Ciao Bella!
 I feel like the gods have finally listened to my prayers! I have found a kitchen! LOL okay let me back up. So I was sitting in my communications class and we were doing an ice breaker to get to know our classmates. What we had to do was ask the person sitting next to us general questions such as name, interests, major/minor, etc. Well crazy enough the person sitting next to me loves baking and get this...she lives off campus in a studio apartment and has a huge kitchen! She said we should cook sometime, her boyfriend is always complaining about how she won’t make a good housewife someday because she doesn’t know how to cook. I bet I could teach her some of my dad’s recipes! Maybe she can become as good of a cook as a baker... hopefully! 
Until next time,
- Isabelle

Ciao Bella! 
 So how long do you have to live in New York before you officially lose the Texas accent, learn to say you’s guys instead of y’all, and know how to cross the street without getting run over by all the taxi drivers who obviously don’t know how to drive. Does knowing how to hail down a taxi make me a New Yorker yet?! Well so far college has been exactly what you would expect. The classes are difficult, the professors are not your friend, the dorms are small, I’ve found normal people to call friends, and the food in the cafeteria is well ... edible. So glad I’m in the city and have a ton of options for yummy food. But I’m definitely missing some of my dad’s homemade cooking right about now. Have you ever heard of eggplant parmesan? If not then you are definitely missing out! Mmmmm I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! My dad is an amazing cook and I’ve been lucky enough that his talents got passed down to me. However, it’s a bit difficult to cook here at school since I don’t have a kitchen. Darn these dorm rooms! I’d give up my closet for a kitchen! 
Until next time, 
- Isabelle 
Here is the recipe to my favorite dish!

- 2 large eggplants 
- 1 Tbsp olive oil 
- salt 
- 1 jar of favorite pasta sauce (or you can make homemade sauce!) 
- 2 cups parmesan cheese 
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese



First you cut the eggplant into circular slices that are 1/4 inch thick. Brush olive oil on both sides of the eggplant and then sprinkle with salt. Cook the eggplant on 350 for about 20 minutes or until there is a golden brown color. 
Then in a baking dish you spread sauce on the bottom so that the eggplant doesn't stick. Then layer the eggplant, sauce, parmesan, and mozzarella in this order. Continue to do so until you have filled up the entire dish! Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until cheese is melted! Enjoy!