Hablo Español más o menos por Jenn McKinlay

JENN McKINLAY: Growing up in New England, taking a foreign language in middle school and high school was mandatory. We had three choices: French, German, or Spanish. I chose Spanish on advice from my mom who said, “You’ll have more opportunities to use that one.” Little did she know. 

I ended up in Spanish V Honors my senior year and was sent to the neighboring elementary school to teach the littles Spanish. It was fun! Then I went to college where I studied two years of Russian just to expand my horizons. I know enough to understand the basics – Добрый вечер (dobryy vecher -- good evening) – which is delightful as Hub and I are currently watching PONIES (two CIA wives become spies in 1976 Moscow - so good)! 

Fast forward to my move to Phoenix decades ago and because of my Spanish, I was tapped by the library to do story times and teach computer classes in Spanish, where my Hispanic co-teacher teased me by saying I spoke “newscaster Spanish” (very proper). Anyway, nod to mom. She was right about the Spanish!

Presently, I’m studying Japanese with the Hooligans as we are planning an excursion to Japan. Side note: why must they have multiple alphabets? Hirigana, Katakana, and Kanji – you’re killing me. Needless to say the progress is slow but I’m confident that desu ka ですか (roughly meaning “is it?”/”what is it?”) will do most of the heavy lifting.

How about you, Reds? What languages have you studied and what’s your competency level?

HALLIE EPHRON: Wish my mom had talked to your mom. Mine insisted we take 2 years of LATIN! (because other languages derive from it)... And then French. Boy do I wish I’d taken Spanish instead. So much more useful. When I taught in the New York City public schools (Go, PS189M!) I took classes after school in Spanish. I desperately wanted to be able to communicate with my students’ parents.

Needless to say there are precious few opportunities to practice my Latin. Veni, vedi, vici! Gallia in tres partes divisa est.

RHYS BOWEN:  I had twelve years of French… beginning at 8 at my private school and ending with a degree. So my French is pretty good. When I’ve been in France for a couple of days it comes back enough to be able to read newspapers and have earnest discussions.

My German is also almost as good as my English. I spent summers in Austria, took intensive German in school and then went to stay with the family of the German teaching assistant at my school with whom I had become good friends. I took a gap year working in a corner grocery store in Stuttgart, where everyone spoke the Swabish dialect so i became good at that out of necessity.  I also met my friend’s brother… so I took a semester at the University of Freiburg with him, then he came to London for year, then I did a Semester in Kiel. When I am in Germany people ask me what part of Germany I’m from so I guess I would have been a good spy!

Living in California you have to speak some Spanish. I did a year at school and can muddle through. Ditto Italian when I am in Italy. A little smattering of Welsh from my childhood and I did try Russian when I was in college. I signed up for beginner’s Russian only to find most of the class had taken A level in school and could discuss the quietly flowing Don while I was still mastering the alphabet.

Oh, and I took 5 years of Latin in school. Compulsory. I enjoyed it.

LUCY BURDETTE: French all the way for me. I started in high school and went through college. I’ve also taken refresher conversation classes that I talked about here on the blog–helped a lot with confidence! I admire our grandkids who’re going to dual language classes in 1st and 3rd grade. They already speak and read Spanish, which is handy in San Diego!

JENN: The Hooligans did Spanish immersion from Kindergarten through High School - very helpful in AZ!

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Rhys, I didn’t know you lived in Stuttgart! That’s where my family was stationed, and yes, all the German I know sounds (I’ve been told) distinctly Bavarian.

My academic language was French, and like a lot of you, I began in sixth grade (why do we start so late in the US?) and took it all the way through three years of college. My vocabulary and verb tenses are extremely rusty, but I’m guessing if I spent any time in France or Quebec, it would come back pretty quickly. 

It was helpful when I was on an archaeological dig in the Apennine foothills of Tuscany; I picked up enough Italian in six weeks to understand the other students (mostly) and to get around confidently. One Romance language = all Romance languages.

I’m gearing myself up to begin studying Nederlands (Dutch.) If Youngest stays there and if things continue with her Very Tall Boyfriend… well, I want to be able to communicate with any grandchildren I might have!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: You know what they call a person who speaks several languages? Multi-lingual. 

