I need a muse or how to make me happy without lifting a finger but incase you like to I have some needs that needs tending..thats NEEDS ,not weeds.

Inspiration is hard to come by these days.

I work in a windowless kitchen and office , so half the time I am not even sure if it is am or pm let alone if the weather has changed.
Hotter weather makes me happy...well ok not true. The sun in general just makes me happier. While not a sun worshiper, I do like the big old nuclear star in the sky.

For me the sun evokes thoughts of fresh corn on the grill and swimming. That pretty much sums up my childhood. ...Fresh Eden New York corn and swimming at Mang Park in Kenmore New York...where I am from. There is a sense of warmth and relaxation I feel when I think of not only those things  but when I have either, though my swimming  pool is a creek behind my house.

I am inspired though this year but the green pastures i drive by on my way to work. I live in the country so I see a lot of green as crops are just starting to grow. I wish we had a bigger area around our house that allowed for house grown vegs and fruits...and the time to do them....well for me to have the time. My family does but I dare say at 14 and 3/4 I don't think he finds much interest in tending the garden.

My food at work is resulting in more care I suppose. Or  I am more relaxed because we are not balls to the wall busy...still busy but not to the point where I wont to kill( though this wedding this weekend , someone might die) I find I want to create more and do more. But I am tied down with cost restrictions and time restrictions.

At home, they will eat it if I cook it, so that is more a time to see what might fly with college kids. My sons are like starving kids..they can never seem to get enough food and shovel it in as fast as I can make it. Only problem is, I am so tired after work, I just want to toss burgers on the grill and call it a day.

So motivation is more than inspiration I guess....At work, my catering partner is great. She knows food and knows that if she doesnt offer varieties to our clients that one  of us is going to get hurt....lol

What I need in the long run is money...lots of it to buy ingredient....lots of fun, fun ingredients and equipment like a mandolin or a top to my cuisnart...or better yet their own so I can have mine back.


I need a culinary sugar daddy to go along with my music sugar daddy....wonder if I can combine the two?

Never say Never Again

Why is it when you try to help someone out instead of just saying..."no worries, I have it all taken care" one gets a rude  comment that makes you not to want to help in first place.

It is a constant thing at work , that I try to help and assite someone particular that I work with and they just can not just be gracious.
When people offer to help me, If I don't need it I simple say..."nah..I am good, but thanks."

For once I like to stop myself and just not bother....But my pedigree forbids it. Damn parents and their installation or manners and morals on top of work ethic!!!!



though...honestly...in my head I am screaming at her at the top of my lungs!

Chefs all think a like.....sort of

plateonline

Nice post on plate online...not sure if you will see it.
If someone can comment if they can or can not see it..please. I will copy and paste if you can't....I responded too...which is the most important thing of course!!!

Why can't I have a cannoli cookie for breakfast? It has dairy in it!

I swear I rather just let the 14 year old have a cookie in the morning than hear him whine all day that he is hungry cause that is all he wanted for breakfast and by 10am he is still hungry but unwilling to eat "normal" food.

This is besides the fact he is a human garbage pail and can eat anything without it affecting his body weight. Unlike his dear old mama who looks sideways at a cookie and it costs her 5 lbs....lol




But they are sooo delish.




From Food Network Mag...Ted Allen

 

For the Cookies:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into pieces and at room temperature
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking  soda
• 1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

For the Filling:

• 1 1/2 cups chopped roasted unsalted pistachios
• 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) mascarpone cheese
• 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Make the cookies: Beat the butter and both sugars with a mixer until creamy. Beat in the milk and vanilla until combined. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and beat until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips, if desired. Scoop the dough onto a sheet of wax paper
and shape into a 2-inch-thick log. Wrap in the wax paper and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the dough into 1/3-inch-thick rounds with a sharp knife. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake 10 minutes. Cool the cookies for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine 3/4 cup pistachios, the mascarpone, ricotta, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and salt with a mixer on low speed until just blended; do not overmix or the filling will be too thick. (It can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated.)

To assemble, sandwich about 1/2 inch filling between 2 cookies. Repeat with the remaining cookies and filling. Roll the edges in the remaining 3/4 cup pistachios.




I predict you will not be able to stop at one.


My son ate 4 with a glass of milk  without even blinking......love that BOY!!

Porno for Chefs

mmmmmmmm wolf: the oven....not the other stuff around it.



















from housetrends.com





And VIKING Ranges.....soooooo purrrrrtttty.

from nbm.typepad.com


                                                                    SEXY!

from stainlesssteelkitchens.com 

Suppport Suppport SUPPPORT!!!

It's all about the support.

http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

CSA is a great thing. Whether you do it as a group or just your self, supporting your local farmers is the way to go. It isn't just about organic food or eating fresh picked...both of which are still great and valid reasons. But by supporting local farmers of vegetables, fruits,meats and other goods you're supporting your local economy and neighbors.

I am lucky to have a farmers market literally right outside my door(pictures to be coming soon) and can go there and others around my area almost everyday for fresh products, even beef,bison and chicken.

I do wish though we had a whole foods/trader Joe's type of places. The best we have off season is Wegmans ,though the one near me is lacking. The biggest surprise is that my town ,while full of tree hugging organic types, there IS a lack of a market like Trader Joe's. But we are a small town with Amish as neighbors and farmers as other.

Logically also fresh produce should be cheap depending on the season no matter where it is grown. So why am I still paying a butt load for strawberries and lettuce.

Something needs to happen in order for people to provide their families and themselves with fresh products to help keep obesity down. But instead of that,at least here in New York State( love you dumb ass David Patterson...thank you for leaving early not that I have anymore hope for the next guy/girl who thinks they can "turn things around"...annex NYC...that would save us around 100million a year) there is talk of a sin tax.

WTF? Soda and junk food don't make people fat....I can get fat on a vegetarian diet just as easily as on a regular meat diet. Why don't give discounts on fresh produce or vouchers to people to go to farmers markets. And encourage companies to allow people to exercise by offering discounts to gyms and dietitians consultation or even free membership to curves and WW to those in need of permanent weight loss.

Don't get me started on sustainability.....

long and whining road

I am a slacker...I admit it.
It has been a long 8 months and I think my brain has finally up and quit or the very least taken a break from the rest of us...(by us I mean my body and soul).

I haven't cooked much these past few weeks and my natives are getting a bit restless with hambugers and tacos. I am just to darn tired to cook after a 16 hr day and the mike is to lazy to make the effort...love him but this is a sore point. I do wish , at times like this, that I had an easier job. One that let me be home more and cok more at home. I like the idea of experimenting and comeing up with new ideas for my sons and the mike to eat.


Then one of the boys punches the other cause they won't let them play with something and I realize I rather be at work experimenting with food alone with just me and my Depeche Mode.

Just a picture of my son making chocolates......he is adorable.

Anyway you want it...that is definietly not the way I will give it.

I love my mortar and pestle.

I LOVE IT !!!!!

it is probably a very unnatural relationship to have such affection to a cold marble object but gosh darn it..I just think he is swell!
.....yes, I called it he. Doug if you are familiar to him.


Lets face it...it is not only functional but a work of art. Before  wisks to mix oils with solid substance and knives to chop chop chop herbs...there were mortars and pestels...."goes all dreamy"


Not many people even know what they are ,let alone how to use them. Like my sons, they are mearly heavy ojects to play medival times in the middle of the kitchen with.

Every true cook should have and use one...besides your cusinart, kitchen aid and $300 knife, this is your next best best friend.




and is also a handy door stop.