Fresh Homemade Spinach Spaghetti

Italian food (or what most Americans consider to be Italian food) is commonly the sort of "go-to" food that can be easily whipped up, last minute, on a harried work night.  Comprised generally of pasta, a tomato based sauce and some sort of cheese (plus a meat, more times than not), this type of "Italian" food has been something I have cooked even before I could cook.  Easy.  Nothing to it.  Just boil some water, dump in some pasta, let it sit on the stove until it's limp and then drain and eat.  As I said, easy. 

In all of my chronicles of kitchen mishaps, I have never flubbed on this type of meal.  With that said, it has never been the most grand or exciting of meals, either.  Just something to quickly eat when I've had a busy day and feel too tired to make anything else.  Life can be rather hectic, after all.  Sometimes we can forget to slow down - we forget to start at the beginning.  But, most of the time, best intentions aside, we just run out of time.  At least, that's always been my excuse.

In all of the years of my eating pasta, I have always bought it from the store.  Skinner.  Barilla.  De Cecco.  Buitoni.  Even the "off" brands and store brands have done their job.  But never have I ventured into the land of home-made pasta.  And, why not?  I am no stranger to flour and eggs.  I bake some new concoction every week, with eggy hands and floury hair to tell the tale.  So, why has the task of making pasta always seemed so daunting?  Or so unimportant?  Or simply not worth the time?  Possibly because of the lovely brands mentioned above and the ease with which they can be bought.  After all, it's a battle of $1 versus 1 hour.  My husband always likes to pose the question: which is worth more?  Usually I answer the latter: my time.  On this day, however, I stepped aside from my role as musti-tasker, efficiency chief, family organizer and general time warden to enter into the realm of the "old school."  A time before Buitoni in a land without a grocery store - my house, my dough, my pasta.  And, the result was simply gratifying.  Perhaps not the greatest pasta ever made, it still ranked higher than the others in my mind because of my own toils.  And the achievement of doing something (even if it's street value is only $1) still feels pretty good! 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup canned spinach, drained and patted dry
• 2 cups semolina flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tbsp. water

Instructions:

1. In a food processor, chop the spinach until finely ground.
2. Add flour, eggs, water and spinach into a mixing bowl.  Beat on medium speed for two minutes.  Continue to knead the dough by hand for two minutes.
3. Roll dough into walnut sized pieces and put aside. 
4. With the pasta-making attachment (KitchenAid), push the balls of dough through the press one at a time, cutting after the desired length of dough has been achieved.  Add flour after each time for easier separation of pasta threads.
5. To cook the pasta immediately, heat a large pot of water on the stove.  Add pasta once the water reaches a boil and allow to cook for 2-5 minutes.

Italy

Capital City - Rome
Currency - Euro
Population - 60,418,711 (April 2010 estimate)
National Language - Italian
Religion - More than 90% of the Italian people consider themselves Christian - of that group 88 percent are Roman Catholics and the remaining 2% are various other Protestant denominations.  Atheists now make up 5% of the population (though, even the majority of Christians polled admitted they were not actively religious).  Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Sikhs and Hindus make up the remaining 5%.
Type of Government - Unitary Parliamentary Republic
Leaders - Giorgio Napolitano (President); Silvio Berlusconi (Prime Minister)
Country's Motto - "Per l`onore d`Italia" - Translates to mean "For the honor of Italy."

Geographical Highlights - The Italian Republic is a country in southern Europe.  It is made up of the entire Italian peninsula as well as Sicily, Sardinia, and many other smaller islands.  Italy also engulfs two countries within its borders, including the small nations of San Marino and Vatican City.  It is bordered by France, Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland to the north, the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west.  The landscape is varied, ranging from the cold northern Alpine region to the warmer Mediterranean region of the south.  Additionally, Italy has three active volcanoes: Etna, Stromboli and Vesuvius.

