Museum Tour 2011: Museum 2: Science Museum of Minnesota

Yesterday I made it to my second museum on my 2011 museum tour-- one I've been to several times before with a date who hadn't yet visited the "new" science museum. (Note: it was built in 1999). So, we chose to spend a few hours of our Saturday afternoon touring the Science Museum of Minnesota. While the museum wasn't new to me, I was glad to bring a date along to a museum that was new to him.

I think my favorite part of the day (other than the great company) was watching all the children and families at the museum. There were a lot of darn cute kids at the museum yesterday, who fully entertained me with their big wondrous eyes and heads undoubtedly full of imagination.

At its best, the museum really is made to educate kids about science-- and it does a great job at that. And being with a science teacher, I learned a few things myself. (Or maybe re-learned; I suppose I could try to to play "are you smarter than a fifth grader?" for validation in that.)

For those looking for a leisurely afternoon wandering around and enjoying the exhibits and people watching, the Science Museum is a great choice. If you are interested in going sometime soon, the Science Museums is opening a special exhibit on Tutankhamen in a few days, and while I doubt I will make it back for it, I'm sure it will be really interesting. Due to the increased media coverage of Egypt lately, I hope it will spike more people's interests to see their exhibit. (But that's just the PR person in me-- current events usually are a good way to draw interest in a subject matter.)

I think next month I take in art museum-- likely the Minneapolis Institute of Art, which currently has an exhibit on Titian, as well as The Mourners, which my friend Lisa told me is amazing. Who wants to be my date next month?

30 Dishes Before 30

I was reading several recipe blogs today, checking off lots of yummy things I could try to cook. While surfing the many delicious options available, I came across one blogger who was coming up with 30 dishes to make before she turns 30. I thought it was a great idea. And so I'm stealing it. In the next 8.5 months, my goal is to make 30 new dishes.

I've started a list today. The only rules I've made for myself is that the dishes have to be things I haven't made before. They also have to be homemade. And, finally they have to be shared and checked off on Myriad Musings so I am held accountable.

I've come up with a list of 48 potential items so far. I'd love more ideas for what one of my dishes could be. Some are main dishes, some are desserts, some are appetizers or side dishes. But, before I turn 30, I'll make 30 of these items. I welcome suggestions from any category.

Are you up for dinner on me? Send me a note, we'll make a dinner date. Because trying 30 new dishes before 30 requires dinner parties.

(Disclaimer: I don't plan to host 30 dinner parties. Some of these dishes may be made outside of a party setting. And my guess is that the parties I do host will include more than one of the dishes that are in my goal list.)

Dish List:

30 recipes to make before i turn 30- starting point

1. roast a turkey
2. pot roast
3. loaf of bread
4. homemade tomato soup
5. souffle
6. lemon meringue pie
7. real hollandaise sauce
8. chcolate mousse
9. crem brulee
10. homemade jam
11. shepherd's pie
12. pineapple upsidedown cake
13. homemade hummus
14. homemade naan bread (to go with an indian dinner)
15. Jucy Lucy burger (homemade)
16. chicken cordonblue (homemade)
17. Coq Au Vin (stew)
18. Bananas foster
19. Baked Alaskan
20. risotto
21. homemade key lime pie
22. minestrone soup
23. arleth's swedish rye bread
24. biscotti
25. homemade donuts
26. gazpacho (homemade)
27. homemade lemon curd
28. homemade nachos with the works
29. crab cakes
30. monkey bread
31. french onion soup
32. tiramisu
33. goulash
34. aioli
35. ravioli (homemade)
36. fondue
37. sangria
38. beef wellington
39. homemade marshmallows
40. homemade sausage
41. pork carnitas
42. calamari
43. egg rolls
44. pot stickers
45. sherbert
46. peanut brittle
47. fudge (successfully)
48. tamales

Feed My Starving Children

Today I spent a couple hours volunteering for Feed My Starving Children with my friend Mary.

It was a great opportunity to give back and for a small amount of my time, along with the time of several others, make a big impact for a lot of very hungry kids in Haiti.

Here's a bit about the organization from their website:

Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God’s starving children hungry in body and spirit. The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals formulated specially for starving children, and we ship the meals to nearly 70 countries around the world.

It's pretty amazing how a small bag with about four ingredients, chicken stock, vegetables, soy and rice, can help impoverished, malnourished children receive a healthy, nutritional meals they need.

One of the great joys of the volunteering was that I got to do it with a group of kids. That's part of what makes volunteering with Feed My Starving Children great-- it's a way that kids can volunteer and make a big impact, too.

I could really say a lot of great things about this organization, but I think it really speaks for itself. The volunteer list is apparently normally quite long, but to learn more about volunteer opportunities, go to their website.