What about what they call  a person who speaks two languages? Bi-lingual.

How about what they call someone who speaks ONE language?  An American.

🙂

I used to be extremely fluent in French, but no more, grr. But I bet if I were in total immersion (like going to Paris with Hallie, I wish) I would be fine. Maybe not waxing philosophical, but I could get my size in black, just saying.

I’m fine in Spanish and German, too, halting but manageable. And always when I’m there, I get back into it. I agree, Lucy, a lot of it has to do with confidence.

I always feel so unworthy and uneducated when I can’t speak the language. My sister  Nancy, a chef/caterer, is effortlessly bilingual in Spanish, and her entire demeanor changes when she speaks it. 

That would be so wonderful.

I am doing Duolingo to get my French back, but I’m not sure it’s effective. But it’s fun.

Oh, when we went to Italy I did my best, but my go-to was: “Mi dispiace, no lo sapevo.”

Meaning: I’m sorry, I did not know that.  

Always valuable.

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Here in Texas we started Spanish in elementary school. I think French was offered in middle school but I stuck with Spanish. Unfortunately, since I left high school after my sophomore year, I didn’t take advanced classes. But I had spent much time in Mexico with my parents, and when I was eighteen I lived in Mexico City for a summer with my folks’ Mexican friends. I was functional if not fluent.

After college, I took a semester’s French course, but it didn’t stick. My Spanish is rusty but good enough that I’ve unwittingly eavesdropped on some conversations! (Our contractors, when we had our house remodeled. Oh, my. I kept having to remind them that I understood them!) I always have good intentions to brush up. I’m very embarrassed that I’m not at least fully bilingual.

How about you, Readers? Have you studied a second language or mastered one?

Celia Wakefield's Lava Cakes

 JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: As many of you know, our dear Celia is in treatment for cancer, which means at times she's not feeling up to writing. (I often feel that way, and I don't even have any health excuse!) We're just after Valentines Day, and Fat Tuesday will be here in just a few days, so I went back into the archives to bring up a rich, indulgent, chocolate recipe, perfect for rounding out a romantic interlude or celebrating before the start of Lent. 

I hope you'll enjoy this rerun, and be inspired to tackle these delicious Lava Cakes. I'm sure Celia will be popping into the comments if she has the energy, so feel free to leave her a message!

 

 

You may remember Celia's delicious, impressive and easy summer dinner. Her lava cakes are the same way. It's a scrumptious 'restaurant' kind of dessert, but it turns out the only special thing you need to have on hand is not that special - individual ramekins. I got a set of six for $6 at Dollar  Tree, and you can probably find deals as good at the Christmas Tree Store. (Why do they have so much stuff unrelated to Christmas? I have no idea. But I've found it's a great place for low-cost glassware and, surprisingly, lamps.)

Celia suggests doing each step all the way through, and don't try to do more than one  thing at a time. To that I can add, focus, focus, focus. The second time she made this when I was a dinner guest, I was in the kitchen "helping" (ie, we were both talking nonstop and enjoying rather stiff drinks) and the inner part of the cake didn't remain gushy. This is a recipe that demands strict attention to the measurements and mixing. Celia is British, so she even includes grams for our Canadian and continental readers.

Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes For Two

These Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes for Two are the perfect small batch dessert! These lava cakes are incredibly easy to make and ready in less than 30 minutes. I found that the mix would fill three ramekins and still be a good size. This recipe can be doubled for 6 people.

 Prep Time10 minutes

 Cook Time  10 -14 minutes (at 10 minutes start checking)

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup (60 grams) unsalted butter
2 ounces semi-sweet or bitter chocolate chips

1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered sugar
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup (32 grams) all-purpose flour - spoon out then level
1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Spray two or three 6-ounce ramekins well with nonstick cooking spray and place on a baking sheet. Set aside.

Cut the butter into pieces, and add with the chocolate to a large microwave safe bowl (Pyrex or other glass works well).

Microwave in 30 second increments, making sure to stir well after each increment, until melted and smooth. (Do not over cook, recommend taking out after 30 seconds and working the chocolate into the butter with a spatula. It’s a better result for the chocolate).

Whisk the powdered sugar  into the chocolate / butter mixture until well combined.  Mix the eggs and vanilla together, then fold gently into the chocolate mixture until  combined.

