli
carrots
white cabbage
red cabbage
Chinese cabbage
cauliflower
Brussels sprouts
winter squash
pumpkins
celery
spinach
romaine lettuce
fennel
onions
leeks
potatoes
radishes
pineapples
avocados
bananas
lemons
quince
figs
passion fruit
persimons
mandarins
mangos
kiwis
walnuts
strawberries
chestnuts
papayas
apples
pears
plums
grapes
tomatoes

Attention English-reading bookworms!

Lyon à la Carte is partnering with Raconte-moi la Terre bookshop to do some something bookworms will love: a book exchange!

Bring up to three books (any language) to the Lyon à la Carte event on October 17th and swap them out.

Bring one, take one!

Upcoming events

Mark your calendars! Here's a quick listing of what's on schedule with the ICCL. And of course, don't forget Lyon à la Carte this weekend!

All-Day Bilingual Kids’ Club - Saturday, November 14, 9:00 am–4:00 pm (Caluire facility) Crafts, games, stories, songs ... and more! English/French. For ages 6–12. Check the website for details.

Thanksgiving Meal - Sunday, November 15 1:30 pm
(Caluire facility) Please RSVP for the meal. Check the website for details.

Thanksgiving Worship Service - Sunday, November 15, 4:30 pm
Check the website for details.

Christmas Carol Celebration - Sunday, December 13, 4:00 pm
Temple du Change in the Vieux Lyon. Check the website for details.


Lastly, don't forget the two study times being offered this fall:

Women’s Study - Meets every other Friday afternoon Lyon 1e (near Hôtel de Ville) We are studying the book of I Peter. Check the website for details.

Men’s Study - Meets Thursday mornings 7:00 am ‘Espace Carnot’ Café, 4, place Carnot, 69002 Lyon (near Perrache station). Check the website for details.

Recipe: Homemade candy corn!

Recipe and photo by Jessie Oleson (aka Cakespy) at Serious Eats

Homemade Candy Corn
- makes about one pound of candy corn -

Ingredients

1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup*
1/3 cup salted butter
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/3 cup powdered milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
red and yellow food coloring

Procedure

1. In a medium sized bowl, combine the sifted confectioners' sugar and powdered milk. Set to the side.

2. In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup and butter. Bring to a boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Once it reaches the boiling point, reduce heat to medium and continue stirring for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the vanilla extract and remove from heat.

3. Add the confectioners' sugar and powdered milk mixture to the wet ingredients; stir well until the mixture is thoroughly incorporated and smooth.

4. Let the dough cool until it is firm enough to handle, about 30 minutes to an hour (I just let it cool in the saucepan).

5. Divide the dough into three equal parts and set each third into a separate bowl. Add 2 to 3 drops of yellow food coloring to one dish, one drop of red and two drops of yellow to another dish, and leave the remaining dish uncolored. Knead the dough to which you have added food coloring until the color is even (you may want to use gloves to ensure that you don't stain yourself). If the dough is feeling very soft or sticky, you may want to chill the dough for about 20 minutes in the refrigerator before proceeding with the next steps.

6. On top of a sheet of waxed paper or parchment paper, use your hands to roll each color of dough into a long, slender rope. You can roll it out to your desired thickness: for larger candies, make each rope thicker; for smaller candies, make each rope thinner.

7. Line the three ropes of dough together: white, orange, and yellow. To ensure that they will stick together, lay a piece of waxed paper on top and give them a very gentle rolling with a rolling pin. You just want to adhere them, not to flatten them.

8. Using a very sharp knife, cut the dough into triangles. Keep a damp cloth nearby so that you can wipe off the knife if it begins to get a candy residue. This method will result in half a batch of traditionally colored candy corn and half a batch with yellow tips (it's OK—they taste the same). Let the finished kernels sit for an hour or two (do not stack them on top of one another as they will stick together!) to become firm.


* Corn syrup substitute
2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup water
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
Dash of salt

Combine all ingredients in a heavy, large pan. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and put cover on it for 3 minutes to get sugar crystals off the sides of the pan. Uncover and cook until it reaches soft ball stage. Stir often.

Cool syrup and store in a covered container at room temperature. It will keep for about 2 months. Makes almost 2 cups.

This weekend in Lyon, n°5 (free!)

The fifth event to consider for this weekend...

Extra! Extra! Get your Petit Paumé 2010!

Seriously. You should hurry. They are such great little guidebooks for Lyon's restaurants and they disappear quickly.

Saturday, October 10th at 1.30pm at place Bellecour

Don't feel like making the trip? Send a letter requesting a copy of this year's Petit Paumé to the address below. Include a self-addressed A4 envelope stamped for 2,97€ .

Le Petit Paumé
23 avenue Guy de Collongue
69134 Ecully cedex
04 78 33 12 12

This weekend in Lyon, n°3 & n°4 (free!)

The third and fourth events to consider for this weekend...

Start the weekend off with music over lunch. The Brasilian group Conjunto Jacaré will be performing (free!) Friday at 12.30pm as part of the 8th annual Festival Belles Latinas at the Opéra de Lyon. (And then stick with the Latin American theme: time for a siesta before the weekend!)

Then on Sunday, take in (free!) concerts all day long: 11am, 2pm and 4pm. More information here.

This weekend in Lyon, n°2 (free!)

The second event to consider for this weekend is the open house at the Hôtel de Ville de Lyon.

Saturday, October 10th from 10am to 5.30pm
Entrance is free!
Hôtel de Ville stop on métro lines A and C

This weekend in Lyon, n°1 (free!)

There is a lot going on in Lyon this weekend! Here's the first event I want to fill you in on.

Husbands and boyfriends, listen up. I'm going to let you in on a cheap date night idea. If you visit the Vinomedia website, you can fill out a form online requesting free tickets to the second annual Salon International de l’Œnotourisme. Discover over 200 French wines from around the country, learn about organic wines, and of course - tastings!

30 seconds later, they magically appear in your inbox. Just print and presto. You've just made romantic plans for the weekend.

October 9th, 10th and 11th
Centre de Congrès L'Espace Tête d'Or
103 Boulevard de Stalingrad 69100 Lyon-Villeurbanne

Natural living

The Vivez Nature de Lyon show is an expo for natural pleasures, organic farming, the environment, natural products, well-being, natural flavours, natural living and ‘eco-homes’.

It is split up into a series of areas, including a relaxation area, a ‘body techniques’ area and a children’s area.

On the programme are free activities, talks and workshops, as well as a relaxation and keep-fit area.

Organic food and drink is available on site.

Practical information:
The Vivez Nature de Lyon takes place November 20-23.
Lyon/Chassieu - Eurexpo
Entry: €6 OR Print a free invitation here (while offer lasts) or free entry for all who ride bikes out to the Expo
Children under 12: Free