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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
One of the first things I made for my partner was a fish dish with a sweet and sour sauce. I remember him turning to me and saying, “You’ve got to cook this for me at least once a month!!”.
Actually, my husband is who got me cooking. When we first got married he did all of the cooking, but I think what got me started was making stir fries or pasta with Alfredo sauce with sun dried tomatoes. Now I’m totally in love with cooking and have been researching culinary schools myself. Thanks.
Lasagna, made from scratch. his favorite!
I can’t remember . . . but I was definitely not a cook!! I’m sure I picked up bagels somewhere and served them with cream cheese! He was from Texas and had never eaten one until he met me!
The first thing I made for my husband was a caprese salad. We had just returned from our honeymoon to Capri and could not get enough of the simple salad. 7 years later, and now we make it with fresh tomatoes and basil from our garden in the spring and summer.
I can’t remember the very first thing I cooked him as a newlywed. I wasn’t a cook back then (still more of a baker than a cook)! But there’s still a running joke that because I was pregnant when we got married, I made the worst mac and cheese he’s ever had. I had added BBQ sauce to it because I craved BBQ sauce on everything. 9 years later, he still trusts me in the kitchen. lol
angel hair pasta with marinara and shrimp. hmmmmm haven’t made that in awhile…might make it this weekend.
sushi.
I made risotto and he brought champagne…the rest was history!
meatballs and spaghetti
i will never forget this to the day but I made some sort of something like chicken or fish & then velveeta shells n cheese. but the kicker was I was so nervous and drank a bit too much wine that when I was draining the noodles I spilt more than half of them in the kitchen sink. I scooped up the noodles threw them back into the pan and added the cheese like nothing had ever happened. I was silently mortified yet laughing histerically at myself!!!!!
i can’t remember!!! how sad is that?
he loves lasagna but his mom makes it for him so…maybe something like breakfast? or baked chicken?
Our first meal together as newlyweds was made by my husband. Since we were married in August, the weather in Chicago is perfect for grilling. He made us steak on the grill-it was delicious.
pretty sure it was baked ziti or chicken parmigian
I am always cooking! But the first thing I made him after our wedding was probably what I call Fish in a Bag. It’s halibut, kalamata olives, big white beans, cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil, and white wine all wrapped up in a pretty foil package. We still eat it 8 years later!! My 4 year old lives it too.
I honestly don’t remember the first thing I made as a newlywed since we had been living together beforehand and I cook at least 5 out of the 7 dinners a week. I’d probably have to say chicken fajitas, everything from scratch except for the tortillas and sour cream.