Week 1 Photos Uploaded!

Week 1 is in the bag and all the pictures have been uploaded! 

This week, Camp American Girl learned about the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal and Hawaiian culture in Aloha, Kanani!  We even tried a traditional dessert, haupia (coconut gelatin).  The All American Girls studied the Colonial period in Meet Felicity and posed for portraits as Felicity and Ben.  Camp Half-Blood campers read over 100 pages in Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, learning about Greek and Roman Gods in the process.  Finally, the chefs of Book Cooks and Passport to Cuisine prepared a variety of dishes, from George Washington's Breakfast (hoecakes) to Fettucine alla Pesto Genovese. 

Check out the week in pictures in our Flickr Album

It's almost that time again!  Monday marks the start of yet another session of Summer School at SPEF.  I am thrilled to be back with your favorite American Girl and Cooking classes, and am excited to introduce the latest class: Camp Half-Blood!  This class will focus on the first book of the Percy Jackson series, The Lightning Thief. 

Report to Room 13 for Cabin assignments!

If you're in any of the following classes, I can't wait to see you on Monday:
All American Girls
Camp American Girl
Camp Half-Blood
Book Cooks
Passport to Cuisine

Don't forget to have your parents sign your newsletter and bring it to class for an extra point!  Check back for updates and check the flickr (see links on left) for pictures every weekend.

Weeks 1 and 2 Photos on Flickr!

All of the photos from Week 1 and Week 2 have been uploaded onto the flickr.com site.  Flickr is free to join, and I believe you can download the photos directly from the site with or without an account.  Keep checking every weekend for more pictures! 

Bilbo's Seed Cake Recipe

By request, for Liam, here you have my recipe for Bilbo Baggins' seed cake.

I researched a few different versions of the recipe before making it, the consensus being that the recipe from Mrs. Beeton's Household Management (1861) is the standard for the time.  The following is the recipe exactly as I made it.

2 sticks Butter, softened
1 cup Sugar
3 Eggs
2 cups Flour
1 tablespoon Caraway Seeds
1 tablespoon Black Poppy Seeds
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon

I omitted the 1/4 cup of Brandy and 4 tablespoons of Demerara Sugar (raw brown sugar).  I suspect it would be a bit more moist with the addition of the brandy, the alcohol in which will cook off during baking.  I didn't have any demerara sugar on hand either, but I think you can easily substitute turbinado (Sugar in the Raw).  The sugar on top gives it a little bit of a crunch and brings to mind war rationing, when sugar would be sprinkled on top (and less inside the cake) to make the sweetness more immediate.  I also chose to add poppy seeds to up the seedy-ness of the cake without increasing the strong flavor of caraway, which is nowadays most associated with rye bread.

1.  Preheat the oven to 350F.
2.  Cream the butter and sugar.  I let the butter come to room temperature.
3.  Add the eggs, one at a time, to the mixture. 
4.  In a separate bowl, mix the caraway, poppy seeds, nutmeg, and cinnamon into the flour. 
5.  Gradually add the flour mixture.  Do not overmix.  (If using brandy, you could mix it in here.)
6.  You should have a thick batter, pour into a greased 8" round pan.
7.  Sprinkle with demerara sugar, if desired.
8.  Bake for 1 hour. 
9.  Let cool on a wire rack.

We each enjoyed a slice of seed cake with a cup of iced tea on the first Friday of summer school.  Check out more pictures on our flickr account!

Summer School 2013!

Welcome back to another great session of Summer School, this year at Arroyo Vista!  I do apologize for not getting the photos up on flickr over the weekend, I have been under the weather and experiencing some technical difficulties as well.  I am in the process of uploading them now, but it may take a couple of days.  Thanks for a wonderful first week, and I will continue to update the blog and flickr sets as we go along.

Miss Cong

American Girl Place Visit 2012!

I have finally managed to upload all of our photos from class onto flickr!  That's about 500 photos from all 5 of our classes!  

It's almost time for our Third Annual American Girl Place Visit!  I know how much the girls enjoy their visit, as do their friends and family.  Even the AGP staff loves having us!  ;)  I can’t wait to see you this Friday!  I sent detailed emails to the girls who RSVP'ed earlier today, if you didn't receive one, please email me.

DATE: Friday, August 3, 2012

LOCATION: American Girl Place Los Angeles (189 The Grove Dr. 90036)

Lunch @ 2:30

RSVP only.  Lunch has been pre-paid by attendees.  No additions can be accommodated at this time.

Craft and Scavenger Hunt @ 4-6pm
The store is hosting the McKenna Bracelet Craft as well as the McKenna “Take the Challenge” Scavenger Hunt.  Each girl who participates in the scavenger hunt will receive a free American Girl poster.  In addition, I will be handing out a mini scavenger hunt of questions about 6 historical American Girls. You might win a prize!

If you need to contact me, I can be reached by email and will respond within 24 hours.  In case of emergency on the 3^rd, I have provided my cell number by email.

If you haven’t already, check out the American Girl set on flickr!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/miss_cong/

Parking at The Grove can be a bit costly.  I encourage visitors to carpool if possible.  Generally, the first hour is free and is $3 for up to 3 hours.  After this, the cost is significantly more.  AGP does not validate, but other shops and the theatre at The Grove do.  For more information, see: 

http://www.thegrovela.com/los_angeles/concierge_services/parking.php

If you wish to indulge in some retail therapy, the Concierge’s Loyalty Rewards program offers complimentary valet parking all day with purchases of over $250 in one visit.

The Farmers Market stalls also offer validation for their parking lot.

Photo courtesy of American Girl

McKenna: Shoots for the Stars

The 2012 girl of the year, McKenna Brooks is starring in her very own movie, "McKenna: Shoots for the Stars!"  Check out a trailer and some clips here: McKenna Videos.  To celebrate, American Girl Place Los Angeles will be hosting a free movie screening at The Grove on July 17 at 8PM.  Reservations are required, so call 877-247-5223 to sign up.  They will also be offering a free McKenna mirror craft and gymnastics warm-up demonstration that day, see website for details.

You can also catch the movie on NBC (Channel 4 for most of you in the L.A. area) at 8PM on July 14, or on DVD available at American Girl or Walmart.

Since we are reading McKenna this week, I will be handing out a book vs. movie Venn Diagram activity on Friday.  Girls who complete the activity will earn an extra credit (bonus point sticker) toward our summer's end prize raffle.