SOPHIE SIMONE TOURS PROVENCE

Morning at the Clos de Saint Phare Sophie Simone Tours

PROVENCE TOURS
Experience a stunning part of the world on one of our well-planned tours of Provence.  Some of the more popular areas visited include Les Baux de Provence, an ancient hilltop fortress town with beautiful shops full of local textiles and pottery, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie famous for its faience pottery and fountains full of crystal clear mountain water, Arles and its ancient Roman ruins and lovely shops, charming St. Remy, birthplace of Nostradamus and a venue for serious shoppers where Van Gogh painted and the Romans left behind a town and two famous trophies, Aix en Provence, the Paris of the south, and the Roman port of Marseille and its cafes and restaurants famous for bouillabaisse.

http://www.sophie-simone-tours-provence.com/

UNCLE MO & J.CREW

Heaven in a Corn Husk

Okay, I realize I have been MIA, AWOL, incommunicado, blah, blah, blah for quite some time now.  The truth is I have just been really busy.  Between trips to London, auditions and the day to day responsibilities of a single mom, I’m lucky I still have a brain in my head.  Okay, that’s debatable!

I’m in the city almost everyday, auditioning or working, and love exploring every inch of New York.  “The city that never sleeps,” is an entire universe unto itself; a melting pot rich in cultural diversity.  There is some new treasure yet to be explored around every corner.

Winter has finally tucked her icy fingers back into the depths of her snowy pockets and danced away to another continent, while spring has, quite literally, “busted out all over!”  There’s an energy on the street, a buzz, you can feel the minute you step out of your car, or out of the subway, and it catches you up in its primal beat and pulls you into its current.  The street vendors are out in force with their $5.00 sunglasses, pashminas and knock-off purses, along with the farmers’ markets and food carts, providing a never-ending source of entertainment which is bound to entice any one of your five senses.  People have come out of their dwellings, shed their winter coats and exposed their skin to the warmth of the first summer sun, charging the cores of their internal batteries.

I was in the city today, cruising up 5^th avenue after a visit to one of my favorite stores, j. crew.  I love j. crew and should probably own stock in the company; God knows I have invested a small fortune in their merchandise.  I keep expecting a letter in the mail from their stock holders inviting me to an annual meeting.  That’s not a complaint by the way, quite the contrary; I view the pieces that I buy from them as an investment in my wardrobe.  The quality of their product is superb, without question, and stands the test of time.

As I was heading back up 5^th, my stomach shot me a grumbling reminder that I had not eaten breakfast and it was well past lunchtime.  My blood sugar dropping, the 19^th street sign lit up like the Holy Grail.  I was right around the corner from one of my top five favorite places to eat in New York City.  I am a California girl, born and bred, and grew up eating authentic Mexican food, not the Americanized version, and need to get my “fix” every so often.  Uncle Mo’s on 19^th street between 5^th and 6^th avenue is like taking a quick trip down to, well I suppose in this case across and down to, the border.  A couple of years ago I happened to be walking by as someone was walking out, when my nose caught a whiff of Mo’s.  I was suddenly caught in some kind of extra-terrestrial beam pulling me through the front door.  Clean, bright and casual, the food is fresh, authentic Mexican and very easy on the pocket.  I love their super tacos and almost always get the portabella mushroom, carne asada, or pork. This comes with homemade salsa, sour cream, cheese and guacamole.  Everything is put right on top of your meat or veggie and is seasoned to perfection. .  If you’re really hungry, go for the Watsonville burrito, it’s big enough to feed a small army.  I wouldn’t be doing Mo’s justice if I didn’t mention their tamales; can heaven actually exist inside of a corn husk? Apparently so.  Try the chicken, their yummy! They also have a small condiment bar with salsas ranging from mild to very hot, as well as chopped onions mixed with fresh cilantro.  The staff is friendly, which makes you feel welcome, and I always leave feeling like I have just visited an old friend.  I have taken many people to Uncle Mo’s and have always gotten the same reaction, “How did you find this treasure?”  If you haven’t been, I suggest you go, or you’ll be missing out on one of NYC’s undiscovered gems.  A sunny day in the big apple, a confident audition, a pearl cuff bracelet that I have been eyeing for months, (I love j.crew!) and a tasty tamale from Uncle Mo’s, this was a good day!

