The day in review

Now that I am rested and no longer covered in an attractive mixture of flour and stuffing, I thought I would let you know how my Thanksgiving went. First of all, I cooked all day. Although I had volunteered to do this, I realized that it's more fun to think about and plan than actually to do. My chocolate pecan pie was weird looking but tasty, the stuffing was almost up to par, and the turkey turned out MOIST. Who knew?? It was definitely worth all the work. By 7:00 I felt like I had a little bit of home here in Ireland. What with the cranberry sauce, the dressing, and the apple pie, I really felt like it was Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Update

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am only doing a quick update because I am exhausted. So far I have baked a chocolate pecan pie (crust and all!), made an Irish-American stuffing (so cultural), made the extra pie crust into delicious pie crust cookie things, put the turkey in, and started the potatoes. I will let you know how it all turns out!

I found him...

My Irish gentleman. He's been in my life for quite awhile now, but I've really come to depend on him in the last few weeks. He's cute, but not overstated. He always puts me first, is a little protective, and never leaves my side. He's pretty quiet, but is a great listener. Oh, and he's my umbrella. Literally. Is that sad? Because I think I'm in love.

Thanksgiving Challenge

Tomorrow Colleen and I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner, and I am slightly intimidated. Only slightly because everyone attending is in their twenties as well and therefore highly unlikely to know how to cook all of this as well. Here's my menu:
Turkey
Stuffing
Rolls
Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce (homemade!)
Corn
Apple Crumble
Chocolate Pecan Pie
Chocolate Biscut Cake (my Irish roommate is making this one, and I am pretty excited)

Wish me luck! I think I might need it!

A Wet Adventure

Yesterday Colleen and I had an epic adventure. After a very indecisive morning, the weather finally cleared and it looked like it was going to be a good day. We decided to take advantage of the sun and take a walk to the bed and breakfast that her sisters are going to be staying at. Now, we knew the walk is about an hour one way, so we were prepared for quite a trek, and she had persuaded me to come with the promise of a cab ride back. So after making a pit stop at the library, our adventure began. We were about half way when we heard the thunder and started to worry. Although the sky at our backs was a cheery blue, it looked as if we were walking into a hurricane. This was also about the time that she saw lightening, which she didn't tell me because she didn't want me to turn back. Which we definitely should have done, because about five minutes later the rain started to come down in sheets. True, I had an umbrella, but when the wind is whipping around it's not completely useful (especially because it is really cute which forces me to be over protective of it). So we ran into a cafe to take some much-needed shelter. Half an hour later, we set out again, after being lured out with the slowing rain. How wrong we were! As soon as we left it started to pour again. One hotel lobby and two pairs of soaked jeans later, we finally arrived at our destination. This bed and breakfast must be the farthest hotel from the city center (which she has not yet told her unsuspecting sisters). I did however learn some very important lessons from this: 1)Never trust Colleen when it comes to weather and 2) There is nothing like hot tea and pajama pants to make a rainy day well worth it.

Blue Skies

When I was little I love rainy days. If I woke up and heard it storming outside I would peek out the window near my bed, hoping that by some miracle it would be so stormy that the power would go out and school would be canceled. Even now that I'm older I love waking up to rain. There's something about living in California, and even more recently in SLO, that makes you appreciate a rainy day. Here in Ireland I find that I am the opposite. This morning I woke up and saw a little sliver of blue through my blinds. Blue!! I haven't seen a blue sky in just under a week, and then for only a day. Now I am sitting in the front room where my roommates and I have opened up the curtains in order to soak it all in. With the sun shining and New Moon waiting for me this afternoon, not even the threat of my essay looming over me can dampen today!

Update: My blue sky just disappeared behind the biggest, grayest cloud ever. I think I celebrated too soon.

Consequences of Cold

Even though a seventy-degree fall (ahem, SLO friends) sounds fabulous right about now, I am enjoying soaking up the cold weather. Or at least what it brings along with it. As my mom says, I have been "nesting," making comfort foods and bundling up. A few nights ago Colleen and I made homemade macaroni and cheese (which my Irish roommate promptly declared "so American") and last night I made some delcious, buttery shortbread. Perfect for dunking in tea! Which reminds me: I now have a new favorite blog. Check out www.smittenkitchen.com. She tries out delicous recipes and let's you know how they turn out. Besides giving you great recipe ideas, she is really funny and puts up great pictures. Trust me, you'll be addicted too if you like to cook or bake!