Fold in the flour and espresso powder gently; do NOT over mix the batter. Evenly divide the batter between the prepared ramekins.

Bake at 425° for 12-14 minutes or until the edges are firm and the center is slightly soft (the center should look soft and won’t rise). 

Remove from the oven and allow to stand for a minute. Cover the ramekin with a small plate or bowl and invert. Careful, the ramekin is very hot. Add whipped cream or ice cream, serve, and enjoy!

So Taxing

 JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Happy Valentines Day to all who celebrate, but I’m not here to talk about that. If you want to read our thoughts on the holiday (and see examples of the delightful cartoons Hallie’s dear Jerry gave her every year) just follow the links. No, I’m here to talk about something that outlasts infatuation, obsession, love and even death - yes, I’m here to talk about taxes. (And if you’re thinking, surely, not death, than you haven’t ever handled an estate.)

 

Why taxes on the day devoted to romantic love? Because February 15th isn’t just the day for snatching up half-priced Russell Stover chocolate boxes. It’s also the date by which you should have your tax information in to your accountant if you want a guarantee they’ll be able to file your 1040 by April 15th. (By the way, many years Maine and Massachusetts file on April 17th or 18th, because we observe Patriots Day on the third Monday of the month. And what’s more patriotic that waiting til the last minute to file your taxes? Thanks, Paul Revere!)

 

I’ve become a little obsessive about this, because for YEARS I didn’t get my act together soon enough and had to file an extension. Embarrassingly, there were a few times when I didn’t make it in time for the extension! I know, it makes me groan and shake my head as well. Happily, I’ve been living into my goals to become more organized, and this is the third year I’ve gotten all my materials to my long-suffering accountant before February 15th!

 

 

How about you, Reds? Are you ahead of the curve when it comes to taxes, or are you begging your accountant to somehow fit you in on April 14th?

 

HALLIE EPHRON: Heavens no! But this is a timely reminder to get on the stick. It takes me about a half a day to pull everything together. And the magnificent fellow who files my taxes has been doing it for quite a few years. So it’s not a big deal… but it hangs over me. I’m much happier when it’s done.

 

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I applaud your industry, Julia! My accountant pretty much automatically files an extension for me, and I do my taxes in August, as my corporate return is due September 15th. Maybe one day I will emulate you!

 

JENN McKINLAY: I am either way ahead of the curve or way behind. This year looks to be behind…ah well. I did see a hilarious meme of someone turning in their tax forms to the IRS completely blacked out as in redacted. LOL. This year, I would like an accounting from the government telling me exactly where my money is going…ahem.

 

RHYS BOWEN:  one thing I am meticulous about is taxes. I have a spread sheet going all year so it’s only a question of the sum of each column plus the various investments, properties etc. I have spoken with various tax attorneys about ways to pay less or whether incorporating works but nobody has come up with brilliant ways to prevent me from buying a new stealth bomber every year! I also feel if the federal programs are being curtailed I’d like to know where my money is going !

 

 

 

LUCY BURDETTE: I wish I was more like you, Rhys. Right now I just have a big folder with everything crammed into it. John has been nagging me to get my part done, but we’ve had so much company (and more to come) that it’s hard to tackle. It’s never as bad as I think it will be…

 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Yeah, I am relentlessly careful and on time about this, and every year I end up stomping around the house saying “what is this FOR?? What is this FOR??” and “WHY IS THIS SO MUCH!!” and “I bet fill-in-the-blank person doesn't pay this much. AHHHHHHH SO UNFAIR!”  I am happy to pitch in to pay for infrastructure and schools and school lunch and breakfast and medicine and education and a whole bunch of other stuff, sure, I am eager to help, but I cannot help but think about where this particular money is going.  We ought to be able to earmark it. Yeah, mine all goes to LIBRARIES and school lunches, okay? Check.

 

Okay, back to the question. Yes, I’ll have my stuff in on time to our lovely person who will add it all up.

 

 JULIA: How about you, Dear Readers? Are you Johnny-on-the-spot with your spreadsheets, or do you start thinking about your 1040 at noon on April 15? And Canadian readers: when are your taxes due to the CRA?