LET’S GET NAKED, BABY

NUDI RAVIOLIS

“Come on baby, let’s get naked…..”

Man oh man, if I had a dollar for every time I heard those words throughout the course of my life! I once got partially naked in a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. Tequila, of course, was involved, the accomplice so to speak, and my boyfriend at the time was my quasi-Svengali. The table we were dining at became my stage, the other guests in the restaurant my audience and the men hired to serenade all of us my back up band. As they stumbled through their version of “Mustang Sally,” I stumbled through my impromptu strip tease for the object of my desire. When it came to the pivotal moment where I might actually strip all the way down to my birthday suit, I was struck with a moment of clarity. I thought about how the executives at a network I was currently under contract to would feel about finding me splashed across the pages of The National Enquirer buck naked. Hmmm, I thought to myself, probably not the best career move. I still got a standing ovation and the title, “Goddess of The Tabletops,” by my thoroughly entertained boyfriend.

Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary defines naked as: without clothing or covering, bare of any covering; defenseless; exposed to view or plainly revealed; without the customary covering, container, or protection. There they sat, plump, almost sexy in their appearance and naked, naked as Italian Jay birds. Brightly green with flecks of white, swimming in a pool of butter and sage they seemed to glimmer, sparkle almost. The waiter interrupted my saliva glands by asking me if I would like some freshly grated parmesan cheese or ground pepper. I was transfixed, mesmerized, by these little pillows of Heaven that lay before me, but I found my voice. “What are they?” I asked in a whisper.

“Naked ravioli,” my waiter responded.

I was on my honeymoon in Florence and needless to say, ravenous, caused, no doubt, by the amount of calories being burned by normal honeymoon activity. I gently slid the tiny green treasure into my mouth, closed my eyes and breathed in through my nose. There are meals and there are special meals and then there are meals that transcend everything you’ve ever experienced. This was one of those rising, out of body, I cannot believe somebody had the imagination to create this “green thing” moments. I have never actually licked a plate clean, well, not in public anyway, but I came very close that night.

When I returned home from Italy and settled back into the real world of work and auditions, home and family, that meal would pop into my head from time to time. I thought to myself, “Perhaps those succulent little pillows of delectable green poof tasted so delicious because of the setting: Florence, love, honeymoon, David.”

The owner, Massimo, had been kind enough to give me the recipe which I had safely placed inside my recipe folder upon returning home. I made them one night as the first course for a dinner party I was having for some close friends. They were, needless to say, a huge hit! Naked raviolis or “pillows of heaven” as my children like to call them, have become my daughter Siena’s favorite special occasion meal and are well worth the time it takes to make them.

OK, maybe I didn’t get naked all those years ago in Mexico, maybe I did kind of chicken out, and maybe, at times, I regret that I didn’t.   After all you only have the body of a 25 year old while you are actually 25 and if you’re lucky, for a few years longer.  As a self-effacing replacement, I found a minute, green, naked ravioli swimming sensuously in a pool of sage and browned butter and this, after all, is the most delectable “naked” of all.

The Ravioli Who Dared to Be Bare

or

The Ravioli that has No Qualms about Getting Naked

15 ounces fresh ricotta cheese (about 2 cups)

3 pounds fresh spinach stems removed

3 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

5 large egg yolks

1 cup flour

12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 cube plus 4 tablespoons)

