Category Archives: Cooking Schools

Random Musings for the Weekend…

12 Monday Dec 2011

Posted by in Cookies, Cooking Schools, Holidays, Italian, Massachusetts, Pizza, Travel, Very Best Baking

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It’s that time of year when my weekend ends on Monday evenings. Actually, beginning Friday, I’ll be on holiday until the new year and am very excited as I can definitely use the time off to organize various projects I have for 2012; a big one being the plotting out of Q1 and the various classes I would like to take.  However, in the interim, few thoughts:

Tony's PIzza

Hmmm...Pizza from Restaurant Biola

Pizza, Pizza:  Pizza can be made in an electric oven!  My sister asked Tony to man lunch yesterday, specifically requesting his pizza.  Tony was honored, but then went into panic mode as he realized that she has an electric oven.  Here’s a guy who makes absolutely amazing pizza, but whose skill lies in gas stoves and wood burning ovens.  He was completely wigged out.  However, he stepped up to the plate, saying, ‘let’s do this.’ And, alas, the pizza was great even if he dotted over them as they baked away in the (gasp) electric oven.

Mohawk Trail:  What an amazing drive/trip.  Oh so picturesque (even if everyone kept saying ‘it’s so pretty in the fall’) and very relaxing (construction on 91 and all).  I’ll do a separate post, but parts of the route, Route 2 in Massachusetts, reminded me of driving Route 80 along the Delaware, Route 17 in southwestern New York, and just Massachusetts in general, in all its splendid glory.  While I tried to avoid the touristy thing, going to the Yankee Candle Shop in Deerfield, it’s apparently the only thing to do in Deerfield or, at least, the most convenient, was the highlight of the day, not taking into account the wonderful little liquor store we found with fantastically flavorful wine from the Rioja region of Spain.  We tried to go to the SugarLoaf Nature Reserve area, but couldn’t physically find it.  Happily, especially for our tummies, we avoided the restaurant at the candle store, Chandlers, and found a local, yokel hole in the wall in Deerfield, Wolfies. 

Baking:  As the clock ticks, the realization dawns on me that I have much baking to do for the holidays.  We have a relatively open weekend and will be spending a fair amount of time creating delectable treats for friends, family and, even, students alike (yes, I get suckered into making cookies for all of Tony’s students).  On the agenda, Monster (a Stifter family recipe) and Pumpkin cookies as well as cream cheese cupcakes…yummy.   Will round this out with a few desserts and some relatively easy apps for our winter solstice dinner as well as our Little Christmas party (details to follow).

Cards have  been sent, the tree trimmed and house decked out (as decked out as it’s going to get at any rate).  Am gearing up for the week ahead, planning my baking, getting ready for the winter solstice, and trying my best to enjoy the holiday season — a bit of snow would we welcome at this juncture (actually, it was nice as Route 2 was dotted with the remains of an early season snow fall).   We’ll review our weekend sojourn and let you in on some holiday baking tips; and we’ll do our best to maintain sanity and enjoy time with some amazingly wonderful friends over the next few days.

Random Musings for the Weekend…

04 Sunday Dec 2011

Posted by in Connecticut, Cookies, Cooking Schools, Holidays, Massachusetts, Recipes, Travel, Vegetables

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Procrastination. So much to do and this the only weekend we have to do it, We’ve been decking the halls, only using real greenery, and attacking the Christmas Cards all weekend…laundry be damned!  If time allots, I’ll make cookies for Tony’s students. However, the recipe I use, the famous Stifter Monster Cookies, makes a boat load of cookies and even when making half a batch you’re still baking 2 – 3 hours later. Also will be attempting to finish bunch of things that absolutely must be done — switching the clothes, winterizing the back yard, etc. While I continue hiding from the inevitable, a few thoughts:
Route 2, Massachusetts

The Mohawk Trail

The Mohawk Trail: Next weekend we’re going to Massachusetts to see our nieces in a Christmas Pageant (unbeknownst to my sister.  Note to self, must tell her…). Figured we could do a leisurely drive home along Route 2, aka the Mohawk Trail, with a stop for shopping/lunch in Deerfield. As we frequent New England on a somewhat regular basis, we tend to do ‘hit and runs’. Especially this spring, my driving has always been geared toward ‘how can I get to where I need to go the quickest and with the least amount of headaches.’ As things have quieted down, we’ve begun taking leisurely rides home, usually stopping at least once or twice along the way. In September, as we were coming home from the Cape, we stopped in Groton, Connecticut, just south of Mystic, at the Submarine Force Library and museum.  Personally, my interest was less than enthusiastic, but Tony was thrilled. And, thankfully, his enthusiasm was contagious. Apparently, there’s a replica turtle thing there and we were able to board the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear powered sub that, back in 1958, crossed the North Pole, the first ship to do so. 

The USS Nautilus

The USS Nautilus

 

2012 To Dos: I’ve committed to do numerous epicurean things in 2012 and will compile a list, at some point soon, to share. The good thing is that I’ve started researching some of my ‘to dos,’ (did you know there’s a cooking school in Cresskill, NJ?) and am plotting out how I’ll spend Q1 of 2012 taking classes and traveling the Northeast, visiting friends and family and enjoying the fare along the way. I guess my only concern about this is that I’ve always wanted to take technique classes, as it takes me about a 1/2 hour to cut an onion, prior to taking formal cooking classes. Apparently, the two will be inter-mingled and I’ll keep you update on how that’s works out.

Roasted Butternut Squash

Roasted Butternut Squash from Simple Speedy Snacks

Recipes: A quick survey of my reader revealed that recipes would be welcome. In 2012, I vow to post recipes, from cookbooks on the shelf, to the family trove of recipes to recipes I find from fellow bloggers and classes I may take along the way.  Actually found a really nice, fall recipe for roasted butternut squash from Simply Speedy Snacks and am excited to try it over my extended holiday at the end of the month.

If eggnog weren’t completely gross, I would have stocked up for the ‘deck the halls’ weekend. But, alas, we found other liberations that helped us us out along the way.  We’ve been local this weekend, enjoying each other’s company and taking care of Christmas business (for the record, our tree, tiny though it may be, fell over on me last evening). Next up, researching and organizing 2012 cooking classes,epicurean adventures, and unknown areas to explore throughout the year. We’ll keep you updated on our adventures and promise to, soon, very soon, start posting recipes.