Cooking....A Learning Experience

Greetings from Toscana Saporita Cooking School....

I have a lot to learn....which I knew before I began this adventure, but now I am proving it to myself. The one picture I am sending you is where 'it all began.' The KNIFE!!! I was ready to 'go under the knife' by the end of yesterday morning's exercise. I kept telling myself that if I knew everything before I came, there would have been no need in my coming to this class. The only thing, I kept the other 8 people behind...as they watched me finish last. One thing, I kept all my fingers and there was no visible blood on any of the vegetables when I finished!

Today, I began with new hopes and the 'old mantra,' "I can do it...I can do it....!"

We began by making the preparation sauce for gnocchi [a potato pasta]. My sauce was perfect, until I poured the last bit of milk in it that somehow contained a fly in the milk carton. The fly went into the sauce and immediately, the chef removed the pan from the stove and into the disposal went my perfect sauce!!! [I think my milk was sabotaged by the staff!!!] Such is life....I am going to a French school next time!!!

Given all these mishaps, all is well. The group is another wonderful collection of people. Tomorrow, after class of making ravioli, we are off to Pisa for a visit.

Peace and prayers to all....keep praying for me!

Fr. Steve

Cooking--First Week Completed

Greetings to all....
It is Saturday morning and I have now completed my first week exercise. I hope I can remember all the 'simple' details in preparing some foods! It has been a delightful week. Chef Claudio was an outstanding teacher...patient...good humor....excellent cook. The 12 people I was with were also very welling to be involved, supportive of each other and conversations at the table never was lacking. Yesterday, we went to Siena and San Gimignano. It also was a wonderful day. I am now leaving for an evening at Viareggio, before beginning tomorrow afternoon for my comparison week of cooking near the Italian coast.
Know that I continue to keep you in thought and prayer.
Fr. Steve

Cooking in Tuscany

Greetings to all....

I have now been involved in three days of cooking from Chef Claudio. There are a total of 11 people in the class. He is a great teacher....everything we end up doing he says, "Perfecto!!!" Surprising it does taste pretty good and we have done some very unusal things. Yesterday, we cook octypus, anchovies with sage [my dish], fried sardines, two types of pasta and sauce, porcini mushroom soup and fresh cantiloupe ice cream. Today, I did tripe [spelling]...this is cow's stomach [I am not sure which of the cow's stomach it was], but everyone liked it and I must say while it did not 'taste like chicken,' it was very good!!!

This afternoon we are off to a class in Chianti study, which I imagine will involve a 'taste' of the juice!

Know that I am working hard, but trying to keep up with the lessons!

Peace & Prayers.

Fr. Steve

Lagazuoi--

Greetings....

Today, I made it to the Great War Museum in the Tre Sassi Fort at the Valparola Pass. This site was on the border between Austria & Italy in the First World War. The soldiers dug tunnels in the mountain that went nearly half way down. I took the cable car up and walked down. More than once I thought I was totally crazy and wanted to climb back up but in the tunnels there was no way of knowing which way was shorter after I had begun. I prayed like there is no tomorrow and promised God I would never SIN again, if I got down without falling off the side of the mountain. [God has heard this prayer before....I am sure He is hoping I will keep my promise this time!] Luckily, I had a small flashlight, because the tunnels are in total darkness. Safety codes in the US would have field day!!! You can probably go on-line and see this. It is amazing and an awesome sight. Tomorrow is my last day in this regent. Hopefully, I will make it back some day.....

Know that you are remembered.

Fr. Steve

Ortisei

Greetings to all.....

All is well. I arrived in Ortisei, Italy on Monday. This is an outstanding and beatiful area of the Italian Alps. Very few English-speaking or Americans come here...at least at this time. I met one couple on my first day. This was the first time in five days for them hearing someone speak English. I have not heard anyone, except for the daughter of the couple who own the hotel I am staying at.

Everthing is beyond words. I have hiked miles yesterday and today, I visited the museum of the "Ice Man." I saw him....going back to 3300 BC.....and his clothes that he was wearing when they found him in 1991. Amazing!

When I returned to Ortisei this afternoon, I took a 45 minute walk....totally uphill without any stop to a small church. No car can get there from the place I walked. The picture you see, is from a statue inside the Church.....It symbolized how I felt after walking this distance....!!!

The hotel provides breakfast and dinner. The food cannot be matched...I just wish each of you could experience this place.

If I find out how I can send addtional pictures I will attempt to do so. Teh landscape is heaven on earth!

Peace & Prayers.

Fr. Steve

Greetings from Italy

Greetings to all....

I ended the cruise on the Baltic Sea on Saturday morning. Our last day at sea was pretty rough, waves nearly 20 feet high. Even though many refrained from eating, those 'little' waves did not deter me!!

Yesterday, Sunday, I flew from London to Milan. I rented a car and drove nearly 3 1/2 hours to the town of Bolzano, Italy. I drove through the southern part of the Dolomites or Italian Alps. It was a beautiful drive. This city is also very nice, mostly walking streets.

It is a beautiful day and I will be leaving soon to drive 1/2 hour to Ortisei, where I will hope to do a little hiking and enjoy the wonder of God's creation.

Peace and Prayers,

Fr. Steve