Festive Italian Cooking

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 How lucky we were to be part of a group that purchased an Italian cooking class at our school auction. I know that the bidding was fierce-what I didn't know is that it was going to be such an informative and memorable experience.

I have attended two very fun cooking classes here and here but this topped them all.


The table was set with beautiful Italian pieces.

Filled with rice and a votive a brilliant candle is created.


My Italian grandmother used her emply tins for vases as well. She would have loved to see a table set in this way. The dahlias matched perfectly!









My absolute favorite task was creating the Arancini. A meetball sized risotto ball with cheese and marinara inside, dipped in flour, eggs, and bread crumbs then deep fried. Heaven....

The finished platter awaits the deep fat fryer.




Served with a side of marinara and it is over-the-top delicious.

I was enamored with the kitchen tools. This is a vintage milk jar that now has the task of holding flour. Even the bowl in the photo was perfect.



Check out the pots, pans, the cook top and tools. Truly a cooks kitchen.














Here is our hosts extraordinare relaxing after this wonderful extravaganza.

The sweet cat got the last of the crumbs...

In this world of busy lives I think back on the evening and am thankful for a group of amazing individuals that donated their time and talent to create such a beautiful experience. I am thankful for the hysterically funny women that I got to share this night with, our amazing husbands and the auction that made it available to us. I want to do it again next year but feel that someone else needs a chance to experience this wonderful evening.

To the Wisemans, Micales, McDonaghs & Kaufmans. You out did yourselves!

 Grazie mille di coure!!!



Seattle's International District

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Experienced a wonderful cooking class that started at Viet Wah supermarket in Seattle's international district and ended up in a kitchen near U. Village. It was wonderful to have a tour of the store from our instructor Pranee. She guided us through the maze of exotic fruits, vegetables, fish, sugars, spices, sauces and more.


Pranee runs a Cooking school and teaches at many of Seattle's markets and fine kitchen stores.  Her website is a wealth of information and recipes.  It was hard to keep up with which dark soy sauce, fish sause, oyster sauce to purchase so she put it on her website:  I love Thai Cooking



My sweet and beautiful friend Dagny holding chinese celery.



Ahhhh.....

3 crabs- fish sauce was a favorite


Dagny and Terry are both accomplished cooks. They take classes and cook a ton. Both are fearless in the kitchen. You will find me listening in on their food conversations and sitting back in awe of their talent. Oh to have a seat at their table...
I learned that if you want to buy the fish you grab a basket and tongs, put it in and hand it to the guys behind the counter. Also, they can scale the fish for you. Liking that part very much!


We all got to join in on the cooking. It went quick so you just copied Pranee's motions when she needed your help.



Had to photograph some of the sauces we used...

The soup above is Tomyam Goong
sweet and sour prawn with lemongrass and Kaffir lime leaf
It was amazing!!! 5 star hot!

Our menu:
Stir-fry fresh rice noodles with spicy sauce adn Thai basil
Green Curry with Thai eggplant and basil leaf
Stir-fried swamp morning glory
Beef mint salad with toasted rice powder
Brown sugar squash dumplings in warm coconut milk

I am still overwhelmed with all of the information but anxious to participate, especially her upcoming Vietnamese class.The classes and tours are on going. Call her to join the fun.

Bookwalter Winery-TriCities

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Just got back from a sunshine filled road trip to the Tricities. Stopped at Bookwalter Winery for some wine tasting and jazz music.

[image: bookwalter winery]





My talented friend Kamie came along for support and laughter. We purchased a fab bottle of Foreshadow Merlot. Absolutely loved the bottle, the packaging, the hip label, the food offerings, the music and being away from home ever-so-briefly. It was beautiful and warm for early evening February. Crazy to think we were sitting outside in February.



Seattle Night Life

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We have to go out on the town occasionally to continue our journey for inspiration. This night it was a club called The High Dive in Seattle. We went to see a friend of our cousin-Robert Francis.





We began our evening with dinner and drinks at the very hip Bastille Cafe and Bar in Ballard.

Then moved to the High Dive in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. We ran into our brother and nephew coming to see Robert Francis as well! A huge suprise that just made our evening.


"Sisters 3"










The bonus of the evening was the first band The Republics. The audience loved this band. They were so natural and spontaneous. They did a great Christmas number that was a ton of fun.
 



Other highlights and laughter:









The visual highlights of the High Dive. Hmmm... What kind of inspiration should we take away from this? Something for everyone I suppose...

How about this? The curtained bathroom stalls:


And finally...


The PCC shopping bag turned into an evening hand bag.

Food Week

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Lunch at 35th St. Bistro in Seattle's Freemont neighborhood.
It was devine indeed.










Seattle with a sense of humor...
 Hanging outside the bar.

MOSHI MOSHI SUSHI



A wonderful birthday dinner at Moshi Moshi. Great cocktails-whoosh!


MADAM K's



Madam K's
A former brothel located in Ballard.... The food was great-interesting visual. Dress up clothes to boot.

ANITA'S CREPES




Dinner at Anita's Crepes to celebrate more birthdays.


GREEN LEAF



Birthday lunch with Liz
International district. It's amazing food and always packed so don't go there!

