Adventures in Thai Cookery

And so last night was the end of my cooking classes that my boyfriend got me for my birthday. I ended with Thai Cooking, and we made

Tom Ka Gai (lemongrass and coconut soup)
Green Papaya Salad
Red Curry with Chicken
Pad Thai
Stir Fried Broccoli and Red Peppers with Peanut Sauce
Mango with Sticky Rice

I loved the way that this instructor ran her class. It was extremely organized and efficient, but it was also very informal and people could ask any questions at any time. She wasn't making jokes all over the place like my Chinese cooking instructor, but she was eccentric and she (and the class) had a lot of fun.

There were two stations at each of the three tables. Everyone had to chip in cutting and measuring their ingredients, so there was a lot of hands-on time. Thai food has such a different and distinct taste compared to anything that I'm used to. The lime and coconut flavors really come out in every dish. It's not that I don't like it, it's just that it's so different that it takes some getting used to.

My favorite entree was the Red Curry Chicken, and luckily for me it's also the easiest to make. Also you can change the curry around if you don't like it quite as hot. I love spicy food, but Thai spice can really be overpowering sometimes. I was cutting some Thai chili peppers and the instructor made me wear gloves because the chilis are so strong.

I also loved the Mango and Sticky Rice. It was so sweet. You take

3 mangoes, peeled and cubed
4 cups cooked sticky rice
1 1/2 - 2 cups lite coconut milk
1/3 cup sugar
and a pinch of salt

Cook the rice in a rice cooker with the coconut milk, then add in all the sugar and salt. Serve warm with mango.

Very simple, and it really takes care of that craving after dinner for something sweet. Well, I have that craving anyway... my boyfriend tells me that not everyone does.

So my romp with classroom cooking is over. Hopefully I'll get my ass out the door and locate an Asian store to purchase some of these hard to find ingredients (wood ears, anyone?). If you want any recipes let me know!

Maybe It's Another Dying Art

So lately I've been taking a couple of cooking or baking classes. I want to be a good cook. I want family and friends to say, "Oh, Seredne's making her famous [insert totally kickass and amazing food here]?! I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

I had to make cookies for my boyfriend to take to work on Friday (which, by the way, he gave the extras to people at work to take home, he did not bring them home for me!). I was all prepped to make chocolate chip cookies from scratch, but of course I realized there was one ingredient that I didn't have (stupid butter, I only had margarine and it specifically said NO MARGARINE).

I wound up going to the corner market, buying the package of ready made cookie dough, slicing it and assembling it on a tray, and baking for 12 minutes. Sure, it's no muss/no fuss, but I wonder if it actually turned out better than my attempt at homemade would have been.

Where's the shame in buying ready made cookie dough or break-and-bake? It's still made with love. It's still ridiculously tasty (although I much prefer Pillsbury to Tollhouse). If real cooking, buying all the individual ingredients, mixing, and baking, is a dying art, is it necessarily such a bad thing?

Take my bread baking class for example. We made the dough from scratch, but we used giant standing electric mixers because the dough is just so tough. At the end of the class when we were testing what we just made, it actually wasn't that good.

Now I don't know if that's because maybe things didn't have enough time to bake, but I got to bring home some french bread dough which I baked later. THAT dough was extremely tasty. But really, no better than anything you'd get in a bakery.

I could see maybe at Thanksgiving preparing your bread from scratch. But in most instances, I'm not sure I see that it's worth it.

Maybe I won't make such a great cook after all!

Also this summer I bought a sewing machine at a yard sale. I'm pretty excited about the possibility of learning how to make my own purses (the one I have that I made is quite nice... and it's reversible?), skirts, or I was even thinking of making a quilt.

A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I drove by a material store. He was not about to stop the car to go in, and he said that it was another dying art. My argument back was mostly awful (good thing I didn't stay in law school). I tried to say something about what would he do if clothes factories shut down and he had to make his own. Then he said something about that being ridiculous, and he talked for awhile about the Spinning Jenny. Who talks about the Spinning Jenny!?

Maybe cooking is another dying art.

Chickens and China

Last night I took a cooking class: Chinese Cooking 101.

It was lots of fun and extremely delicious. The instructor was very quirky and kept telling silly stories about her life in China or her husband.

