This was the earliest day I’ve had so far- woke up around 7:30ish to go to a guy who has a little goat farm! We basically just went, milked the goat, and went back to Diane’s house for a breakfast while the guy filtered the milk and brought it over to us later. After the ate, it was step 1 in the cheesemaking process- putting up the milk to boil/get really hot. I took a little respite inside during this time, and Lizana came back with bread that was just out of the oven and was still warm- omg. So, so tasty. I sat in a corner (no? I was sitting at a table, inaccurate, but left in for hermit-imaging sake) and read my email and nommed away in fresh bread heaven.
After they left, it was around 1ish, and Lizana and I went grocery shopping for the night. We also stopped at the butcher shop to get rabbit for tonight and lamb for some future endeavor, which was…an experience. I am going to save details and leave it at that. We came back, had the leftover eggplant salad and made a quick tomato/feta salad and ate it with some of that delicious fresh bread. Then it was briefly nap/shower time before coming back to prepare the ingredients for the evening cooking lesson.
Tonight’s menu: barley rusk salad (a classic Crete dish- basically super hard bread, dipped in water, topped with olive oil and a tomato/onion/apple/etc salsa-esque thing and was my favorite of the night), rabbit stew (did not taste because bunny but it smelled SO GOOD, one I make Smell-o-vision I will broadcast an entire channel for this one dish, it had cinnamon, allspice, bay leaves, and oranges and smelled like a perfectly timed hug), sauteed peppers (just whole peppers put on top of the stove with tomatoes/spices/etc and topped with some feta, simple but so tasty), tagliatelle with yogurt and caramelized onions (a classic of a nearby island, did not try as requested by my lack of lactase) (lacktase?), and for dessert sauteed peaches (in ouzo, rose geranium which I don’t know what it is but it smelled like Beauty and the Beast, sugar, and butter) served with mastiche ice cream (a local spice-ish thing, in both normal and peach flavors). New accomplishment- longest sentence on this blog! Woot. (<– shortest sentence?) Oh! (<–jk that's shorter) And we served the curds from the cheese that we're making with dinner.
One thing I underestimated was how much Diane and her family would speak in Greek to each other- I had expected to mostly be using English this week because all the guests are American. But I'm really glad that I'm still getting the opportunity to learn- I'm especially learning a lot of useful cooking/food words. Lizana (who by the way is dating the father of my Greek tutor SMALL PLANET) helps me with Greek that I don't understand, and I help her with some English, like how to pronounce "recipe." Also I'm starting to be able to make slight jokes/understand humor now, which is good. It makes conversation a lot more interesting, especially since I spend a lot of time with Lizana, so it's not just like "hi what's your name where are you from bye." But yes, it's such a wonderful way to spend the week. I'm eating restaurant-grade food every night for free, and I get to help make it. And I'm surrounded by a wonderful, kind family that makes me feel so welcome. And the people taking the class are appreciative and interesting.
I am super tired and headed to bed- we're cooking in the morning tomorrow to make lunch, so I have to be physically and emotionally awake. Also I just reread this and am realizing my English is turning to mush. Even more so than it was previously. I don't know how to use apostrophes. Whatev'er
Can’t believe you passed the chance to try the rabbit!!
Maybe we can bring you some lactate pills in Turkey.
See you soon.
Great posts.
Love Dad
I think I’ve tried it before! it just had been too short a time since it was a rambling bunny. love you cant wait to see you!
lolol last paragraph. Nice word respite wow! I’m gonna use that 2mrw.
hey rydz, you know that wordpress tells me your email address rite