Cooking Class August 2012

Since I first found out there was a cooking class each month, I had been planning on going to each one.  Well, I waited too long to sign up for the August class, and was put on the waiting list.  I was thrilled when I got the call that there was space, yay!

We went to an upscale restaurant right on the water, in the building that used to be the customs building for the cruise ships.

This is the view from the restaurant.  Actually, this is the view from the sinks in the bathroom.  Once we finished cooking, we sat at tables which were also right next to a window.

The first dish we learned to make was mussels.  I have never had mussels, but love clams, so I was excited.

This is the work area the chef set up for us.  Each of us had our own plate surrounded with the ingredients needed to make the breadcrumb dressing necessary.

The chef demonstrated how to clean the mussels and how to cook them.  Once they were cooked, we each got several on our plate to prepare.

First step is to separate the shells.

Then we made the dressing.  4 spoonfuls of breadcrumbs, 2 of parmigiana cheese, a spoonful of parsley and a pinch of oregano, salt and pepper.  Then you add tomato sauce and olive oil, about a spoonful of each to create moisture. 

This is what it looks like after you mix it all up.  Then you season the muscles with a sprinkle of salt, pepper, parsley, and cheese.  And finally you put your breadcrumb dressing on the mussels.

You place the mussels in a pan which is lined with the breadcrumb mix, sprinkle with olive oil, and then cook at 375 for 5-10 minutes.

After a break to wash our hands and for the kitchen crew to set up for the next round, we headed back to the kitchen.  This time to make swordfish, which I had never eaten before, either.

We had a similar set up for the swordfish, only no oregano or tomato sauce, and the addition of pine nuts and raisins.

The swordfish was sliced paper thin.  Obviously, to repeat this dish at home, I would have to learn how to ask at the fish market for the fish to be sliced thin.  Andrea did tell us what the word is for that, but I forgot it as soon as we left the kitchen.

You mix up the breadcrumb dressing just like before, with a spoonful of the nuts and raisins.  Then you place some of it in the corner of the widest edge.  So I placed in the the bottom left corner of the slice I had.  Then you fold it in half along the long side, and roll it up.

When you finish, it looks like this.  You could easily do the same thing with thinly sliced chicken, or pork, or beef.

For this dish you place them on the breadcrumbs in a shallow dish and again cook for 5-10 minutes at 375.

I would like to have some beautiful pictures of the finished product, but, quite frankly, I was so hungry and it all looked and tasted so good, I forgot.  When we sat down to eat, the table was set with a bottle of water and a bottle of wine.  First we had our musseles, which were fabulous!  I think I prefer them to clams, they seem to be less chewy.  For the second course, they served us a huge plate of risotto with shrimp, also very tasty.  Then we had the main course, which was about 3 of the swordfish rolls with a side of mashed potatoes.  The potatoes were good, but I was just interested in the swordfish, very good!  Finally we finished with a glass of lemon granite.  It was a fantastic lunch, which meant my family was pretty much on their own for dinner!

Siracusa and Ortigia

This weekend we decided to explore Siracusa and the island of Ortigia, which is right by Siracusa. Siracusa is close to the area where Mike had stayed when he was deployed to Siciliy when Tommy was in Kindergarten (I think that was 2003).  Siracusa is also where Tommy has been wanting to go since we have been here, which should be no surprise to anyone who knows him since the English version is Syracuse.
(at the end of the blog is a link to some video Tommy took, hopefully it works out)

How he didn't pack any Syracuse shirts in his luggage, I don't know, but he didn't.

In Siracusa, there is a large archaeological park with both Roman and Greek ruins.

So we headed in to see what there was to see.

First you come to the Roman ruins, you are not allowed to walk around in the ruins, just look from above.

Then we walked over to the area of the Greek ruins.  The first Greek ruins we came across was the Orecchio di Dionisio.  This is a cave that is shaped like the ear.  In English it is the Ear of Dionysius.  The legend is that Dionysius used the cave as a prison.  He would put them in the back of the cave, and because of the amazing acoustics, which allows for no echo, he could stand outside the cave and hear what they were saying!  So cool! 

As we approached, we could hear chattering from inside, but since it was likely all in Italian, we could not understand it.

Here are the kids standing just outside the cave.  You can see that the opening looks like the opening to the ear canal.

The kids are entering the external auditory meatus (forgive the audiology speak, but Mike and the kids had to hear it as we were walking through =)

You can see Mike (striped shirt on the right) and Tommy (and Sam if you look to the left of Mike in front of the woman) as they approach the tympanic membrane.

This in not a beautiful picture, but it is the tympanic membrane, and so I had to include it.

Looking out from inside the ear.  I sent the kids out and called their names, but they said there was too many people talking for them to hear.

Another little cave.

The kids loved squatting in this tunnel for the picture!

Finally, after what felt like a long walk, we got to the Greek ampitheater, or as Tommy called it, the Carrier Dome.

This is the theater, obviously looking down from above.  There was a level path around the outside at the upper level, and on the other side were cave-like areas carved into the stone.

As you sat in the bench where Tommy is, you could see not only the stage, but the sea off in the distance.

Tommy figures these are the luxury boxes, and let me tell you, on a 100+ degree day, sitting on that bench shaded from the sun, it sure felt like a luxury box.

From the box looking out

Then, in one of the little openings, was this cute waterfall and pond.  Not drinkable water, but people were splashing themselves to cool off.

To the right of Sam, there was a doorway that would bring you to this room, and the window looked out toward the path.  The kids figure this must be the concession stand.

just another little cove

Sam and Mike with the sea way off in the distance.

Sam on the edge above the theater, notice no picture of Tommy in this spot

We made our way down into the theater a little ways on our walk out.

After spending time in Siracusa, we drove a little further to the island of Ortigia.  It was beautiful and I want to move there.  I will tell you now that the pictures in no way show the beauty of this little town.  One street we walked along, on the harbor side, had what looked like a permanent street carnival with little rides, and gelato stands along the way.  The rides were not going, I would guess they open up at night.

This was driving into the marina area where we parked.

The street behind the kids was just so perfect and beautiful.  You really can't tell from the photo.

Same street, slightly different angle.  I need to work on my photography so I can really show you the beauty in the pictures.

This is a fountain in the middle of one of the town squares.

I just liked this building and intersection.

The cathedral in the big plaza

This is the plaza area

And of course, what is the best way to finish a busy day?  With gelato!  We seemed to have kept the shop open later than they planned.  As we sat and finished our gelato, they were pulling all the signs in from outside and putting all the chairs away.  However, not one person told us it was time to leave.

Tommy's video of our trip