Family Movie Night: Leap!
A Leap Toward Paris
As you know, we recently revealed to AG that we’re headed to London and Paris! And in true “Me” fashion, we continued the excitement with a themed night full of good food, sweet moments, and a little movie magic.
The movie of the night? Leap!—a charming animated film that follows Félicie, a spirited young girl who escapes her orphanage with her best friend Victor to chase her dream of becoming a ballerina in Paris. Set against the backdrop of the glittering Palais Garnier, the story is full of heart, ambition, twirls, and toe shoes. AG was fully enchanted.
It was the perfect pick especially since she just wrapped her spring ballet performances and we’ll be visiting the Palais Garnier in real life! You better believe we’ll be recreating that iconic rooftop scene and maybe even a few pirouettes down the grand staircase (don’t worry, I’ll make sure we’re not escorted out).
Of course, no themed movie night is complete without a matching menu:
🎀 Camille’s Croissants
Buttery, flaky, and yes, just a bit extra, these were inspired by our favorite prima ballerina frenemy. Served with a side of sass.
🧀 Odette’s Croque Monsieur
A warm, melty ham and cheese sandwich on crusty bread, topped with béchamel (Alana chose her trusty American grilled cheese). Just the kind of comfort food Odette might serve after a long day at the dance studio.
🍬 Félicie’s Macarons
Colorful, light as air treats that felt like tiny ballerinas themselves—delicate, sweet, and just a little dramatic. We went with dark chocolate flavor, curtesy of H-E-B.
🍸 Victor’s French 75
A sparkling sip for the grown-ups—bubbly, botanical, with a sharp twist of lemon. Just like Victor: effervescent, a bit unexpected, and always the life of the party. AG stuck to her classic strawberry lemonade, chilled and sweet.
I love these little rituals. Tiny toasts that turn an ordinary afternoon into something charmed.
Next up: brushing up on our “bonjour” and booking that Palais tour. Because if we’re going to Paris, we’re doing it with champagne flutes raised, croissants in tow, and ballet slippers tucked neatly in the suitcase.
🧀 Odette’s Croque Monsieur
The ultimate French comfort food—crispy, cheesy, and gloriously melty. This is the kind of sandwich that feels fancy but comes together with just a few ingredients. Perfect for a movie night or a lazy Sunday lunch.
Ingredients (Makes 2 sandwiches):
4 slices of good-quality sourdough or French bread
2 tsp Dijon mustard
4 slices of ham (preferably Black Forest or Parisian-style)
shredded Gruyère cheese (we used a Gruyère & Swiss blend)
1 tbsp unsalted butter (for pan-toasting)
For the béchamel sauce:
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
¾ cup whole milk
Salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg
¼ cup grated Gruyère or Parmesan (optional but highly recommended)
Directions:
Make the béchamel: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute until it smells a little nutty. Slowly whisk in the milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook for 3–4 minutes until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in the cheese if using, and set aside.
Assemble the sandwiches: Lightly toast the bread slices. Spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard on two slices. Layer on the ham and cheese, then top with the other slices of bread.
Pan-toast: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwiches and toast until golden brown on both sides and the cheese inside is melty.
Finish with béchamel: Spoon a generous layer of béchamel over the top of each sandwich. Sprinkle with a bit more cheese, then place under the broiler for 2–3 minutes until bubbly and browned.
Serve hot—with a green salad if you’re feeling virtuous, or a glass of wine if you’re feeling très French.
