My Family

I just wanted to share this. I have the most beautiful family... and it's all because of these two! No, I'm not going to say "all because two people fell in love."

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Advanced Baking

I didn't take as many pictures in advanced baking. I don't know what I was thinking. I learned how to make croissants, danishes, puff pastry, ice cream and sorbet, gourmet chocolates, petit fours (which is pretty much any dessert, but bite size), pulled sugar, and plated desserts, where every dessert was comprised of 10 elements on the plate. Here are a few pictures. I probably don't have any pictures of the danishes because they never lasted long enough for me to get my camera out. Just ask Julia or Jamie. They can tell you how those babies last before being consumed! Here are a few highlights from the things I learned.

Danish dough, croissants, etc. are considered rolled-in dough because you create a block of dough and a block of butter and roll and fold, roll and fold, to create the fluffy, airy layers when baked. The butter and dough have to be the same consistency or you will ruin it. Hence, you probably don't remember waking up much to your mother making danishes from scratch. However, the dough freezes really well so it's my lofty goal to make some and freeze them so I CAN have fresh croissants or danishes anytime I want. Yeah, I'm sure I'll make them at home, since I'm so good and updating my blog!

Pulling sugar burns your fingers. Just try to pull and shape sugar by hand over 300 degrees without burning yourself.

I need to invest in a $7000 ice cream machine. Rock salt just doesn't cut it!

When you make graham cracker crust in advanced baking you first have to make graham crackers from scratch! The recipe is actually quite simple and really delicious! It was sad to have to crumble it right after I made it.

The orange macarons are not hamburgers. I just didn't think ahead as to how they might look. And yes, I meant macarons, not macaroons. Macaroons are typically a coconut cookie while macarons are almond-based.



All in all, advanced baking was a fun challenge for me. I really enjoyed it and will always value the experience it gave me.

Let them eat cake!

In my last semester of school I was in advanced baking. One of our last assignments was to submit a wedding cake in a competition. Everything had to be edible and made from scratch. We each designed our cakes and I made every little flower on that thing, plus extras, because you never know. It was neat to compete and I learned a lot. I now know how to make a wedding cake. Don't ever ask me to make another.


Each cake required a topper. I am proud, for it being my very first and all.


Of all the fancy desserts and beautiful cakes, my mom's chocolate cake with homemade chocolate whipped cream and drizzle is still my favorite. I'll take it over fondant any day! Featured with the cake, Hailey Smith!

I'm Back!

I have so many posts I'm currently working on, but I just wanted to say hi, I exist, and I"M PREGNANT!

So much more to come:
Bahamas Cruise
Snorkeling
Disney World
Daytona Beach
Life in Virginia Beach
Pregnancy
Cooking Blog
Finishing school

Yeah, I have a lot to work on.

Check Me Out!

Link to the picture

So the other day I received a package in the mail. It was from SKillsUSA. I competed last summer at the National level in a food service competition in Kansas City. While there I was waiting in the hall for my friend's competition and took a nap. I am never afraid to fall asleep in the middle of a hallway. I folded up my coat and laid right down. So I woke up well rested. A gentlemen came to the classroom door I was laying next to. I must have looked really well-rested because he asked if I'd like to go to a photo shoot the next day. The offer: My picture MIGHT end up somewhere in the organization's 2009 magazine. So the next day I went to the photo shoot. They shot a couple pictures and I was on my way.

So you can imagine my surprise when I received a letter and a few copies of a magazine with my face on the cover! It was a fun Wednesday.

Fairy Pride Parade

Let me tell you about the magic of Christmas. Two hours each Saturday I was flitting around with children. I say flitting because I made it a point to never walk. I allowed skipping, dancing, jigging, and a lot of flitting, but never just a walk.

I was the Sugar Plum Fairy at Thanksgiving Point's "Breakfast with Santa." I channeled Amy Adams from Enchanted and went on my merry way. The costume isn't quite how I'd picture the Sugar Plum Fairy. Next year I plan to take my costume design into my own hands. It must involve a tutu, fruit in my hair, and bigger wings I think.

It's kind of odd having hundreds of children want to be in a picture with you. I'm now in photo albums and blogs across the Wasatch front. It's kind of awesome, however, to encourage the magic of Christmas.

I had children who have "seen my movie," and promised to watch it again to support me. Others professed they "loved my book." I received several questions on how Tinkerbell is doing, and even more hugs. A few "smart" boys wanted to test my ability to fly, but every skeptic believed in the end.

I enlightened the children on many fairy facts.

1. I had a spider sew my wings so they'd be stronger.
2. To travel we shrink to the size of butterflies. So if you see a butterfly you can wave because it's probably a fairy.
3. Tinkerbell and I often have lunch together. She is an excellent cook.
4. I live in an oak tree.
5. I love making snowmen and snow angels.
6. I'm tight with Santa and can pass along messages. I can even remember lengthy lists which children deliver in detail.

