Italian Cooking Class

I took an Italian cooking class with Linda at Al Boccalino.

First off, don't ask me to make any of it. I'm more of a support role in the kitchen. I have no problem accepting that fact. LOL!

The first part of the class was chopping a bunch of stuff. The class of 12 split tasks. I minced garlic, cut roasted peppers, zested lemon, chopped parsley, de-leafed thyme, and more.

The first things we made were Bruschetta Con Fagioli and Stacciatella. I didn't have any part in making the latter (it reminded me of egg flower soup but with spinach), but I was involved with the Bruschetta. I even helped put the toppings on. We rubbed garlic on the bread and added a bean mixture, cheese, and parsley. It was very good!

The next things we made were Pasta Alla Diavolo and Arrosto Con Cipolline. The pasta was really good with lots of flavor and the pork loin was super yummy.

And for dessert, we made Tiramisu Alla Sarda. I'm actually not a big Tiramisu fan, but I enjoyed it since it was the fruit of my labor. I didn't get a picture of it sadly, but I helped dip the Lady Fingers in the espresso. The finishing touch was chocolate sauce, and chocolate makes everything taste good.

I did the class through a Groupon. I wouldn't recommend it. Because in the end, with service charges, tips, etc., it felt like I ended up paying the full price of what the class would have cost without the Groupon. I didn't read the reviews, but one of my classmates did. She said that was one of the negative comments other buyers have said about the class. I will read the reviews (and fine print) closer next time.

Still, the food was good, and I enjoyed the instructor and the folks in the class. And of course spending time hanging with Linda, who is a mentor and a friend - a woman I admire greatly, is always a treat. She exemplifies grace and dignity and has been a wonderful counselor and encouragement giver in my journey. She is fantastic!

Oh. And on a whole new subject, I welded a few Saturdays ago at the Maritime Festival. It's not something I see myself doing again. My hair is flammable and there were sparks going everywhere.That would not be good *_*.

Next month's activity is a pasta making class.

Linda and I

We did a lot of chopping. I zested lemon, minced garlic, and cut thyme, pepper and other stuff.

First courses Bruschetta Con Fagioli and Stracciatella - Yummy

The Pasta Alla Diavolo simmering. It smelled so good!

Mixing the Pasta All Diavolo - I have to have one action shot

Arrosto Con Cipolline and Pasta All Diavolo. Actually the pork is something I should try making.

May Activity One - Paint Night

Tonight, I did my sixth sip and paint type class. It turned out great! I really enjoy these classes. I am going to need more wall space soon!

"Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay..."

In progress

LTB the Painter

Putting on the finished touches

Done!

April Activity

In April, my learning/new thing was signing up for random fitness classes through a Groupon. I did MixxedFitt, Zumba, and Hip Hop Dance. 

The classes fell in line with my ongoing quest for wellness, and summer is coming :0). Wait, I thought winter is coming.

I thought the Hip Hop Dance was a class where you danced to hip hop music. I was wrong. It was a class where you learned a choreographed dance each class. It was actually a lot of fun. I noticed I did better without the music while we were going slow learning the routine. 

With the music… Well picture Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) in 30 Rock dancing. Or the episode where Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) danced in Seinfeld. Or Baby Houseman (Jennifer Grey) in Dirty Dancing prior to Patrick Swayze. 

Elaine dancing (click on to link)

Liz Lemon dancing (clink on to link)

But I had so much fun doing it! There’s that aha moment where all of the parts come together, and I realized I got it. It’s certainly something I could see myself doing again, and I think it would make a good group activity.

I would see the same people in the classes, and it was cool as the recognition increased with other students. There are a lot of Indian ladies (Indian as in from India), which I may have mentioned before. I’m not sure the reason of this.

In May, I actually have two things I’m doing. Tonight, I am doing another sip and paint type class with Corks and Canvas. And then next week, I have an Italian cooking class, which I am looking forward to.

Blaming the Victim

If you live in the Seattle area, you probably know about the woman who was murdered by a man she had been dating. When the story first broke, the assumption was that it may have been the couple’s first date. As more information was learned, it turns out that they had been dating for at least a month. The crux of the story, for many people, seems to be how they met. They met online.

I have no idea why I sometimes choose to read the comments people make on articles. The comments always end up making me so mad, irritated, and saddened by the lack of compassion people have for their fellow human beings. Who are these people filled with judgement and assurance about what “would a” “should a,” or “could a” happened? So they “would a” done a background check. She “should a” done a background check. She “could a” not let him into her house.

It is such an offense to me. How easy we judge as Monday morning quarterback/coaches. How easy we judge in hindsight about all the clues that would solve the mystery.

I had a conversation with a sister friend about this while taking a walk. We both agreed that this “Peanut Gallery” comment section reeked of blaming the victim. We started talking about rape, and my friend shared an experience she had during her college days. And the response from her community was basically to stop talking about it and let it go.

