It's been a Good Couple of Weeks!

Wow, this semester is so much better than last semester! I am so glad I dropped one of my labs - I feel so much less stress! I've been down a bit, but really having fun in school, lots of great friends to hang out with, meeting new friends through the triathlon training, and just trying to RELAX, RELAX, RELAX!

My Creative Writing class is awesome! I'm learning so much, and my writing is starting to show it. Spanish I...I'll have a tutor the rest of the semester I guess.Why are so many things so hard for me to grasp????? I plan to take Spanish II next semester, so I hope it starts clicking! Art Culinaire Class - LOVE IT! It's a new class for our school. There are 14 of us in class and we are doing awesome dishes! it's a class like no other I've taken so far. Each week we prepare a six or seven course meal (each group of 2 prepares one course). We take a break and watch as each team plates up so we can learn new techniques. If someone is caught up, they help the others or start the never-ending sink of dishes. If we start plating at say 2:30p, then the next course needs to be ready 10 minutes later, then the next 15 minutes and so on to teach us pacing and plating on time. I wanted to share the dishes with you. I try EVERYTHING! The foie gras, the clams, the eel, pork cheek, everything! If I'm going to have to cook it some day, I need to know what it tastes like. But, everything tastes amazing. it was funny - this past week, when the ice cream dish was done, everyone RAN down to the last table to try it - most of our class is guys! I was doing dishes (I usually do - rather than then scrub the floors!) and got my butt over to the table. My partner and I usually share each dish. I was nice and let her have more of the ice cream...I grabbed one that was melted and drank it. One of the guys grabbed the left over ice cream that was in the bowl and did the same thing! It was the most awesome vanilla ice cream I've ever tasted. There are SMILES all over the room during class! We all consider ourselves very fortunate to be in the class - our instructor is so cool - and so talented! For our final, we'll start at 11:30a, preparing to serve 45 or so guests who will be attending a fundraiser for the school. We'll probably not get out until 10:30 that night. Just like a real restaurant. OMG - the Duck, Duck, Goose dish (picture below) - we were devouring it. So, the first week, I'm making the rice tapioca and it did not set up. I told chef, and he said, then what can we do? Something has to "go out". He suggested serving it in Cosmo glasses, and top it with the mango! You never would have known it had failed. The mango I had was so unripe it wasn't even funny. He suggested we make a simple syrup and poach it just a bit to incorporate some sweetness, as well as soften it up. For another of our dishes (the one with the lotus chips), we couldn't get the oblong white plates that I wanted to serve the appetizers on - we ended up using WAY TOO BIG plates. Plus they were green - didn't have a lot of color or shapes to play with. My partner suggested we pickle some cucumber slices in red wine vinegar for a bit. That was what it needed. Now, I have to start coming up with "fixes" instead of just asking what can we do? It's totally thinking outside the box.

Oh, I might get the opportunity to intern on a food truck this next semester! You know those trucks that drive around town and park somewhere and text you and let you know where they'll be that day? Very popular on the west coast. Anyway, that's one of the ideas I've got floating around in my head. So, before I write a business plan, I'd like to be able to try it out and see if it indeed is something I want to do. Something tells me that I mentioned this in one of my previous blogs - just consider this a "senior moment" of repeating myself. That's one idea I have. I still have the B & B in the back of my mind. Another new notion I've been considering is moving to Spain and staring something - or work for someone. I loved Spain when we visited there while we were abroad. It's so relaxed, family-oriented, WARM! Fresh fruits and vegetables, great wine...I don't know - I have to have a Spanish tutor,so, there's that!

Anyway, better get back to homework. I have to peer edit poetry from my classmates in Creating Writing. We have a short story due in two weeks. That is completely out of my element. I love to write poetry and I love to write term papers - this will be tough...creative non-fiction may be even more challenging! Anyway, I'm continuing to train for the triathlon, the swimming is coming along, I'll get my bike on the road this weekend for the first time this year, and the running is coming along, too. I need to make a major change in my diet - almost vegan - because of some inflammation issues - but that discussion is for another blog!!!! Enjoy the dishes!!!!!

Sake and Soy Braised Daikon, Radish, Roasted Tokyo Leek, Fried Shallot, and Maderia-Miso Sauce

 

Soft Shell Crab, Garam Masala Hollandaise, Tomato Concasse, Pickled Shallots and Cucumber Gelee

Duck, Duck Goose!
Crispy Pekin Duck Breast with Pomegranate Molasses, Seared Foie Gras, Black Pepper-Peach Compote, Sesame Duck Confit, Preserved Green Mangos, Salad of Fresh Herbs and Chinese Chive-Orange Crepe

Baby Greens, English Cucumber, Passion Fruit, Asparagus and Dill Oil

Fried Lotus Chips, Bluefin Tuna, Alaskan halibut, Edamame, Chive Blossoms, Avocado Crema, Mustard Su-Miso, Micro Green and Red Shiso

Wild Mushroom, Asparagus, and Maryland Crab Soup



Tuna???? and Red Caviar - it was yummy!

