The First Cut is the Sweetest

Saturday I had the opportunity to prepare the food for my friend Catherine's baby shower. It was so much fun! Rarely do I feel creative. I always feel like I'm just copying other things, but I felt like this time it was my creation. I was proud of my little toothpick holder made out of half a lemon. I rested my little stuffed potatoes on "nests" of alfalfa and it looked like little egg nests. I'm sure it's been done before, but the idea seemed new to me. I used the tops of my melon bowls as bases to add height and angle the bowls. I really enjoyed using food in new ways and thinking outside the box. I'm sure nothing will come of it, but one of the guests called the host after she left to get my number because she wanted me to cater an event of hers. I was flattered and felt very fulfilled at the end of the day. I also want to thank Tom for staying up really late with me and helping me prepare the food the night before.

Here are some pictures. P.S. I didn't make that beautiful cake. Christina did. She makes the best cakes. They're all from scratch and so beautiful and they taste amazing!


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Business Before Pleasure

Cash was on the verge of writing genius and could not be disturbed.


Maggie finished all her dinner, and there was a lot on that plate, so she could have a cupcake. We were all very proud of her.

To show our appreciation and pride we all sang "Happy Thursday to You" to Maggie and let her blow out the candle on her cupcake.

The little disc on the cupcake was a ring, so life for Maggie was pretty great tonight.

Winter Wonderland

We are definitely in the middle of winter. The other day we missed school because the canyon was closed while they blew up avalanches. Today we woke up to a tremendous snowfall. Midway, which is right next to Heber, cancelled church so they could shovel people out of their homes. We were able to make it.



I do love the snow. I do love the snow. I do, I do, I do.


We shoveled our way to our car this morning for church. Tom had to shovel our way from the car back to the house after church.


If you didn't notice, that snow bank behind us is as tall as me now!

I'll update you when we build our snow fort next weekend.

Bowl Full of Cherries

Today we got together as a family. We hadn't all been together since Christmas break. It was so nice. We feel so spread out so it's great to have these fun-filled days together. We went to lunch, then bowling, then to a movie, then played games.

I bowled my usual 75 using the time tested Granny method while Tom rocked the house with a turkey!


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

I don't know why people didn't smile bigger. (Thank you Kat. You smiled when I said cheese.) I promise, we were having fun.



If you caught the tail end of that video you'd hear Tom apologizing for bowling Kay D's frame, not realizing his was over after getting a strike. (He thought it was the tenth frame.)

And the winner is...

I've won my first medal. Here's what I had to do for it:

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!



Let me explain. Last Friday Chef Troy came in to our class and announced that we could compete in a culinary competition, a la Iron Chef, and possibly go to Nationals. I considered competing. I thought about the competition. I knew I probably wouldn't win, but I thought I'd still compete for the practice. As I was thinking this over, my current chef, Chef Todd came over and said, "Tanya, the board had our meeting and we all nominated you for the Food and Beverage Service part of the competition." I asked him if it was because I was a bad chef. He laughed and assured me that it wasn't. Cody, another of my culinary professors was very complimentary and I was flattered that several people who hardly knew me had such confidence in me. In any case, I met once with Cody and we discussed how we'll practice for the state competition in March.

Skip ahead to today.

The three classmates who won in the school level cook-off and I headed to the meeting we were instructed to attend. I assumed it would be an information meeting and I knew they'd announce who won of my classmates who competed. And they did. I clapped as my three classmates headed up front to receive their gold, silver, and bronze medals. As the clapping subsided, the man at the front proceeded:

"And in the Food and Beverage Service competition, First place goes to Tanya Quinn." The lecture hall of people began clapping for me as I had to walk down and accept a medal for doing absolutely nothing. The worst part is that another student won second. I felt for him. Who gets second for a competition you didn't compete in?!