History - Archealogical excavations have found that people have been living in Italy for over 200,000 years.  Between the 17th and 11th centuries B.C., the Mycenaean Greeks established contact with the early Italian people; and, by the 8th and 7th centuries B.C., they established colonies along Sicily and the southern part of the Italian peninsula.  The rise of ancient Rome began around the 8th century B.C. and began to decline by the 4th century A.D.  After ruling a large part of Europe, the Roman Empire formally disbanded and created sub-sections of the Eastern and Western Empires.  In between the time of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, Italy, as was true for all of Europe, lived in a period called the "Dark Ages."  The Black Death pandemic killed about 1/3 of the population.

Having given birth to some of the most respected and beloved artists (Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, Perugino, Titian) and writers (Petrarch, Boccaccio, Machiavelli, Dante), it could be contended that the birthplace of all modern art and literature came from Italy.  The Renaissance was just the beginning of the illumination of such talent.

Italy's more modern history was more notably tainted by foreign rule.  However, 1814 brought about a reunification of the Italian peninsula.  During WWI, Italy remained neutral; though they would not remain as such during the Second World War.  Fascist Mussolini created an alignment with Franco and Hitler for the three nations to become known as the "Axis Powers."  Following WWII, Italy became a republic once again and have remained as such since that time.

Landmarks -

•The Coliseum - The most symbolic location within Rome, the Coliseum was the arena for Gladiators to show their strength.  Even though in ruins, it is still a most impressive architectural giant.
•The Leaning Tower of Pisa - This famous tower in Pisa begins its odd slope by the time it reaches the third floor in height.  Attempts to straighten the building have been thwarted due to fear of complete annihilation.
•St. Peter's Basilica - One of the most famous churches in the world, St. Peter's Basilica is a Roman landmark known to house the tomb of St. Peter beneath its altar.  Michaelangelo's "Pieta" is also on display near the entrance.

•Ponte Vecchio Bridge - Spanning the Arno River in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio Bridge is Europe's oldest stone, open-spandrel, segmented arch bridge - originally built in 1345.  It is said that the word bankruptcy originated here when a merchant had his table ("banco") broken ("rotto") by soldiers after being unable to pay.  Another interesting tidbit about the bridge - it was the only Florentine bridge spared by the Nazi's during WWII. 

•Appian Way - A stone paved road completed in 312 B.C. was the route that connected Rome to the ancient cities of Brindisi and Apulia.  It is an amazing feat of ancient engineering.

•Rialto Bridge - This iconic medieval bridge spans the Grand Canal in Venice, housing shops along its corridors.  For more than 1,000 years, it has been the commercial center of the city.

•Trevi Fountain - The lore behind this Roman fountain claims that if you throw in a penny you will be guaranteed a return to the city. 

Interesting Trivia -

•The word ‘ghetto’ comes from the Ghetto area of Venice, where all the city’s Jews were forced to live in the 16th century.

•Ancient poet Homer thought that the Campo Flegrei in the Campania region, near Naples, was the entrance to Hades.

•Over two-thirds of the city of Siena’s population was wiped out when the plague struck in 1348. It was the worst hit of all the towns in Tuscany.

•The cathedral in Genoa still contains an unexploded bomb. It was dropped on the city by the British during the first world war, and no-one has ever got around to removing it.

•In Italy, Mickey Mouse is known as "Topolino" and Santa Claus is called Babbo Natale.

•Napoleon had conquered Italy by the time he was 26 years old.

•The Bank of America was originally called the Bank of Italy.

•Cantaloupes are named after the gardens of Cantaloupe, Italy where this melon is believed to have first been grown.

An Omani Feast - Hummus with pita, Saloonah Laham (meat stew) and Apricots

As procrastination goes, I am often brilliantly able.  The month of November quickly overtook me and before I knew it my plans of an Omani feast were about to fall by the wayside.  Almost.  And then I remembered that November was the time of another feast - Thanksgiving.  Of course, it would sound subversive to relate the idea that the entire menu for one of the most hallowed of American holidays should come from the Middle East; but, as with all ideas, their acceptance would depend on the packaging. 

