From "Wish" to "Do"

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to take a cooking class. I've thought about it, checked into various opportunities -- and then did nothing except resume my wishing!

Pas plus. (That's French for no more.)

My ravishing daughter-in-law, Jeni, and I celebrated Bastille Day (neither one of us is French, but we didn't care) with a traditional French cooking class at Tanglewood Berry Farm in Fort Wayne.

Chef Christian Frappier prepared stuffed mushrooms with snail butter. The butter didn't contain snails; it gets its name because it's used to flavor cooked snails. Quel soulagement! (Basically translated as, Whew!)

The main course was chicken in a savory, decadent sauce...

...and Crepes Suzettes, which I discovered aren't thin layers of eggs but the thinnest of pancakes flavored with orange zest...

The casually arranged bouquets exuded a simple elegance.

Free-range chickens and a rooster -- who'd just discovered his cock-a-doodle-doo and had his days and nights confused -- roamed the farm, including the edges of the tent where we ate.

 And then there was Leonardo, the 135-pound Maremma. He began the evening guarding the entrance to the farm, but crept closer and closer to the tent once Chef Christian began the meat course.

 Then, after dessert, dove into full mingle-with-the-guests mode.

Leo made a bee-line for Chef Christian after dinner because Chef always saves a piece of meat for him!

Chef Mary Hooker and her family own Tanglewood Berry Farm, a USDA certified organic farm. They have a farmer's market and offer a variety of food-related classes. Margy is an amazing cook and had a loyal and well-fed following at her now-closed restaurant. Her two cookbooks feature the recipes that made waiting in line for a table so worth it!

Me and Margy Hooker

What's one thing on your "I've always wanted to ..." list? What's stopping you from doing it? What can you do today to move you closer to your wish? If it's as simple as making the reservation or signing up, do it. If it's money, begin putting aside leftover change, have a garage sale, or put it on your Christmas or birthday list. In our family we often pool gift money to give someone a bigger ticket item. It is such fun making a dearly loved person's dream come true! Including your own.


Alors faites-le (So do it!)