I think it's an okay thing, winning before you compete. I already have a win under my belt. I can move on to the state level with full confidence. So go ahead. Celebrate something you're going to do. It's a good feeling. Have that ice cream sundae because you're going to work out tonight. Paint your nails because you're going to scrub the bathroom tile. (Wear gloves when you do scrub so the painting isn't for all for naught.) The important thing is, find joy in the things you're going to do, then the strength to do them and go out and do them!

Maybe at the next level I'll compete before I take home the gold.

Hey Good Lookin'

I have been making some good looking food. I'll post recipes soon, but here are some pictures. I've included a lot of the things we've made. I also included a picture of me and my two team mates after we each butchered our first fish. I know you're jealous of my stylish uniform, but sorry, those elastic-waist checkered pants are all mine!


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

The decision to begin culinary school is definitely one of the best I've made. I've really enjoyed it. We work hard every day, but the days go by so fast.

So far we've had one practical exam. I had two hours to make a meal for my teacher from scratch by myself. We had to produce a soup, sauce, starch, vegetable, entree and had to demonstrate three types of classical cuts. Chef Todd said no one had ever finished their first practical on time. So of course I had my challenge. He laughed when I told him I looked forward to being the first to finish on time.

So, the day came and I had planned really well. I finished on time! It was great. I was really pleased with how it turned out. My goal was to finish on time, and I did. I got a good grade too. I was really pleased because Chef always says we need to balance speed with quality and I did just that.

We're Famous!

Here are our celebrity look-a-likes. Soon I'll be able to post my own pictures, but until then:

In case you were wondering, yes, that girl cut off at the end that Tom looks like is Kate Beckinsale.



Here's mine. As a side note, not a surprise, there were three more oriental girls that I looked like.

A Time To Mourn

I needed to put my sorrow out into the universe. It might help me move on. First, let me say I take every precaution to protect my laptop short of sleeping with it. Ask Tom. I am paranoid about where I leave it. So, when we rushed out of the office last Friday for a friend's Christmas party and I discovered I left the laptop at the shop, you can imagine my desire to turn right around and retrieve it. We decided the laptop was perfectly safe locked away at work, under a desk out of sight no less. So, one thing lead to another and I did not go back all weekend. Upon arrival to work Monday morning we discovered that ours and several other units had been broken into. They were looking for blank checks. They found them at several other offices. Luckily, United suffered no loss. Yes, here's where your stomach turns...

They found my laptop bag.

Here are some of the contents of my laptop bag:
1. Various important papers including some credit card statements so I had to change all my credit cards
2. BRAND NEW macbook
3. ipod video
4. wireless internet card I bought LAST WEEK!
4. Every song I've ever downloaded- I have over 50 gigs of music; (that's a lot) And all that music was purchased legally, so I'm out that money, not just time
5. Every picture I've ever taken from the beginning of my marriage in 2003; and no, they weren't backed up anywhere because I just put them all onto the computer planning to back them up on an external hard drive when I had a spare moment.

Let me just say: I know I'm extremely blessed. It's just stuff. I know that. I'm still very grateful for all the Lord's done for me. I lead a very blessed and cushioned life. It was a lot of eggs in one basket. In the end everything works out for the best. I'll probably regret this blog. Maybe if I had come Saturday night to retrieve the laptop I would have walked in on the scum and they would have shot me or something. I have all these optomistic thoughts and I'm often fine, but it still sucks!

So, that's why I've been down this week. We've made an insurance claim and you know how easy and painless they make it. Oh wait, they treat everyone like you must making a fraudulent claim. I have to provide receipts for everything that was taken. The laptop's easy, I just got that. But Tom gave me the ipod 2 years ago. The music will be a bear to find receipts for and I'm sure they won't count pictures as valueable, even though that's what eats me up the most! So, because people in the world are thieves I'm having to deal with insurance people who treat you like a thief because the same scummy types are defrauding insurance agencies as well. I haven't talked about it much because I get pretty upset every time I think about it too long.

