I did exchange the salad on the menu with scallops... scallops being harder and more labor intensive, left off the salad because there was just too much food to fit it in. I started the family off with the scallops (Coquilles Saint-Jacques) and a Pissaladiere Nicoise (pie crust/tart w/carmelized onions, anchovies and black olives), then Poulet Saute aux Herbes de Provence (Chicken stewed in butter, wine, and herbs) and Ratatouille (eggplant, zuchinni, green peppers and tomatoes cooked in herbs and butter til very tender)...salad was supposed to come next... but there isn't any skills needed in making a salad and I had substituted the scallops instead. And of course we finished it off with the Reine de Saba cake (Queen of Sheba cake).
Scallops, Chicken and the Cake all got two thumbs ups and yums from everyone. The Ratatouille and the Pissaladiere Nicoise we all enjoyed tasting, flavors were excellent.... however... my husband isn't an onion fan and I'm not an anchovy fan, thus... I wouldn't make the tart or the ratatouille for just the two of us. The ratatouille was way better than I anticipated, but.... it is still mushy cooked veggies and I'm not a fan of mushy veggies either. Can't believe I actually tried both dishes... but I did and am glad I did too. Nice to know how things actually tastes after so much labor involved in making them. I'm making progress in trying new dishes... in the past I would cook it for others and then turn my nose up and refuse to even nibble a taste. In this area I'm growing leaps and bounds, which is not easy for "Picky Vickie".
It was a LOOONNNGGG day yesterday cooking. I had an absolute ball and was totally exhausted and spent afterwards. I have no clue how Julia cooked everyday like that and experimented with all those dishes for 10 years writing her first book, and then did the same for all her other books. And so far.... all that hard work she put into these cookbooks and testing and tasting and revising recipes to create "a flawless standard recipe", was worth her efforts because truly.... I have not failed at a single recipe thus far, and I'm cooking things I would never have cooked before because I was afraid only 'professional chefs' could really make such dishes. I'm sooo amazed! If you read the recipe all the way through first and then go back and do step by step, just like she instructs.... everything comes out perfectly delicious! Not everything comes out looking pretty, but she has shown how to recover a dish or how to turn the dish into a different dish when flops happen. And as soon as you see or taste your final results with her recipes.... you know you have actually succeeded in making that recipe. They all sound and look hard, but really... it's just having the time to do the steps correctly.
In summary... the "Bon Appetit" menu was truly a CHALLENGE!!! Glad I did it and hope others give it a try. Yesterday was the 5 year anniversary of her death.... I never met the person Julia Child, but I sure do miss her! I'm just sooo glad there are sooo many books and preserved papers, notes and letters from her, to help future generations come to know and love her too. She remains such a delight in my life! THANK YOU Julia for inspiring me to go further and deeper into the world of culinary and to feel comfortable that... I feel HEY!!! I can do that! And then I do!
How do I get a countdown for the recipes I have left to do? Does anyone know how to get a countdown clock application on blogs?
Today I'm gonna chill out poolside with my visiting daughter and just enjoy a quiet relaxing, refueling day! It's Friday night Date night, Jessica/Winston and Amber will be here for dinner tonight. Don't know what we are cooking yet.... but you can be sure at least one of Julia's recipes will be part of the menu. It's a HOT HOT HOT day, so it sounds like it's a "grilling ribs" night tho!
Bon Appetit!
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