10 sage leaves

1. Spoon ricotta into a strainer lined with cheese cloth or a large coffee filter, drain for at least 1 hour.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the spinach, cook for about 10 minutes, then drain in a colander and cool under cold running water. Drain the spinach thoroughly. In small batches squeeze the spinach in paper towels or clean dish towels until very dry, (the ravioli mixture will not hold together if the spinach is too wet.) Finely chop the spinach.
3. In a large bowl combine the spinach, ricotta, and 2 cups of the parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg, mix well. Add the egg yolks and stir until evenly combined.
4. Spread the flour on a plate or in a wide low rimmed bowl. Form level tablespoons of the mixture into balls or an oval shape, (Siena likes the ovals.) Roll them lightly in the flour until evenly coated. Place them on a lightly floured baking sheet.
5. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan and pour into the bottom of a large warmed baking dish and keep warm near the stove.
6. Working in batches, gently drop about 1/3 of the balls into the water making sure the water is not at a full boil but a low gentle boil. The ravioli will fall apart if the water is boiling too rapidly! Cook just until they rise to the surface, then remove with a slotted spoon or wire skimmer (my preference) and place into the baking dish in a single layer. Cook the remaining balls and while the last batch is cooking melt the remaining 8 tablespoons of butter in the saucepan with the sage leaves and sauté until the butter is colored. Pour the butter and sage leaves over the raviolis, and sprinkle with as much of the remaining Parmesan cheese as you like. Enjoy!

Just waiting for the sage butter!

Slathered!

Putting Pink into Winter Blue

Taking the Blues Out of Dry Winter Skin

Essence

Here are a couple of my favorite tips for beating the “dry skin winter blues.” Lot’s of water and lot’s of sleep are probably two of the most underrated beauty tools a gal can use, and should be part of your daily regime. I can’t tell you the difference I see in my skin when I am drinking eight glasses of water daily and getting eight hours of sleep at night. Ah yes, the magic number eight, the harvest number, the money number, the beauty number. After a bout with some particularly dry skin this winter, it’s a balmy nineteen degrees here in New Jersey right now; I tried adding some extra virgin olive oil, (Almond oil works very nicely too.) to my body lotion. I am currently using Sephora’s Body Butter and mixed about a 50/50 ratio. You can use whatever lotion you happen to have on your shelf, Trader Joe’s make s terrific one which costs about four dollars. After soaking in a hot bath with Epsom salts, which softens the skin making it easier for dead skin removal, and exfoliating with a scrubby mitt, I applied the concoction to my skin while it was still damp. I let my skin air dry, no not outside in the Arctic zone where the penguins have taken up residence, but in the warmth of my bathroom, door firmly closed, keeping out those noisy creatures that masquerade as my children. I put on my cotton flannel pajama bottoms and a tee shirt, kind of sealing in the magic goo and went to work on my face. I love the Dr.Hauschka products, as well as the Evanhealy; both are available at Whole Foods, and use wonderful mixtures of plants and herbs. Both, in my opinion, are reasonably priced. My face freshly exfoliated, I lightly spritzed my skin with Evanhealy’s Rose Geranium Facial Tonic Hydrosol, and applied Dr, Hauschka’s Moisturizing Night Cream while it was still damp. By doing this, the moisturizer is better absorbed into your skin, giving it a “super drink.” I also like to comb conditioner into my hair while it’s still a little wet, and twist it into a chignon with a cloth covered rubber band. I sleep with the conditioner in my hair overnight, then rinse it out in the morning, and blow it dry. My hair feels like it’s had a salon treatment, and is amazingly soft and shiny. I finished with some of Dr. Hauschka’s Eye Contour Balm, and a generous dab of lip “dew.” When I was done I felt as though I had taken a “spa” day, right in the comfort of my own home. I live by the belief that a girl should never skimp on good skin and hair care products, but there is absolutely no need to break the bank when it comes to taking care of yourself, after all, a girls got to have enough cash left over to buy a Chanel bag or two, you know, the important things. You can spend money on very expensive products, or you can do a little research, experiment, and mix and match products, which is what works best for me. I have had the benefit of working with some of the best hair and makeup people in the world, and have been collecting tidbits of valuable information for years, which I look forward to sharing with you. I love going into Whole Body at Whole Foods on the weekends, quite often they have a variety of samples for skin care, free for the taking. I have found a lot of “gems” by doing this, and have avoided spending money on a product I use once or twice, and then throw away. If you go into the larger department stores, they are happy to give you samples of products they hope you will try and then eventually buy. Once, when I was just starting out in the business, and struggling to make ends meet, I lived off of nothing but samples a number of very nice women had been kind enough to give me. That’s how I started finding out what really did and didn’t work with my skin. Be brave, never be afraid to ask, because honestly the worse thing someone can say to you is “no.” Goethe said “Boldness has genius, power and magic in it,” words to live by. There a few essentials I never leave home without, after all, you never know when George Clooney is going to decide that you’re his “It “ girl and call you up to jump on a plane to Paris. Always be prepared! Here’s a short list of some goodies that can always been found in my purse.

