Sweet things we shared (Merry-Go-Round Project)

Katy and I have never attended to the international school growing up so when we first stepped our feet on to the cool concrete floor of ICS, International Community School, it was like we got lost in the intensity of high culture association. We didn't feel like belonging there until we stopped at the third floor, in front of a white wood door and the teacher/our friend, Suzy, came out and gave us the biggest smile as in "you made it!". Outside the classroom remained quiet. Very unusual for a daytime at school. For one second, we'd thought the school was already out but we both didn't question or mention that silence. My heart pounded hard, not knowing what it would turn out to be like in the next couple hours with a bunch of children we'd never met.

The door was pushed open and all we could see was the emptiness of a quiet dark room. Within a minute, the happy scream broke out the silence and all this cute tiny little kids fell out of the pushed open bathroom door connected to the classroom. It was like a avalanche of kids with sugar high version. Some fell on each other but remained happy and got up just to jump and said "surprise" along with everybody else who was already jumping and staring at the new comers. It all happened fast but in my head, it was more like a slow motion small moment. I could remember clearly the big smiles on them. Just a couple first minutes, they already got our hearts. The kids ran to us and asking which one was Aeng or Eay even before we got to introduce ourselves. I looked up at the board and saw big letters saying "Welcome Aeng and Eay". Hahaha that's why. Nice preparation to Suzy! The kids was super energetic and they weren't as shy to strangers as I thought it'd be. They came closely to us, holding our hands and i held theirs back. It was a Win-win situation! Suzy whistled loudly and that grabbed everyone's attentions. All the kids went back to their desk and settled down. Suzy gave them/us kindly smile before she slowly told them about how today was going to turn out, skipped the introduction part which I was positive she has already done that since they all knew our names. After she has finished, Suzy, then, turned around and let us tell our stories. So here's what we talked about. We started with how Suzy has showed the class Katy's makeup video, the kids then got exited, so Suzy got an idea by asking us to sometime join her class and talking to the kids about cooking and doing makeup. Without hesitation, we said yes and marked the date and counted down the days we'd be at her class. Unfortunately, the principle didn't seem to agree with the makeup idea so the plan was narrowed down to only the cooking project! Anyway, nothing stopped us from going. And since the plan was changed so Suzy came up with the idea of us cooking something a little French cause it was going to be a French period that afternoon. Even though French patisseries seemed out of reach, but we did not give up y'all. Hm mmmm. The show must go on! So that very day, we got up early making fresh dough and homemade pastry cream for our Napolians or what people call . And that was the behind screen story! Believe me, I tried my very best to make long story short here.

So after we explained the kids about the dessert we brought, they all quietly listened and gave us full attentions. The kids went grabbing the bowls themselves and I happily gave each one of them the baked round pie crust, followed with Katy piping down the cream on to their crusts drop by drop behind me. I secretly called this our "marry-go-round project" where we happily bake stuff for people and give them out. This was our very first beginning of the project!

I looked at Suzy just to found that she was already giving out that big grin on her face and that was when I knew this was what we good at. I looked at each one of the kids popping the food into their mouths and immediately asked us for more cream. I just loved it! Just ask for more and imma give it to you babies! After getting a little sugar high, the French class was sadly over. Reading class was next and we just sat beside them, listening to them read bible and whatever books they loved. We also stayed for the last period, bible class. Suzy later told me she added this subject to her class herself, since the school gave freedom for the teacher to freely conduct their own classes. Katy and I just sat there, on a tiny little kid chairs and watching what Suzy does best, teaching and understanding. And I guess a lot of her understanding in people mostly came from learning life in every aspects through other's lives. The kids raised their hands, asking questions, and Suzy patiently answered them all in her own way. And I adored that. There was no pretending or madness. It was only her truly self and the kids. I wasn't surprised to the fact that she didn't want to leave here, her school and Thailand. When school was over, we all held hands and walked in line toward downstairs, to the spot their parents would pick them up. We waved good bye to each one of them, promising we would be back until there was no one left. We helped Suzy cleared up the classroom and we all headed to the sky train station. It was another hot day in Thailand. We quickly got on the train, breathing in the cold hair, and let our butts to finally reunited with the bright yellow chairs again. Suzy's eyes were glowing as she happily told us the funny stories each kids did in the classroom.

We all sat on the opposite site and the sun was a lot less bright, making the whole ride home even cozier. The conversation went on and on even when there was a lady standing right in between us. Without seeing each other's faces, stories were continuously shared and it was because we just had a great day to share. That's all :) -Candice

Coconut Milk Napoleon or Mille Feuille

(Adapted from Dulce Delight)

For the pie crust :

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup very cold unsalted butter and cut into small pieces 6 to 9 tablespoons ice water 1 tablespoon of sugar

1 teaspoon of salt

In a large bowl combine the flour, butter, sugar, and salt with your fingers, or in a food processor until it resembles a coarse meal. Add enough water so that the dough just comes together, Wrap the dough nicely in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge to cool for at least 30 minutes or overnight. When done, roll it onto the floured surface and use round cookie cutter to cut into small rounds or whatever shapes you want and brush the eggwash on top of each one ofthem. Bake at preheated oven at 35o'F for about 30 minutes or until its golden and brown.

For the Coconut Milk Maple Syrup Pastry Cream :

2 1/4 cups coconut milk

6 large egg yolks

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup cornstarch

2 tablespoons maple syrup

In medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup coconut milk, egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. Transfer remaining 1 3/4 cups milk with maple syrup to heavy medium saucepan and bring it to simmer.

Whisk hot milk mixture, then gradually whisk into egg yolk mixture. Return to saucepan over moderate heat and cook, whisking constantly, until pastry cream simmers and thickens, about 1 minute. Remove from heat, discard vanilla pod, and whisk cream until smooth. Transfer to bowl and press plastic wrap directly onto surface. Chill until cold, about 4 hours. (Pastry cream can be made ahead and refrigerated, wrapped nicely with plastic wrap on surface.

To assemble : you can do it however you like. For me, i used the piping bag and make 5 small lovely drops on the pie crust. Put another pie crust on top and that's it!! You get to enjoy another delightful treat sending directly from France lol. Believe me, the smell and the taste of maple syrup and coconut milk are heavenly great together!