Cooking class

We spent much of the afternoon in a Thai cooking class.  This class has been one of our favorite activities because we get to eat what we prepare.  We learned to make tom yum soup, phad thai, and green curry chicken.  The staff made my favorite dessert for everyone: mango with sticky rice.

Chef Joo showed us the various kinds of vegetables used in Thai cooking.

The students and Shanon were lined up along one side of the kitchen, while the two most outstanding pupils were appropriately sequestered on the other side...

... the beloved ajarns.

Everyone's smiling...

Chef Joo demonstrating proper techniques.

Still smiling.

Hanna must have had a spatula malfunction that Elena, Dani, and Kelsey enjoyed.

The tom yum soup was really outstanding and so easy to make.  And it has a lot of health benefits.

Here's Ajarn Wayne proud of his phad thai.

Julia with her phad thai.

And Ally with hers.

While we were eating our phad thai, Claire had the great idea of sliding her fingers into the chopstick sleeves.  These things are like those Chinese finger traps where you can't get them off.

To make green curry, we had to crush some ingredients together using a mortar and pestle.  Here's Sabrina taking her turn.

Cam.

Charlie.

Liz.

Julia.

When cooking the green curry, the spice becomes airborne and quickly causes momentary respiratory distress, which Julia thought was entertaining while Shanon, Ally, and many of the others were struggling with.

It got to Charlie to Liz's delight.

Sabrina showing off her delicious green curry chicken.  So good and so easy.  I think all the kids are now able to prepare these Thai dishes for their parents.  It's might be time for them to give back.