Le Petit-Principle

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

Recette pour Le Petit Prince (à partir de Mes Recettes Préférées Français, par le Chef Ultimate):
 
Pour le shell:
23,4 kg d'oxygène
6,48 kg de carbone
3,6 kg de carbone
1,08 kg d'azote
540 grammes de calcium
432 grammes de phosphore
72 grammes chacun de potassium, de soufre, de chlore
36 grammes de sodium
18 grammes chacun de magnésium et de fer
juste une pincée de ce qui suit: le cobalt, le cuivre, le zinc, l'iode, le sélénium, le fluor, le manganèse, le molybdène, le nickel, le chrome, le bore

Pour la garniture:
Deux poignées Divine de l'Amour
Une grosse poignée d'Innocence
Une bonne dose de Loyauté
Une partie importante de Candor
Un peu de Courage, avec la variété Mannaz particulièrement favorisée
Une boule de Bougeotte
Un chaudron de la Passion (peut également être substitué avec une Ardeur si équilibrée dans un rapport de 9 à 1 de Nettoyage-par-Pleureur)
Questionnement fortifiée par la Persistance (Masa'il préféré, si disponible)

Dans un grand bol, tamiser les ingrédients secs à coquilles et de gaz, puis les mélanger dans un bain d'eau salée, la suppression d'éclairs de temps en temps pour assurer une bonne combinaison. Cuire sur un volcan bien ratissé jusqu'à consistance ferme. Comme la coquille se refroidit et se fige, combiner des éléments de la garniture. Une fois qu'ils sont unis, l'utilisation de votre tube de pâtisserie plus grande entreprises de faire sauter le remplissage dans le réservoir. Saupoudrer de la poussière des étoiles à remplir.
Mai garnir de pétales de rose et baobob crudités. Ne servez jamais de viande de mouton, ni la côtelette d'agneau. Sert millions.

[Translation:
Recipe for the Little Prince (from My Favorite French Recipes, by the Ultimate Chef):

For the shell:
23.4 kilograms of oxygen
6.48 kilograms of carbon
3.6 kilograms of carbon
1.08 kilograms of nitrogen
540 grams of calcium
432 grams of phosphorus
72 grams each of potassium, sulfur, chlorine
36 grams of sodium
18 grams each of magnesium and iron
just a pinch of the following: cobalt, copper, zinc, iodine, selenium, fluorine, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, chromium, boron

For the filling:
Two Divine fistfuls of Love
One heaping handful of Innocence
One healthy serving of Loyalty
One substantial portion of Candor
A dash of Courage, with the Mannaz variety especially favored
A scoop of Wanderlust
A cauldron of Passion (may also be substituted with Ardor if balanced in a 9-to-1 ratio of Cleansing-by-Weeping)
Persistence-fortified Questioning (Masa’il preferred, if available)  

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the shell dry ingredients and gases, then stir them into a salt water bath, striking with lightning occasionally to ensure proper combining. Bake over a well-raked volcano until set. As the shell cools and congeals, combine elements of the filling. Once they are unified, use your largest-sized pastry tube to blow the filling into the shell. Sprinkle with stardust to complete.
May garnish with rose petals and baobob crudite. Never serve with mutton nor lamb chops. Serves millions.]
*    *    *
On December 30, 1935, French aviator Antoine Saint-Exupéry and his navigator André Prévot crashed in the Sahara desert while attempting to break the world record for the Paris-to-Saigon flight. They survived the crash, only to face dehydration in the desert. Their lives were saved four days later by a camel-riding Bedouin. (No matter how hung over you are on New Year's Day this year, nothing compares to what those must have felt on New Year's, 1936!) Saint-Exupéry’s experience led him to write the world-famous children’s book, The Little Prince. Since 1943, teachers around the world have used The Little Prince to teach French to students of all ages. 

Even more than the lessons it offers in language, the story gives a moving contemplation of the nature of what it means to love and to be loved. From his book we can learn a lot about the aggregate virtue represented by the Prince, which I heretofore christen Le Petit-Principle.

If you have never read the tale, do so. It is like holding up a mirror to your own face, finding a reflection in which the most essential remains invisible.

Saint-Exupéry dedicated his book to his best friend in the whole world, apologizing to children everywhere that his friend happened to be a grown up. “This grown-up understands everything, even books about children,” he explained as justification.

Likewise, I’m dedicating my post today to my best friend in the whole world, Carol Stevenson, who happens to love cooking in the French style and has shown me the virtues of True Friendship, Loyalty, Compassion, Mirth, Erudition, Humility, Equanimity, and about a dozen others. And besides, she’s Magic!

May we see the gates of Le Petit-Principle, and perhaps make a home there.

And Bonne Année! Happy New Year, everybody!