Day One in Spain

I have finally arrived in Madrid! I landed at 9:40 am local time. It was only a 7 hour flight, which went pretty fast. And the best part was I was BUSINESS CLASS! I had never ridden anything besides economy before and let me tell you it was a treat! When I first sat down they were offering me champagne. Also, I had a three course meal plus dessert (although I decided not to get dessert, sleep was more important). I had a reclining chair that went all the way down so I slept well for the most part. I was able to listen to all different kinds of music and watch new release movies. I watched some of How do you Know” but it wasn’t that great so I didn’t finish it.

Once I met up with the group we drove to Segovia to where I will be staying for the next month. I met my senora. She was very nice and welcoming and I met up with my two roommates as well. We arrived at the house and I was amazed at how pretty and spacious it was! It is located in the heart of Segovia and is on top shops. You can constantly hear people walking up and down the streets. For lunch we had salad and another mixture of food with chicken and vegetables. La senora asked me “Quieres el carne?” And I said “Si” because I think she asked “Do you like meat?” and I said “yes” but she was really asking “Do you want meat?” So senora ended up cooking a piece a meat personally for me, so I was a little embarrassed, but the meat actually tasted delicious (I believe it was pork). Later in the afternoon I took a nap and then went to KIIS Centro (place where I take my classes) and had reminders about classes and the trip. The Centro is right next to the huge cathedral. It’s beautiful, so I will get to see it every day!

Tomorrow I start my classes. One is 9-10:30 and the other 12:30-1:50. I’m excited but a little nervous about them too. 

 My Room for the next month

View from my room

 Other side of room

 Catedral en Segovia

KIIS Centro (where I will be taking my classes)

İEspaña mañana!

Tomorrow I leave for Spain! I'm leaving my house at 3 pm to drive to JFK airport and my flight leaves at 7:50 pm. I will arrive in Madrid at 9:40 am (about 8 hours later). I'm really excited about my trip! Today I booked a hostel for one night our first weekend in Madrid. I'm going to keep updating my blog about all my experiences in Spain so feel free to follow and read often :) 


I will be taking two courses while I'm there. Business Spanish and Literature and Culture of Spain. I will let you know how each one of those classes goes. 


Here is my schedule:
MAY  30 :Departure from the US 
31: Arrival in Madrid , On-site orientation PM 
JUNE 1: Classes
2: Classes 
3 :Classes 
4: Excursion to Madrid
5: (Madrid) Free weekend 
6:Classes 
7:Classes 
8:Classes AM, Excursion to Toledo PM 
9: Classes 
10: Classes 
11:Free weekend
12: Free weekend 
13 Classes , Excursion to the Alcazár 
14: Classes 
15: Classes ,Start of long weekend in PM 
16 Long weekend (Possibly going to Barcelona)
17:Long weekend 
18:Long weekend
19:Long weekend 
20: Classes 
21: Classes 
22: Excursion to Salamanca AM 
23: Classes, Hogueras de San Juan
24: Classes 
25: Free weekend
26: Free day, Optional excursion to La Granja 
27: Classes 
28: Final exam 
29: Free, Fiesta de San Pedro 
30: Departure Madrid (arrive in US on same day) 

Where I will be staying: Segovia, Spain

Below is my address:
Erin Ruppelt c/o AMBITO 
C/ José Zorrilla  6 
40002 Segovia, Spain

Brownie Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today I tried another recipe that I found off a blog that I stumbled upon. The blog is called picky-palate.com. Here is the link: http://picky-palate.com/2011/02/07/brownie-stuffed-chocolate-chip-cookies/. I made an easier version than what was online. I go the easy route and not make too many "from scratch" recipes so I just buy box  items and go from there.


Ingredients:
1 box brownie mix (Ghirardelli is the best!)
1 roll of cookie dough (Nestle Toll House is best!)


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake brownies according to box. Let them completely cool. 8 x8 size is best. Cut the brownies into 1-inch squares.


Flatten the chocolate chip cookie dough into 6 inches circles. Put the brownie on top and then fold the cookie dough to completely enclose the brownies. You will need a lot of cookie dough! Place on non-stick pan and bake for 15-18 minutes. You may or may not use all the brownies depending on how much cookie dough you have. These cookies will turn out huge! You can make them bigger if you wish by cutting bigger brownie pieces.


Let cool and ENJOY! :)


I made about 12 cookies with only 1/3 batch of brownies and a jumbo roll of cookie dough

 The first cookie I made was huge! About 7 inches in diameter.

Brownie inside cookie. Dad's cookie he was tasting

Ropa Nueva

My mom and I have been shopping a lot lately because I wanted to make sure that I had the right clothes to take to Spain (8 days until I leave!). I needed some new sandals that were comfortable because I will be doing a lot of walking and of course they have to match almost any outfit and be cute. I also got a new skirt (below), rain jacket, and a new causal navy dress from H&M. Can't wait to wear it all in Spain! 

Rain jacket

My new sandals! 

