Chicago Bound!

This week has been particularly awesome but that means busy, busy, busy. We've learned all about meat antipasti and the many amazing products that entails, stocks, sauces, soups, legumes and, the best by far, an introduction to pasta! Yes, my friends, that's what you call heaven on earth. I feel like I say that all the time (and will probably kick myself come pizza/focaccia day) but I really mean it this time as pasta ranks high above everything else for me. Even cheese. There's nothing better than fresh pasta. It's spongy, delicate and has the greatest texture. It's perfect for light (as in weight, not calories), thin sauces like cream or butter sauces because it soaks so much of that deliciousness right up. I'll explain more about different pastas later but man, let me just tell you how my fresh angel hair in sage butter turned out... Divine, I say! If I weren't actually Italian, I'd think my parents were lying to me due to just how much I connect with this cuisine. It's in my blood, people. I can't help how much I actually need cheese, salumi and pasta in my life.

Several fun posts are coming your way, I promise. I haven't had a chance this week to do it and I fly out to Chicago right after class this evening. Yay, ladies' trip! So, I leave you in total suspense for now. I really hope that doesn't ruin your weekend. I mean, I know how riveting this all is so just try to contain yourselves, please. Have a fabulous weekend and a big happy Friday to all! Rachel, you better be P'ing up that J, as usual. I expect a lot out of you in my absence, woman.

PS - Today is stuffed pasta day so you better believe I'll have delicious tales of lasagna and ravioli and tortellini, oh my!

I'm A Weakling

Ok, I'm not a weakling. I'm a kitchen weakling. At this point, anyway. Today was our first full day of school, combining language + kitchen. Obviously, we all knew we'd be tired but I think I seriously underestimated how much. Part of it is definitely just the adjustment all around to a new schedule, different energy and brain power exertion and keeping up with getting to know new people. All of this is super taxing so I certainly leave room for that when it comes to how I feel physically. Everyone felt the same way though after today was over so it's nice knowing we're all in it together.

Today went better for me in language class overall. I feel like I'm catching on and sincerely enjoying the process. It's been ages since I've been in a class setting like this and let's face it, I was always asleep on my desk when I was there. I had a tough time in school no matter what age I was. I always struggled with giving up immediately when something got tough or I couldn't understand the material. I hate to say it but I have those very same inclinations as an adult and I feel that creeping up. Clearly, the difference is that I'm passionate about what I'm doing and I have a desire to be there instead of sitting through algebra class not having a damn clue what was going on and hating life. I'd say that's a plus for this situation, eh?

This morning, we worked on really conversing with one another and writing out verb conjugations by memory. It's tough work, I tell you. There are some rules of the Italian language that come so easily to me and effortlessly stick in my mind but there are other things that I simply do not understand. I'm not worried, though. Even after one week in Sicily, I picked up a bunch of stuff so I think, once we're settled in Italy, it'll be much better as we speak continuously each day. Here we are working on those tricky little conjugations:

I wish Stefania was facing the camera in the first photo so you can see how cute she is. Each one of us is obsessed with her, seriously.

On to kitchen day one! I mentioned before that I was psyched to finally get our knife and tool kit so today was a big day, heehee. Without exaggeration, I haven't been so excited about something in quite a while. Behold, our bag o' joy:

I get weak in the knees just looking at it. Professional, top notch equipment that's mine. Allllll mine. It's a bag with three compartments housing all of my tools and we got to break a few things in today! We have three days of knife skills so today we focused on the different types of cuts most common in the kitchen that'll we'll use all the time. 

We were introduced to Chef Jessica, one of our three chef instructors, and we went over a lot of basic kitchen safety and protocol. She showed us where everything is in the kitchen and talked a bit about her history and what brought her to this program. She's so accomplished and so very skilled. You could see that in the first five minutes of the demo she did on how to chop. We practiced on cipolle, carote e patate (onions, carrots and potatoes). Um, I suck at it so far. It's amazing how different it is to learn the correct way of doing things vs. how I've always worked in my own kitchen. I thought I kinda knew my stuff but nope, I've been doing it all wrong. 

After going through what felt like a pound of each vegetable,  I actually produced pretty good work according to Chef Jessica:

It's hard as balls to cut down a carrot into a square or rectangle, just so you know. The perfectionist side of me sure did come through as I kept trying to get it done just right. Will I ever learn that most things in life are a work in progress? Sigh... I tire myself out sometimes, I swear.

It was a long and tiring but fantastic day. I have a lot of studying to do tonight after I decompress a bit. 6:00am comes quick, man. I'm very ready for day two in the kitchen, though!

I Miss My Lunchbox

I woke up this morning with all the same feelings I used to have when I was a kid and the first day of school was exciting. Remember that? A new outfit, fun school supplies, your lunchbox and thermos all ready to go, complete with a bag of cool ranch Doritos and a Little Debbie oatmeal creme pie if you were lucky... I remember those days so clearly and I always felt so overjoyed at the thought of a new school year. Even as a kid, I somehow knew the value of a new beginning and a fresh start.

I miss that 'lunchbox thrill'. I think we all get so far away from those childlike feelings as adults and it makes me sad. Bryan and I talk about these things a lot because I envy his ability to relax and enjoy the simplest things in life, much the way a kid does. He's got a calm nature that's a very good balance for me and it's one of the things I appreciate most about him. So, when I woke up today feeling free and giddy, it brought back a lot of those things I'd like to feel on a more regular basis and that made me happy.

After more years than I'd like to admit, I had yet another 'first day of school' and it was terrific! There isn't much to tell about today because this week is a bit different than how our normal schedule will go. For today through Wednesday, we'll only be in language class and then Thursday and Friday, we'll have language plus the addition of knife skills in the kitchen. So, we won't be in a regular, full format class until next week but I can see why after today. We had a full four hours that was intensive and in depth so I can understand the need to separate a language for the first week, at least.

Our teacher, Stefania, couldn't possibly be more adorable or wonderful. She's very sharp and serious but so spunky and fun, too. In just one day, she's brought the Italian language alive for us and, because she's so passionate about teaching, she truly catches our attention authentically. It's really going to be a pleasure learning from her!

I know that's not much of an update but fun all the same. I'm genuinely excited for day two and that's encouraging! With that, I've gotta get back to studying so I'll simply say buona notte, all. More soon!