It was during this moment that I shared with her something I had never shared with anyone else. It’s something that happened to me at the end of my college years. Based on where I lived, it was my senior year in college. I probably would have been 22 and close to graduation. The only response I had sometime afterward was to write a story in third person about what happened between a woman and man.

The short end of it was I was dating a guy. A guy who I had been physically intimate with. One night, he came over, and he wanted to have sex. I did not. I started off by pushing and saying no. But he responded by deflecting and continuing his pursuit of me. At some point, I realized that it didn’t matter what I said or did. It was going to happen regardless and that was the point in time I stopped fighting and just let it happen.

Afterward it didn’t seem like anything was out of the ordinary. He stayed over like he would normally do. We continued to date and be intimate for a period after.

I never called it raped, but when I wrote it in the third person sometime afterward, I think I understood that something was wrong with had transpired.

So 20+ years later, I have to ask myself why I justified what happened to me and never said a word. Why did I justified it? We were dating. He came to my house at night. He and I had been intimate before. He and I were intimate afterward (and that seems so weird to me now). I let him into my house. I should have fought harder. I stopped fighting.

And I have to really ask our society why we blame the victim.

In the case of rape. She was wearing a revealing outfit. She was out late at night. She had been drinking. She was at a party. She can’t be raped by her husband.

If someone is murdered. They were in a gang. They had a criminal background. They were in a bad neighborhood. They were out a club. They were out after midnight.

And the unsaid judgement is that is the victim got what they deserved.

And in the case of the woman who was murdered. That’s why she should not have dated someone she met online. That’s why she should not have let him in her house. That’s why she should have done a background check.

My only conclusion is that we say these asinine comments to make ourselves feel safer. Whatever it is would not happen to us if we did A, B, or C, or we if don’t do X, Y, or Z. This is complete fallacy.

It makes me sad. It makes me angry. And a person who is the victim of a heinous act is attacked all over again.

Men of the Bible - Cain and Abel

The Men of the Bible section  from Volume XV Issue II of the PCC Scroll. The issue continued with the calendar year's overarching theme of "Walking Out Your Purpose" with a theme of "Being a Good Steward."

Name: Abel

Meaning: Breath

His Character: Abel knew what God expected, and he willingly offered the best of what he had to God.

His Sorrow: He was murdered by his jealous brother, Cain.

His Triumph: Abel was a shepherd who took care of the flocks. Since Abel offered his first and best fruit, his sacrifice was accepted by God.

Key Scriptures: Genesis 4

Name: Cain

Meaning: Smith, spear

His Character: Cain did not do what was expected by God. Then he reacted defensively when his offering was not accepted. He reacted to his disappointment by lashing out at his brother instead of taking responsibility for his own lack.

His Sorrow: Cain found the punishment of his actions to be severe. He was forced to leave his home and became a wanderer.

His Triumph: Cain was a farmer by profession and tended the land. Although God placed a curse on his livelihood, God promised to protect him from those who would attempt to harm him. He had a second chance, and he experienced God’s grace and mercy.

Key Scriptures: Genesis 4

Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam of Eve. Cain was the eldest, while Abel was younger. It is very probable that Adam and Eve shared their encounters with God with their sons.

Although Cain and Abel were brothers, they were very different. Both knew what was expected of them. Abel was obedient and gave God what was expected - the first fruit of his labor. Cain, on the other hand, withheld his best. He was then affronted when his offering was rejected by God. What is interesting is that God gave Cain a chance to do what was right. God told Cain he would be accepted if he did what was right. For whatever reason, Cain decided to not do it.

Instead of correcting his attitude or offering, Cain became angry with his brother and slew him. Cain denied any knowledge of Abel’s whereabouts when confronted by God. He was then banished, and his punishment was to become a wanderer. In God’s mercy, God did place a mark on Cain to protect him from retribution from man. Though the earth that Cain once worked would no longer yield any crops for him.

Cain did have a chance to start over. He married, and he started a family. His first son and city were named Enoch, which means consecrated. Although he had to live with his sin, he must have marveled at the grace and mercy of God.

I think it’s easy for us to become jealous or envious when we feel others are accepted more than we are or that others are being elevated and we are not. Cain is an extreme example of the harm that comes from reacting with anger, hatred, or malice. In this case, it led to murder. When we plant seeds of discord against our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are doing the same thing. Any actions out of anger or jealousy always lead to serious harm.

Abel is certainly an illustration of someone who would hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Like the servants who increased their talents, Abel multiplied what God gave him. He was listed in the Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11, and God approved of the gift he offered.

When we offer the best of our gifts and talents, it must come from our hearts. Abel offered his first fruit and the best. Cain offered to God, but he kept the best for himself. Let us learn from this lesson and be sure to offer God our best. Our time and efforts for God should not be secondary. Like Abel, it should be from the best in us.