From the Desk of your PCA Team ....
March 1st, 2016, PCA Meeting
There are multiple things we need to consider from the logistics to the emotions of moving from a country where we may have made wonderful friends. In the next two months, a portion of the PCA Meeting will be covering what to look for when we move. Next week, we will have a few moving companies come to give us some logistical information about moving back from India to our respective countries. We also have some write-ups to videos from our recent past parents. We hope you can join us.
Arabic Cooking Demo
This week, we had our Arabic Cooking demo at the Westin. We learned a few different manners to prepare the same recipe. This was by far a more in-depth cooking demo that we have attended. We began with the basic of Moutabal, which we learned how to make in five different manners. The fun was that each flavor of the Moutabal created another fresh flavor to be had with multiple accompaniments. Some of us wanted it with pita, some with nacho chips, and others with just a thin slice of bread. We then made lamb kebab with such wonderful mild seasonings that exploded our taste buds. Many of the persons attending were new to lamb, thus for them it was a treat. The same lamb seasoning can be utilized to create chicken kebabs, or vegetarian kebabs. Then we made our pita bread. The basic recipe was excellent, as we can use it to make pizza bread, can make regular bread with it, and even rolls, should we choose - a nice way to learn multiple uses for the same recipe. Lastly we made baklava packets with walnuts, almonds and pistachios. Wonderful to the taste buds when you want a light and flavorful sweet dish. The nice part was to learn how to make this so quickly and easily. Making baklava packets was just one method, then we created baklava sheets and baklava bowls. We discussed the multiple manners to utilize the filo sheet bowls, based on size for different desserts as well as different appetizers. In actuality we made four dishes, but we learned nearly 20 with the variations.
Here are a few words from our parents..
Sossity Smith:
The Arabic class was a wonderful chance for me to taste some dishes I had never tried before. I have never had lamb and it was delicious. I love how the chefs at the Westin show you a dish and give you ideas on ways to change it up with different ingredients. I have been able to attend every cooking class so far and I've enjoyed each one, learned something new each time, and have had a chance to enjoy a delicious lunch and meet someone new at each one. This being my first year in Chennai, the cooking classes have been a wonderful way for me to get to know people, how to use local ingredients in my cooking, and a fun way to try new cuisines."
Denise Brendel:
The Arabic cooking session was a culinary mix of flavors wrapped in tips and techniques that were new to me. Although I am new to Arabic cuisine, I enjoyed learning about the spices, substitutions, and techniques that a written recipe never reveal.
Signing off for this week.......
March 1st, 2016, PCA Meeting
There are multiple things we need to consider from the logistics to the emotions of moving from a country where we may have made wonderful friends. In the next two months, a portion of the PCA Meeting will be covering what to look for when we move. Next week, we will have a few moving companies come to give us some logistical information about moving back from India to our respective countries. We also have some write-ups to videos from our recent past parents. We hope you can join us.
Arabic Cooking Demo
This week, we had our Arabic Cooking demo at the Westin. We learned a few different manners to prepare the same recipe. This was by far a more in-depth cooking demo that we have attended. We began with the basic of Moutabal, which we learned how to make in five different manners. The fun was that each flavor of the Moutabal created another fresh flavor to be had with multiple accompaniments. Some of us wanted it with pita, some with nacho chips, and others with just a thin slice of bread. We then made lamb kebab with such wonderful mild seasonings that exploded our taste buds. Many of the persons attending were new to lamb, thus for them it was a treat. The same lamb seasoning can be utilized to create chicken kebabs, or vegetarian kebabs. Then we made our pita bread. The basic recipe was excellent, as we can use it to make pizza bread, can make regular bread with it, and even rolls, should we choose - a nice way to learn multiple uses for the same recipe. Lastly we made baklava packets with walnuts, almonds and pistachios. Wonderful to the taste buds when you want a light and flavorful sweet dish. The nice part was to learn how to make this so quickly and easily. Making baklava packets was just one method, then we created baklava sheets and baklava bowls. We discussed the multiple manners to utilize the filo sheet bowls, based on size for different desserts as well as different appetizers. In actuality we made four dishes, but we learned nearly 20 with the variations. 