It was a great 4 weeks.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

Come one come all, to our ugly christmas sweater ball. This Friday, 6:00 at my house. Give me a call and I'll give you more details. We'll have pizza, a gingerbread decorating contest, and of course we'll have the wii and big screen tv set up for tournaments! I can't wait!

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.

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.

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.

Dear Tanya,

We celebrated your birthday on Saturday.  You slept until 9:30 so we all got to sleep in.  For breakfast you enjoyed an egg and sausage "face" that "Nickle Pickle" made for you. We had a brief visit at the doctor's office to make sure you don't have TB. We don't want you infecting any kids you come around! Happy to report you are TB-free. All the Quinns called to say Happy Birthday. You felt special to have so many people care about you.

You got to go shopping and picked out a new outfit. It matches and everything! Angela had you over for a birthday barbeque dinner then everyone came over for games and cake.



You were SO excited for that cake!



Your favorite present was delivered as a surprise from Tom. You were so happy you started to cry, but you were also sad that Tom couldn't be there with you. It's so cute. You're always saying "Tom is my bestest friend."



You're getting bigger every day!  I need to start giving you more vegetable snacks.  It makes me happy, though, to see what a good eater you are. You aren't picky and eat everything I put in front of you.  You love grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and your eyes light up every time I let you have some Pepsi. You love to be in the kitchen and often say "when I grow up I want to have my own cooking show." I think your love of being on stage in front of big audiences also plays a part in that goal.

You are running now which is a recent development and I get so excited to see that you enjoy it.  You love to swim and get antsy to go to the pool each time the sun comes out.

I'm excited for this year ahead of you. I pledge to be better for you and will help you become your best self.

Love,
Tanya

The Call

Listen to the song I just added to my music playlist. It's the last song on the list. "The Call", performed by Regina Spector. It's the song from the latest "Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian." I really like it and I like the message.

I'm just going to leave it at that. You can ask me about how I feel about the message sometime. Here are the lyrics.

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder
'Til it was a battle cry

I'll come back
When you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never
Been this way before

All you can do is try to know
Who your friends are
As you head off to the war

Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye

Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and now one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget

Let your memories grow stronger ans stronger
'Til they're before your eyes

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye

Hero For A Night

My brothers and I have another game tonight. I believe our record now stands at 5-2. Our win last week was the stuff of legends; you should have seen it. The other team was obviously the better, and after the first inning they were up 12 runs. Their bats were thunder-sticks and their mitts were a wall of inescapable vacuums. As you can imagine, we were quite intimidated, and all but defeated. But, just as we were about to abandon all hope, something in our defense switched on, and we were able to hold them to only three more runs the rest of the game as we continued to chip away at their gigantic lead. We sat at the bottom of the last inning 15-15 with one out. There was a man on first and third, and I was up to bat. With one out I only had to hit the ball deep enough for the man on third to tag up and make the run for home. This would seem like a very simple task to the average player, but seeing as how I stand just below average when compared to the rest of the league, I was a little skeptical as I stepped up to the plate. While standing there I became increasingly aware of the dumb things we yell from the dugout, things like "good eye" when the pitchers ball drops a foot short of the plate, and is obviously unhitable. But, we say these things to be supportive and to keep our mouths busy, not actually to congratulate our teammate for avoiding a truly crap pitch, that if swung at would bring endless ridicule.

I allowed this mindless banter to drift to the background as I focused on the pitcher. He was my enemy and I was determined to send him home contemplating quiting the game of softball forever. I didn't just want to beat him, but to crush him, humiliate him, and if possible, cause a marital rift that would tear his family apart, leading to a plunge in his work productivity, which would result in his dismissal, causing the loss of his home and friends, leaving him penniless and broken. I didn't know it then, but looking back I wanted all these things. In the end there was less drama than I would have hoped. I didn't wait for the full count, but took the very first pitch within reach. I swung with all my might, and despite separating many of the muscles in my back and pulling my groin, I sensed the ball connect with the bat in what I like to call "the sweet spot." It was magnificent. The ball sored out, out, out of the infield, landing just past the second baseman, in a place I like to call "the hole", a place where "easy outs" turn into singles, a place where mediocre ball player's dreams come true.
The crowd was uncontrollable (by crowd I mean the three supportive wives) as our man on third made an easy run home bringing the score to 16-15 and ending the game. The air was chill, the stars were out, and I glowed like a pregnant woman as I reveled in the taste of the first sports success of my life.

Sincerely,
Thomas

7 minutes in heaven? Try 2 days!

At Disneyland that is. It was by far the best Disneyland experience ever! I went with my sisters: Connie, Michelle and Nicole. Here are a few highlights, and a lot of pictures.

Within the first hour, we got on 4 rides. We then went on all the rides we could possibly want to multiple times, and even a few Nicole wanted, like Alice in Wonderland. I kid Nicole. I love Alice in Wonderland. The longest wait for a ride was 30 minutes.

The second day we went to Disney's California Adventure which is really fun. I didn't know anything about it going in, but loved it all.

Tower of Terror: You're in an "elevator" and you don't just drop; you go up and down and don't know which way you'll go next. It was great.

