Download Our Winter Menu Collection

Featuring 25 recipes from the South of France for winter weather, along with menu suggestions, all designed to make your cooking experience enjoyable. Download this PDF, which includes recipes for starters, main courses, side dishes, and desserts.

 J. Christina

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J. Christina is the author and hobbyist photographer behind Scribbles and Smiles, writing a personal travel blog from the Midwest. Christina (Christie) is married to John, a.k.a. Mr. Christie. Where Mr. Christie is right on-board with their travel jaunts around the world; sharing in their blogging endeavors. He supports, encourages, handles gadgetry and embraces the role of the in-house editor - hence, their bespoke pen name, J. Christina.

J. Christina's blogging journey began before the word blog was trending, writing about European travel destinations on share-sites, forums and online journals. After many years of intrepid travel, they thoughtfully opened their treasure-trove of European travelogues, artfully sharing with a worldwide audience. Intentionally sharing the joie de vivre through their words and images, so others can travel vicariously. J. Christina believes smiling with your eyes is a beautiful thing.

You can read their most recent dispatches from aboard an elegant European river ship, sharing the allure of Europe’s great rivers and their capital cities. Or, follow them through serendipitous discoveries in the Cote d’Azur, where J. Christina captures the essence of a perched medieval village.

J. Christina's work has been featured on France Today, Bonjour Paris and The Good Life France.

Enjoy the Scribbles and Smiles stories

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Explore · Learning French · Villages Towns and Cities · Virginie Van Der Wees

Le Château d’If à Marseille, rendu célèbre par le Comte de Monte-Cristo

February 6, 2026
Saviez-vous qu’à quelques minutes en bateau de Marseille se trouve un archipel d’îles ? L’archipel des Îles de Frioul compte quatre îles et des navettes partent régulièrement du Vieux-Port pendant les mois d’été. Vous pouvez facilement passer une journée à faire de la randonnée sur les sentiers ou à vous prélasser sur les plages de …
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Deborah Pham van Xua · Expat Living and Real Estate · Inspire · Learning French

Learning to Belong in Provence and Speaking French

February 4, 2026
Are you planning a trip to France or a relocation? Did you take French classes in high school or university, and have not spoken since? While there is no requirement to speak French when you are visiting France, language can often strengthen connections. In my interview with Carolyne Kauser-Abbott, we talked about living in Provence, …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Provencal Recipes · Side Dish · Taste

Black Truffle Risotto – Risotto à la truffe tuber brumale

January 30, 2026
France produces approximately half of the world’s black truffles, primarily from Provence. Because they are difficult to farm, truffle hunters and their hounds forage for them in nature among the roots of trees like oak, hazel, and chestnut. Traditionally, pigs with their keen sense of smell were used to find these delicacies, though today hounds …
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Books on Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

An Insider’s Guide to Provence (2026 Update) by Keith Van Sickle

January 26, 2026
In 2021, Keith Van Sickle published An Insider’s Guide to Provence, and he has now released an updated edition. This book serves as a supplementary reference material rather than a traditional guidebook. Comprehensive travel guides, such as those from Fodor’s, Lonely Planet, and Rick Steves, cover all aspects of travel, including accommodations in Provence. However, …
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