So, I'm hoping this will be theraputic. I'm really grateful for everyone's blogs and pictures. Tomorrow is a new day and I'll post all that I'm grateful for. I know people are going hungry and homeless and presentless. I just needed to be a little down so I can appreciate the up I guess.

Is It Kosher?

Well, I'm almost ready to celebrate. I have two more final tests, but I am officially done with homework!!! I wanted to share one assignment I am particularly proud of. I had to present information on religious customs that affect foodservice. The large focus was on kosher foods. The laws are extremely complex so I wanted to come up with a way servers could remember some guidelines to ensure they served only the best. I racked my brain for weeks. I paced the floors, stayed up hours of the night and then... genius. I feel I was truly inspired. I wanted to share it with the world. So, sing the following song to the timeless tune of "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel."

"Kosher, Kosher, Kosher"

You can eat me if I'm cloven and chew all of my cud,
except if I'm a porker and live down in the mud.

Fish that have their fins and scales: that you can prepare.
Chicken, turkey, duck and goose are all considered fair.

Kosher, kosher, kosher; dairy I can eat.
Kosher, kosher, kosher; except when mixed with meat.

Make sure there's no blood.


It's very important as you sing the last line you shake your very best jazz hands and add a carny inflection to your voice. You may want to "ah cha cha cha" to get the full effect.

Festival of Trees

Today was great. We woke up to a winter wonderland, 7 inches of snow! We went to the Festival of Trees. Hundreds of decorated trees are donated, then auctioned off to raise money for Primary Children's Hospital. There were so many to admire, but here are a few that stood out. Maybe they will give you some ideas for your Christmas.


Michelle Thompson's favorite- ode to Audrey Hephern



Sophia Slade's favorite- All Olivia the Pig



Tom's favorite- Arch made by two trees



My favorite- upside down tree

Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas from the Quinns!

As you know, Grandma McGuire has opened her home to us. We were lucky enough to find these fabric jewels in her basement. I hope you study the picture closely to fully appreciate the quality photo setting.

You Get to Decide!

Okay, I need your help. It's time for this year's CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD HOUSE/COTTAGE/DWELLING EXTRAVAGANZA QUEST-LIKE ENDEAVOR 2007! I can't believe I can't find pictures of last year's finished product. It was a masterpiece, complete with flower vines and christmas decorations. Below are a few pictures, but they don't adequately capture the grandeur that is my gingerbread house. (And no, I'm not biased at all.)


Just so you know, I inserted lights so those butterscotch windows put off a soft glow when the lights are out, just like a real home.


Around the corner is the chocolate rock chimney.

So, here are the candidates for this year's CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD HOUSE/COTTAGE/DWELLING EXTRAVAGANZA QUEST-LIKE ENDEAVOR 2007!


Log Cabin


Carriage


Cookies & Cream

The polls are now open. Let me know what you think. Voting will close 12:00a.m. PST December 1st. I need to get going so it doesn't become a VALENTINE'S gingerbread house/cottage/dwelling extravaganza quest-like endeaver!

Why Captain and Chef?

Did I get two new career barbies? No! Those are just the titles we have decided to pursue...this week. Tom has flown his first solo! His instructors said he did really well. I wondered what doing well is when it's your first flight? Good job, you only scraped one building. Good job, those cows were going to be slaughtered anyway. Good job, now we can buy that new plane we've had our eye on!

Can't you see it? Here are a few pictures from our days in school.


I got some 'splaining to do! My speciality will be candied yams. I'll have the smoothest marshmellow cover in all the land!


"Love lifts us up where we belong".... Actually, Tom informs me that "Lift lifts us up where we belong." Sing that; see how it grabs ya.

Here are a few more...


The flavor is hidden in the sloppy. (P.S. It's supposed to look like that.)


This image brought to you courtesy of Tom's solo flight. That was a comforting picture to receive. Don't mind my texting... I'm just FLYING!