With a family full of folks who, for years, balk at the idea of forcibly eating turkey, I appealed to their greater culinary ideals.  Perhaps, I suggested, it might be fun to try something new.  Perhaps we are progressive enough, I implied, that we could forgo all of the typical dishes in favor of some more interesting ones.  Perhaps.  And, to my surprise, everyone seemed keen.

Without recounting the microscopic details of the entire dinner, let me just say that it was a hodgepodge of Middle Eastern fare with remnants of various countries represented at the table.  Oman, without question, was one of them.  And, as a result, one of the most prominent and favored dishes of the dinner was one taken from an Omani recipe; one of the most simple (though not necessarily unique only to Oman) - hummus.  Ridiculously easy to make but still somehow deliciously memorable, it ranked as one of the best things I have ever made wholly in a food processor.  Try it and see if your results are the same.  And, if you're brave, perhaps next year you can partake of my new Thanksgiving tradition by having an "ethnic" dinner.  After all, turkey and cranberries are SO 1621!

Hummus - Ingredients:

• 1 can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas) 
• 1 medium-sized clove of garlic (or ½ of a big clove)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons sesame seed paste (tahina)
• 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
• a pinch of cayenne (red) pepper

Hummus - Instructions:

1. Strain the garbanzo beans, reserving the liquid.
2. Put the garbanzo beans and all of the other ingredients in a food processor or blender and mix well.
3. Add from the reserved liquid, 1 spoon at a time, just enough to get the mixture to run smoothly in the blender (you will not need to add all of the liquid).  Run the machine for about 20 seconds after each addition of liquid. The final product should be thick, not runny.
4. Spoon into a bowl or plate. Drizzle with more olive oil if desired.  Eat with pita or other soft flat bread.

Of course, not to be forgotten was the Saloonah Laham (which roughly translates to meat stew).  I differed my way of making this from the original recipe due to time constraints.  While the recipe calls for boiling the meat for several hours in a pot of hot water, I opted to sear the meat and then add the liquids for a fast-slow cook afterwards.  Perhaps realizing the error of my ways too late, I almost burned the meat this way.  I now acknowledge openly that it is not always possible to transform old recipes into modern, time-saving versions.  I intend to try this again, later on, when I have hours to kill and patience by my side. 

Saloonah Laham - Ingredients:

• Meat for 4-5 people (Lamb, mutton, Beef or camel - I thought it a fun touch of keep this one in!)
• 5 cloves of garlic, smashed
• 1 Tablespoon of turmeric powder
• 1 large Onion, chopped
• 3 medium tomatoes, chopped
• 3-4 cups of fresh vegetables chopped in big pieces (carrots, zucchini, Eggplant, green beans, potatoes, okra and/or bell pepper)
• 3 Tablespoons of Omani mixed spices (or 1 Tablespoon ground coriander, 1 Tablespoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, and a couple of whole cloves)
• 3 Tablespoons of tomato paste
• 3 Tablespoons of fresh, chopped cilantro or parsley (optional)
• Fresh hot peppers or ground cayenne pepper, to taste
• Salt or bouillon, to taste

Saloonah Laham - Instructions:

1. Leave some meat on the bones (if any) and cut the rest into 1 inch cubes. In a large pan, bring about 7 cups of water to boil. Add the meat. In a few minutes, skim off the foam that collects on the top of the water with a spoon. Add the smashed garlic and turmeric powder. Cover and boil for a few hours, until the meat starts to get tender.
2. Add the chopped Onion, tomato, vegetables, and the rest of the ingredients. Boil until the meat and all of the vegetables are very tender. Add water, if needed, to make it as dry or as soupy as you like it.
3. Serve the "saloonah" over white rice.

And, finally, dessert.  Can you believe it's as simple as apricots.  On a plate.  Nothing more, nothing less?!  Sometimes I forget that fruit, what my mom would often call "nature's candy," is often the best end to a meal.  I just hope my sweet-tooth will allow me to remember this later on. 


