Cooking with Caedmon

Judy. As we’ve mentioned before, we try to give our grandsons experiences, not things, as gifts. Since Caedmon’s favorite television show is The Great British Baking Show, we offered to have The Great Athens Baking Camp at our house for four days. Caed was to pick four items to bake, and we’d give it a go. 

We decided to go from easiest to most difficult, and I was to find recipes. Caed chose key lime pie and crème chantilly, Cornish pasties, apple cake, and caramel cake. I vetted recipes that I had or could find, we made a grocery list, and went shopping on Sunday afternoon. 

Mom photobombs while Ethan and Caed get ready to cook

Monday morning Caed and his friend Ethan arrived for the first lesson.  Sarah and Stefan, our daughter-in-love and son had made aprons for the occasion, and the boys set to work. They pretty much took over the kitchen while I watched. The pies (so I hear) were delicious. 

Day One

Caed's Pie 

Ethan sifts sugar for the crème chantilly

For the next three days it was just Caed, Ted, and me. Almost always Caed took the lead and we just oversaw. We had fun, we learned a lot, and saw how to improve. It was one of the best times we’ve ever had. 

Day two

Pastry dough for Cornish pasties

A vegetarian version

Surprise! They look great!

Day Three

Making apple cake

Beautiful! And delicious

Grandpa introduces him to his great-grandmother's applesauce recipe

Day Four

Made applesauce with leftover apples

Caramel cake-and baking camp done!

A special day

Ted. It has been more than a month since our last post. After our ship docked in Honolulu we flew to Seattle to spend several days with long time friends Terry & Sue, then it was back to Athens, Georgia. 

Our lives have been full since our return but I guess there was nothing especially blog worthy. We have spent a lot of time with family, completed some annual medical checkups and begun reconnecting with friends. I have even tried playing pickle ball. 

Yesterday was kinda nice, though. It was a sunny Sunday morning and there was no traffic as we drove up into the North Georgia mountains for a day hike on the Appalachian Trail. While meandering along a windy country road, I told Judy that my one wish was to see my favorite North American bird. Just about that time, a huge tom turkey flew right across the road in front of us, at windshield level. Wow - it’s a majestic bird standing in a field but that moment was breathtaking. 

Internet photo - I'm not that quick!

Having quickly met my one goal for the day, things just got better.

Heading southbound from Dick’s Creek Gap, one has a steady uphill march to the crest of Powell Mountain. Were we in shape? No way. Did we love huffing and puffing along - you bet. There was virtually nobody on the trail and the birds were singing their hearts out. We scared up a couple of snakes who seemed shocked to see any hikers that morning. 

I got to see my favorite mountain shrub in bloom, a native azalea, as well as other beautiful plants. 

Internet photo

The last of this year's mountain laurel blooms

The first of this year's rhodedendron blooms

The good news about a long climb up is that you get a steady downhill stroll back to the truck. 

We then drove to the lovely mountain village of Clayton for lunch with my old business partner, Scott and his wife, Anita. Our partnership lasted 22 years (a rare thing) and we are still good friends. It was fun to catch up and see their mountain home that Scott is totally remodeling by himself. On the drive back I got texts and calls from my Dad, my sisters, kids and grandkids. 

I'll close with a day late Happy Father's Day wish to all the other Dad's in the world.