November 2k10 Cooking Classes

This past week I spearheaded two local events.

One was a Mexican cooking class with my ekaiwa. Rich and I taught them how to make tacos, bean dip, guacamole, tortilla chips and taco shells.







A lot of the ingredients are available, if you spend 3 years looking for them. Here is whats available at the foreign food store [much more expanded in the last 2 years!]





It went incredible well and everyone really enjoyed it! A very delicious meal!









The second was a Thanksgiving cooking lesson with the 3rd and 4th graders at my local teeny elementary school. I had come the month before and did a lesson on Thanksgiving, where we made pilgrim and Indian hats to wear the day of. So cute!









Together we made sweet potato casserole [from scratch], Mash potatoes [also from scratch], gravy [from a packet] and creamed corn [simply heated up]. Separately I made 2 pumpkin pies and a Roast Ham [made the southern way with yellow mustard and baked in a coca-cola!].







I came early to set up with all the decorations my mom sent me.

Some other teachers came in to eat with us.

The kids were so great about trying everything, just a little bit.... and tended to like everything, especially the marshmallow top of the yams and except the cranberry sauce!







After the big Thanksgiving lesson, I still had to teach 2 classes!!








Most recently:
This past weekend was my friend Julian's going away party. He is moving to Northern Spain to finish his doctoral research. His farewell fiesta was a salsa party. So much fun and everyone was dancing;




This Tuesday and Wednesday mark the annual ALT [assistant language teacher] Mid Year Conference. Lots of boring lectures and workshops to get ideas out... it will be a nice break to my week...

Also, I am really looking forward to the Annual ALT Thanksgiving dinner/Quiz night on Friday!
Have a great turkey day, everyone :)