(The original recipe for hummus came from this website: http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/QUICK_HUMMUS)
(The original recipe for saloonah laham came from this website: http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/SALOONAH_LAHAM_-_meat_stew)

Oman

Capital City - Muscat
Currency - Omani Rial
Population - 2,845,000 (2009 estimate)
National Language - Arabic
Religion - Almost all of the nation of Oman is considered to be Islamic.  Of that group, 75% are Ibadhi, a denomination that is neither Shia nor Sunni.  Sunni Muslims make up about 17% of the population while Imani Shia Muslims and Zikri form an additional 8%.  Though there are no formal records kept by the government of Oman, some sources indicate that perhaps as many as 5% of the people practice a religion other than Islam.  Those faiths may include Chrisitianity, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
Type of Government - Islamic Absolute Monarchy
Leaders - Qaboos bin Said al Said (Sultan); Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said (Deputy Prime Minister)
Country's Motto - While the country has no official motto, Sultan Qaboos bin Said has coined something simlar to a motto when he proclaimed "progress with respect for heritage."

Geographical Highlights - The Sultanate of Oman is a country in southwest Asia which occupies the southeastern corner of the Arabian peninsula.  It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the Indian Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Oman to the north.  The country also includes Madha and Musandam, two enclaves on the Gulf of Oman and just south of the Strait of Hormuz.  A vast desert plain covers most of the country, with the exception of the Al Hajar mountains along the north and southeast coast.  It is in this mountainous region and fertile plain where most of the major cities of Oman reside.

History - Wattayah, located in modern day Muscat, is the oldest known human settlement dating around 5,000 years.  Oman was also referred to as Majan in Sumerian tablets.  From the 6th century B.C. until the time that Islam was introduced, in the 7th century A.D., Oman was ruled by three Persian dynasties: the Achaemenids, the Parthians and the Sassanids.  When these dynasties ended and Islam was introduced, the Omanis were among the first group of people to accept the new religion.  Thus, it has remained a Muslim nation ever since. 

In the early 16th century, the Portugese conquered Omani ports, but local Arabs successfully forced them out by 1650.  The Al Bu Said family began their rule of the nation in 1740 until present day.  British influence, which was felt since the late 18th century, caused the arrangement of national power to be dispursed to the imams in all areas of the country except for the coastal region.  The Sultan, who controlled the coastal region, finally overturned this arrangement and took complete control of Oman in 1959.

Landmarks -

•Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque - Famous mosque in Ruwi is able to house 20,000 people in prayer.  An amazing feature to look for is the hand-woven Iranian rug which took over four years to create.
•Mirani Fort - The red-stoned fort sits atop Muscat harbor, an old reminder of the country's turbulent history.  Built in the 1580's by the Portugese to defend the land against Turkish warship invasion, it is now home of the Omani army.
•Al Alam Palace - The palace of Sultan Qaboos bin Said is said to be one of opulence.  Of course, visitors are not allowed inside; but, the outside is a sight to be seen in itself.

Interesting Trivia -

•The Gravity Point, a thirty-minute drive from Salalah, is where your vehicle will roll uphill even if you switch off its engine. This phenomenon can be experienced over a stretch of 200 meters.
•With 2869 oil producing wells in Oman, the economy is driven by oil and about 40 per cent of the GDP is accounted for by oil. The major countries that buy crude from Oman are China, Thailand, Korea and Japan.
•Oman was once one of the richest countries in the world - its wealth came from the trade in incense.
•Tourists were only allowed into Oman at the beginning of the 1990s.
•Oman is traditionally known for breeding Arab horses.
•Omani men wear the long robes known as dishdashas and carry curved daggers known as khanja. Turbans are also part of the national dress.



Palmiers (Elephant Ears)

Often times (at least in my mind), the intricacies of French pastry-making sends a chill of terror down my spine.  Though it has been highlighted that the French are sometimes known for simplicity, the fact of the matter is that more times than not they follow as difficult a road as a culture can take.  This is especially the case with most French desserts.  So, as this month's journey sent me on the road to Paris, I found myself with extreme anxiety over the dessert aspect of our menu.  After all, I love desserts.  I love French desserts.  But, the pressure imposed on myself because of these truths would mean that nothing less than perfection would do.

