Apples and Pumpkins and Hay, Oh My!

A few of us ESL TAs continued a (1 year old) tradition of visiting Curtis Orchards in Savoy to pick some apples and pumpkins. What looked liked a blustery October day actually turned pretty warm out in the open fields. Next week, we're going to carve our pumpkins at our boss's house.

Cass and Jin hiding in the hay maze

Kristen searches for the perfect pumpking

Beating the Heat

Today was the last day of EPT (English Placement Testing) of the semester, so Professor Davidson treated all of us to Jarling's Custard Cup in Champaign, which is a real good local frozen custard place. It was good timing because today was the last day of the heat wave. We could actually feel the cold front come through because when I left for Jarling's, it was around 95 degrees, but by the time we left it was breezy and in the 80s. Still perfect temperature for enjoying some frozen treats.

What's on your mind, Dr. Sadler?

Happy Harrison

Also, I finally finished my photo wall in the common room, but the lighting wasn't cooperating with taking a full picture, so this will have to be a teaser I guess.

Community Building

Sunday evening, a bunch of ESL Writing TAs and MATESLers (+Joe, Harrison, and a couple others' roommates) got together for a barbecue. I made Filipino barbecue (chicken skewers) and lumpia, and people brought assorted drinks and other snacks. I always like hanging out with my coworkers and classmates outside of school because it proves that I am more than just a student living in here in this corn town because they gave me a tuition waiver. 

Balancing Act

Also, earlier this weekend, me, Joe, and some other ARCHies went to the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival. Our mission to eat funnel cake and corn was a success. We also had a moonbounce pugil stick battle. Joe won 2-1.

Sweetcorn Newbies

Seriously, this isn't a food blog...

Joe and I made a resolution to cook an awesome meal every week this semester. The last two meals were barbecue ribs and paella. Afterwards, I made chocolate chip stuffed cookies. And since I haven't been posting a lot, I'm just gonna post all the pictures of the food. I know I've been posting an inordinate amount of food on this blog (as well as tango), but Midwestern winter is cold, and cooking and dancing are two of the only photo-worthy activities I really do nowadays. The weather is getting nicer, so hopefully that is going to change!

non-Valentine's Day Dinner with Rob and Joe: Baby Back Ribs with Espresso Barbecue Sauce

Steph got me a paella pan for Christmas; today was the first time I used it. Recipe adapted from The Spanish Table







Chocolate Chip Stuffed Cookies: Chocolatey Deliciousness

Cards and Cookies

Went down to Steph's place in California (California, MD that is) to spend some time together before the holidays. Her parent's spent a few hours after dinner the first night trying to teach us to play bridge, which is a regular trick-based card game in turns of the general rules and objective...but an extremely complicated game in terms of bidding rules (it's basically it's own language) and game play.

Then we made cookies, which is much simpler.

Bridge Face

Chocolate Crinkles

Joe Catches Food

For our last night in Illinois before winter break, Joe and I threw a holiday party. We bought wine with the intention of making it a classy evening...it wasn't a rager, but I don't think these pictures are evidence that we were at all classy.

I will have my NOM NOM. For funsies.

How 'bout them apples?

I have extra filling, so it's now serving as an ice cream topping.

Apple-Cinnamon Empanadas

Fall Beauties: Curtis Orchard

Dangled Temptations

Pumpkins!

Pizza Night!

But because I think I've been posting a very disproportionate amount a food, instead you get accidentally matching shirts!

Fellow MATESLers Ryan (who kinda looks like Zachary Quinto) and Michal.

I swear this is not a food blog...

...but I have been cooking and baking a lot this semester. Steph and Amanda got me hooked on baked goods, and since I don't have them here in Illinois, I have to work for my fix.

Nutella Pinwheel Cookies

(recipe from the purple foodie)

Muffins and Tango

Joe and I had extra bananas, so I made muffins (chocolate muffins not pictured).

One of my SLA classmates dancing tango at the Krannert Art Museum

Pizza and Mexican Night

Olives, capers, fresh mozzarella, and tomato sauce....mmm

Finger mustaches...

Pasta Night

Vodka Sauce simmering

Finished product

Farmers' Market

Went to the Urbana Farmers' Market today to pick up some tomatoes and basil.

Illinois has a lot of corn.

Almost bought some of these, but I didn't think I could eat them all before they went bad.

Corn and Buildings

So every Tuesday and Thursday I have classes in the Armory, which is a labyrinth of stairs, hallways, and dead ends. My classroom is technically on the 3rd floor, but you have to go to the 2nd floor of the ROTC hall and take the special staircase (right) that leads directly (and only) to the classroom door.

Krannert Performing Arts Center. The two kids in the left picture were racing. The boy is playing dead.

Illinois' experimental cornfield

Night on Green Street