My youngest daughter (Lauren) became engaged Friday night and the wedding plans are 'full steam ahead' already! Even tho.... wedding planning can be quite stressful..... it's just plain fun too! Joe and I are very excited for Lauren and Kevin.
Today we (myself, Lauren and middle daughter Jessica) went to look for wedding gowns..... just a look see.... no commitments..... just to start the search. 4 hours later... the wedding dress is bought and checked off the 'to do' list. Lauren is our daughter who went to LA 3 years ago to pursue her quest to be a Fashion Stylist/Visual Merchandiser.... so..... of all my daughters she has definite ideas on exactly what she was looking for in her wedding dress. The dress she chose is absolutely stunning and fits her personality and fashion style to a tee!
Myself, Lauren and oldest daughter Amber are heading out tomorrow to try and secure the reception venue and an actual wedding date. Lauren is hoping for an August or September date... but it will depend on what is available at her choice venue. Planning this wedding will be a breeze compared to Jessica's wedding 2 years ago, because everything is still fresh in our minds and we have already done all the leg work of interviewing florists, photographers, DJ's/Bands and such, and Jessica still has her binder with all the information in it. On the way home Lauren stopped to purchase her own binder and has it already quite full! My girls have always kept journals of ideas for their perfect wedding, so when they get engaged they already have a pretty good idea of what they want their wedding to be like.
The fun has just begun (as well as the headaches and checkbook crunching.... tee hee) and we are all excited to celebrate with Lauren and Kevin on their special day, which will roll around before we can blink!
CONGRATULATIONS Lauren and Kevin!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Just call me Chef V!
It's official!..... I'm a classically trained and certified Chef! WOO HOO!!!! Trading in my floppy for a stiffy (and that refers to my toque/chef hat! LOL) My first Bucket List item checked off. I am beyond thrilled with this accomplishment. My goal was to not only earn my Chef certificate, but to do so with a 4.0 GPA..... I DID IT!!!! WOO HOOTY HOOT HOO!!!!!! This was a very self empowering journey... sooooooooooooo glad I did it!
This past Wednesday was finals for Baking 1, my last class in my quest to earning my Chef degree. I hunkered down for a week studying and baked 3 batches of eclairs in this week as well to practice, and it all paid off quite nicely! I made a 99.1 on my written final and an A on my practical final. We had to make eclairs, pastry cream and chocolate ganache as the practical final and we also had a weights and measure obstacle course to complete as well. Wednesday was one of those 'PERFECT' days!
Now what am I going to do with my degree? That is the question I get asked a lot, as well as suggestions on what kind of restaurant or business I should open up. I'm very touched that so many people in my life think my culinary skills are worthy of running a successful business... but... I feel like I still have lots more to learn before I even consider opening an eatery of any kind. A breakfast/lunch shop is the suggestion I get the most.... I think that has a lot to do with my last baking class and all the yummy pastries I have learned to make, and because many of my family and friends had to eat their way through all my practice batches of pastries... willingly I might add..... actually quite willingly!!! LOL I think my kitchen has a permanent smell of pastry cream from all the eclairs I have made in the past week..... the only bad thing is.... the minute you walk into my kitchen you start drooling and looking for the sweet treats your nose is telling you are there! LOL
For the rest of the winter months my plan is to continue my education through Julia Child, Ina Gartner, Giada De Laurentis, and Paul Bocuse from their wonderful cookbooks I have collected. In the spring if my schedule permits, there are several more culinary/baking classes I would like to take just for the fun of it. And I also have several cookbooks from our abroad travels that I would like to learn from and cook from as well. The cooking and learning isn't over just because I graduated, and as I try out and learn new recipes, I will post any and all of them on my blog for all my blog readers to try as well. We will continue to learn and cook together!
Thank you to all my blog readers for all of your support!! I always enjoy it when my blog gets mentioned in a conversation, especially when someone has told me they tried a recipe I posted and their thoughts about the recipe. I hear from several of you that you would like to comment on my blog, but can't figure out how to do so..... wish I could help with this issue because I would love to hear your thoughts.... but I'm clueless... I have no idea how to post comments. If anyone figures it out and can post a comment on how to post comments I would deeply appreciate it! Because I too would love for bloggers to be able to post their recipes for me to try as well.