Face moisturizer is something I use every morning and every night, and do not leave home with out it. My favorite at the moment is Dr. Hauschka’s Quince Day Cream. The cost is $35.00 for a one ounce tube, and is easily carried in your purse, I love this product! I also like Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, which they almost always include in their bonus bags. Its light weight yet creamy and always leaves my skin feeling smooth and dewy. Any moisturizer is better then no moisturizer, so grab whatever you’ve got and throw it into your purse!

Joe Malone Vitamin E Lip conditioner with SPF 15. This is a splurge for me at $20.00 a tube, but is by far the best lip “dew” I have ever used. It has a hint of honey and a glossy finish, with vitamin E and SPF 15, keeping your lips soft and supple and very kissable. (Move over Angelina!) I also keep a pretty little “dew pot” of Vaseline petroleum jelly handy at all times. It is very inexpensive great for cuticles and dry hands, and will always do in a pinch. Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment is a good one too.

Any kind of hand cream is a must; I am currently using L’Occcitone Shea Butter Hand Cream with honey, almond and coconut oil. This is a little more expensive, $10.00 at Sephora, but very effective for keeping your hands silky and free from cracking. Going back in time to say, Cleopatra’s reign, women have been trying to hide their age. Hands and necks are the true indicators of a woman’s age, so keep moisturizing ladies! Sephora’s brand of Body Nourishing Hand Cream, $7.00, is enriched with Shea butter and sweet almond oil, and soothes dry winter skin. I picked this up at Sephora in the check out line, and loved it so much, I went back and picked up some more for my girlfriends as gifts. Sephora is another treasure trove of beauty supplies, and if you sign up for their friends and families “club” they send you e-mails for all kinds of free goodies as well as coupons for discounts on products at their stores. You can sign up online or in the store by providing an e-mail address for them, it’s easy and you will reap the benefits.

A bottle of water, any kind of water, should always be carried. I cannot stress enough the importance of drinking water. Not only does it hydrate your skin it also flushes toxins out of your system keeping you healthy and vibrant. Once again there are varying degrees of what you can spend; my personal favorite is the Fiji Natural Artesian Water. This is a little pricier, but because of the natural filtering system, the flavor is truly amazing, and has been labeled “very green.” It has also recently been given the stamp of approval by President Obama, it’s the water he drinks while working out.

Anti – Bacterial hand sanitizer, any brand will do. I’m not paranoid about germs, and I do firmly believe that children should play in the dirt, get messy, and be exposed to a variety of those microscopic little beasties so they build up their immune systems. I am also aware that a large percentage of illnesses can be avoided by simply washing your hands with warm soapy water, or by using a hand sanitizer. I don’t have time to be sick; I’m too busy charting courses with my sister Bethany to exotic locations in search of interesting food and artifacts waiting to be dug up.

Emergen-C Super Energy Booster, MSM Formula. These little packets of fizzy drink, pack a punch! With a thousand milligrams of Vitamin C, Magnesium, Potassium, Vitamin B12, and a list of other goodies, they mix right into your water bottle. It’s a great shot of energy for those of us on the go.

No, mascara is not good for my skin or hair, but it sure is good for my self esteem, and can transform a face! This is why you will never catch me without Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Very Black. I’ve been using this mascara from the time I was in high school and will occasionally mix in another brand, but always come back to this one. The cost is about $7.00, making it one of the best beauty buys still out there. Just be careful with water proof mascara as it has a tendency to pull out your lashes if not removed properly. Clinique’s take the day off make-up remover for lids, lashes and lips is great for any kind of make-up removal.

That’s my short list for now, there’s more to come, in the mean time be adventurous, go out and try something new, you might just be pleasantly surprised.