So, I decided to try a little treat that I have eaten many times before.  Palmiers.  Sometimes called "elephant ears" or "palm leaves," when in a baker's window they look like a million bucks, shimmering with carmelization and glimmers of sucrotic bliss.  They are one of my favorites!  Not too sweet.  Not too savory.  Somewhere in the blissful world between.  A perfect ending to a heavy meal.  The perfect pick-me-up during an afternoon slump.  What I mean to say is that they are an all-purpose dessert; good for any season, any company, or any reason.

In trusting the "Barefoot Contessa" (despite the fact that she's not French), I felt that she would pave the way a little more easily than some of her predecessors.  And, truly, she did.  Though her recipe doesn't call for one to make their own pastry dough (thank heavens for Pepperidge Farm and the frozen section of the grocery store!), it is in all other ways authentic.  And, though I earlier jumped to the idea that the French were masochists when it came to the complexity of their desserts, I was again nicely surprised to learn that they are, sometimes, simplistic...even with their pastries.

So, it was a surprisingly easy month devoted to a typically difficult nation.  And, though it seems like the perfect time to insert another "Viva la France," perhaps it would be more fitting to say "Viva Simplicité!"

Ingredients:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 sheets puff pastry, defrosted (recommended: Pepperidge Farm)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Combine the sugar and kosher salt. Pour 1 cup of the sugar/salt mixture on a flat surface such as wooden board or marble. Unfold each sheet of puff pastry onto the sugar and pour 1/2 cup of the sugar mixture on top, spreading it evenly on the puff pastry. This is not about sprinkling, it's about an even covering of sugar.
3. With a rolling pin, roll the dough until it's 13 by 13-inches square and the sugar is pressed into the puff pastry on top and bottom. Fold the sides of the square towards the center so they go halfway to the middle. Fold them again so the two folds meet exactly at the middle of the dough. Then fold 1 half over the other half as though closing a book. You will have 6 layers.
4. Slice the dough into 3/8-inch slices and place the slices, cut side up, on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
5. Place the second sheet of pastry on the sugared board, sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar mixture, and continue as above. (There will be quite a bit of sugar left over on the board.) Slice and arrange on baking sheets lined with parchment.
6. Bake the cookies for 6 minutes until caramelized and brown on the bottom, then turn with a spatula and bake another 3 to 5 minutes, until caramelized on the other side. Transfer to a baking rack to cool.

(This original recipe came from "Barefoot in Paris" by Ina Garten.)

Filet of Beef Au Poivre (Pepper Encrusted Beef) with Potatoes Dauphinois

Many of those who are near and dear to my heart tend to be "meat and potatoes" kind of people.  I, personally, get bored with this assessment of dietary structure; however, thanks to the glorious fare of the French, I found my way out of our typical mealtime rut.  Though succulent and tasty, filet of beef au poivre is only problematic in that it requires an atypical weekday meat selection - filet mignon.  Of course, since our food excursion of the month took us to France, it was only fitting to make an exception. 

Regarding the preparation of the meat, it was surprisingly simple.  I felt like a much younger version of myself could have pulled it off with just as much ease as did my older, more domestic self.  Despite the grandoisity of France, as a country - full of Baroque art and Gothic architecture - and the multi-faceted complexity of French cooking, the French have their moments of surprise in which minimalism and simplicity are revered more than anything else.  This would be one such example.  The same could also be said for the potatoes dauphinois.  Slice, boil and bake.  Nothing more. 

Fit for a king (or a Dauphin), this was one meal that delighted all in our household.  A meal meant to be repeated, time and time again.  And, for that I say....viva la France!

