I'm preparing for my annual trip to North Canton to celebrate Hoover's b day, and to visit my friends.

  I usually bring some home made kitchen delights.  Tonight, I'll be making a large amount of spaghetti sauce, meatballs and sausage, cookies, Irish soda bread, banana nut bread, iced tea, etc.

  Also, a co worker is preparing for her daughter's bridal shower and asked me to make the 'tea' and some cookies.

 These things will give me a chance to break out the new Kitchenaid stand mixer. I haven't really cooked much of anything since the VCCC convention.   Once more, the house will smell great. Tonight, I'll post some pics.

 Maybe I should carter when I leave the college!  The kitchen is open once more!!

both cats will sit in the kitchen all night....just by the island.

Luckily, they've never eaten anything from the table or the prep space.

Tons of cookies ( 3 kinds) must be made for a delivery tomorrow.

here last night. 6 banana nut breads, 5 dozen cookies, and 6 gallons of iced tea.

  Finishing up tonight.

spaghetti sauce, 10 pcs of sausage and 40 meat balls. 

I'll make a lot of cookies again, for my students.

I tend to prepare dishes in large quantities,  to freeze for a later time.

That way, there;s always something nice  at the ready, should a surprise guest, etc arrive.

Chicken cordon bleu will be next.  Plus the century old recipe of 'the chocolate cake' for my aunt's 92nd b day!!  (looks 70)

I made 4 of them for the convention.  Some called it 'fudge'.  It's been called that before too.  It's all done by hand, wooden spoons, separated eggs, double boiler melted chocolate bricks, etc.  A lot of effort, but worth every bit.

And, yes.  In the not too distant future.............. this kitchen will be a culinary frenzy

I'm making 12 Chicken Parmesan, stuffed shells, sauce and meatballs.  PLUS, I promised my new students cookies...  what better way to wash them down than with some iced tea.   Can't brink cold milk to the room.  So. tea it is !!!!

I've made about 15 gallons of the stuff since that convention.

Plus..2 Cuisinart machines. They make great ice cream.

  Then, sometimes, I'll make Hoover crepes, and serve ice cream in them. Mocha crepes are a favorite at some of my gatherings.

My only living aunt turned 92 last week.  My sister was in too. Their birthdays are 3 days apart. My sister's b day is the same as Fidel Castro's. Mine is the same as President Kennedy's.   Go figure.

 So, this week,  I made may aunt's favorite things.  And, there is enough now for 9 different dinners.

  Cookies will be made tonight for my new students. My new classes have students from 9 different countries.

It's a very interesting semester so far!

and the pasta plates for the Kitchenaid mixer.  I keep promising myself that I'll make that home made pasta.  I make gnocchi from scratch.  I even got the gnocchi board with the ribs (like Lydia uses). They are not very hard to make, although a bit messy.  Some rainy or snowy day, out will come the pasta equipment.

I've taught a lot of stuff over the years.  I WAS a Catholic school (elementary) teacher. I taught grades3&4, everything.  Then,  grades 5,6,7,8, math and English, then music grades K-8 for years. I was on the faculty at Peabody in Baltimore (5 yrs), then  ESL for a literacy agency. Yrs ago, I also taught blind children. That was rewarding but very hard. Now, I teach English (2nd language)  to adults in a college. I have 30+ students from 9 different countries.  Some days.. ...yikes.  I've actually (accidentally) spoken French to my cats  when I got home from school.

 It's all been rewarding and challenging at the same time.I guess like everything else, right?

I'm giving 'finals' tomorrow.  So, I promised the cookies AFTER the tests.

Also, our building director's last day is Friday.  I'll make a killer chocolate cake.  I made 4 of these for our VCCC convention in June.

a hit!  Almost everyone showed up.  I guess cookie bribing for a test is the way to go!

on sugar, flour, butter. I'll be making Halloween treats and also will be baking mass quantities of edibles for the Christmas holidays.

  I thought it would be wise to slowly prepare.  Has anyone else noticed the price of sugar and butter has increased...  a lot??

would send them!!!!!!  you're not afraid to eat anything I prepare? 

Do you have any food allergies?