Student Blogs

The following entries were made by Sophomore Rachel Peach.

Christmas Baking
December 21, 2011

I hadn’t seen so many cookies in my life. Ok, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. After spending an entire morning and afternoon in the kitchen baking Christmas cookies, I realized how dedicated holiday bakers can be!

Looking over Maggie’s shoulder, my eyes ran over the list of desserts that needed to be prepared that day. With the goal of preparing nearly a hundred plates  for MEC friends, benefactors, and families and less than two weeks before Christmas, we needed to get busy.

Four or five MEC faculty members were already at work. Sporadically I’d hear, “Where’s the brown sugar?” “Has anyone seen the measuring cups?” or “I need chocolate chips!” Maggie and I jumped into the mix.

With Christmas music blasting, we began using heart-shaped and Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutters with our sugar cookie dough. After experimenting between “too thick” and “too thin”, we found a thickness somewhere in between so that they’d all equally bake without burning to a crisp.

After sugar cookies, we moved onto batches of homemade caramel popcorn, Jacquie’s famous family recipe. After popping the popcorn, we discovered the power of baking powder: it turned the syrupy caramel into a fluffy liquid. Before witnessing if for myself, I have to admit: I was a skeptic. Why would I need to put baking powder into the caramel? Remembering my snicker doodle flop the week before (where not following the directions produced scone-like pastries, not the intended cookies), I gave in to common sense. The result was a heavenly sweet-crunchiness.

At the end of the afternoon, I discovered that I had not only completed a successful baking feat, but that I felt even more into the “Christmas spirit.” Not only did Maggie and I have fun hanging out, singing to the music, and baking, but we also knew that all the cookies, bars, and desserts were going to bring Christmas cheer to others. There’s a lot more to a plate of cookies than may at first meet the eye.

Where has October gone?
October 21, 2011

I can’t believe that October is almost over. Where has fall gone? It feels like the past two months just flew by, but then when I look back, I am amazed at all that’s been happening. I wanted to share some of my personal highlights.

September 11, 2011. The 10th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. I had been desiring to get out and do something for the local community, when I found out about a memorial mass that was being held at the Cathedral in Providence. The organizers were looking for volunteers for the event, and I jumped at the opportunity. Handing out prayer cards might not seem like a lot, but I soon realized how much it meant for all those present. Standing at the back entrance of the Cathedral, I began distributing the laminated, index-sized, cards:

            “Here you go; on the back of this prayer card is the name of a 9/11 victim.
            This way you can pray for him/her by name.”

I was amazed. Each person – young and old alike – would indifferently reach out for what I had to offer. Then, when I’d given the brief explanation, their faces would change. Turning over their card, they would pause – almost reverently – to read the name.

It was such a small card, insignificant really, but the power of those names and the memory of a tragedy that affected so many fellow Americans was what made the difference.

September 25, 2011. Apple Orchard. Taking a Sunday afternoon walk down Austin Ave, a handful of MEC students discovered Mr. Leach’s apple orchard and struck up a conversation with him. Not only did he invite us in, but he let us each go pick out “an apple or two.” Wandering around, we chanced upon the “forbidden tree”: the tree that, according to Kate, was the same type that Eve plucked an apple from in the Garden of Eden. (although no one had forbidden us and in fact had encouraged us to pick the apples) Yes, they were that juicy, sweet, and delicious.

Back at MEC, I had a sudden inspiration: we should make something for Mr. Leach. Rather, we should BAKE something with the leftover apples we have brought back. A pie? I couldn’t compete with Joan Kingsland’s prize-winning pie. How about apple dumplings? That’s more like it.

A couple days later, Skylar, Anne, and I rolled up our sleeves and began coring apples, rolling out dough, and mixing cinnamon-sugar. Before long, we were taking warm, golden apple dumplings from the oven. Triumphantly, we marched them down the road to deliver them to our friendly neighbor. Not only did we manage not to burn, break, or ruin anything while in the kitchen, but we were able to bring an ear-to-ear smile to Mr. Leach!

October 14th, 2011. Starry Night. After a long evening of studies, I escaped my desk, and stuck my head outside and gazed upwards. Scanning the dark night sky I found it speckled with stars. What an amazing sight!

I slipped out the door, letting it close gently behind me. Eyes raised and glued to nature’s brilliance and grandeur, I felt a deep inner peace wash over me. There is something about the stars that never ceases to fascinate me. I like to imagine that God thought of me when arranging them in their constellations. Staring up at a star-filled sky, the weight of studies, problems, and difficulties melts away… Stars are God’s way of putting life back in perspective.