Who’s in the kitchen: Ship to shore, the proof is in the pudding

So here we are, last week in January. It’s kind of odd that I’m here in New York. For as long as I can remember, during the Yeshiva winter break, I’ve always been away. Wait, I take that back, there was one time back in the 90s when we stayed home and took day trips with the kids, it almost seemed like an experiment, to see if the children (and parents, I guess), years down the line, would have any long standing psychological effects from having to actually remain at home.

So far, we all seem to have no symptoms…but we all have funny memories of vacations past.

One such memory was when Jerry and I, along with my daughter Jordana and her friend, were joining our friends on a cruise from Miami to the Caribbean. We were through customs and handed our room keys when Jerry said to me, “Isn’t it nice that we’re able to take along a friend for Jordana.” The second the words left his mouth and I saw a look of surprise on the agent’s face I knew we were in trouble. The agent explained that since she wasn’t my daughter and a minor (15), I would have to show an original permission or consent to travel letter from a parent. Ok, easier said than done, being that her mom was in New York. This was not going to be easy. Panic set in. We couldn’t board the ship and leave her in Miami, and the thought of Jordana stuck on a nine-day cruise without a friend was a frightening thought in itself. I then began to beg, plead and, yes, cry to the agent, until she agreed to a faxed letter. In the hour it took for all the paperwork to be faxed and processed, we got to see some of the 3500 passengers board. Not sure what was scarier for the girls, having gone through the terror of almost missing the cruise or watching men in their 70s in Bermuda shorts and knee socks, women with silver blue hair and lots of kids below the age of 10. Thankfully, they found dozens of “cool” teens to hang out with.

At the first port of call, Jerry found a guide to take our group of 14 to visit the El Limon waterfalls. It included a luxury van to the site, horseback rides to the falls and a private guide. The teens weren’t interested and then one by one the adults decided we wanted to head back to the ship and lounge at the pool. Jerry decided to take the tour and we warned him that if he missed the 4:30 set sail time he would have to meet the ship at the next destination.

Waiting with baited breath, I watched for Jerry to return. At 4:27 pm, Jerry staggered onto the ship just as the doors were being prepared to close. He was barefoot, cut up on every exposed part of his body, but said he had an amazing time. “So glad I missed it,” I exclaimed. He went on to tell about an adventure that could only happen to him. Being that he was only one person (and I had all the money and he only had about $15 on him) the guide said he could give him a guide (13 year old boy), who spoke a little bit of English (none whatsoever), and he would have to hike instead of ride on a donkey or horse. Within the first five minutes, his crocks were ripped apart on the “trail” that was full of boulders, thick clay mud and sharp rocks, but he trekked on. At one point the guide pointed to his stomach and rubbed it; he was hungry. They hiked through a primordial jungle, Tarzan and his guide, to what looked like a primitive hut where the natives (witch doctors) served the boy stew. Jerry nervously hoped he wouldn’t find any shrunken heads. Long story short, Jerry made it down to the waterfalls, and then went on to hike up through dangerously steep terrain with no handrails for an exquisite view that only those on foot can get to….Jerry took “on foot” literally, as he was, unfortunately, barefoot while the few others that joined him to the top were clad in hiking boots. Lesson to be learned? Only those in the best shape and not faint of heart should let Jerry pick the excursions when cruising.

Those of you not on a cruise this year, here is a recipe for bread pudding from the Holland America cruise line. No packing, flying, expenses or safety drills.

Bread and Butter Pudding

Ingredients

1 quart milk

6 eggs, beaten

3 egg yolks, beaten

6 oz sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 lbs day-old bread

3 oz butter, melted

4 oz raisins

15 ovenproof ramekins, sprayed with Pam.

1. To make the custard, combine milk, eggs, egg yolks, sugar and vanilla; mix well.

2. To prepare the bread, cut in cubes, drizzle with butter and toast in the oven.

3. Combine custard, bread and raisins; fill ramekins.

4. Bake in a water bath in a 325 degree oven for 45 minutes or until custard is set.

It’s delicious served as is or you can add a scoop of your favorite ice cream.