Filet of Beef Au Poivre
Ingredients:

• 6 filets mignon, cut 1 1/4 inches thick
• Kosher salt
• 2 Tbsp. coarsely ground black pepper
• 3 1/2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 3/4 cup chopped shallots (3 to 4 shallots)
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup cognac or brandy

Instructions:

1. Place the filets on a board and pat them dry with paper towels.  Sprinkle filets with salt and then press the black pepper evenly on both sides.  Allow to rest room temperature for 15 minutes.
2. Heat 1 1/2 Tbsp. of butter and oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat until the butter almost smokes.  Places the steaks in the pan and lower the heat to medium.
3. Saute steaks for 4 minutes on one side and then 3 minutes on the other side, for medium rare.  Remove the steaks to a serving platter and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
4. Meanwhile, pour all but 1 Tbsp. of fat from the saute pan.  Add the shallots and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. 
5. Add the beef broth and cook over high heat for 4 to 6 minutes, until reduced by half, scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
6. Add the Cognac and cook for 2 more minutes.  Off the heat and swirl the remaining 2 Tbsp. of butter and 1/2 tsp. of salt.  Serve steaks hot with the sauce poured on top.

Potatoes Dauphinois
Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 lbs. potatoes
• 3 2/3 cups milk
• pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 bay leaf
• 1-2 Tbsp. butter
• 2 or 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 3-4 Tbsp. creme fraiche or whipping cream (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Cut the potatoes in half and then into fairly thin slices.
2. Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and pour over the milk, adding more to cover if needed.  Add the salt, pepper, nutmeg and bay leaf.  Bring slowly to a boil over medium heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, until the potatoes just start to soften but are not completely cooked, and the milk has thickened.
3. Generously butter an oval gratin dish or 8 cup shallow baking dish.  Sprinkle with garlic over the base.
4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the potatoes to the baking dish.  Season the milk to taste, then pour enough of the milk to come just to the surface of the potatoes but not to over then.  Spoon a layer of cream over the top or add more of the thickened milk to cover.
5. Bake the potatoes in the oven for about an hour, until the milk is absorbed and the topping has turned a deep golden brown.

(The original recipe for Filet of Beef Au Poivre came from "Barefoot in Paris" by Ina Garten.  The original recipe for Potatoes Dauphinois came from "Around the World in 450 Recipes" by Sarah Ainley.)

France

Capital City - Paris
Currency - Euro
Population - 65,447,374 (January 2010 estimate)
National Language - French
Religion - France is secular nation wherein freedom of religion is protected by their constitution.  However, polls show that it is estimated that 65% of the nation consider themselves Roman Catholics while 24% consider themselves agnostic or atheist.  The remaining minorities of Muslims, Protestant Christians and Jews rank 6%, 2% and 1% respectively.  Certain religions such as Scientology and the Unification Church are considered by the French to be cults, and therefore, do not hold the same status as other religions.
Type of Government - Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
Leaders - Nicholas Sarkozy (President); Francois Fillon (Prime Minister)
Country's Motto - "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" which means "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity."

Geographical Highlights - The Metropolitan part of the French Republic is the largest country in Western Europe. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the English Channel to the northwest, Belgium and Luxembourg to the northeast, Germany, Switzerland and Italy to the east, Monaco to the southeast, and The Meditteranean Sea, Spain and Andorra to the south.  France also has many territories in various parts of the world including North America, the Caribbean, South America, the Southern Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and Antarctica.  The European portion of the French Republic is made up of a varied landscape.  Mountainous regions, such as the Pyrenees near the border of Spain, the Alps near the Italian and Swiss border, and the Vosges mountains overlooking the Rhine Valley, create jagged formations in the countryside.  Brittany and Normandy form a scenic hill region, to the north; and fertile lowlands cover much of the remaining northern area of France, including the portion encompassing Paris.  Other major lowland areas include the Aquitanian Basin in the southwest and the Rhone-Saone Valley and Mediterranean lowlands in the southeast.

