Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Halloween Fun Times




I've got great ones of my hair, which I did myself that I'll post later.

Go to my friend Julia's Blog to see all the fun details of the Halloween party we attended last night. It was all very halloweeny.

So, I have found I often describe things this season as "Halloweeny." I couldn't figure out where I got it until I was talking to my mom about her plans for the family Halloween party she was throwing and she used the term. I cried out, "that's where I got it!" She replied, "well, there's christmasy, things that are christmas-like, and halloweeny, things that are halloween-like." I couldn't believe it. That's the exact reason I give for using it too!

So eat pumpkin pancakes, and make ghost lolipops; TP the neighbor's house, and eat spaghetti brains!

It's all very halloweeny.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Lately




Here's a new way to make a fruit platter.


Here's a new way to present a traditional Fall cheese tray. Find a cookie cutter in your favorite leaf shape and start cutting.


I made calzones from scratch. I made the Italian sausage, sauce, dough, the works. I'll post the dough recipe. It's very simple.


I carved ice, with chain saws and chisels and everything.


Here's what I carved, a leaf and acorn.


We re-tiled the laundry room floor, which was also covered with carpet.


Because this is what we found, mold!


I busted out my Wizard of Oz nutcrackers so I could introduce the wonderful world to my niece and nephew.

And now for the main event...

I had my Garde Manger final. Garde Manger is the section of the kitchen that makes hor dourves, salads, and sandwiches. We were each in charge of a table of appetizers for the presidential scholarship ball at UVU. I chose to do salmon. Here are some pictures of what I made.


Smoked Salmon Platter


The three sauces I made from scratch: Tartar Sauce, Remoulade Sauce, and Cocktail Sauce.


My show platter. I baked the salmon whole, skinned the front half and layed thinly sliced cucumbers for scales. It's not necessarily how I'd present the fish for a party at home, ya know, fish staring you in the face, but the effect is neat.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Over the last couple months I have...


Catered a full wedding- made that fruit tower! Also made a chicken tortelini salad, shrimp salad, the ever-popular pear salad, compound fruit and vegetable butters for freshly baked bread.


Re-floored the bathroom- Tile instead of CARPET


Carved a LOT of fruit


Which has all been a lot of fun! By the way everything on our platters is edible, so that giant ribbon- is made out of a vegetable!


Created Flavored Vinegar


Hor' Deourves anyone?


Aspic(chicken gelatin) hor' deourves with Chef Franz, who by the way is from Austria and the same province as Arnold Schwartzinager so I giggle every time he says California. He's a truly great chef who has taught me a lot, and hilarious!


Learned how to make and tasted more Sushi in one day than I've had in all my life


Made sausage- I created Italian and breakfast style sausage


WENT TO THE CIRCUS!


Watched conference.


Made a lot of salads.


Found mold in the food pantry.


Made the school competition team. I'm team manager, which is what I tried out for. I'll get to practice with the team and hone my skills, while helping in a way I feel more comfortable- raising money, coordinating equipment and schedules, etc.

No picture yet but I just accepted a position as foodservice manager at Dan. Daniels Academy is a therapy boarding school for teenage boys. They will board 8 boys and I'll cook for them. Not only will I be cooking, but I will be developing and budgeting the meals. I will also teach the kids nutrition, cooking, and grocery shopping, various lifeskills classes.
Drumroll please... They also brought up their media team and how they're really hoping I'm interested in filming a cooking show from their kitchen, which is immaculate, brand new, and definitely cooking show set worthy! Let's think here, do you out there in reader land think I might be interested in a project that combines cooking and theatre?! Hmmm.

So that's my life right now. I'm glad we could catch up. I'll be sure to write in my journal, say my daily prayers, and blog more often.