A well-Stocked Pot (& Co.)

This and last weekend, mom took me out to a cooking class at 'The Stocked Pot & Co.' It's a small place in a little shopping center - so small it took us several passes before we found it. Even if it's a bit small, the place; a mini cooking school, store, and catering place all in one; more than makes up for its size with what it offers.

Though a bit crowded with chairs during classes, the place is crammed full of cooking goodness. A mini 'studio kitchen' occupies half of one wall, with the words 'Cooking is Fun!' done in cream on the wall over it. (You can just see part of the words in my dreadfully blurry cellphone pic.) Here, cooking, and anything having to do with food, is very fun!

Last week, mom and I took a Moravian Chicken Pie class. (And was that amazing....) Yesterday, we took another one: 'Holiday Breads.' We came home with our own rolls stuffed with sugarplums, nuts, marzipan, and chocolate; all ready to bake in the oven. (The dough was what you call 'enriched,' meaning 'made with a good deal of egg yolks.' And once wrapped around dried fruit and other goodness, left to rise, baked, and drizzled with lemon-zest glaze... woo-HOO, was it good!)

I know; I didn't bring a decent camera. I learned.
The Chef, a Chef Don McMillan, teaches the class from a behind a counter, with a TV screen behind him showing the counter from angles us students can't get at sitting directly in front. After he makes the entire recipe from scratch, all the while answering questions, explaining the process, and telling stories, the students get to help assemble the last bit (depending on the recipe,) and taste the final product. For a group class, it rocks!


(Have I ever mentioned how much I love food?)

Is this healthy...

...for a girl my age?

(The family's old mixer burnt out, so I got permission to explore its insides [something I haven't been able to do since I was thirteen.] Boy, do I miss those good ole' days of taking things apart...)

I'm the only girl I know my age who geeks out over broken machine parts.

On another note, my Thanksgiving was happy. Still snacking on leftover green bean casserole and venison roast. (I'm fortunate to live in a home where there isn't a rush for the cranberry sauce - all the more for myself!) More on this later.

For thankfullness, I'm very thankful that I don't limp as much as I used to. :)

What are you thankful for?

More than one way to skin a cat.

Cranberries....



Cranberry Sauce!



Cranberries, celery, apple, and orange?



Cranberry Sauce!



One 'cat', two recipes!

(No cats were harmed in the making of this dish. ;) )

Eh....

Hola. I've had an ugly cold the last few days - something that hasn't happened in a very long time. Today is something of a day 3-and-half.

I hate being sick. I get quarantined to the living room couch, where I miss out on all kinds of engaging conversations and improv routines my brothers and I are used to carrying out. Of course, on day 1, I couldn't have cared less, being half-knocked-out and lethargic. Day 2 was a novelty, being awake enough to read, write, and doodle on half-dozen pictures I had stored on my iTouch. But today, day 3... Tomorrow, could I get away with wearing a medical mask and washing my hands every five minutes? I feel better than I look!

(And you know those mini hoop earring I just love and never take off? [Chances are if you've seen me some time in the last two years on a day that wasn't a special occasion, I was wearing them.] Some time during day 2, I realized my right ear was earringless. I looked for it the best I can with a clogged head, but to no avail. (Did I mention I hate being sick?))

Okay, I'm done ranting. :)

On Day 2, the idea struck me of drawing mustaches of some pictures I had in my iPod. I wound up ditching the mustaches in favor of bug-eyes.

(If I was Sidorak, I'd be scared too.)

(I like the happy treefrog.)

(Yes, that is me.)

But my personal favorite is Flower Power.

I did draft a mini-research paper for the fun of it today.

And I suppose it's a good thing I don't get sick more often, eh?

Many things.

(Did I mention I have a roommate now? :D)

As summer abruptly ends, I set aside many of my hobbies and try to get back into 'real life'. That means, for me, less time online. (I pretty much went cold-turkey from the computer this week. XD)
But as I cut back on my internet time, I hope to continue posting on here, make a few more films, and (haha) maybe finish and publish one of those many books I started writing. Offline, I'm hoping to do a 5K walk/run next month, and get back into cooking (among a few other things.)