My Family

I've seen enough Twilight Zone episodes to know the danger technology poses. Mac has just released a camera that takes pictures. You may say to yourself, "so? That's nothing new." This is no ordinary camera. It takes pictures of the soul! That's right! You can now view the inner you. Don't be afraid. Let the world see the real you. I'm sure my sisters will thank me for showing the world their inner beauty. Good thing I live out of arm's reach!


We're no respector of persons.










You can see where we get our good looks.




It's good to be home.

We're alive!

It's hard to write a blog when you don't have any cute baby pictures to share. I'm determined to try though. I do have one interesting thing to share....

ITALY



That's just a little teaser. I'll post an actual summary when I don't have hours of homework to finish.

But hey, at least I have a post in the year 2007!!

Football!!

Tom and I have never been sport-team-followers. However, we were so lucky to go to a USU game to see the Aggies win their homecoming game! We went with our friends Jeff and Joni Hansen and their family and it was a blast! Here are some pictorial highlights:

Tom caught a free appetizer football. It came straight to him. It just hit him in the chest and fell into his hands! The USU fans couldn't be stopped from rushing the field when they won the homecoming game. We were in the season ticket holder seats. I'll never go back to bleachers ain! Individual seats with bum gooves, back rests and cup holders?! Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot!

Travels

It's been a while since my last post. Unfortunately, it's not because we were off traveling the globe, but we certainly had our fair share of traveling. We went down to Utah for a while to help at the frame shop. I got to see my mom and sister for a few days. It's been a lot of back and forth and I'm excited to just stay put for a while.
We're in between seasons at the club. Everyone's back to school, but there's no snow yet to bring that crowd, so everything is pretty much shut down. On the plus side, I get to attend to my calling in the Young Women and actually go to the activities now!

Summer Adventures: Vol. 2

Family Time! Michelle and Nicole came out and it was so great to have them! They helped out at the club and really made this summer unforgetable for me. I don't know what I would have done without them.

A race to the finish at the Alpine slides! Nicole was a great photographer.

Fun at the county fair.

Not so much fun at the county fair.

Tom and Nicole were truly fearless. They are about to go on a ride that flys you up and down.

Michelle and I took the safer route and went on the Dragon ride, with about 15 other 5-year-olds.

Michelle's Birthday. Nicole made great brownies!!

Our great concession girls. They got more tips in the one month they were there than anyone the entire summer! Sweets serving sweets!

Summer Adventures: Vol. 1

This summer has been chuck full of memory-making experiences. It'll take a few editions to catch you all up on our fun times, but I'll just start at the beginning and when I get to the end, I'll stop.


We enjoyed rafting with our very good friends, old and new. Catherine Allred and Joe came to visit and we were so lucky to get to see them! Tom's not our guide because he was working that day on another trip. We somehow managed.

Michelle's Birthday dinner. Very tasty! There are several great places to eat here in Jackson, or so I hear. This has actually been the most frugal summer by far. We've enjoyed nature a lot more then we intended, so when we eat out we really enjoy it.

Tom's favorite, and I must say a great deal, free golf all summer long! Here we are with our friends Kenny and the Rusts, namely Nick and Julie. It really is a lot more relaxing to play golf when you know you didn't pay for it. I highly recommend it some time.

The Alpine slides and Alpine miniature golf were another couple great highlights. Everyone is connected in town, so our recreation was for the most part, free. Our friends the Hansens came into town and we made the most of it!

And of course, the hikes! There is so much around and so many easy hikes that there was really no excuse not to get out into nature. Nicole and Michelle were great hiking buddies. A few of my favorite hikes, (which yes, happen to be the two easiest), are the hidden falls and the hike along String Lake, both in Grand Teton National Forest. The forest service does a great job of keeping the natural beauty preserved and not letting the park become too commercialized.

Stay tuned for Vol. 2 of... Summer Adventures!!!