So I Went on a Field Trip...

... to the state liquor store on Tuesday. I've been trying to do more cooking recently, and we needed some of the contraband. For Christmas I received the cookbook that the gourmet cook in our community uses - you know the type, every community has one. I found two great recipes I'm going to try this week, one for chicken and one for a beef stew (since it is winter and all). Both of these recipes, however, call for an alcoholic beverage to be added to the cooking solution. Alcohol is a pretty contraband substance for Mormons. Instead of using regular cooking wine and sherry, as my mother is wont to do, we took the advice of our friend and decided to go for the real thing, though. That meant a trip to the State Liquor Store.

I was inordinately excited, because buying liquor is something I've never done before - despite living for a semester in Scotland. I was almost overwhelmed with the choice and selection; I was a babe in the woods. Here was a sign saying "GIN", another scribbled "South African" in handwritten letters. We needed some white wine and some red; because neither of us know what we we're doing, we buy cheap bottles.

I was with my mother, and she didn't get carded. Earlier today, I was making a stew which needed some beer. I got some from the local grocer's, but was a little gutted that the cashier didn't card me.

I should probably stop cooking food that requires alcohol, as I get too much of a kick out of it. Anyway, the food I made tasted alright. Not nearly as much fun as cooking it or buying the alcohol to cook it in.

Snow!

Mom coming over with a shovel to help clear neighbor's driveway.