A French picnic awaits

Look at what I got in the mail today!

All of this bounty is a Christmas gift from my friend Corinne who lives just outside of Paris, France. Corinne and I have been pen pals since Grade 11. (That's about 22 years for those of you keeping track.) She grew up in the south of France and all of these wonderful treats are from her home area in Provence. Scott and I visited Corinne and her parents, Henri and Monique, in the summer of 2000. It was an amazing trip but it seems shorter than 10 years ago. Time goes fast!

This is what Corinne and her family drink at 5 pm each evening. The locals call it Pastis but in other places it could be called blind-dog liqueur. Look closely at the alcohol content below... yes, that reads 45%!! This is very strong stuff! They pour approximately 1 cm in a small tumbler and fill the rest with water. Even mixed with one part Pastis to 5 parts water it is still curl your toe hair strong.
Thank you Corinne!