Skirt from Forever 21

Day at the Dog Park

Today Mom, Nick, and I took Bailey to the dog park. Bailey hadn't been to the dog park in a few weeks and I hadn't been since I was home for Spring Break. It was a beautiful morning here! Because it was so nice outside the dog park was busy. While we were there we saw two other Weimaraners! We always get so excited when we see other Weims because they aren't a very common dog and Bailey is just like them. We met two brothers: a four-year-old named Hunter and a puppy named Fenway. Hunter was big and Fenway was adorable! Below are some pictures from our time at the park:

 Dogs playing together. Fenway standing there.

 Three Weims in a line!

 Hunter and Fenway's owner offered Bailey a treat, but decided she didn't want one...

 Taking Bailey around the park

Resting on the couch after a tiring day at the park!

Always - Switchfoot

I have been listening to this song a lot and I really like it. I want to buy this entire Switchfoot CD because it has some awesome songs on it!

Nutella Bread

Today was my first day baking since I've been home for the summer. I was so happy to finally bake! I "stumbled upon" this nutella bread recipe that looked really yummy. My family (especially my brothers) love nutella so I thought I would try it. Below is the recipe.

 Use a whole Jar of Nutella (13 oz)

 Mixing the sugar, butter, and eggs

 Second layer of Nutella

 It's Done! DELICIOUS

Nick says "yummm"

Nutella Bread: makes one loaf

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature (16 tablespoons or 1 cup)
1-1/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
One 13-ounce jar Nutella

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Lightly grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan, tapping out any excess flour.  In a medium bowl, whisk the 1-1/2 cups of flour with the baking powder and salt and set aside.

In a large bowl beat the butter with the sugar at medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes.  With the mixer at medium-low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each one gets incorporated before adding the next one.  Add the vanilla extract.  Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, beating at low speed between additions until incorporated.  Continue to beat for 30 seconds longer.

Spread one-third of the batter in the prepared pan, then spread half of the Nutella on top.  Repeat with another third of the batter and the remaining Nutella.  Top with the remaining batter.  Lightly swirl the Nutella into the batter with a butter knife.  Do not overmix.

Bake the cake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes.  Invert the cake onto a wire rack, turn it right side up and let cool completely, about 2 hours.  Cut the cake into slices and serve.

The pound cake can be  kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.  It can also be wrapped tightly and frozen.


From: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1yF96v/theitaliandishblog.com/imported-20090913150324/2010/2/5/nutella-bread.html

Summer Reading

Below is my summer reading list. I'm sure I won't get through all of these books, but I hope to read some of the them this summer.

Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by: J.K. Rowling
Just started it yesterday. It is a 870 page book. Hopefully it won't take me too long to read it though!
The Help by: Kathryn Stockett
Catching Fire by: Suzanne Collins 
This is the second book of the Hunger Game series.
Como agua para chocolate by: Laura Esquivel
I want to read this when I'm traveling to and from Spain because it is written in Spanish. If I have time while I'm there too, I'll going to try to read it. It is actually a movie that came out in 1992 called "Like Water for Chocolate" I bought the book last year, but never got around to read it! 
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by: Stieg Larsson
My mom has this on her Kindle so I don't need to buy it!


There might be other ones that I want to read and might pick up, but these are all of them for now. 

Mixture

I haven't updated my blog much lately so I wanted to post a bunch of random things that I wanted to blog awhile ago, but just forgot or didn't have time. 
First thing: I'm home for the summer! Well at least for 2 weeks until I leave for Spain :) Nick and I drove back from Louisville yesterday and made it in 12 1/2 hours and stopped only twice. I think that was record time. I'm glad to be home.
Second thing: I made something that I had never made before. Chocolate Bacon. I wanted try it because I had seen it on Food Network/Travel Channel. It didn't turn out the best because the chocolate was falling off, but the taste wasn't bad! I tried a little of it. It seems that every time that I try to bake something new it doesn't turn out the way I want it to, but at least I try! 

Third thing: I went on a retreat the weekend of April 28-29. It was called "Be Still and Know that I am God" The whole retreat was silent besides at the meals. It was a good time to think and pray by myself. I read almost a whole (spiritual) book while there. It was a great way to spend the weekend before the stress of finals and last papers. 

Driving Back Home

Today is my last day on campus for the 2010-2011 school year! I'm ready to be home. I'm in the process of doing laundry right now so I can pack up all clean sheets and clothes. I still have a bunch of packing I need to do to make this dorm room look empty and spotless! I'm ready to relax with my family. Today I'm going to Louisville to catch up with some high school friends and spend the night. Early Friday morning I'm picking Nick up at his friend's house in Louisville and we are headed up to Connecticut. Hope we have a safe drive up there.

Derby

Derby is tomorrow! In honor I would like to share some pictures I found off the internet. 

Traditional Kentucky Derby Photo: Louisville, KY

I just looked up the Derby horses that are racing tomorrow. I looked for the most creative/appealing name to me and I have decided to cheer for Mucho Macho Man. Just because it's Spanish!  Picture above, #13 during the race.

Glee- April 26, 2011

Good songs from Glee!
I Feel Pretty/Unpretty
Somewhere Only We Know
As if We Never Said Goodbye