In a bit of a slump.
I'll try to have a post ready for Saturday.
Thank you for your patience.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Casual Dinner at a Professional Chef's House
Being at a non-religious school after so many years of Catholic school, I have glued myself to a club at my school called the Christian Student Fellowship. I've gone to every meeting I can get to and have frequently hung out with most of the members outside of meetings and bible studies. They've become my friends, and through them I am becoming stronger in my faith; I thank God for them. I can't imagine what college life would be like without their friendship and ready acceptance.
How does this relate to food?
Well, one of the chefs at our school is a strong believing christian who has initiated a monthly bible study at his house to promote faith in the culinary field. The reasoning is that culinary is a tough field and does not always have the most spiritual group of people in it. Faith is something that this chef believes people need in order to make it through such a challenging career. This past friday all interested culinary CSF members went to his house for a casual dinner to discuss what the bible study will be about and how we will go about organizing it.
His house was beautiful, a real homey home. It was comfortable and welcoming and smelled deliciously of cooked chicken and hot apple cider. The chef only cooked a protein; so, older CSF members who live in apartments with kitchens and fridges brought side dishes. There was sweet potato casserole, fresh veggies and dip, thick slices of bread with garlic butter spread, and german potato salad. Everything was amazing. It felt like thanksgiving. It was the first home cooked dinner I have had since I moved in (unless you count the chicken pot pie leftovers my parents brought me when they visited). The two rooms we had settled into to eat were filled with chatter and laughter and what CSF likes to over refer to as "fellowship." It was wonderful.
After dinner, everyone helped to clear the tables and then squashed into the living room with coffee, tea, more apple cider, cake bars, and six layer bars (not seven because there were no butterscotch chips). We sat in a circle and just talked. We got to know each other better, especially the chef who very few of us were acquainted with. We talked about everything from why I wear miss-matched socks to how the strangest thing our club leader had ever eaten was a giant worm in africa to discussing what the Bible says about marriage and being single. The whole time it was raining and thundering outside, making the room that much cozier and the feelings of security and friendship that much stronger.
At the end of the night, we all said thank you to the chef, tromped on our shoes, huddled under umbrellas, and piled back into the school van we had rented to head back to school. It was a wonderful night, a night that I hope to enjoy again next month.
How does this relate to food?
Well, one of the chefs at our school is a strong believing christian who has initiated a monthly bible study at his house to promote faith in the culinary field. The reasoning is that culinary is a tough field and does not always have the most spiritual group of people in it. Faith is something that this chef believes people need in order to make it through such a challenging career. This past friday all interested culinary CSF members went to his house for a casual dinner to discuss what the bible study will be about and how we will go about organizing it.
His house was beautiful, a real homey home. It was comfortable and welcoming and smelled deliciously of cooked chicken and hot apple cider. The chef only cooked a protein; so, older CSF members who live in apartments with kitchens and fridges brought side dishes. There was sweet potato casserole, fresh veggies and dip, thick slices of bread with garlic butter spread, and german potato salad. Everything was amazing. It felt like thanksgiving. It was the first home cooked dinner I have had since I moved in (unless you count the chicken pot pie leftovers my parents brought me when they visited). The two rooms we had settled into to eat were filled with chatter and laughter and what CSF likes to over refer to as "fellowship." It was wonderful.
After dinner, everyone helped to clear the tables and then squashed into the living room with coffee, tea, more apple cider, cake bars, and six layer bars (not seven because there were no butterscotch chips). We sat in a circle and just talked. We got to know each other better, especially the chef who very few of us were acquainted with. We talked about everything from why I wear miss-matched socks to how the strangest thing our club leader had ever eaten was a giant worm in africa to discussing what the Bible says about marriage and being single. The whole time it was raining and thundering outside, making the room that much cozier and the feelings of security and friendship that much stronger.
At the end of the night, we all said thank you to the chef, tromped on our shoes, huddled under umbrellas, and piled back into the school van we had rented to head back to school. It was a wonderful night, a night that I hope to enjoy again next month.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Chocolate Covered Cacao Nibs
Without a doubt, there is nothing more delicious in the entire world than chocolate. It is rich and homey and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. It is a perfect medium for art and experimentation. It goes well with most any flavor. I am a proud, self-admitted chocoholic. In response to my chocolate passion and chocolate-laced career choice, my parents signed all of us up for a chocolate tour of Taza chocolate. The tour was as wonderful as all the chocolate smelled. One of Taza's main goals is to provide chocolates that are minimally processed chocolates in which the beans have been traditionally stone ground. Everything was delicious and naturally textured.
