Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Continuing Education

I've been thinking about this for a couple of weeks and I'm going to sign up for some cooking classes at Anne Arundel Community College. I'd love to take classes at Baltimore International College* but it doesn't look like they offer classes for non-degree or certificate seeking individuals. The Artisan Bread class happened last weekend so I'll have to wait for the summer or fall to take it again, putting the Bread Baker's Apprentice plan on the back burner again. The first one I really want to take is:

Your Sustainable Table
Reconnect with the food on your plate and learn about the latest trends in sustainable food practices. Define sustainable food and discuss issues ranging from local food sourcing, real foods, contemporary nutrition and personal food choices.

I'm very interested in the Slow Food movement, though I am yet to make it to a meeting, and I'm planting my first vegetable garden this year. I've been reading my Farmer's Almanac and I've got boxes of jars for canning. I'm working to be more aware of what I'm putting into my body and in my pantry. I'm already down by at least a third of the commercially processed pantry items (read: canned goods and convenience foods) compared to 3 years ago and I want to be at half by the end of 2010.


And the one that I've been eying for a couple of years:

If You Knew Sushi
Learn how the ancient sushi tradition is transformed into a culinary art form. Explore how color, texture, flavor and shape are masterfully combined. Learn to assemble your own sushi.

I discovered that I liked sashimi when I was 19. I grew up as a yonsei (fourth generation) Okinawan and sansei (third generation) Japanese American in Hawaii and I didn't appreciate my culinary heritage until I went away for college; I have a lot of catching up to do.


* I knew guy that had a PhD in philosophy and he said that his BS from BIC was the hardest and most rewarding degree that he earned. How's that for a recommendation? ~$9k/year for four years is a big commitment for something that I don't intend to use professionally, or even ~$6k for a one year certificate, and I need to sleep on it some more.

Never stop learning. - KP

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