The Lovett Family Sure Knows How to Cook!

I feel as if I have enrolled in cooking school for the summer. Cousin Rachael is one of the best cooks I have ever seen! (She laughs and shakes her head every time I say that but it really is true.) In the past I would always pass up the delicious, yet daunting, recipes in Bon Appétit and Gourmet, thinking they were far too complicated and involved. But now NO recipe is off limits. From beef bourguignon to homemade cinnamon buns, she can do it all thanks to a bookshelf jam packed with culinary knowledge. Also, she has compiled a family cookbook so that all the delicious Lovett favorites can be passed down to future generations. Aunt Lib's pound cake, Aunt Louisa's rolls (yup grandma, that's you!!), her mom's famous chocolate silk coffee cake - it's all in there. And I now have a copy so watch out family! I'm going to be cooking up a storm when I get home.

Yesterday was the big day. We had been eagerly awaiting Saturday all week long. Want to know why?? Ginger ice cream. Yup. Ever since I was served a bowl of crystallized ginger ice cream at Thai Noy at our family dinner on Monday night, Rachael and I had our sights (our crazy ginger obsessed sights that is) set on trying out our own rendition. And I am very glad to report that it was immensely successful. Here are some pictures since I had to document the end result... before we ate it all that is.

Sous chef Chloe

Our gelato!!! Fresh out of their brand new high tech ice cream maker, courtesy of Eric as a 6 year anniversary present. We were both very, very impressed by his gift giving skills.

Oh and did I mention that since making homemade, gourmet gelato just wasn't enough, we decided to bake a loaf of homemade oatmeal bread? Oh yeah, no big deal at all. Here's the end result of that baking endeavor (I like taking pictures a bit too much...) and on your left you'll find the most amazing piece of toast ever created. The reason it's half eaten was because I couldn't put it down after the first bite. It's lucky I even managed to stop eating long enough to snap a picture.

But Mom, Dad, and Julia, get ready because when I come home I am coming armed with a list of recipes that I will proceed to cook for you until you bust. That Pepperidge Farms cinnamon raisin swirl bread we all love so much?? Yeah, I'm going to make you a homemade version. And the cinnamon buns from a tube? Nope, we're having homemade. All thanks to Rachael.

On a non food related note... yesterday I had a chance to attend a Smithsonian Resident Associates music seminar titled "Eros in Music." It was led by Saul Lilienstein who is a Smithsonian music lecturer and a Washington National Opera CD commentator. This little old man knew everything I think there is to know about music, it was quite impressive. We started off with the 17th century language of courtship and listened to madrigals from composers such as John Dowland, William Byrd, and Claudio Monteverdi. Then we moved into my favorite part of the program which featured a piano performance including Schumann, Brahms, Schubert, and Strauss. The afternoon covered opera and 20th century ballet music. I am just constantly amazed by all the opportunities at the Smithsonian! This week I'm attending two more lectures... it may be summer but it's really cool to feel like I'm still learning and getting to indulge my nerdy side while I'm away from Davidson. I'm kind of falling in love with this place...

I also went out to "the farm" with Rachael and Eric today. Rachael's Aunt Sarah and her family live up in rural Maryland on this beautiful house situated on 26 acres of land. Their kids, Lilly and Austin, were really fun to hang out with and I received the grand tour-chickens, chinchillas, dogs, the goldfish, the inside fort, the outside tree fort, the pool table in the basement... I saw it all. This outing also included more delicious Lovett cooking in the form of fried chicken (YAY SOUTHERN FOOD!!!!!!!!), creamed corn, cabbage, cornbread, and Caprese salad made with tomatoes from a garden not 20 feet away from their front door. Somehow after eating all of that Lilly, Austin, and I managed to make it down to the creek where we ran around and explored while simultaneously trying to avoid all the patches of poison ivy and thorns. (I don't know how good of a job I did on that, my legs are feeling rather itchy and scratched. Oh well, it was completely worth it!)

We also visited Lewis Orchards right up the street and stocked up on ginger gold apples, blackberries, and peaches. Austin even convinced me to buy an entire watermelon which is now perching on top of my fridge. I may have to go test it out... It was a great day though and very fun to get to know even more of the Lovett family.