Gingerbread House

I had never made a gingerbread house before! I kind of became obsessed once I started making this one. I mean, it was fun, but dang! I really needed to give myself a time limit. NEXT YEAR (if indeed there is another gingerbread house in me) I will plan better, and collect fun candies for decoration weeks in advance! I think a modern house would be rad! Or a Flintstone's house, or a backyard pool or skate ramp or something! (see, how I get obsessed?!) Definitely will require a trip to a proper candy store.

Gingerbread and Sugar Cookies

Ah-Ha moments in food

The day I had my first steak at Ruth's Chris. Frankly, I had never really enjoyed steak before, and didn't know why everyone made such a big deal. Then one year for Brother John's birthday, we went to Ruth's Chris, and wow- the sizzling plate, perfectly cooked steak, crispy on the outside... I finally got it! Haven't been the same since.

Ginger and Zinfandel. Once while visiting Brother Mike, I made a Gingerbread Cake for my family to enjoy after dinner. I asked if he had anything that would go with it, I was thinking coffee or liqueur. He brought out a bottle of Turley Old Vine Zinfandel. Maybe he knew at the time what a magical pairing Ginger and Zinfandel is. And it was. We felt pretty cool to have 'discovered' it without knowing.

Bananas and caramel.. or maybe it was butterscotch. I don't know. It was a pie from a German restaurant that wasn't there a year later when I wanted to revisit. For some reason those two flavors were so good together. I may have to pursue German Cookery and see if this is a traditional thing, or if it was just a fluke.

Artichokes and milk. I don't know why. I remember this one as a kid, which is probably the last time I had a glass of milk with a meal.

My next cooking class will be on Wine and Food pairing. We will not only put together wines/foods that are harmonious, but discordant as well, just to learn a lesson. I look forward to it!

More desserts

Gingerbread Cake

Old Fashioned Bread Pudding