History - Once known as Gaul, France was initially inhabited by Celtic tribesman.  In the 1st century B.C., it was conquered by Rome and ruled by the Roman Empire until the 5th century A.D.  During its time of Roman rule, the Gauls adopted Latin speech, from which evolved the French language.  By 486, the Frankish Kingdom (as it was then known) was independently ruled by a Christian king, Clovis.  Following many years of similar Frankish rulers, Charlemagne, king sing 768, became emperor of the Romans in 800 A.D.  His powerful empire came to encompass the region between central Italy north to Denmark and eastern Germany west to the Atlantic Ocean.  However, by 843, this empire was divided into three parts: East Francia, Middle Francia and West Francia.  West Francia included the boundaries of modern day France and was a precursor to the nation's formation.

Following the Norman invasion of England in 1066, parts of France became placed under English rule.  It wasn't until 1453, following the bloody Hundred Years' War, that France was able to drive out the remaining English.  During that war, the French kings lost considerable amounts of power to the French nobles; however, Louis XI (who reigned 1461-1483) laid the groundwork for the absolute power of French kings in the centuries to come.

France continued to be a strong monarchy until the French Revolution in 1789.  By 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte took power and fought many military campaigns until his defeat in 1815.  The monarchy was then restored for a time, until 1848; and, the Second Repulic was founded.  In 1852, Napoleon's nephew became Napoleon III.  The Third Republic was formed in 1875.  During both World War I and II, France was the stage for much fighting.  The ravages of war lead to a great loss of citizenry and a damaged economy.  Post-war aid from the United States started to revive the economy; however, Communist-driven strikes lead to a lack of true progression.  This, mixed with fact that many of its overseas empires were seeking independence, brought about great unrest to the French spirit.  By 1954, France withdrew of French Indochina.  By 1962, they followed suit with Algeria.  Charles De Gaulle took power of the government in 1958 and created a new constitution.  On top of this, he formed the Fifth Republic.  Under this new government, the president had greater power than parliament.  De Gaulle, finally having been elected to the presidency, made use of his power by giving independence to most of France's overseas territories.  By that point, France had become a major member of the European Economic Community.

Landmarks -

• The Eiffel Tower - Originally built for the 1889 World's Fair, the Eiffel Tower was set for demolition in 1909.  However, due to its height, the tower proved useful for radio communication and was allowed to remain.  Today, it is one of the single most visitied landmarks in the world; and, is the most renowned symbol of Paris.
• Moulin Rouge - Famous cabaret in Paris, built in 1889; it is said to be the birthplace of the modern can-can dance.
• Versailles - A beautiful and ornate palace just outside of Paris, it housed many French kings from 1682 until the French Revolution in 1789.
• The Louvre Museum - One of the most famous art museums in the world, the Louvre in Paris houses more then 6,000 pieces of art, with their most famous example being Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa."
• Monet's Garden at Giverny - In the northern part of France, Giverny's biggest attraction is the home and gardens of painter Claude Monet.  His inspiration, the famous water lillies, still lounge in the ponds on the grounds.
• Lascaux Cave Paintings - Southwest France has the highest concentration of paleolithic cave paintings.  Though the actual Lascaux Cave has been closed to tourists since 1963, Lascaux II was opened in 1983 and serves as a nice reproduction of the original.
  

Interesting Trivia -

• French was the official language of England for over 300 years.
• France produces more nuclear electricity than Germany, Spain, Russia and the UK combined.
• Under laws that no-one has ever got round to removing from the statute book, it is illegal to call a pig Napoleon.
• The April Fool (or April Fish to the French) is thought to have originated in France in 1564, when the country switched to the Gregorian calendar. Those that hadn’t heard about the move still thought April 1st was New Year’s Day, and they were bought mock presents by those wanting to make fun of them.
• The Languedoc-Rousillon city of Nîmes is the birthplace of jeans. The distinctive fabric was imported to California by Levi Strauss in order to make tough work trousers for gold diggers. Denim is short for “de Nîmes.”
• In French two weeks is in fact 15 days, quinze jours.
• The Olympic Games, or Olympics, were revived by a French nobleman, Pierre Fredy, Baron de Coubertin in the late 19th century.