Hello all, it has been a wild 2011 already. Why haven't I posted in awhile, well life happens. Crazy, I know. First off, today is my sister's birthday. I love her soooo much. She does not get to read my blog so often but if you are, happy birthday Ash-a-lee. I miss you soo and wish you were home. Life really is not the same with you not in MY time zone. Please come back soon. Okay enough guilt trip!!!
So it is five whole days until my birthday and this journey is done. Let's face it, I am not going to lose those 10 pounds. Although, I have lost 4 so that is something. I am fine with the fact that the last 6 or so is on me. As most of you know, Ron and I are going to start trying this spring for number 2! The couple of stubborn pounds can just stay there until after I have the little one. Then, down to serious business. I don't want to think of my gross stomach the rest of my life. Anyhoo, this title said cooking class so.....
Ashlie's boss Tiffany came into town for the week of HER 30th birthday. She brought along a childhood friend who is also turning 30 this year. They love love love food and asked if I would like to come along with them on their adventure to Napa. I am not going to pass a trip with adults AND drinking! So we drove to Sterling Winery. They have a gondola ride to their winery and tasting areas. It was so beautiful to see the valley so high up. I did have to sit forward. It's the same thing with the train. I cannot face backwards when something is moving forwards. I instantly get vertigo and sick. So I quietly took the spot facing forward and all was good. We tried four wines which were so yummy and left a mommy feeling pretty relaxed. We then took the ride down (again me sneaking to face forward, yes) and drove to the CIA. Not the intelligence agency, no, the Culinary Institute of America. This is a "food college", where everyone is obsessed with food. Right up my alley, yet when we walked into the beautifully ornate castle looking building, I felt instantly out of my "culinary" element. The menu read like a who's who of unheard of food. I felt too bumpkin to ask Tiffany what the heck 1/3 of the stuff meant. But the dishes I did chose were so yummy, I would probably eat it off the floor if it fell down. Of course the dessert was the best. Now, this was my first time meeting these wonderful girls, and first time eating with them. But when we politely asked if we could try each other's food, it was like we were old friends! Man, everyone needs to eat truly amazingly thoughtful food. I say thoughtful because even though the institute is very prestigious, the food seemed to just so well planned and not stuffy at all. Just plain good eats! Our final stop was the Oxbow Market. It was like a mall of food. Each little store had different tastes and styles. The girls had a well planned meal for dinner. I enjoyed standing back watching them decide what kind of salt they wanted, and which vegetable they were going to chose. Now, at this market they had Kara's Cupcakes. They are amazing and I have had them before. I encouraged them to try them too, since they were here in Northern California (birthplace of Kara's Cupcakes). So we got two and brought them home.
Now, for time for the actual class. On the menu was, artichoke soup, roasted chicken with shallots and grapes, sparkling apple cider carrots, rutabaga, and parsnips, and green beans in brown butter with toasted almonds. And for dessert, apple tart with homemade salted caramel sauce, and smores cupcakes. The girls were so sweet to include me in the chopping, whisking, stirring, and baking. It was like a humming kitchen with us rushing around to each station and me frantically learning what was next. We did not get to eat until about 9 at night, but I didn't mind because everything tasted so good. My whole family, grandmother, mother, and father, and myself have never had a parsnip or rutabaga in our whole lives. I don't even think I remember what they looked like when I chopped them! But they were so tasty and surprisingly we all loved them. My mother's palate, I am sorry mommy, does not care for anything new, spicy, nutty, or different. But she could not stop talking about the parsnips. She kept asking Tiffany, now what is this called again. It was so cute. The piece de resistance was the homemade caramel sauce and marshmallows. Yes, I made salted caramel sauce, and it was surprisingly easy. Now, Tiffany's friend Leslie made the marshmallows but we stood back in awe, that gelatin, sugar and water, and a few other items were actually going to make the white gooey stuff we all like in our hot chocolate. But 12 minutes into it, there it was, gooey sugary goodness. My mom and I were licking the paddles. I felt about five years old, but I couldn't help myself. I even said to my dad that he had to try. When he was done, there was marshmallow down his chin. After our last bite of smores cupcakes, there we sat, fat as cats and happy. That was the best class I ever took. I should do it more often. Well, not too often, maybe that's why the six pounds are still here!!!!
Pictures to follow of our food at C.I.A. and they process of our dinner. That's another one down, can I do it in five days?.......
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