Don`t get me wrong, pig`s trotters and pea soup is not American, it`s pure Estonian, but today in Treasure Island in the Chicago Old Town, the most European Supermarket in America, I found fresh, cleaned green peas! And then I found smoked pig`s trotters! Clerg did look at them with a very scared look but I was so, so happy. I think the last time I had eaten a trotter was when my grandmother made them together with the pig`s ears. Yummy. And now I can make my own traditional Estonian Vastlapäev or Shrove Tuesday or Fasching menu: Pea Soup with Pig`s Trotters and Vastlakuklid, sweet lenten buns with whipped cream. I was happy that Clerg enjoyed the dinner, too, although he still would not touch the meat. Höissa vastlad!

I love that for the first time in my life, I feel really comfortable cooking. It has become sort of a hobby for both of us, especially with our weekly dinner parties at our place. We participated in a Thai cooking class last week and have purchased some nice extra sharp Japanese chef knives that Clerg is very fond of, and I am not afraid of any recipe any more. (Ruth, I have made Dampfnudle twice already, guet gäu).
I love that this year in Chicago I can do so many things the first time in my life. Before coming here I said I would love to learn how to cook well and finish my thesis and run a half marathon. Well, after a couple of Vastlakukkel here one simply must go for a run.

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