I'd been cutting chicken so, so wrong. I'm almost ashamed! Also we treat our wok so badly that it's rusted. Anyone have a wok? She suggested that I should get a brillo pad, take all the crap off, and start from scratch by seasoning the wok all over again. And I need a cleaver. Anyone have a cleaver around the house?

We made:

Boiled Rice
Hot and Sour Soup
Hot Cabbage Peking Style
Sliced Chicken with Vegetables
Shrimp with Lobster Sauce

I really hope these recipes work out when I try them!

At Least It's Not Monday

Thanks for the information yesterday, Internet. If you come up with anything new please let me know. I want to get as much information as I can because, as I'm sure you can imagine, the last thing I want to do is jump into more graduate school without thinking. Even though if I choose to do this it will take me a while to get there (GREs, prerequisite classes), I'm still pretty good at making a plan without thinking and executing the plan without thinking.

A friend visited for the weekend. We went to the Hirshhorn Museum, an obscure band's show at a coffee shop, and saw my nudist neighbor partially naked. It's almost boring at this point!

I also took my second cooking course on Sunday: Artisan Bread Making. It wasn't nearly as good as the Chinese food class. The instructor for that class was lively and patient, and the students were pretty much on the same page as far as level of experience went. The bread making class was mostly older people who had been trying to make bread for some time. It made me nervous to even touch my dough (which I was mostly wearing by the end of the night because it was sticking to me so much).

We made rosemary focaccia, challah, french bread, and sticky buns. I don't remember focaccia I've ever had being salty, but this was super salty. Also we used big electric mixers to stir the dough (which I certainly don't have/can't afford). Guess I shouldn't switch to making my own bread any time soon.

My family is at the beach without me. I thought I'd be able to go, but that was earlier in the summer when I was still unemployed. Now I'm a working lady, so no week long vacations for me yet. How does my family comfort me even though I'm missing out? By sending me camera phone pictures of the beach and the house where they're staying, of course!

Happy Tuesday, because it's better than Monday.

Beach, Bar Fights and Birthdays

Okay, okay I'm back! It's hard getting caught up and on your feet after being on vacation, and I really need to spend more time chugging along in my distance learning courses (I don't want this to turn into another scene from Statistics).

First off, I apologize for my whine festival earlier. I just got frustrated with trying to plan a get together. I'm sure that my friends are doing the best they can, and I shouldn't judge. I just had to let off some steam.

So for three days I went to a training seminar for work. I had a pretty good time and I passed the certification test that they gave us at the end with flying colors. Hooray, hooray.

That night myself, boyfriend, and our friend from college who recently returned from 2 years in Senegal with the Peace Corps set out for the beach to meet up with the others. It was so wonderful to see this friend again! Really, it was like no time had passed.

I don't have too much news from the beach. It rained and was cloudy much of the time we were there. We did a lot of eating in little restaurants and diners, playing board games, and sipping cheap beers.

The first night we were there (keep in mind we had to be cagey because we were cramming 5 people into one room) our neighbors got a little rowdy. A group of people stood right outside our door playing the guitar and singing to popular early 90's songs. We were pissed for a while, but we relented and just listened and made fun of them. Around 4am the police came along with the property manager. They tried to kick the group out, but somehow they talked their way out of it.

Also while there I bought a giant $10 piece of cake. It was damned good, and it was getting closer to my birthday... I couldn't resist!

The first full day that we were there when it rained, we went to the movies. Everyone wanted to see "Knocked Up," but I've had plans with some high school friends for a while to go see that. Instead we saw "Waitress." I have to admit, I loved it. There were a few parts that were just a little too corny and I had to snicker in the theater, but overall I really really liked it. And I left the theater with an overwhelming desire to bake and eat PIES. I'd really recommend this movie to anyone looking for something fun but smart, the way a real 'romantic comedy' should be.

The day we left was nice outside (of course). We were able to sit on the beach for a little while, then we checked out of the hotel and headed to where one person's parents live (she's from the beach). We had brunch at a diner near here house; it was adorable, everyone knew everyone. When we finally got to her house it was awesome to be able to see where she grew up. She was mostly moved out of her bedroom, but there were some things that reminded me so much of my own room. Teen angst song lyrics written along the wall, certain pictures and quotes tacked up on the wall, empty boxes of animal crackers lining the door frame and a few relics from high school boyfriends... she and I could have been great friends growing up. Our rooms said a lot about how we much we wanted someone to notice that we were 'different.'