California Screamin': Normally on big roller coaster rides you slowly start up the first big hill. Not the case! They count down from 5, then SHOOT you across a speedway and up the first hill.

California Adventure is great for families. It's mainly shows and activities. There are Disney characters walking around everywhere. Some of my favorite activities:

Beast's library: you answer questions and Lumier tells you which Disney character you are most like. I am like Dot the Ant from "Bug's Life" and Mrs. Potts from "Beauty and the Beast."

Ursula's Grotto: you sing or act along with a scene from a Disney movie then it plays back with your voice over the original. I was in heaven.

Here are some pictures of our days. I threw in a picture of a "the happiest mullet on Earth."

The Happiest Place on Earth

Here it comes: cheeseball romantic details of my marriage that you may not care about. Guess what? I don't care! I can't help but declare from the blogging rooftops my intense love for my husband, Thomas Arthur Quinn. May 16Th will be our 5-year anniversary and sadly we will be apart. We're spending the summer down in California. That's right, we chose to move to Bakersfield during its peak hot season. We're crazy like that. That's just one more piece of evidence of Tom's love for me. He's willing to MELT all summer long just so I can be closer to my family. In any case, I have come down early to find a job while Tom finishes up some work in Heber.

We will be apart for over 3 weeks, which is the longest by far that we've been separated, and it's killing me. I'm only one week into it and contemplating jumping a train, changing my name to Bojangles, pasting my hair, or someone else's, to my cheeks, all in the hopes that I could safely arrive in Heber Utah just to see him before donning another disguise to return home. Why the disguise? I don't know; that's how crazy being apart is making me!

I'd like now to wander through the wooded glen of mushy feelings. You're welcome to join me. You're also welcome to skip this entire blog entry and go watch something on youtube. To each his own.

Tom loves Waterworld. I love Babes in Toyland. Tom came from a family of all boys, while I came from a predominately girl family. Tom loves Meatloaf. I love to eat meatloaf. Tom loves mountain biking. I never learned how to ride a bike. We are incompatible on so many levels, but I want to tell you how I feel about compatibility. We are not the same, because that would be boring. But we are compatible. We just fit together. We each bring a unique perspective to life. I know Tom has enlightened mine. He continues to teach me, help me discover more of who I am, and patiently helps me become the woman I want to be.

I always ask Tom, "why are you so good to me?" He replies each time, "because I love you." I always know he means it. It's not a competition, and he's not looking for anything in return. I pray every day to find ways to be good to him. He deserves the best, and I want to be my best for him.

Here's a list of great things Tom does, that I don't deserve, but I love:

1. When I say, "oh I'm so thirsty." and we're lying in bed and he was in bed before me, he'll get up and go get me a big glass of ice water, even though I'll inevitably only take 3 sips before falling asleep.
2. He loves me even after I eat eggs. Nothing further.
3. He cuddles with me all through the night.
4. He shops with me, which I don't make him do often.
5. He listens to me as I work things out audibly, even when I don't want an answer.
6. He supports me going back to school before he finishes.
7. He does the dishes. He loves to do dishes. It's crazy!
8. He sings me lullabies every time I ask him to, even though I'm 25.
9. We do tradsies; I rub his shoulders for 5 minutes and he rubs mine for 50.

Here's a list of things that just make me gaga for Tom:

1. His blue eyes.
2. He's so excited for Christmas that he gets up at 4:00 am and walks around the neighborhood, waiting for everyone else to wake up.
3. Whenever he performs: comedy, music, sports.
4. His Christopher Walkin impersonation.
5. His 100% home teaching record, not because it's a record, but because he has a love for and testimony of the work that makes it not work.
6. When he laughs at goofy things I say until he cries, not because they're witty, but because he loves me and I can see it.
7. His family. I met Tom's family two weeks into our dating and just fell in love with them, possibly before I fell in love with him.
8. He holds my hand, even when we're driving in the car.
9. He continues to dream and dream big!
10. His freckles, all of them.

I will be able to bare being away from Tom for our anniversary because I know that we can be together forever. I pray each day that I will live worthy of him. I could be doing the most exciting activity on earth, but without Tom, it's just not complete. I could be doing the most boring, mundane nothingness, but when Tom's there, it becomes the happiest place on Earth.


I love you baby.

Lately

So, remember when I won Gold at the college level in a competition I didn't compete in? Well, I had a chance to prove myself and I'm happy to report I didn't fall flat on my face. In fact, I took the Gold record at State and will be competing at the National competition in June! I want so badly to write more, but here's an update on why I can't write much.

I am enjoying school immensely and I get to bake and decorate beautiful desserts. School is from 8:00am to 1:30pm. From there I go to work from 2:00 to 8:30pm and then home and to bed.

I got a job at Cirque Lodge, the rehab facility to the rich and the famous. I get to cook for 50 people and am exposed to diverse and fabulous menus each day. That's all for now. I'm tired ya'll!

Here's one for the road:

We had a scholarship ball to raise money for the culinary program. I made those desserts with my class. They were insanely intricate and time-consuming. I loved every minute of it!