Culinary Adventures with Camilla

A couple of weekends ago was International Day at the Naval Postgraduate School. And I can not believe that we have never been to it. I mean - international food, culture, and fun - it's right up our alley. So, both of my boys were volunteering through their NJROTC program at school. But Jenn, her boys, and I headed over there at lunch time. R signed out of volunteering and helped us with the kids. While he was looking at different options, he spied balut at booth for the Philippines. "Mom!" he said, when he came back to our table. "They have balut! I want to try it." I have never dissuaded my boys from trying something new. That's sort of the point of my blog, right? Culinary Adventures with Camilla. "Are you going to try it?" Ummmm...no. I have tried it. Then Jenn piped up that she will try anything once. I might have wrinkled my nose, but it didn't dissuade her. Her son chimed in, "I'll try it, too!" Oh, bo...

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 trimester I'm leading a group of a dozen 4th through 6th graders on a culinary adventure around the globe based on herbs and spices! We start this week when they'll discuss the difference between herbs and spices, make notes on parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme...and taste some goodies with those herbs and spices. Can't wait. Photos and recipes to come. What's your favorite spice? What do you do with it?!?  Comment below or email me at constantmotioncamilla[at]gmail[dot]com. I can always use a new-to-me recipe!