Happy Cooking!!!
Chef V
This past Wednesday was finals for Baking 1, my last class in my quest to earning my Chef degree. I hunkered down for a week studying and baked 3 batches of eclairs in this week as well to practice, and it all paid off quite nicely! I made a 99.1 on my written final and an A on my practical final. We had to make eclairs, pastry cream and chocolate ganache as the practical final and we also had a weights and measure obstacle course to complete as well. Wednesday was one of those 'PERFECT' days!
Now what am I going to do with my degree? That is the question I get asked a lot, as well as suggestions on what kind of restaurant or business I should open up. I'm very touched that so many people in my life think my culinary skills are worthy of running a successful business... but... I feel like I still have lots more to learn before I even consider opening an eatery of any kind. A breakfast/lunch shop is the suggestion I get the most.... I think that has a lot to do with my last baking class and all the yummy pastries I have learned to make, and because many of my family and friends had to eat their way through all my practice batches of pastries... willingly I might add..... actually quite willingly!!! LOL I think my kitchen has a permanent smell of pastry cream from all the eclairs I have made in the past week..... the only bad thing is.... the minute you walk into my kitchen you start drooling and looking for the sweet treats your nose is telling you are there! LOL
For the rest of the winter months my plan is to continue my education through Julia Child, Ina Gartner, Giada De Laurentis, and Paul Bocuse from their wonderful cookbooks I have collected. In the spring if my schedule permits, there are several more culinary/baking classes I would like to take just for the fun of it. And I also have several cookbooks from our abroad travels that I would like to learn from and cook from as well. The cooking and learning isn't over just because I graduated, and as I try out and learn new recipes, I will post any and all of them on my blog for all my blog readers to try as well. We will continue to learn and cook together!
Thank you to all my blog readers for all of your support!! I always enjoy it when my blog gets mentioned in a conversation, especially when someone has told me they tried a recipe I posted and their thoughts about the recipe. I hear from several of you that you would like to comment on my blog, but can't figure out how to do so..... wish I could help with this issue because I would love to hear your thoughts.... but I'm clueless... I have no idea how to post comments. If anyone figures it out and can post a comment on how to post comments I would deeply appreciate it! Because I too would love for bloggers to be able to post their recipes for me to try as well.
Happy Cooking!!!
Chef V
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Eclairs CONQUERED!!!
Next week is finals week for my Baking 1 class, which includes a 1 hour written exam and a 5 hour practical exam. The practical exam has a 'measurement obstacle course' and a revisit to the Pate Choux (eclairs), Mousseline Pastry Cream and Chocolate Ganache recipes. We have to make eclairs from start to finish and present our final products as our practical exam.
I have made an A every day in baking lab.... except for the day we made eclairs and my eclair pastry fell after it cooled from the oven. I have been practicing making them at home, knowing I had to conquer the making of them to get an A on my final presentation. The first batch I made at home were successful, but the ones I made yesterday are not only successful, but soooooo DELISH!!!! Now I'm ready for my finals with confidence! WHEW!!!!!!
However, the down side of making yet another batch of these DELISH eclairs is, I can't stop eating them!!!, which is wrecking havoc on my poor tummy! They are absolutely addicting I tell you! The mousseline pastry cream inside is so good, I could have eaten the whole bowl of it before starting to fill the eclairs. These eclairs taste as good as any you would find in any pastry shop in France.
They truly aren't hard to make, they just need practice to make them perfect. I'm soooo glad I have finally conquered making them and have the confidence to do well in my finals next week. I will be ending my culinary school experience on a very happy note! I am looking forward to more pastry and cooking projects to conquer in my own home after I graduate next week, and I will most likely continue taking cooking/baking classes because I enjoy the experience and the learning environment so much.
I think I need to go 'taste test' one more of these wonderful eclairs..... just to make sure they are all truly as good as the last one I ate!