Frog Legs & Forty oh my

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Frog Legs is a wonderful cooking school in Seattle for kids (and adults). Our book club had the unique opportunity to celebrate Cindy Ann's 40th birthday in the kitchen of owner Laura Vida Thompson. It was way better than being at a restaurant or having to entertain at one of our houses (no dishes). We had an evening of learning and celebrating. Very clever idea Cindy Ann! Thank you.




Laura Vida Thompson owner of Frog Legs Culinary Academy



Lara's school is in her lovely home. She has a sweet sign outside that welcomed us and a porch that beckened us to come up. It was a perfect start to our evening.



We all chose one of the pretty aprons that were draped over each dining room chair.



What fun to have a copy of each recipe we made and enjoyed.




We started with a tasty cosmo, gathered around the kitchen table and experienced our first culinary delight  Fig and Onion Bruschetta.



Birthday girl, Cindy Ann, modeling some of her gifts.



We gathered around the island and began our lesson. Oh to experience what it was like to cut with a sharp knife! (Note to self-sharpen my knives) We sliced, chopped, skewered and sipped our wine laughing along the way. Our menu was:

Pear & Gorgonzola Salad
Wild Mushroom Pizza with Caramelized Onions , Smoked Gouda and Herbs
Cauliflower and Brussel Sprout Gratin with Pinenut Breadcrumb Topping
Halibut and Red Pepper Skewers with Chili Lime Sauce
and Lara made a Giant Chocolate Cake



A former Sur La Table girl, Lara had bowls, kitchen tools and trays to die for. Pretty little food vignettes ready for assembly. Very inspiring.



Some of us actually did work.



Sister extraordiniare working on the wild mushrooms for our pizza.







My apron had pretty little ruffles.


Happy 40th Birthday Cindy Ann!

A Roadtrip to Ignite Creativity

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HOTEL
How cool is this photo?!

My business partner and sister extraordinaire is a former Hotel guru so when we travel we always start with a good hotel. This time, it was the brand new "The Nines" above Portland's Macy's store. It's the bomb! Hip and ever-so-laid-back cool. Thank you Tara and thank you "The Nines" $99.00 for 99 days. It was the perfect way to get the juices flowin' and the heart pumpin'!
SHOPPING
We begin at Fabric Depot. A visually painful fabric store. But once in the design zone we are lost with killer creative ideas. If you don't mind the occasional drip of water from the ceiling on your head it can be a fabulous place to brainstorm on furniture and room transformation. I bought some shimmer white crocodile vinyl to cover a boring petite bench and turn it into a fashionable side table. I will show you the before and after upon completion (we just returned yesterday). I also got some silver & white sparkle vinyl to create a cushion for a chair that's in my head and not yet in our warehouse. Sometimes the cart needs to be before the horse. I'll show you that when the look is complete. We finished off our purchases with a geometric print to bring a bench into 2009 and beyond. http://www.fabricdepot.com/
Target is always a nice go to place for easy, current pieces . Don't they knock if out of the ballpark? Talk about a store that is not burdened by a bunch of old dinosaurs unable to shift at a moments notice. Love the people in charge. Which brings me to purchasing a bottle of wine at Target to take back to the hotel and spend time thumbing through magazines. http://www.middlesisterwine.com/ "because we think middle sisters sometimes deserve a little extra attention". This middle sister will drink to that! Love the "Rebel Red". As the visual girls that we are we will forever fall for a cleverly designed label.

After the wine we move to dinner (and more wine). South Park Grill & Wine Bar. Into the wine bar we went for some simple fare. Only to be approached by 2 men wanting to settle a bet. I know, I know, it's bad but it happened. Then a call to our older sister to bring her in on the laughs. The food was great! Once again, many thanks to the people at The Nines who sent us over duck confit and creme brule. How cool is that?! http://www.southparkseafood.com/

Day 2 we are clearly running out of time. 5 kids and 2 over worked husbands mean we start our road trip with our hair on fire from the crazy planning we have to do to get out of town. And that's just to get away for 1 night-Yikes. Back to the morning: we start via the Internet and check up on our favorite blogs, our favorite clients and favorite design sites. On to West Elm. We are again in the zone. We have 2 employees helping to move our piles of purchases to the front desk ready for check out-it's out of control! We have 1 car that has to work as a truck so we measure and calculate what pieces of furniture are coming home with us. It was comical. After spending a fortune and saving even more (designer discount & no tax) we spread the entire contents of 2 days work on the sidewalk of Portland's Pearl District to be reviewed and repacked (or stuffed) into the car. Tara was thrilled that the West Elm warehouse guy did not look at the treasures and then to the car and comment that it won't fit. I am always in awe of what my sister can do when it comes to shopping and space. She works her magic. The car is full but Tara has kept a small area available for a few more bags that will hopefully be filled with clothing by the hours end. We have 45 minutes to power shop and get on the road. On to 23rd Avenue. My all time favorite shopping destination. Most treasured shop for me is 3 Monkeys. (They're too cool for a website). I mean it, they're really cool. Bought a few ever-so-cute pieces and moved on to Galore Department Store. Definitely not a department store and again, too cool for a website? We grabbed our purchases and flew out to door to begin the road trip home and recap the whirlwind inspirational buying extravaganza. I'm pumped!

Erin Quigley/www.openhousestaging.net
Middle Sister