Elusive Ink

Currently Listening
Breakfast At Tiffany's
Deep Blue Something

I have been so incredibly busy lately that blogging has unfortunately fallen to the bottom of my priority list. I am savoring my last few weeks with my sweetheart here before he dashes back off to school in San Jose. I'm also in the midst of a very exciting job change/improvement, and taking on some new projects! We've also found a church in the area -- CrossCurrent -- I've only been once, but my family has been a few times and it seems to be a good "fit" so far, looking forward to going and getting to know more people in the area.


I have so many great recipes that I've managed to throw together recently, that I definitely want to make some posts on that in the near future. I finally bought a tart pan (something that had been on my list for quite a while) it's such a great and inexpensive tool! So far I've used it to make a meatless lasagna tart, as well as a dark chocolate ganache tarte. A few other recipes I've played around with lately have been spinach and artichoke dip, apple coffee cake, a really dense white cake recipe, as well as a fantastic asparagus w/egg butter that was a hit with the family. (Even my 13-year-old brother who is typically repulsed by asparagus!)








We've also had the pleasure of hosting a foreign exchange student from Spain over the past three weeks, he'll be leaving tomorrow but it's been a great experience for all of us, and a ton of fun for me to pester him about what type of foods they eat in spain for more cultural recipe experimentation. Looking forward to making paella sometime in the next few weeks. We had fun exposing him to our independence day celebration, and are already looking forward to having another foreign exchange student next year!



I've recently taken up "yarn" as our family-friend Mel (who inspired me to try it) calls it. I have tried knitting so far, and also got the tools and instructions to learn to crochet. I'm almost finished with my first scarf and then plan to tackle something a bit more complicated. I'm hoping to try out making an afghan and start a hope chest for my future firstborn. I'll have to post a picture when I'm finished with the scarf.

My most exciting news at the moment is that I will be leaving Le Creuset to work teaching six-week childrens cooking classes locally. I'm hoping to start mid-september, and will be teaching four classes a week (provided I can get the word out) Two 8-10 year old classes, and two 11-13 year old classes, with seasonal recipes. I'm working on lesson plans, budgeting, advertising, and making sure that I have all the equipment (Extra mixing bowls, spatulas, etc.) handy before tackling my first "test class"...my lucky guinea pig siblings! The classes will consist of instruction as well as hands-on activities, based on kitchen safety, learning the lingo, and lots and lots of fun! Plus, each child will have their own personalized apron, recipe book, and "kitchen goodie bag" upon completion. I definitely think it will be a challenge, but I am so motivated and excited at this point, and definitely see the potiential for it to be rewarding.

Now I think I will go and enjoy having this lovely, cool, overcast day off - have a piece of warm apple coffee cake, with a cup of coffee and maybe take a nap! By some cosmic coincidence I ended up with six days off in a row this week...I am definitely going to take advantage of it and balance lesson planning/attempting to do some laundry (note: attempting!) with spending time with Grandma and Nathan while they're both here, and RELAXING!!

TGIF.
-Lindsey