Poached Shrimp, Rice-Stick Noodles, Fresh Mangoes, Rice Paper with Sweet Lime Nam Pla

 

Slow Braised Pork Belly, Baby Bok Choy, Ginger-Daiginjyo, Sake Sauce and Chinese Long Bean Rope

Fresh Corn, Jicama, Asian Pear, English Cucumber, and Avocado Puree

Assorted Fruit with Plum Wine Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream

Paper Thin Mishima Striploin, Celery Salad, Garlic Chips, Sesame Seeds, Fennel and Chili Vinaigrette

Thai Coconut Tapioca Pudding with Cayenne-Spiced Mango and Mint

A New Semester

I just saw my last post was in March. Since then I finished up the semester from hell! Believe it or not, I got all A's - couldn't believe it! Four A's. Some barely....but A's all the same - a 4.0.

I went to Florida for a week to visit my friend Connie. It was such a wonderful, restful...restful week. Even the fact that Lakeland had RECORD COLD TEMPERATURES didn't spoil anything. I got there on Saturday - the temperature was 81. When I left Michigan in the morning,the temp. was 26! It was nice going on a trip - the first one on my own - that was not so fun. Going down to Florida the middle seat was empty so that was nice. Coming back home there were three of us across. I had the middle seat - yuck! I sat down and the guy beside me reeked of cigarette smoke. I pulled out my People magazine. He said, "I hope someone gave you that magazine." I said why. He said "because I'd never spend my hard earned money on trash like that." I said I just finished a hard semester at school and I'm looking forward to trash. Jeez!

Anyway, Sunday I got into their community pool and the weather was cool, but not miserable. Then came Monday! Brrrr! It was cold and extremely windy Monday through Wednesday evening. We went to a Tigers/Phillies game on Wednesday in long pants, scarves, gloves and hats! The temperature in Lakeland was only 10 degrees warmer than both Philly and Detroit! Everyone laughed when it was announced! The Tigers lost 4-1 but I got to see Verlander pitch. I love the Tigers! I want to go to as many games this season as I can.

Thursday it started to warm up. I got into the pool and actually got a little sun! I tried to do as many laps as I could. Still struggling with the swimming - hope it starts to "click" soon! Connie took me to visit some of her dear friends. We went to her church on Sunday, we had lots of good dinners out, but we had a few good relaxing meals in! Just so relaxed - I can't thank her enough for a wonderful break that I so needed.

I just started back to the gym - I need to keep going consistently or I'll never be ready for this triathlon at the end of May. It's a Sprint, but still I'm no wheres near ready!

So, I started my new semester this week. Our Art Culinaire class is going to be a huge challenge. Our chef is not treating us like students. We will be line cooks in his restaurant. This is a new class and we have a lot to prove. In this class, we will be creating fine dining cuisine. Each week we'll create an 8-course meal. My partner Jordan and I are the only girl team. We have one other girl in the class. Next week she and I are responsible for the Amuse Bouche and the Sweets. The courses are Amuse Bouche - a one bite appetizer, Cold Appetizer, Hot Appetizer, Main Course I, Main Course II, Soup, Salad, and Sweets. Our Amuse Bouche is Mango Shrimp Fresh Rolls, which is poached shrimp, rice-stick noodles, fresh mangos, all wrapped in rice paper, accompanied with a sweet lime nam pla. Our sweet is Thai Coconut Tapioca Pudding with a cayenne-spiced mango. This will be the most challenging class to date for me.

I also had my first Creating Writing class, which is going to be a lot of fun and very interesting. Then - my Spanish I class....well, after two hours, I must have had a look of total terror on my face because the teacher came to me and suggested he tutor me. Man - how embarrassing! I just feel so stupid! The same thing happened last semester with Math. I ended up talking to both boys that night for some reason and collapsed in tears. I told them I just feel so stupid. Jason said I do this every semester, but I end up with A's. He said I just have to give it some time and realize it's going to be hard at first. Both boys were so reassuring. I guess it didn't help that the class is from 6-10 pm. That's past my bedtime! LOL!

It's starting to turn to Spring - but taking its good old time. I'm supposed to go running Sunday with a group. Pretty soon the outdoor bike club will start up. I still want to look for a job....but....I'd like to maybe wait one more semester. I'd like to concentrate on school and this triathlon training. My confidence level is decreasing instead of increasing. I've got to get my mind wrapped around the good things in my life and not concentrate on the past. I so wish I could meet someone...I miss that part of my life. I'm still recovering, though, from Dan and Ramzi. That's harder than anything right now.

Well, that's about it for now. Just doing homework.