Here are a few words from our parents..
Sossity Smith:
The Arabic class was a wonderful chance for me to taste some dishes I had never tried before. I have never had lamb and it was delicious. I love how the chefs at the Westin show you a dish and give you ideas on ways to change it up with different ingredients. I have been able to attend every cooking class so far and I've enjoyed each one, learned something new each time, and have had a chance to enjoy a delicious lunch and meet someone new at each one. This being my first year in Chennai, the cooking classes have been a wonderful way for me to get to know people, how to use local ingredients in my cooking, and a fun way to try new cuisines."
Denise Brendel:
The Arabic cooking session was a culinary mix of flavors wrapped in tips and techniques that were new to me. Although I am new to Arabic cuisine, I enjoyed learning about the spices, substitutions, and techniques that a written recipe never reveal.
Signing off for this week.......
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Upcoming Events
PCA Meeting - March 1, 2016 - Hall of Lights - 8:45- 9:45 - Conversation about moving back
KPA Meeting - March 1, 2016 - Hall of Lights - 2:30-3:30
Board of Directors Town Hall - March 7, 2016 - 8:45- 9:45
Early Dismissal at 1:30 p.m. - March 9, 2016
PCA City Tour - March 16, 2016 - GRT T-Nagar (Jewelry)
Head of School Town Hall Meeting - March 17, 2016 - 8:45 - 9:45
PCA Meeting - March 1, 2016 - Hall of Lights - 8:45- 9:45 - Conversation about moving back
KPA Meeting - March 1, 2016 - Hall of Lights - 2:30-3:30
Board of Directors Town Hall - March 7, 2016 - 8:45- 9:45
Early Dismissal at 1:30 p.m. - March 9, 2016
PCA City Tour - March 16, 2016 - GRT T-Nagar (Jewelry)
Head of School Town Hall Meeting - March 17, 2016 - 8:45 - 9:45
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Connect Magazine
Connect Magazine
AISConnect magazine comes out in the month of April this year. It is a magazine created by the parent community for the parent community. If you have an interest in writing, editing, creating layouts for this magazine, please email us at pca@aisch.org.
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We have had to change the PCA ball from April 9th to May 7, 2016. We have had to do so for the following reasons:
Given these requirements, our teams did a lot of research collecting different price quotations from multiple hotels. Two hotels only give us the space - Leela and ITC. For our original date, April 9, 2016, ITC was booked. We approached Leela and got a price that was well out of our budget. Thus we approached ITC, and got a price, which fulfilled all of the requirements, but a month later. Thus as a group of nearly 30 persons, we decided that we will choose ITC on May 7th.
We look for you all to join us for the PCA BALL on May 7, 2016.
Event Change
PCA Ball Date Change
We have had to change the PCA ball from April 9th to May 7, 2016. We have had to do so for the following reasons:
1) we needed a location which could house up to 350+ persons as this is the 20th anniversary ball. Thus we look forward to even more participation this year.
2) we needed something which fit into a budget of rs.3500-3800/ticket for food.
3) we wanted a place that gave us either liquor in the meal price, or was going to give us good pricing for drinks overall.
4) we needed a place that gave us a good selection of food.
Given these requirements, our teams did a lot of research collecting different price quotations from multiple hotels. Two hotels only give us the space - Leela and ITC. For our original date, April 9, 2016, ITC was booked. We approached Leela and got a price that was well out of our budget. Thus we approached ITC, and got a price, which fulfilled all of the requirements, but a month later. Thus as a group of nearly 30 persons, we decided that we will choose ITC on May 7th.
We look for you all to join us for the PCA BALL on May 7, 2016.