Wishing all of you a Yummy Day!
I have made an A every day in baking lab.... except for the day we made eclairs and my eclair pastry fell after it cooled from the oven. I have been practicing making them at home, knowing I had to conquer the making of them to get an A on my final presentation. The first batch I made at home were successful, but the ones I made yesterday are not only successful, but soooooo DELISH!!!! Now I'm ready for my finals with confidence! WHEW!!!!!!
However, the down side of making yet another batch of these DELISH eclairs is, I can't stop eating them!!!, which is wrecking havoc on my poor tummy! They are absolutely addicting I tell you! The mousseline pastry cream inside is so good, I could have eaten the whole bowl of it before starting to fill the eclairs. These eclairs taste as good as any you would find in any pastry shop in France.
They truly aren't hard to make, they just need practice to make them perfect. I'm soooo glad I have finally conquered making them and have the confidence to do well in my finals next week. I will be ending my culinary school experience on a very happy note! I am looking forward to more pastry and cooking projects to conquer in my own home after I graduate next week, and I will most likely continue taking cooking/baking classes because I enjoy the experience and the learning environment so much.
I think I need to go 'taste test' one more of these wonderful eclairs..... just to make sure they are all truly as good as the last one I ate!
Wishing all of you a Yummy Day!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
A little hiatus
Dear blogger friends...
I apologize for the pause in my blogging for the past week or so, but my heart and mind is currently occupied with family members and friends who are all going through hard times due to illness and other tragedy's. I'm traveling a lot to help out or be with these very special people during their hard times and/or on the phone with others who just need an ear and a shoulder. I will continue with my blog as soon as possible, so please continue to check back for blogging updates. Thank you to all of you who know of the people I am speaking about and keeping them in your hearts and prayers also. As they say... when it rains it pours.... but.... I have strong faith and I know that the good LORD will continue to be with me and the others in my prayers to help us all get through these difficult times. May God Bless you all!
I apologize for the pause in my blogging for the past week or so, but my heart and mind is currently occupied with family members and friends who are all going through hard times due to illness and other tragedy's. I'm traveling a lot to help out or be with these very special people during their hard times and/or on the phone with others who just need an ear and a shoulder. I will continue with my blog as soon as possible, so please continue to check back for blogging updates. Thank you to all of you who know of the people I am speaking about and keeping them in your hearts and prayers also. As they say... when it rains it pours.... but.... I have strong faith and I know that the good LORD will continue to be with me and the others in my prayers to help us all get through these difficult times. May God Bless you all!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
SNOW DAY!!!
WOO HOO SNOW DAY!!!! Today is the first "Snow Day" of the year..... and it's only January 7th!!! I'm sitting here watching these huge gorgeous snow flakes falling..... reminds of flour being sifted! And for some reason.... it always seems sooooo quiet and peaceful when it is snowing..... that is if you are inside snug and warm while you watch it.
If you have to be out and about in bad weather.... I doubt you would think it is anything but quiet and peaceful! I always tell my girls at the start of each winter to make sure they have the essentials on hand in their car at all times..... just in case! The essentials are.... a blanket, a bottle of water and some sort of snack, like crackers, chips, cookies.... anything that you can nibble on if you do get stuck and/or stranded. Keep warm, hydrated and fed until help arrives.
I personally LOVE snow days because I don't have to get out in the mess. Ever since I was a little girl I always thought snow days were sooo magical. It was like a free day off that was always spent as a family day.... playing games, working puzzles, building snowmen and/or forts, snow ball fights, sledding/tobogganing and making snow cream. Today I have a pot of bean soup simmering, and will make some snow cream later. My youngest daughter just moved home from LA and the one thing she really missed living in LA was snow and snow cream. It's a family tradition to make snow cream on snow days..... kinda like having turkey for Thanksgiving.
My best wishes are with those of you who have to endure the bad weather and not get to enjoy the day snug at home with family. But for those of you who do get to stay home with your families, take the time to enjoy the magic of the day and the memories you will make. Bake some cookies, make some snow cream, play games together, or hunker down with a good book, but be sure to enjoy the specialness of a free day off. New fallen snow is always so beautiful and sparkly clean... I do love the snow.
