Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Doesn't Look Like Burnt Brownies, Does It?



Once upon a time, there was a girl who liked the idea of baking a lot, being as addicted to sweets as she was, but never really baked. And when she did try to bake, she never really found much success. During her first feeble unsupervised attempts, she made brownies from a box... three times. And three times her friends at the fire department had to come to shut off the smoke alarm. Inside the oven, the mix in the nine by nine pan was smoking. Oops.

Contrary to her lack of skills behind the wheel of an automobile, she couldn't blame this on genetics. She was raised on homemade goodies. In fact, for many years they followed her in parcel boxes all around the country and across oceans. Her mother had talent in the kitchen. More recently, her sister had proven she could design and deliver an entire Thanksgiving feast from start to finish with distinction (albeit an hour or two later than planned). The Christmas cookie tradition was carried on by her sister as well. Amazed, she really did wonder when her sister developed such skills.

The girl moved to New York and then, eventually, to Baltimore. In New York, she found a very receptive audience fpr her sweet experiments--kids and roommates--and, with practice, the results slowly started improving. She even had some signature cookie treats. (That pecan pie, though, was a good reminder that a pastry chef she was not! It may have even smoked a little...)

Baltimore brought time, interest, an appreciative patron, and a critic. She was living amidst people genuinely interested in the actual make-up, taste, and presentation of the product they put in their mouths. Food was the center of choice, conversation, and nourishment. She was able to learn and try, take encouragement, and accept criticism. And, finally, the mark was moved up. The critique was more advanced than the basic idea to follow the time suggested in the recipe to avoid a smoky house. It even helped her to peek her interest to cooking categories beyond baking.

It's amazing what a little belief and interest can produce. A fancy looking turtle cheesecake (all ingredients from crust to caramel made from scratch) to start!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Dueling Sister Blogs

Dedicated to my older sister, LearnerGirl...

You didn't name it as a challenge. In fact, I'm not even sure you knew I had a blog. But, that means little now--because I can read the words between all of your lines.

I accept your (undeclared) challenge--
I will write a post every time you do... because, you're right. We don't talk as often as we could and you can have my reactions to food, life, learning, and all that falls in between, too.

Post on, Bean!




That Time of Year

In the past eight weeks, things in my life changed... a lot. Two jobs, one car, no monthly credit card bill--all possible mostly because of the generosity of some very good souls and the willingness of strangers to take some risks.

Last year, I set resolutions around this time. I made a few, didn't come close to others... but still this time of year is a time to think of what you might want the coming year to bring, not by chance but by your own actions.

Still on the top of the list is getting in and remaining in shape. This blog started as a way to record my efforts. On the blog, I've dwindled away for months at a time without posting; the same is true with my running. Motivation goes up and down. December, actually, was a great month for me--when I started my new job at the University of Maryland, I joined their new, super swank gym with a friend. My commute is better the earlier I leave for work, so every day for almost three weeks I went to the gym, usually running a couple miles on the treadmill. I hope to keep that up.

I plan on keeping a budget for the first time in my life.

I want to travel to another continent--South America or Africa. I have said that for a couple of years now, but I hope to actually do it this year. I'm thinking October would be a great time to go.

Maybe this year I can go three for three...