They showed us the origin of the cocoa beans, a cacao pod (one of which I have sitting in my room, a souvenir from the tour). They also explained how the coco beans are broken up into cacao nibs, which they allowed us to taste. It was mildly like having my first cup of black coffee after being used to iced coffee with cream and sugar. I've always been a fan of darker chocolates but I was not prepared for the bitterness, the richness, the deliciousness of pure cacao.
As epiphanating as the consumption was, in itself the pure cacao nib was TOO bitter. Much like black coffee, you almost have to be in the right mood for it. Luckily, Taza also makes chocolate covered cacao nibs. They are the perfect mix of crunchy, sweet, bitter, and chocolate. They can brighten any mood and initiate any friendship. I have a half empty can in my room and between my roommates it has become the equivalent of placing a box of tissues on their bed whenever anyone is in a bad mood. They are small and poppable and addictive. They taste really awesome mixed into vanilla ice cream, which perfectly, sweetly, and simply complements the complex, dark flavors of the nibs. They're truly amazing, especially for those who like dark, bitter chocolate or those who just want to experience a purer flavor of chocolate than the overly processed "European" chocolate that most of us are used to. I strongly encourage everyone to pick up at least one of the little packets Taza sells though it's easy to eat a whole can. Trust me, I know.
They showed us the origin of the cocoa beans, a cacao pod (one of which I have sitting in my room, a souvenir from the tour). They also explained how the coco beans are broken up into cacao nibs, which they allowed us to taste. It was mildly like having my first cup of black coffee after being used to iced coffee with cream and sugar. I've always been a fan of darker chocolates but I was not prepared for the bitterness, the richness, the deliciousness of pure cacao.
As epiphanating as the consumption was, in itself the pure cacao nib was TOO bitter. Much like black coffee, you almost have to be in the right mood for it. Luckily, Taza also makes chocolate covered cacao nibs. They are the perfect mix of crunchy, sweet, bitter, and chocolate. They can brighten any mood and initiate any friendship. I have a half empty can in my room and between my roommates it has become the equivalent of placing a box of tissues on their bed whenever anyone is in a bad mood. They are small and poppable and addictive. They taste really awesome mixed into vanilla ice cream, which perfectly, sweetly, and simply complements the complex, dark flavors of the nibs. They're truly amazing, especially for those who like dark, bitter chocolate or those who just want to experience a purer flavor of chocolate than the overly processed "European" chocolate that most of us are used to. I strongly encourage everyone to pick up at least one of the little packets Taza sells though it's easy to eat a whole can. Trust me, I know.
my attempt at green screening
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Cucumbers
Can I just say, in a totally non-suggestive way, that I just bit into a whole cucumber and it was awesome! After my parent's recent visit and unloading of a bunch of delicious foods, I have been left with more food in my room than I can reasonably eat before it goes bad. One of the foods I requested, having been deprived of quite a lot of fruit and vegetables, was cucumber. I love cucumbers! Larry the cucumber was probably my first real love in life. Anyway, my parents came with a whole cucumber that I have neglected to eat until now. I walked into my room and proudly announced to my one present roommate that I was having a cucumber for dinner. I sat with it on my desk for a while and then had my first experience biting a whole cucumber. I felt like Satsuki in that one scene of My Neighbor Totoro were they all eat fresh whole cucumbers. It was a truly magical experience. Second bite, the skin is an interesting obstacle, waxy and mildly leaving a film on my tongue. I don't know that this cucumber has been cleaned. And now my cucumber is no more, but it was delicious.
Note to Readers: Eat cucumbers they're awesome
On a side note: As strange as it may sound, cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches are DELICIOUS! They are the perfect blend of rich and fresh and carby, because who can resist carby foods?? They work for every meal and snack and fill your mouth with oozy yummy homey freshness! Be brave and try it.
Note to Readers: Eat cucumbers they're awesome
On a side note: As strange as it may sound, cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches are DELICIOUS! They are the perfect blend of rich and fresh and carby, because who can resist carby foods?? They work for every meal and snack and fill your mouth with oozy yummy homey freshness! Be brave and try it.
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