Today was the last day of this week's cooking. So for the last day, we had a cooking challenge! We were given a box of various ingredients that we had cooked with throughout the week. Our objective was to use all the ingredients in the box in at least one dish making a main dish, an appetizer or side dish, and a dessert. While we were allowed to follow some recipes that we used throughout the week, we had to change it in some way. We were split up into two groups. There were 11 of us, so there was one group of five and another group of six. I was placed in the group of six. I have to say that the other group was given the easier box. I mean, they were given a container of Nutella! There's a lot you can do with that! (they ended up making a crostata with peaches. Real pretty). For an appetizer, our group decided to make some Polpettine. I guess that's Italian for 'meatballs,' cause that's what they are. To change it up, instead of using ground beef, we used ground sausage, which was luckily one of our ingredients. Then some other people on our team made a sauce using onion powder, garlic powder, Italian spices, and seasonings to taste. When I tasted it, I absolutely loved it! I enjoyed the fact that they were bite size, which made them easier to eat. For our main dish, we made some gnocchi with a pesto cream sauce. It took a while to make simply because we had a great quantity. For dessert, we made Amaretti cookies, some of them sandwiched together with orange ganache, and others with an almond ganache. I apologize if I spelled that word wrong, I don't know how to spell it and neither does my computer. We added one other dish as a side because we had some ingredients left over. We made a Caprese salad. Our creativity overall won us the contest. As a reward, we were given each a ceramic paring knife. The other group got non-ceramic knives (so hah!).
This week has been very fun. Next on my agenda is Hawaii! I will be sure to take a lot of pictures, by request of my family. At some point, we will be horseback riding and zip-lining! I've always wanted to do both those things!! Plus, I hear the food is gonna be great, and I'm all about the food.
I hope everything goes well and it's as amazing as it is said to be!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Day 2: Florence
Day 2 of Culinary Underground is complete. Today we cooked food from Florence. As described to us all at the beginning of the class, Florence is a place that is a bit poorer than Venice. They are the only place that makes bread without salt. When we made our dishes, though, we did use salt. We learned how to de-bone a chicken and we stuffed the with pesto. We also made some gnocchi, if I'm spelling it right. I just used the spell check on that word. Along with that, three different kinds of cookies, along with their glutton-free versions, were made. It was really good and it filled me up enough so that I didn't need dinner!
Well, that's all I have to say for now!
Well, that's all I have to say for now!
Monday, July 9, 2012
Traditional Vienna
Today was Day 1 of my cooking class Culinary Underground. If you check out their website, you will see a picture of the kitchen that they worked in. This week is a tour of Italy and the dishes they traditionally cook there. Today was Venice. The very first thing that they taught us was how to dice up an onion. Now I know which part of the onion releases the juices that make you cry. Along with that, I know how to mince some garlic and make it into a paste, in case I want to make garlic bread at some point. Then we moved on to making a crostata, which is basically a tart. Overall, we made cristini, some risotto, and some other things. They all have Italian names, so I forgot some of them. It was so much fun!
When I cook, I feel like I really know what I'm doing. Even though I had never made any of these recipes in my life, I felt like I knew what it would end up looking like. If they asked me to get something up to a simmer, then I would know exactly what that looked like. Maybe it comes from my history of watching cooking shows and seeing how relaxed they all are when they are in the kitchen.
So this morning I was reading an email form my good friend Sue, and I found out that my mom had worked in her aunt's restaurant for a part of her life. This is something that I had never known before. If I'd known, it would have been a great thing to talk about, and I would have felt more confident becoming a chef. Then she could tell me firsthand what it was really like.
Still, these classes are exciting me for the future. I know now that, with my current desires, being a chef would be perfect for me.
Tomorrow's class is Florence!
When I cook, I feel like I really know what I'm doing. Even though I had never made any of these recipes in my life, I felt like I knew what it would end up looking like. If they asked me to get something up to a simmer, then I would know exactly what that looked like. Maybe it comes from my history of watching cooking shows and seeing how relaxed they all are when they are in the kitchen.
So this morning I was reading an email form my good friend Sue, and I found out that my mom had worked in her aunt's restaurant for a part of her life. This is something that I had never known before. If I'd known, it would have been a great thing to talk about, and I would have felt more confident becoming a chef. Then she could tell me firsthand what it was really like.
Still, these classes are exciting me for the future. I know now that, with my current desires, being a chef would be perfect for me.
Tomorrow's class is Florence!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Going Live! As soon as I figure it out!
Life is good. It is, and will always contain, a sense of majesty. It's all a bunch of wonderment. What we go through each day has its own purpose. Not the purpose of some greater being guiding us towards some predetermined destiny. On the contrary, we guide ourselves towards the goal we had set for ourselves that is born from our wanting. (I figure that since this is my blog that I can sprinkle my beliefs in here as much as I want).
As far as going live, I have decided to do it! However, I have searched this entire site and have absolutely no idea how to do it. I can't find the button that allows this to come off the privacy setting. I may have to make an entirely new blog and re-invite my followers. That's fine and all, but it would all be so much simpler if I just had the one that I could update. I'm sure my computer expert of a brother Taylor will be able to help me out. He added a "reply" button onto his own, after all.
Tomorrow, I start cooking classes. I will be learning my way around different Italian dishes. I expect to have so much fun, and I will hopefully take the lessons I learn with me through my life here. I mean, it's making FOOD! How boring can that really be? Even if the instructors were doing all the cooking and we just watched, it would still be just like a cooking show, and I really enjoy those.
I want to brush on that for a bit. The fact that I like cooking shows, that is. You see, it makes me pause because when my mom was still around, she would always be on the cooking channels recording some shows and other times just as a nice background show while she played games on POGO. I think the reason I have turned so willingly to cooking as a career is because when I am in the kitchen, I am brought back to my memories of cooking alongside Mom; helping her out with dinner. I remember that on those nights, no matter what we made, it would always taste especially delicious.
I think so often about my future, whether it is the time I will spend in college or when I am done with that an onto my career. I have my own ideas for how everything will turn out (happily, of course). Right now, I am remembering how fondly I used to place my parents, especially my mother, into that lifestyle. I have been on the fence about whether in the future I will have kids. I feel I would be able to succeed as a mother, but I just don't want to have to go through what has been described as the most painful experience a woman would ever have to go through (thanks for that, by the way, Mr. Reynolds). I always thought that, if I were to have kids, it would all be okay, because Mom would be there to help me out. I know my dad will be there, but he doesn't understand me as much as Mom did. Plus, she gave birth to triplets! I would know that she was telling the truth when she told me how painless and simple everything could be. If a doctor tells me these things, there is no possible way I could believe them unless it is my second child or something.
But I don't have to think about that now. It's not like I plan to get pregnant in my teenage years. Hell, I don't even have a boyfriend.
It is so weird to think that I will be a sophomore in this upcoming year. Man, I'm getting old. It all happens so fast. I remember my first day coming into the high school as if it were just last week. More responsibility will be thrown onto my shoulders. I'm ready for it. I was born free, and that is how I will live. I will be laid back, expectant, and free as a bird (a bird that is not in a zoo, that is). It's just like that poem I wrote She Lives. I think I put that on here, so I won't type it up again. I wrote that because it is how I would like to be 10 years from now. By then I will be 25, a few years out of college. I've heard that those are the scariest times in your life because you have to support yourself, and even though you can trust some to float you a few bucks, you are dependent on yourself. You can take it one of two ways. You could think of how scary it is and just pray that you make it, or you can take it as an exciting challenge and see how wonderfully it feels to be out in the world, just like your parents. So many people are successful, so there is no reason that I can't be myself.
As far as going live, I have decided to do it! However, I have searched this entire site and have absolutely no idea how to do it. I can't find the button that allows this to come off the privacy setting. I may have to make an entirely new blog and re-invite my followers. That's fine and all, but it would all be so much simpler if I just had the one that I could update. I'm sure my computer expert of a brother Taylor will be able to help me out. He added a "reply" button onto his own, after all.
Tomorrow, I start cooking classes. I will be learning my way around different Italian dishes. I expect to have so much fun, and I will hopefully take the lessons I learn with me through my life here. I mean, it's making FOOD! How boring can that really be? Even if the instructors were doing all the cooking and we just watched, it would still be just like a cooking show, and I really enjoy those.
I want to brush on that for a bit. The fact that I like cooking shows, that is. You see, it makes me pause because when my mom was still around, she would always be on the cooking channels recording some shows and other times just as a nice background show while she played games on POGO. I think the reason I have turned so willingly to cooking as a career is because when I am in the kitchen, I am brought back to my memories of cooking alongside Mom; helping her out with dinner. I remember that on those nights, no matter what we made, it would always taste especially delicious.
I think so often about my future, whether it is the time I will spend in college or when I am done with that an onto my career. I have my own ideas for how everything will turn out (happily, of course). Right now, I am remembering how fondly I used to place my parents, especially my mother, into that lifestyle. I have been on the fence about whether in the future I will have kids. I feel I would be able to succeed as a mother, but I just don't want to have to go through what has been described as the most painful experience a woman would ever have to go through (thanks for that, by the way, Mr. Reynolds). I always thought that, if I were to have kids, it would all be okay, because Mom would be there to help me out. I know my dad will be there, but he doesn't understand me as much as Mom did. Plus, she gave birth to triplets! I would know that she was telling the truth when she told me how painless and simple everything could be. If a doctor tells me these things, there is no possible way I could believe them unless it is my second child or something.
But I don't have to think about that now. It's not like I plan to get pregnant in my teenage years. Hell, I don't even have a boyfriend.
It is so weird to think that I will be a sophomore in this upcoming year. Man, I'm getting old. It all happens so fast. I remember my first day coming into the high school as if it were just last week. More responsibility will be thrown onto my shoulders. I'm ready for it. I was born free, and that is how I will live. I will be laid back, expectant, and free as a bird (a bird that is not in a zoo, that is). It's just like that poem I wrote She Lives. I think I put that on here, so I won't type it up again. I wrote that because it is how I would like to be 10 years from now. By then I will be 25, a few years out of college. I've heard that those are the scariest times in your life because you have to support yourself, and even though you can trust some to float you a few bucks, you are dependent on yourself. You can take it one of two ways. You could think of how scary it is and just pray that you make it, or you can take it as an exciting challenge and see how wonderfully it feels to be out in the world, just like your parents. So many people are successful, so there is no reason that I can't be myself.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Going Live
I have been battling in my mind the decision to perhaps make this blog less private and let the world read what I write. I know I'm no poet, although I do write the occasional piece. The fun of it would be that I would have fans that would willingly read what I have to write. I have no idea what that feels like, so it would be nice to find out. It's just, the last few posts I have written have gotten no views. The reason I put things on here is because I would accept people to read it. It might be time to expand to a broader audience. I mean, if my teacher can do it, then so can I! Who knows? It might be fun.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Je Ne Regrette Rien
Today, July 5th, I hosted my birthday party. I invited five close friends, alas only four could attend, and we all traveled to this place called Sky Zone. I mentioned it previously along with a picture of one of the sections. The actual place is slightly smaller than it would suggest, but it was still pretty cool. I had been under the impression that this place would literally be a room filled completely with trampolines. However, it was more like there were different stations where there were trampolines. Ah, well, it's hard to describe. The good news is, it was still very fun.
I have never been one to make a big deal of Independence Day. This year was no different. I truly applaud that it was the day the Declaration of Independence was signed, marking our true separation from the British. I have always wondered how American accents were developed if we all derive from Britain? For that matter, how do any accents get formed? Did somebody just decide to start talking a bit differently and form words in a different way, or did it just come with the different languages that were spoken? I've never known why, but I don't feel a big sense of nationality. Perhaps that is because the social media makes it seem as though being a true American means that you are an obese capitalist that wants nothing more than more money; as much money and greasy food that you can get your hands on. While that might happen to be someone's life, it isn't mine. I would like to explore all the possibilities that our nation has to offer: the education system, the landscape of different areas, and basically how much we differ from other places. My interests have to do with the different cultures and foods. It's so inspiring to see how different people live based on the circumstances that they were raised in. How did our tastes develop to the way they are now? Back in the past when tools were in the making, people just ate whatever would present itself to them. No vegetarians back then! Well, I really can't say that for certain. Perhaps there were the few that would stick to the vegetation of the land and let the others devour the meat.
I've really lost my point. I know I was going to say something about yesterday, but for the moment I can't quite...
Oh yes! Now I remember!
Yesterday evening, I was done thinking about the 4th of July and had moved on to my party. I had lost of ideas and expectations for how it would go. I was hopped up on excitement. So much so that I awoke this morning at 8:30 AM. We drove home from my grandparents house, where we had spent the day swimming in their pool. My dad then drove us to the supermarket because I had an idea for making smoothies while we sat and waited for guests to arrive. By now, my friends should honestly expect me to make some food for them, purely because I love cooking and I would like it to be known. We finished shopping just as the store closed. There were fireworks being set off in the distance on either side of us, but that is now what caught our eyes on the drive out of the parking lot. It was the lightning and thunder bursting forth from the clouds above. My dad drove to a little clearing by an Intel building and we sat and watched it while we listened to hits from the 1940s on our SIRIUS radio. It was pretty awesome. Lightning is really nature's fireworks. I must say I prefer it. With lightning, you can feel a light sense of danger, because you know that within that burst of light, there is a storm. And I love storms.
Now, I'm not usually the sentimental type -- oh, wait, yes I am! I would like to say that I loved that night because it was a moment that I could spend with my dad. Ever since Mom's...y'know, I have been edging a little more for the attention of my dad. I noticed it especially during the tennis season. When I was out playing a match, I would look out into the parking lot to see if my dad had arrived to watch me play. Usually, his working hours made it so that by the time he came, my match was long over. Sometimes just barely over. I feel it is a natural state to put myself into. After all, it makes perfect sense that I would move closer towards the parent remaining physical. I just thought I would point it out.
Overall, I have begun to look at people as if they would die. Not as if they were sick, but just wondering how I wish I had spent the moment if I knew that they would die. I have mostly considered it with my pets and relatives. The same would go for my friends. While I have no regrets, it is fair to say that if I were to go back to the past with my current knowledge, things would be done differently.
I have never been one to make a big deal of Independence Day. This year was no different. I truly applaud that it was the day the Declaration of Independence was signed, marking our true separation from the British. I have always wondered how American accents were developed if we all derive from Britain? For that matter, how do any accents get formed? Did somebody just decide to start talking a bit differently and form words in a different way, or did it just come with the different languages that were spoken? I've never known why, but I don't feel a big sense of nationality. Perhaps that is because the social media makes it seem as though being a true American means that you are an obese capitalist that wants nothing more than more money; as much money and greasy food that you can get your hands on. While that might happen to be someone's life, it isn't mine. I would like to explore all the possibilities that our nation has to offer: the education system, the landscape of different areas, and basically how much we differ from other places. My interests have to do with the different cultures and foods. It's so inspiring to see how different people live based on the circumstances that they were raised in. How did our tastes develop to the way they are now? Back in the past when tools were in the making, people just ate whatever would present itself to them. No vegetarians back then! Well, I really can't say that for certain. Perhaps there were the few that would stick to the vegetation of the land and let the others devour the meat.
I've really lost my point. I know I was going to say something about yesterday, but for the moment I can't quite...
Oh yes! Now I remember!
Yesterday evening, I was done thinking about the 4th of July and had moved on to my party. I had lost of ideas and expectations for how it would go. I was hopped up on excitement. So much so that I awoke this morning at 8:30 AM. We drove home from my grandparents house, where we had spent the day swimming in their pool. My dad then drove us to the supermarket because I had an idea for making smoothies while we sat and waited for guests to arrive. By now, my friends should honestly expect me to make some food for them, purely because I love cooking and I would like it to be known. We finished shopping just as the store closed. There were fireworks being set off in the distance on either side of us, but that is now what caught our eyes on the drive out of the parking lot. It was the lightning and thunder bursting forth from the clouds above. My dad drove to a little clearing by an Intel building and we sat and watched it while we listened to hits from the 1940s on our SIRIUS radio. It was pretty awesome. Lightning is really nature's fireworks. I must say I prefer it. With lightning, you can feel a light sense of danger, because you know that within that burst of light, there is a storm. And I love storms.
Now, I'm not usually the sentimental type -- oh, wait, yes I am! I would like to say that I loved that night because it was a moment that I could spend with my dad. Ever since Mom's...y'know, I have been edging a little more for the attention of my dad. I noticed it especially during the tennis season. When I was out playing a match, I would look out into the parking lot to see if my dad had arrived to watch me play. Usually, his working hours made it so that by the time he came, my match was long over. Sometimes just barely over. I feel it is a natural state to put myself into. After all, it makes perfect sense that I would move closer towards the parent remaining physical. I just thought I would point it out.
Overall, I have begun to look at people as if they would die. Not as if they were sick, but just wondering how I wish I had spent the moment if I knew that they would die. I have mostly considered it with my pets and relatives. The same would go for my friends. While I have no regrets, it is fair to say that if I were to go back to the past with my current knowledge, things would be done differently.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Dream Theater Concert 2011 (this is really late, I just never posted it)
I completely forget whether or not I mentioned that I would be seeing a Dream Theater concert or not, so I will just do a brief overview.
On Monday, October 10th, my dad took me, my two brothers, and our friend Derek to Boston to see Dream Theater perform at the Orphium Theater. It was amazing!
I had only seen one Dream Theater concert before at this place in Worcester. We had to stand the whole time and it was really loud. I liked the concert, but this one was just so much better. I could just go on and on about it. So I will.
In the beginning, there was this animation being showed, sort of an opening credit type thing. All the band members were given a character. Jordan Rudess, the keyboardist, was a wizard, John Petrucci, the guitarist, was Zeus, James LaBrie, the singer, was a pirate, John Myung, who is the bass player, was a ninja, and Mike Mangini, the drummer, was a genie.
The day they picked to come down to Boston was perfect. Since it was Columbus Day, we didn't have any school.
Mike Mangini, being the newest member of the band, was very nicely welcomed in. I didn't notice anyone objecting when he was recognized. I wouldn't completely go out and say that Mike Portnoy, the previous drummer, was worse than Mangini. I think it's due to the fact that Mangini just has more experience. According to my drum teacher, he has about 20 years on Portnoy.
On Monday, October 10th, my dad took me, my two brothers, and our friend Derek to Boston to see Dream Theater perform at the Orphium Theater. It was amazing!
I had only seen one Dream Theater concert before at this place in Worcester. We had to stand the whole time and it was really loud. I liked the concert, but this one was just so much better. I could just go on and on about it. So I will.
In the beginning, there was this animation being showed, sort of an opening credit type thing. All the band members were given a character. Jordan Rudess, the keyboardist, was a wizard, John Petrucci, the guitarist, was Zeus, James LaBrie, the singer, was a pirate, John Myung, who is the bass player, was a ninja, and Mike Mangini, the drummer, was a genie.
The day they picked to come down to Boston was perfect. Since it was Columbus Day, we didn't have any school.
Mike Mangini, being the newest member of the band, was very nicely welcomed in. I didn't notice anyone objecting when he was recognized. I wouldn't completely go out and say that Mike Portnoy, the previous drummer, was worse than Mangini. I think it's due to the fact that Mangini just has more experience. According to my drum teacher, he has about 20 years on Portnoy.
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