Boyfriend drove on dropping different people off as we passed their city. Our friend from Peace Corps had the farthest to go, she was going to visit our old college town for a week and catch up with people there. Somehow she convinced us to stay the night there as well and leave in the morning.

I saw my first bar fight. It was between two guys from the Rutgers baseball team that was in town for a tournament. One guy broke a bottle and then held the glass shard up to another guy's neck. The one who was threatened went nuts, screaming and yelling all sorts of things: "I had your back for three years, and this is what you do? I'm out of my f*cking mind!" This went on and off for hours, after what seemed like forever the one guy got kicked out of the bar but it raged on in the street. I guess I remember why I don't like bars.

The bar fight aside, I love the town my alma mater is in. I'd gladly go back there, buy a little house, get a dog, go to lectures on weeknights and just generally enjoy life.

Wednesday was my birthday. I love and adore birthdays. I am finally starting to realize that I'm not getting any younger, though! One of the things boyfriend gave me is my choice of a cooking class at Sur La Table. I think I'll take the fondant course; maybe it's not the most utilitarian choice, but I think it will be fun! I'm headed back to my parents' house tonight for a little birthday grilling and then going to see "Knocked Up" with some friends. And, of course, I'd like to see Maggie again.

Perhaps the best birthday present I got, though, was last night. My brother has started this new thing where he loves calling after I'm asleep. It's irritating as hell to be woken up, but it also sucks for boyfriend. He gets really startled when all of a sudden my phone starts vibrating and going nuts. My brother told me last night that the military board met on his case yesterday, and he is not being deployed to Iraq. Not being deployed! NOT NOT NOT. Thanks freakin' GOD!

Science and Dinner

Happy Friday!

I know I'm thrilled.  Although I do have about four or five chapters in my distance-learning Statistics class to catch up on.  After the midterm (where the questions were nothing like what was asked on quizzes) I kind of crapped out and didn't touch the book for... well... over a month. 

I'm really hoping that my complete lack of interest, even disdain, for the Statistics course are based on that it's:
1) MATH (I HATE math)
2) I'm not good at teaching myself math
3) The professor who you can contact with questions doesn't really speak English
4) it's MATH

Hopefully these assumptions are correct, because beginning May 21 I've signed up for two, yes two, more distance learning courses for the summer.  These are two more prerequisites to continue moving towards an accelerated nursing degree - Life Span Development (birth to death) and Human Anatomy & Physiology I.

The Life Span course looks like it will be pretty straightforward.  I believe that I'll be watching lots of 30 minute videos and then writing papers about the videos.  And I can write a paper like nobody's business!  The Human Anatomy course will be a lot of memorization; it's something that I simply can NOT put off.  If I don't stay on top of that class then I'm sure it will run right over me.

I'm excited for these next two courses.  I think they'll both be fun and interesting, and they should also give me a much better idea if I'm still going in the right direction.  I still haven't gotten around to mentioning any of this to my family, and I still think that's a good move. 

In other news, I'm going to a Cinco de Mayo cookout tomorrow night.  The Evite says that it's not necessary to bring anything but I feel bad showing up without anything... plus I ENJOY making things!  Unfortunately I don't know anything about Spanish cooking, but somehow I started thinking about Empanadas.  I don't know if these are really Spanish, and I certainly don't know how to make them.  I've been trying to look up recipes online, but they're all very different.  At this point I'm on the verge of drooling thinking about empanadas.  I think I might kill for one!

Anyone happen to have a good empanada recipe??

Bake me a Dream

It's Friday!

My BIO professor granted me an extension to complete the class!  PSYCH still needs to be done my Monday (yeah, we'll see how that goes...).  I had to back out of going to a friend's engagement party in NJ so that I'd be able to complete the class and hopefully not fail.  She hasn't responded so I'm thinking she must be pissed.

I'll stumbled on a florist's website with a really nice portfolio.  I can't use them because they're not close enough to the wedding, but it has some great ideas!  I'm really liking bouquets with a few chocolate cosmos for some nice contrast. 

