Cooking 101

I'm going back to school--not full time; I couldn't handle that. Though if I were to go back for something full time, it certainly would be cooking. But not yet. Maybe not ever. We'll see...

I'm doing three classes at L'Academie de Cuisine in Maryland over the next few months: "Basic Knife Skills," "Tropical Fruits and Flavors," and "Market Basket Dinner for Two"--this last one with my better half.

I can't wait. I actually had picked 15 out of the course catalog initially, but these things add up (way up) so I narrowed it down. If it works out, I'll definitely keep at it. There's so many basic techniques and standard recipes I want to learn. There's also a lot of specific things I'd like to familiarize myself with like French macarons and oyster-shucking and Thai curries. Believe me I could go on forever.

One additional item to report: I'm now volunteering at the DC Central Kitchen and loving it. I sincerely canNOT wait until the next time. What an amazing organization. What an unbelievable experience.

Lavender martinis and lots of photos coming this weekend.

P.S.

The cat ate the carrot chile pepper shoot. Wtf, right? I replanted this one, too, but forgot the pep talk. Hopefully this seed's super-motivated.

Green Alert 2

So far the balcony garden's looking good. There's lots of green--tiny green--but green nonetheless. We have two pots of arugula, two of spinach, one of French Breakfast Radishes, and the lemon cucumber's really taking off. Sadly the tomato sprout died, but I've already replanted it, offering words of encouragement whilst sowing the seed. Hey, I'll try anything to get some good grub out of this garden. Voodoo's up next should the cucumber decide to peter out.

A "hurry-up-summer!" cocktail recipe involving lavender plus a bunch of pix of a bunch of different things (eloquent, aren't I?) coming up next post.

April Showers Bring:

• The first gin and tonics of the warmer months--I'm fancying mine these days with Hendrick's gin, Fevertree tonic water, and cucumber slices instead of lime.
• The first radishes of the season at the Saturday farm market--dipped in a pile of mixed kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. I also plan to eat them the French way--with good butter and fleur de sel.
• The gobbetti with kale puttanesca sauce I apparently need when it's overcast and a bit chilly (well, compared to the 90-degree weather we had last week).
• Fifteen pots on our balcony this summer brimming with herbs, lettuces, and vegetables (fingers and toes crossed).
• Fast-moving, ominous, gray clouds outside my windows--really, why are they moving so fast, and why do they seem so low in the sky? It looks like something out of The Wizard of Oz right before the twister hit.
•  The Thai New Year (today actually), which makes me salivate just thinking about one of my favorite soups: tom yum goong.

Green Alert

We have two additional tiny plants:

Silvery Fir Tree Tomato
Bulgarian Carrot Chile Pepper

I moved them outside today (since it's going to hit near 90 degrees--in early April!) so hopefully the sun's warmth will spur the rest on.

No recipes this week sadly. The kitchen's off limits until the cabinets are put back up. Don't ask. Next week--hopefully.