A New Year, A New Goal!

With the dawn of a new year comes the inevitable resolutions which often include weight loss, organization, fiscal responsibility, etc. Working for a leader in the fitness industry, the beginning of the year is one of our busiest times of year. With new year’s resolutions comes an influx of new members eager to lose pounds, shed inches and get high school skinny. I’ve never been one to make resolutions, I know myself well enough to know that I’m not going to work out every day – that’s just not a realistic goal. I might do it for awhile, but sooner or later I will forgo the gym for a book and a glass of wine. This year my goal is more reasonable, this year I am going to take at least one cooking class a month. Food remains the most fun, exciting, engrossing part of my life, so why not spend money on something that makes me happy? I have a free gym membership so instead of spending that money on jazzercise each month, I will put it toward something I can’t get enough of – food.

Last night I attended my first cooking class ever; my mother went with me to “Essential Knife Skills” at Sur la Table. With the exception of a slight carrot mishap, which I blame on an enormous knife, I declare it a success. During the class, we learned the various types of knives, proper knife care and how to use knives correctly. Thanks to this class I can now dice an onion, seed a tomato and chop parsley with ease. I have learned to use the knife to the fullest; unbeknownst to me, I had just been using the middle two inches of the blade instead of utilizing all that it has to offer. I will continue to practice chopping, dicing and seeding so that I can master prep work and feel confident moving on to the next technique.

While the classes are pricey, I think they are completely worth it, if you can learn the basics you can advance to the next level. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me next!