SNOW CREAM..... is basically snow + sugar + cream/milk/condensed milk. Gather clean snow..... put a pan outside to collect the snow as it falls, or gather fresh snow from a clean area.... but always sit your pan outside first, the pan must be cold or the snow will melt to fast, making snow slush instead of snow cream... to the snow add sugar..... lots of it!.... and mix with milk, cream or best yet.... sweetened condensed milk.... stir and taste until it looks and tastes like homemade ice cream. It won't be the consistency of ice cream you buy in the store, but it will be the consistency of homemade ice cream..... and tastes just like homemade ice cream too! Not hard to make......you can't mess it up.... you either keep adding snow, sugar or cream/milk/condensed milk until it looks and tastes right. It's that simple. The snow cream can be topped with chocolate syrup, berries or any other topping you would put on ice cream. Hope you try this and I hope you like it.
Happy Snow Day!!!!
If you have to be out and about in bad weather.... I doubt you would think it is anything but quiet and peaceful! I always tell my girls at the start of each winter to make sure they have the essentials on hand in their car at all times..... just in case! The essentials are.... a blanket, a bottle of water and some sort of snack, like crackers, chips, cookies.... anything that you can nibble on if you do get stuck and/or stranded. Keep warm, hydrated and fed until help arrives.
I personally LOVE snow days because I don't have to get out in the mess. Ever since I was a little girl I always thought snow days were sooo magical. It was like a free day off that was always spent as a family day.... playing games, working puzzles, building snowmen and/or forts, snow ball fights, sledding/tobogganing and making snow cream. Today I have a pot of bean soup simmering, and will make some snow cream later. My youngest daughter just moved home from LA and the one thing she really missed living in LA was snow and snow cream. It's a family tradition to make snow cream on snow days..... kinda like having turkey for Thanksgiving.
My best wishes are with those of you who have to endure the bad weather and not get to enjoy the day snug at home with family. But for those of you who do get to stay home with your families, take the time to enjoy the magic of the day and the memories you will make. Bake some cookies, make some snow cream, play games together, or hunker down with a good book, but be sure to enjoy the specialness of a free day off. New fallen snow is always so beautiful and sparkly clean... I do love the snow.
SNOW CREAM..... is basically snow + sugar + cream/milk/condensed milk. Gather clean snow..... put a pan outside to collect the snow as it falls, or gather fresh snow from a clean area.... but always sit your pan outside first, the pan must be cold or the snow will melt to fast, making snow slush instead of snow cream... to the snow add sugar..... lots of it!.... and mix with milk, cream or best yet.... sweetened condensed milk.... stir and taste until it looks and tastes like homemade ice cream. It won't be the consistency of ice cream you buy in the store, but it will be the consistency of homemade ice cream..... and tastes just like homemade ice cream too! Not hard to make......you can't mess it up.... you either keep adding snow, sugar or cream/milk/condensed milk until it looks and tastes right. It's that simple. The snow cream can be topped with chocolate syrup, berries or any other topping you would put on ice cream. Hope you try this and I hope you like it.
Happy Snow Day!!!!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Back To School After the Holidays
Today was a literal whirlwind!!! We did 5!!!! Yep.... that's FIVE recipes in class today!!! That is A LOT of baking! And the thing is.... I can't believe how wonderful every single recipe we bake in class is! Just when I think nothing could get tastier than whatever we just baked.... the next week we bake all new recipes and I'm again amazed! Today was Blueberry Muffins (recipe will be in this blog)..... AMAZING!!!!!!!.........Scones, Almond Slice Cookies, Almond Macaroons, and Double Chocolate Chunk Macadamia Nut Cookies....... it was impossible to be in that baking kitchen today and ignore all of the seriously amazing aroma's wafting from those ovens..... good thing I still have my chef coat unwashed for a scratch and sniff baking aroma fix should I need it! LOL LOL
I tried really hard to find another word than 'amazing' to use to describe the experience of today in the class kitchen.... but..... it simply twas..... amazing! LOL It's truly the only word that fits! But you be the judge.... you bake these blueberry muffins and see if you too don't think they are.... amazing!
BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
5 oz butter
6 1/2 oz sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 heaping Tbsp powdered milk
2 eggs
10 oz cake flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
7 /12 oz water
5 oz frozen blueberries
STREUSEL TOPPING
1 oz butter
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 oz pastry flour
1. Combine butter, sugar, salt and powdered milk in mixer with paddle attachment (hand mixer will do just fine).
2. Cream ingredients together until light.
3. Slightly beat eggs and add 1/3rd of eggs to creamed ingredients. After eggs have mixed in, add another 3rd, continue until all eggs have been mixed in.
4. Sift together the flour and baking powder.
5. Stir together the liquid ingredients until well combined.
6. Place blueberries in a bowl and add a Tbsp or so of flour mixture to blueberries and shake blueberries to coat (this keeps the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the muffins and keeps them evenly distrubted through the muffins).
7. Add the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the liquids, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. DO NOT OVERMIX...... mix just until the ingredients come together smoothly.
8. Rub all of the streusel topping ingredients together with fingers until mixture is crumbly.
9. In muffin tins lined with paper liners, scoop batter 3/4 full of muffin cups.
10. sprinkle tops of muffins with streusel mixture.
11. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes.... until golden brown.
My 'neck of the woods' is expecting a BIG snow storm early in the morning..... schools and business's were discussing all day today whether or not they would be closed..... so I made sure to do a quickie store run to stock up on essentials this afternoon on my way home from class. If we really get the storm they are expecting.... I'm gonna have a bake-a-thon tomorrow for practice purposes. I made sure to get the ingredients I needed to make more of those amazing blueberry muffins too!! If you find yourself also burrowed in for a 'snow day', and you happen to have some frozen blueberries (or I'm sure fresh would do too) on hand, maybe you can make a batch of these muffins, brew yourself a pot of tea (or coffee), stay in your jammies and fluffy slippers, prop your feet up, and enjoy the magical wonders of a 'snow day'...... because snow days are indeed magical!
I tried really hard to find another word than 'amazing' to use to describe the experience of today in the class kitchen.... but..... it simply twas..... amazing! LOL It's truly the only word that fits! But you be the judge.... you bake these blueberry muffins and see if you too don't think they are.... amazing!
BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
5 oz butter
6 1/2 oz sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 heaping Tbsp powdered milk
2 eggs
10 oz cake flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
7 /12 oz water
5 oz frozen blueberries
STREUSEL TOPPING
1 oz butter
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 oz pastry flour
1. Combine butter, sugar, salt and powdered milk in mixer with paddle attachment (hand mixer will do just fine).
2. Cream ingredients together until light.
3. Slightly beat eggs and add 1/3rd of eggs to creamed ingredients. After eggs have mixed in, add another 3rd, continue until all eggs have been mixed in.
4. Sift together the flour and baking powder.
5. Stir together the liquid ingredients until well combined.
6. Place blueberries in a bowl and add a Tbsp or so of flour mixture to blueberries and shake blueberries to coat (this keeps the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the muffins and keeps them evenly distrubted through the muffins).
7. Add the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the liquids, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. DO NOT OVERMIX...... mix just until the ingredients come together smoothly.
8. Rub all of the streusel topping ingredients together with fingers until mixture is crumbly.
9. In muffin tins lined with paper liners, scoop batter 3/4 full of muffin cups.
10. sprinkle tops of muffins with streusel mixture.
11. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes.... until golden brown.
My 'neck of the woods' is expecting a BIG snow storm early in the morning..... schools and business's were discussing all day today whether or not they would be closed..... so I made sure to do a quickie store run to stock up on essentials this afternoon on my way home from class. If we really get the storm they are expecting.... I'm gonna have a bake-a-thon tomorrow for practice purposes. I made sure to get the ingredients I needed to make more of those amazing blueberry muffins too!! If you find yourself also burrowed in for a 'snow day', and you happen to have some frozen blueberries (or I'm sure fresh would do too) on hand, maybe you can make a batch of these muffins, brew yourself a pot of tea (or coffee), stay in your jammies and fluffy slippers, prop your feet up, and enjoy the magical wonders of a 'snow day'...... because snow days are indeed magical!
