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My midlife crisis arrived about twenty years too early. The year was 2001 and I had been working in the modeling industry for almost 15 years — basically since I was a teenager. Modeling afforded me many wonderful opportunities for which I will always be grateful, but it didn’t really fulfill me.
I had always dreamed of going to culinary school, yet the thought of simply abandoning what I had done for so long to start something completely new gave me great anxiety, no matter how determined as I was to find my true calling. I researched several culinary programs but never could commit to do anything more than take a tour. And so there I remained, lost, two years shy of my 30th birthday and entirely too young to be so confused about what I was doing with my life.
I was living in New York back then and had made an appointment one day to see yet another school, the Institute of Culinary Education. The tour date was September 11th and as you can probably figure out for yourself, I did not get to visit the school that day. As it did for many people I know, 9/11 forced me to reexamine my life. I decided within days of that unspeakable tragedy that if I was ever going to follow my dream, that was the moment.
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I spent the next year as happy as I’ve ever been, working during the day and going to school at night. As hard as it was, I still romanticize that period of my life for the sumptuous meals (my schoolwork) that I would bring home from my classes for my future hubby and I to enjoy late at night after our long days of work and school.
This all finally brings me to the whole reason for the recipe below. While at I.C.E., I was blessed to meet one of the kindest, sweetest, most talented women I know. At a very young age, Sarah Copeland knew exactly what she wanted to be and she made it happen. A veteran of the Food Network, writer, food-expert, urban gardner and co-founder of Share Our Strength’s Good Food Garden’s Campaign, Sarah’s most recent exploit is The Newlywed Cookbook. Not only is this amazing book rich in information and stories, it features tantalizing food photography and delectable recipes which are perfect for both the newbie and experienced cook. Below is one of my many favorites from the book. I made it for Kenya’s snack one day and all the kids (and their moms) went nuts for it.
Rise and Shine Muffins
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and grated (2 cups)
- 1/2 medium zucchini, grated (1 cup)
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- 3 large eggs
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F.
- Place the raisins in a small bowl, cover with hot water, and set aside to plump.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and salt.
- Stir in the carrots, zucchini, pecans, and pine nuts.
- In another large bowl whisk together the eggs, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla.
- Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
- Drain the raisins and stir them into the batter.
- Fill greased or paper-lined muffin tin 3/4 full with batter.
- Bake 25 minutes (15 minutes for mini muffins) or until a wooden pick inserted into muffins comes out clean.
- Serve.
- *From The Newlywed Cookbook by Sarah Copeland-reprinted with permission from Chronicle Books
i made a muffaletta !!!!
I think it was steak. 🙂
After we were married we worked at a summer camp till the fall so it wasn’t until 3 months later till I was able to cook him a meal. We were short on cash so one thing that is a great cheap meal is stir fry and instead of the usual rice I made it with noodles and we’ve never gone back to rice since.
I can’t remember the first thing I made for him. Cooking was just such a natural part of my life and way I show love, that I don’t know that it was anything all that special. I think it may have been some sort of marinated steak on the grill. The first thing he made me was lasagna.
I believe we had pancakes 🙂
I made him a spinach and sausage pasta dish! Luckily, it turned out quite yummy! 🙂
I made him salad, pasta, and cheesey bread.
I don’t remember the first thing I made for him but I do remember being shocked that he not only knew how to cook but he liked it and wanted to cook. I came from an all girl family where the only thing my dad ever cooked was a pot of whatever leftovers he found in the frig, sometimes six different meals dumped in to one. Yuck!
The first thing I made was a tuna mushroom pasta casserole. It wasn’t fancy, but it was tasty and one of my favorites. I’ve come a long way in the kitchen since then!
Looks like a lovely cookbook.
The first thing I made for him was Cashew Chicken with coconut rice.
I probably made something pretty plain. We had been close friends for a few years before we got married. I do remember trying to make salmon one time, and it catching on fire, but it turned out awesome.
I honestly don’t remember — it was so long ago! But we enjoyed cooking together, like making citrus teriyaki salmon 🙂
My husband and I would never get this question right if we were playing the Newlywed Game b/c I have no idea. Maybe a picnic in a park from the Sydney Fish Market when we were on our honeymoon?
It was a meal from a box. I’ve come a long way since then!
We got married in the middle of a hurricane. Determined not to spend out wedding night stuck at home we ventured out in the horrible weather to a grocery store and bought ANYTHING that didn’t need to be refrigerated in case the power went out at our hotel. The power did go out (of course) and we had a buffet of 3 different cereals, chips of multiple flavors, candy bars and so much else. Completely unhealthy, I know! But the restaurant ran out of food and atleast we had something! We watched the horrible weather outside, cuddled together, stayed away from the windows and ate our crazy food for the next 3 days! It wasn’t a very good first meal, but it’s a story for the kids! Lol.
I don’t cook that much, so I’m not sure about an actual meal, but I know I baked him some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies!