Spring

- It appears that in the 'land without seasons', we actually do having spring.
- Spring Break is in a week and my mom is coming... gonna show her the town, pamper her, go to the beach (Manta), pamper her some more...
- moved into my new, improved, cleaner, warmer, closer... etc... apartment
- Meanwhile, today I asked *him* out, and he said yes (or, claro que si) :).
- Job apps are out

Funny how leaving stress behind can make such a big difference.

Lunch with teacher friends at Parque Itchimbia (overlooking Quito)

Downtown Quito during Carnival

Downtown Quito

Churches of Quito

La calle "La Ronda"

city nights

Last night a friend and I went to her boyfriend's gig downtown in Quito... took the crowded Ecovia then met another chick for pizza at a street cafe, in front of the old Teatro Bolivar (the inside has faced some fires, but still a site so many stories to tell... if walls could talk).

We headed to the concert in la Plaza de San Francisco, and found hundreds of dozens of men and women in uniform... the convent was lit up and the whole side was lined with armed men with berets... it felt like I was stepping back in time to a Soviet May Day parade. Everyone had green uniforms and sharp hats... they were serving hot canelazo from camouflage tents covered in leaves. We sat down and 300-man military band started playing as the sun set and the full moon rose. Above us the panacillo sparkled and the Virgin of Quito watched the city. Their mixes of Strauss and national anthems were highlighted by a fog machine, fireworks, random balls of fire, and multicolored spotlights rotating between them and the audience. The white dress uniforms were sharp, unless you noticed the Ronald-McDonald effect of white laces on shiny black boots. After the show we ran for cover from falling fireworks (fire standards are different here) and hot chocolate in nearby cafe.

Quito... some nights are increible... but my heart and my head are somewhere else.

Miller Family: Pralines

PRALINES

ALMOST CARAMELIZE 1/2 CUP SUGAR

ADD 1-1/2 CUP OF WATER AND 1 SQ. IN. OF BUTTER

HEAT UNTIL DISSOLVED

ADD 2 CUPS OF SUGAR

COOK TO 230° WITHOUT STIRRING

ADD 1 SQ. IN. OF BUTTER AND 2 CUPS PECANS

COOK TO 238°.

REMOVE FROM HEAT

ADD PINCH OF SALT AND 1 TSP OF VANILLA.

BEAT UNTIL BEGINS TO GET LIGHT IN COLOR AND STICKS TO PAN. DROP QUICKLY ON BUTTERED BOARD OR WAX PAPER.

LOOSEN PAPER BEFORE IT COOLS.

Miller Family: Orange Cookies

Orange Cookies
Ingredients
Rind and juice of 2 oranges – about ¾ cup
½	Cup	Butter	¼	Cup		Orange Mixture
1 ¾	Cup	Raw or mixed white and brown Sugar	3	Cups		All Purpose Flour
3	Large	Eggs beaten	2	Teaspoons		Baking Powder
1	Teaspoon	Lemon Flavoring	¼	Teaspoon		Baking soda
½	Cup	Milk		Dash		Salt
Directions
1.            Cream butter and sugar
2.            Add eggs, flavoring, milk and orange mixture.  Mix well.
3.            Add dry ingredients, stirring but not over-mixing.
4.            Spoon out on greased floured cookie tin or onto a pan with waxed paper
5.            Bake at 350° for 8 minutes.  The tops will brown.
6.            Place balls of dough 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
ICING
1 ½	Lbs	Powdered Sugar	½		Cup	Orange Mixture
2	Tablespoon	Butter
7.            Beat then spread on cookies one minute after cookies are taken from pan
8.            Transfer cookies to wax paper to cool.