Monday, January 4, 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
WOW!!!! 2010!!!!!! Can't believe this is my first time to blog all year! Hardy har har!!! : )
So....... holidays flew by in a whirl of everything..... from a welcome home celebration, Christmas celebrations, an emergency surgery, 2 deaths (both in their late 80's and in severe health for months.... but they still will be dearly missed), a Birthday (my Daddio's..... he's a New Year's baby), New Years Eve celebration with just Joe and I snuggled up on the couch and a gathering of family and friends at our house on New Years Day. And now it's all over...... Boom bam..... thank you mam..... come and gone..... just like that! All that is left are stray tinsel bits, Christmas tree needles and the smell of Christmas still in the air.
I hope all my blog readers had wonderful holiday celebrations with friends and/or family and that 2010 brings you many blessings, and good health!!!
On reflection of 2009..... I survived it, I'm stronger for it, I have learned a lot this year both educationally and emotionally, I laughed a lot, I hugged a lot, I grew a lot and I had many blessings. Now having said that..... I'm glad 2009 is over and I welcome 2010 with the highest of hopes and a positive attitude. My thoughts are with those we lost this past year and my prayers are with those who they left behind. WE MISS YOU!! My Cheers and Congratulations to all those who got promoted, engaged, married and/or graduated this past year! WELL DONE and GOOD LUCK!!! The general consensus among my friends and family is that they too are glad to leave 2009 behind. It was just one of those 'challenging' kinda of years. Not that it was a bad year so to speak, it was just one that had to be endured and/or struggled through... but again.... it made us all the stronger for it. I have no idea what to expect from this new decade or this new year.... but.... I know I want to continue to surround myself with my family and friends and enter into this new adventure together. And...... may we discover many new yummy recipes and dishes together!!
CHEERS!!!
So....... holidays flew by in a whirl of everything..... from a welcome home celebration, Christmas celebrations, an emergency surgery, 2 deaths (both in their late 80's and in severe health for months.... but they still will be dearly missed), a Birthday (my Daddio's..... he's a New Year's baby), New Years Eve celebration with just Joe and I snuggled up on the couch and a gathering of family and friends at our house on New Years Day. And now it's all over...... Boom bam..... thank you mam..... come and gone..... just like that! All that is left are stray tinsel bits, Christmas tree needles and the smell of Christmas still in the air.
I hope all my blog readers had wonderful holiday celebrations with friends and/or family and that 2010 brings you many blessings, and good health!!!
On reflection of 2009..... I survived it, I'm stronger for it, I have learned a lot this year both educationally and emotionally, I laughed a lot, I hugged a lot, I grew a lot and I had many blessings. Now having said that..... I'm glad 2009 is over and I welcome 2010 with the highest of hopes and a positive attitude. My thoughts are with those we lost this past year and my prayers are with those who they left behind. WE MISS YOU!! My Cheers and Congratulations to all those who got promoted, engaged, married and/or graduated this past year! WELL DONE and GOOD LUCK!!! The general consensus among my friends and family is that they too are glad to leave 2009 behind. It was just one of those 'challenging' kinda of years. Not that it was a bad year so to speak, it was just one that had to be endured and/or struggled through... but again.... it made us all the stronger for it. I have no idea what to expect from this new decade or this new year.... but.... I know I want to continue to surround myself with my family and friends and enter into this new adventure together. And...... may we discover many new yummy recipes and dishes together!!
CHEERS!!!
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About Me
- Vickie G
- I am a short little lady with a passion for cooking and pilates. I have been married for 31 years to my high school sweetheart (my soulmate and love of my life!!!) and we have 3 amazing daughters. I am 50 years old and love living life with as much zest as possible.