One Girl Revolution

So...

I signed up for a baking class today. Not just any baking class, either. Nope, I signed up for this one.

theycallmeboy can consider it part of his birthday present. I sure as hell won't make this stuff for myself (what, you think I can trust myself to ration desserts?), but he'll be getting lots of it when he returns in June. Two hour cooking course? $40. Experiments in cross-cultural culinary skills that serve the dual purpose feeding people and celebrating your significant other's cultural heritage? Priceless.

Of course, this good news comes even as I am attempting not to panic myself in thinking that my plans for community garden plot-sharing are on the verge of collapse. But given that any plan requiring me to act in a leadership position seems to crash and burn before leaving the runway, I probably shouldn't be too surprised. *sigh*

In other news, it's finally warm enough for me to walk to and from work again. This is good. I am pleased.

I think my body clock has finally adjusted to United States time once again. I spent all of last week being absolutely ravenous, but that's finally dropped off as of today. Good thing - the "constant hunger" thing was starting to get really annoying. It also means I can post some stuff about cookbooks without feeling like I'm food obsessed.

First off, I want to alert you all that anw, author of the best damn Eurovision coverage on the Internets, is the proud author of a book. As he explains in this entry, the book is basically a compilation of a series he did here on LJ, and now it's a fantastic book called Eat Britain! 101 Great British Tastes.

It's a little inspiring and a little intimidating - I've always wanted to write a book myself, but given that most of my entries deal with news links, boring points about my personal life, or me groveling in star-struck worship of rock stars I'll never meet, I can't imagine that publishers will be jumping all over me any time soon. And given that most American food is considered repellent by the rest of the world (describe funnel cake to theycallmeboy some time - you can tell by the look on his face that his stomach is heaving in disgust), I don't think I'd be able to do the same thing. Unless I called it This Food Will Kill You or something. Even then, it would be cheap and derivative, and anw would probably leave snarky comments on all of my entries until the end of time.

Anyway, the book looks really fascinating - it's not a cookbook per se, but there should be plenty of ridiculously witty commentary and reasons to search out recipes and get with the food/research nerd thing. The book is currently available on the UK version of Amazon.com, but there aren't any plans to release it in the US as of now. I'd love to get it, but for some reason I can't add it to my Wish List. I'll just have to remember to save up for it while praying that the dollar doesn't get any crappier against the pound.

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One cookbook that I am interested in once I've moved into my apartment is Witch In The Kitchen: Magical Cooking For All Seasons. eponabast has a copy of it, and it really is fascinating - not only does it contain recipes, but it also offers lots of tips on "rooting" yourself in your kitchen so you feel more at home. That's a skill set that I think I'm really going to need in the coming weeks, as I get adjusted to living on my own. I don't really consider myself to be Wiccan, but I'm not quite your traditional Catholic either (duh). I find myself reading this stuff and adapting it to my own set of beliefs, so this book might be a good fit. The only reason I don't order it now and have it sent to my current residence is because...well, it's one more thing to pack. Also, my mother would freak out if she saw it. I've no desire to be interrogated/exorcised, thanks.

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In other mother/cookbook-related news, it would appear that theycallmeboy's mom believed me when I said I liked to cook (unlike my own mother, who still seems to think that my penchant for making Asian food is just a phase I'll grow out of). In a conversation yesterday, theycallmeboy said she wanted to know if she could send me a Jamie Oliver cookbook. I have no idea which one, but it doesn't matter - I'm really, truly touched by this. The woman has already done so much for her son and I by buying him a plane ticket, and now she wants to send me a cookbook, too. There's just something very sweet about that - it's more than just a cookbook, though I'm not quite sure how to describe what it is. It's just this intangible feeling of...goodness.

So it looks like I may, in fact, end up cooking for myself after all. It'd be rude not to use her gift, after all.

Generally, I don't enjoy cooking just for myself. It always seems like too much of a mess, getting out pots and pans and cutting boards and knives and spoons and god knows what else just for lil' old me. One of my biggest fears about moving out on my own is that I would slowly, unintentionally starve myself, or at least develop a mild case of scurvy. If theycallmeboy were with me, or if I had roommates, I'd be cooking up a storm every night, trying to pack as much nutrition into a dish as possible without packing in too many calories or fat grams or bad things in the process. Because the only other time I'll cook is if I'm experimenting with a new recipe - futzing around with new ingredients and spices and all.

So it was kind of neat when my mom called me just now, all excited and pleased with herself. "I bought you spices!" she said.

"What?" I said, all sleepy-like. (Damn jet lag.)

"Spices!" Mom said again. "Lemon pepper and pepper and spices! I'll get them packed up for you."

So it looks like I'll be all nutritiously well-rounded for the time being, now that there are tastes to explore.

And I also love her for asking me to get theycallmeboy's clothes sizes. She's all eager to get him clothes for Christmas. For better or worse, he's officially part of the tribe now.

It's weird how someone who can drive me so crazy can also be so wonderful.