Culinary Adventures with Camilla

I have rolled a lot of lumpias in my life. I remember rolling hundreds per week with my Grandma Sabado because she brought them to the Fil-Am club in Marina and they sold them during bingo nights as a fundraiser. And I've recently started rolling them again as my boys and their friends have wanted to learn. Well, lumpia was requested for a Festivus party tonight and two friends wanted to learn. Little did I know that they would be able to roll nearly eight dozen lumpias in less than thirty minutes. Seriously, this rolling crew was lightning fast. I did, however, have the filling ready for them. But that's about all I did. They're hired! Quick note: you can use any ground meat that you like. I usually do straight pork, but this time I mixed pork and turkey. During Christmas, my cousin told me that her grandmother added fresh shrimp. I'll have to try that soon because it sounds delicious. Ingredients  makes approximately 4 dozen 1 pound ground pork 1 pound...

I still don't really remember how the conversation started. All I know is that D asked if I would help his friends cook a dish that used old world and new world ingredients...for their AP World History project. I never say 'no' to kids wanting to cook something. Initially D wasn't involved; he just asked me to help R and J. Sure thing! Then, because they have the same teacher (albeit at different periods), D managed to ally himself with their project and Mr. Bourgeois said he could present along with them. Because time was short and they had a full day of robotics on Saturday, our dinner had to be on Sunday. The only problem: we were supposed to be having my parents over for their birthday dinner that night. A phone call later, I had convinced my mom that she and my dad wanted moqueca for dinner...and D convinced his friends that they were going to cook my parents' celebration dinner and get their assignment done. Phew. So, I bought the ingredients. And,...

When I first saw the email from HOME  about their 2-hour Pork & Pint Party, I scooped up two tickets immediately, thinking that it would be a great date afternoon for me and Jake. But as the event inched closer, a project deadline was looming for Jake and R, so I ended up taking my Enthusiastic Kitchen Elf with me instead. I think it worked out for the best anyway. Some kids have a favorite band or favorite musician. My kid has a favorite chef and it's Chef Brad! As we were driving up to Soquel, D wondered if the pig was going to be intact, meaning with a head and entrails in place. He said that he needed to mentally prepare for that, but I'll write more about that when I showcase Rancho Llano Seco , the ranch that provided the heritage pig for the class. D visibly relaxed when he saw that the pig did not have a head and entrails. He watched, entranced, as Chef Brad butchered the pig. We learned about the leaf lard...  and the coppa. ...

Years ago I taught a 6-week class about cheese! I was reminded of that when R brought up bringing cheese for a cheese tasting in his chemistry class this week. This was our discussion...and it always comes back to those IB learner profiles at our house. R: Mom, Thursday I need to bring cheese to my chemistry class for a tasting. D: Oooo! What kind? Gorgonzola? Époisses?? So many possibilities! R: No. Basic cheese. C: What's 'basic cheese'? R: Some kids have never had cheese other than on pizza. C: How is that even possible? D: They aren't risk-takers. So, I bought a small wheel of brie and sliced up a baguette for him, reminding him that that was for chemistry class not  his lunch. I was a little sad that he didn't think his current classmates would be open-minded enough to try some more exotic cheeses.  But I thought I'd share the cheese tasting I hosted at ISM several years ago. Talk about caseophiles in training...

This round  Debra of  Eliot's Eats  chose our August-September selection. Her  announcement post is here ...and her joint Cook the Books-Food'N'Flix announcement is here! The Secret Book of Frida Kahlo  by F.G. Haghenbeck* is our current  Cook the Books   project. Submissions are due at the end of next month, for both groups,...so you have some time if you want to join the fun. images from fridakahlo.org On the Page... I can probably pick out a Frida Kahlo painting; they're pretty distinctive. But I definitely can't say that I knew much about her life before I read this book. So, I was instantly intrigued by the premise of  The Secret Book of Frida Kahlo. The titular secret book, containing recipes for offerings on the Day of the Dead, was found among her personal effects at  her childhood home, La Casa Azul . The book mysteriously vanished the day it was supposed to be exhibited. This is just one of the many things tha...