Remember superlatives in school? Best dressed, most popular, most likely to succeed? Well, I was actually voted funniest in middle school before I had any idea I was the class clown, but in high school I was all over the place. I ran the German club as the prez, worked for the yearbook staff and tried my hand at pep squad among other things. Along the way I met one of the coolest and funniest people I'd keep in touch with from high school, heck ... just about the only one I keep in touch with from those days ... Christina Common. Oh she's got a different last name now just like many of my girls from high school, but she hasn't changed a bit! We ran for school office on a combined ticket, hung out in the neighborhood on weekends and just generally behaved like kids ... we were trouble back then, but always in good fun so when I was asked if I wanted any guests to come cook with me, the first people I thought of were my girls! I only have a few and Christina was just as crazy as me in school, plus she had an artistic side which is really what brought us together in the first place. So, today's
Cooking for Real features me and my only girl that's a mommy, perfect for the holiday on the way. We still have great jokes about our art teacher and built our campaign for student council around great artwork for advertisements. We were two peas in a pod at times and she even joined the Air Force after graduation like I did, so keeping in touch was easy because we have so much in common. It's hard to do when you are moving around and maybe a few months go by without a chat, but then again it makes the bond that much more lasting that we can hold on from the good ol days!
She flew in all the way from the big state of Texas with her hubby and for a full day we cooked and laughed and did our best to look natural with tons of people on the crew watching. I consulted with her before her visit about the menu and we came up with some good stuff. We decided on fajitas and then she gave me her recipe for cheesecake, she's an amazing cook and mommy. The coolest thing I find about this is now my buddy from high school and I have a recipe together on Food Network's website. Just like we have a piece of art we both worked on for our high school yearbook ... what a full circle. Catch Cooking for Real:
Deep in the Hearth of Texas today at noon and Monday May 4, 2009 at 4PM ... because, did you know shows air weekdays at 4PM now? Check em out!
Here's our menu together ....
Here we are during taping ...
Thanks Christina for taking time out of your hectic schedule as a mommy to come play with me here in NYC. You were one of the best parts of James Madison and Eden Roc for me ... it wasn't easy being the new girl and you made it all laughs for me. I'd take on the mean girls with you anyday :-). Love you for that and more.
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