Fiance's mom has finally relaxed a little with the engagement party.  We had to sit her down and have a talk.  A lot of the damage is already done, but it should work out.  We were nervous because she basically invited the same number of people to the engagement party that will be invited to the wedding (if not more), and most of the people who she invited to the engagement party (apparently her friends and people who watched Fiance grow up?) aren't invited to the wedding.  Also she was just going wildly overboard with decorations and plans.  We wanted an intimate party, but that's not going to be the case!  I was also worried about my family being offended since they can't invite the entire world to the wedding.  It was really obnoxious and stressful, but I guess we just have to roll with the big party theme... she is hosting it, after all.

My zucchini bread is still delicious; I highly recommend the recipe.  I went a little cooking/baking crazy this past weekend.  In addition to the zucchini bread I made AWESOME Chocolate Chip Cookies, Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip (which I served in a bread bowl), and Confetti Cupcakes (which I made in cake form instead of cupcake.. but it didn't turn out THAT great because I used that cursed giant cupcake pan.  I thought it would be so cool, but the batter just never cooks right!).

No fun baking this weekend... just STUDYING!

Where did all the turkey go?

Shit! I just realized I only have this evening to make a new banner. How did we get through November so quickly? I have to say, I like holidays and months with holidays, but I think I'm ruling that November kinda sucked.

Historically, I think November might be my least favorite month (but it's in a close race with January). My life with November has included truly loved ones dying and bad relationships starting and then a year later (in November again) going through the serious suck phase and ending. In college it means the end of the semester and exams are coming up. It means lots of dreary days of winter again. And in 2006 it means, "Shit, I've been out of law school for six months and all I got was this lousy t-shirt!"

But I'm not completely ready to throw in the towel yet. My labor and delivery nursing contact finally got back to me! She can't fit me in until late January at the earliest, but something is better than nothing! Until then I'm wondering if I should try to take some community college night class. One, it would begin getting prerequisites out of the way, and two, why not? I like class... I think!

There are some great cooking courses coming up in the new year at Sur la table. Hopefully I'll get a chance to cash in over there. But speaking of cashing in, I've been thinking about Christmas gifts. Why are men so hard to shop for? Or maybe it's just my man. I look through the store catalogs and watch commercials on tv, and they always have the section or blurb that says, "Gifts for Him." Then they feature things like a rotating tie rack, an all in one wrench, or maybe a beer mug that says, "man of the house." If I gave one of these things to my boyfriend, I think that would probably be the thing to end our relationship right there. There's so much pressure to find that one thing that would really show your loved one just how much you love them. But what the hell is it?! Men aren't the most forthcoming creatures. With women, maybe they won't say what they want right away, maybe they'll want the man to be able to figure it out on his own, but basically she'll probably cave and just say it.

So, if anyone has any amazing gifts in mind...

The Happiest of Hump Days

Congratulations, me.  Yesterday was my one year anniversary at my job.  It's been a little over one year out of law school and one year in the cold, hard working world.  What have I learned from this experience?  Another job, please.

Fiancé, after watching me come home after work for a year with either apathy or anger, made the recommendation that I either change my attitude about the job or change the job.  Although changing the job will mean that I'll probably be a part of that company for less than one year (if I travel off to another graduate program next fall), I'm not sure that I care any more.  I used to have a good argument for staying, but I think that fiancé has effectively poked holes in each argument.  I was never cut out for legal reasoning, after all.

I have a bio quiz tonight and another one tomorrow.  I've finished Harry Potter.  This weekend should be moderately relaxing!  After my quizzes I'll be able to think about wedding things, watch a movie, curl up in my PJs, give fiancé a reprieve from all the cooking and unpacking he's been graciously doing the last two weeks, and just generally recharge my batteries.  I'm actually quite amazed that I've made it this far.

That doesn't mean I'm off the hook with my two classes, just that I'm passed the two big deadlines where they drop you from the class if you haven't completed a certain number of assignments.  Plus now that the vacationing and moving is over with, hopefully I'll have more time on the weekends to complete assignments so that I don't have to commit suicide during the week. 

Again, I'm really looking forward to the weekend.  I've felt a little strange the last two weeks… sort of 'out of body.'  I think it could be related to just too much change too quickly.  I'm used to painfully slow and deliberate changes; the last month has been amazing but also a complete whirlwind.  Every now and then I get a moment to stop and look down, and I realize I'm not grounded at all.  It's fun to get carried away and caught up for a little while, but when I do it's as if I'm only using half my brain and I wonder where the things that come out of my mouth came from. 

In happier news, tomorrow starts the 365 day countdown to tying the knot!