Strange sounding post, I know...hang with me...this one comes in segments.
Segment One:
My first quarter in culinary school is almost over. I have this week and next week...that's it! Eleven weeks has blown by so much faster than I ever felt possible. There have been some points where I have gotten so overwhelmed with everything going on in my life right now. Almost like I am spinning on an out of control carousel and can't get off. It's hard, especially this week with finals breathing down my throat, to look step back and look at the big picture. Then something as small as looking at a recipe gives me a whole new outlook on how things are going.
I have this cookbook from Food and Wine magazine...my favorite magazine in the world! It is full of wonderful recipes and gorgeous pictures. The only problem was, I didn't know what half of the words in the book were without having to look them up. I found that I used the book very rarely, and only on special occasions, because I had to look up things in the recipe as I made it. I pulled it out the other day and realized that I know most of those "big words" now. Something so small felt like such a big accomplishment! Guess what I am learning really is sticking in that ole brain of mine!
Segment Two:
The Bachelorette is being filmed less than a mile from my house. A good friend of mine, in fact, lives in the neighborhood across the street. She got this idea in her head about trying to get me on the show...cooking for the cast or crew...not competing! The tents went up a few weeks ago, and rumor has it that they started filming this past Sunday. I've done countless drive bys trying to figure out the best way to wriggle my way into this gated community and pass out some cards. The problem because, I have my little girl during the day. Which, cute as she is, having a baby strapped to your hip isn't the best way to pass out your business cards. My next idea was to go at night when I get out of class. Did I mention that I get out of class at midnight? I've heard that they film at night, so you would think this would have been perfect. Sadly, the one night I did park my car on the side of the road and walk in to this neighborhood, I couldn't find any one to talk to within about ten minutes. And that was all I was going to spend walking around this multi-million dollar neighborhood after midnight. The last thing I need is the cops being called on me! So, I left some business cards with my friend that lives across the street in case she ever spots someone when she's out "walking". I'm not expecting to hear anything...but you never know!
Segment Three:
I told myself when I started culinary school that I would keep an open mind about food. I've never had an issue with this in the past, and there are very few foods that I don't like. Still, I knew we would probably be going into unfamiliar territory and I needed to remain open. A few weeks ago it happened for the first time. We made...Brussels sprouts. I see people buying these all the time. I had eaten them once in my life before and they were TERRIBLE. My grandmother cooked them once when I was little. All I remember is the house stinking terribly when she was done...and them tasting like a mushy, burnt mess. I dreaded the whole night. I wasn't crazy about having to cook them, let alone taste them. I realized at the end of the night exactly why my grandmother's Brussels sprouts tasted like a mushy, burnt mess....they were. Brussels sprouts aren't meant to be cooked very long, just boiled in heavily salted water until fork tender. They come out tasting like baby cabbages. Even my hubby liked them. Guess I can be thankful for giving things a second try. My new memory of Brussels sprouts isn't gross at all.
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