Online Rhyming Dictionary

Life at current times=sooo good!

I got to spend last weekend with my mister down in Waco! We took a drive down to Austin for the Ben Folds concert which was outstanding! I was in awe the entire evening. He played most of the songs off of the new cd- Way to Normal, some off of the "fake" Way to Normal and of course a ton of the classics. I loved everything from the story telling to the standing on the piano, not to mention the mad piano skills. At one point in the concert, he was rocking out so hard that he broke a string! His crew rushed out like it was Nascar or something.

Check out the song Free Coffee- there's no synthesizer. He places empty Altoids tins on the strings of the notes he wants to affect and it makes this crazy metallic nuttyness! An hour of Missy Higgins, 2 1/2 hours of Ben Folds, some Wataburger to round out the night- it was the best concert and greatest date ever!

So then today, I took my practical midterm for Fundamentals and made an 82.5! We were told to shoot for a 70 and that even a grade as low as 45-50 shouldn't be disappointing. We were told that it was a learning experience and as long as we didn't feel like we were floundering, we shouldn't hang our self esteems on whatever grade we saw... So I was mentally prepared for my 40 or whatever... I stink at cutting tournees, my attemps at emulsification have never been successful before... And yet, here I am with a B on my first practical! Here's the grading rubric:

Veloute Sauce: 15/20
(great consistancy, right taste, but I reduced it too much, yeilding only half of what I was supposed to produce)
Hollandaise: 18/20
(perfect color, great emulsification, slightly lacking in the flavor department)
Mayonnaise: 15/20
(weak emulsification and extremely lacking in taste. I have no clue what mayonnaise should taste like since I can't stand the stuff... Needless to say, I wasn't offended)

Knife Skills: 16.5/20
(minor size/consistancy issues, but my tournees were great for a first try? Okay...)

Time Management and sanitation: 18/20
(I pushed over into the "grace period" with my sauces... Whoops... Oh well!)



I was soo excited! Tomorrow, we're making breakfast foods! Omelettes, Croque Madame, Eggs Benedict, Crepes, Cheese blintzes, Garden frittata, and fried/sunny/overeasy eggs! It's going to be glorious, minus the strait up eggs at the end there... After I've stuffed myself with blintzes and crepes, I'm flying out to Arizona for Michelle's babyshower!

Ahhh, it is good times, my friends...

Plenty-o-Time

I'm already 1/3 of the way through Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Year 3) thanks to the hour a day I spend on the train! I just started the Harry Potter series a little less than a month ago, but between the ride to school and the spare time I have on campus (I'm always obsessively early, remember?) I have been able to just fly through these books! I'm loving them by the way, so if you didn't jump on the band waggon way-back-when like myself, definitely try to get your hands on them someday.

Second Time's a Charm?

Week two of culinary school has almost come to a close and I am still loving it! Today we made beef consomme, puree of split pea soup, and a classic bechamel sauce. I took charge on the sauce. And had to make it twice...

I stopped stirring for just a second too long to observe a demonstration and the flour from the roux had all stuck to the bottom. So I had to dump it out and start over. The second time around, I hardly ever took my whisk out of the pot, giving Chef something more to pick on me for... As if he really needed anymore help! :P However, the second go around was superb!

The "taste all you make" rule is absolutely my favorite! And puree of split pea soup is actually quite tasty!

What a Week!

And it's only Wednesday...

School= wonderful
Work= Not so much any more...

My classes have been all very interesting and fun. Great teachers, new friends, and index cards. Lots and lots of index cards. I'm still super super excited about getting into the kitchen, even if it is at 6:30 am (or before since I'm ocd)!

Tart Bakery in Plano has not been as much of a money maker as the owners had hoped and so they're trying to cut back on somethings, reorganize their staff and such... Which means that I'm currently out of a job... So it's back to the drawing board. I think I'll get on board with a catering company or something... Lots of opportunity from my school, so I'm not too concerned. Just a little bummed. I really liked it at Tart...

At least I can look forward to getting my Megan in town sometime Thursday/Friday AND my Grady on Friday! Plus many many more of my OU friends will be in town for the big Oklahoma vs. saxet game and I can't wait to see them!

And now for a nap. It's my only hope of waking up at 5 tomorrow morning.

Sweet Jesus-

Please keep on smiling down on me. Be with me as I start in this new adventure.

I know that sounds soo cheesy, Lord- something someone would say because they want to sound more eloquent while praying- but that honestly is what this is.

I know you know. I know you know I know you know. I really am glad your sovereign, it's a pretty cool thing. Makes talking with you a lot easier.

Anyways, I ask that I might not push you aside as my anxiety and excitement creep in as my classes start or when I end up sitting next to a stranger on the train. You're cool, it's all cool, I just need to keep talking to you all day...

Thanks for loving me always. I love you too.

PS- thanks for the sunshine.