The Confessions of a Foodie

I only sort of like cheese. It has a tendancy to complicate my life.

2009-11-15T23:59:00.003-07:00

Yes, cheese. You may think of it as some docile condiment or additive to your daily diet. I consider it the harbinger of lifelong complications. I tried explaining this once before. It leads to a lot of looks I'd rather not see pointed my direction, especially when I am trying to explain my most recent (but looking to be life-long) dilemma. Just wait. You'll understand soon enough. Then you will give me "the look" the next time you see me, and remember this blog, and how many screws you think I have lost. It's ok. I have come to terms with it.

CHEESE.

This is where it starts.

Any cheese. It doesn't matter what kind. You name it. On any given day, or menu, or recipe (especially those recipes! Naughty little things just staring at me! Taunting me! Calling out for me to make them!) (But I digress,) when I see "cheese" an entire world of complication spills under my feet.

I blame it on my first year at USU. My Garde Manger (Yes, that is spelled correctly. Look it up.) class spent some time making cheese. (I feel an apology should be made to my roommates, who at the time put up with all the cheese at our apartment, but I think they got enough entertainment out of it, so we'll call it even.) It wasn't a very detailed or prolonged study of cheesemaking, but enough to have done the damage.

You're still waiting for it. The explanation. The crazy. I know. This information helps. Just wait..

So now, every time I see a reference for cheese, I know that I can make it. So, I look in my cheesemaking book to see what it would take. (Yes, I have a book. Clearly, I am obsessed.) I weigh the options to see if the effort is worth the outcome, or if I should just go to Costco. Usually Costco wins. But every once in a while, this happens:

I will be hovering over the thought of making cheese (Mascarpone, Parmesean, Ricotta, Guyere, even just yogurt! etc..) when I think, "You know, if I am going to make cheese, really make it, I should get the right equipment." Then I will look at intense cheesemaking equipment online. Cheese presses, blueprints for making them, molds, starters, etc. Then I think, "I'll need a place to put all this cheese I am going to make! Plus a place to store it and let it age!" (The crazy has started, fyi) Then I think, "Man, I am going to need a ton of milk! I need a cow!" It goes on and on. Eventually, (I will save you the looooooong thought process behind it,) I end up with a farm. A place where I can grow all the herbs, grains, fruits, and vegetables I need, and raise all the livestock and such for meat (and the dairy cows of course!) Isn't being totally self sustaining fun?

Then, and only then do I remember that I am crazy. How much work would that be??? I would be so tired from maintaining 1/100th of a farm, I would never even get to the cheese! I'm tired just thinking about all the things I need to make cheese!
At this point I usually back away from the cheese, breathe, and try to forget the farm. So, in short, for me: Making cheese= buying farm. And being exhausted.

You may be wondering why, at this point I would even care to make my own cheese. I hoped you wouldn't ask. Because the answer, is what led me to "farm".

Fresh cheese = A moment of one of life's great mysteries unfolding. Pure bliss. And I'm not sorry.

But then the farm happens.

Yipee!

2009-05-01T13:33:00.000-06:00

One Short, Wonderful Winter

2009-04-14T12:09:00.002-06:00

I have wanted to post all winter-long, but things get so hectic (I'm sure you know...) that when the choice came between using my spare time to post on my blog, or create a memory... Well, we all know what I chose.

I, in spite of some of my friends and family and their disdain for the fluffy white stuff from the sky, was absolutely bouncing off the walls giddy every time it snowed this winter. I spent most Saturdays (and some amazing weekdays) at Beaver Mountain. Wonderful company+ great food (if anyone wants to know how to really pack a ridiculously delicious lunch, ask me...)+ amazing skiing = the most gorgeous, enjoyable winter!

My morning routine...

2008-11-29T22:20:00.002-07:00

So I happened upon this video on the 'nets about listerine, and I really thought that it captivated the experience. For those of you brave enough to rinse, you know. Watch the video. Enjoy. (Its the only thing you can enjoy about using listerine...)

PS. Beware the two bleeped out swear words. (for those of a more sensitive nature) (they are bleeped though...)

We're Grandmas Baking... Time

2008-10-27T02:11:00.001-06:00

One of the edgiest videos I've ever seen!

http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail197.html

2008-07-20T18:22:00.003-06:00

In the spirit of supporting my sister's recent determination to blog every day, (and also because I have a competitive drive that most underestimate) I have decided I should have something to post as well, I mean hey! There had to have been something mildly cool or vaguely interesting happen to me in the last month, right?

This happened.
Hey, okay don't look at my poorly manicured nail, or my manninsh looking thumb. Those ore not the focus of the picture. Hello! Look at the size of that berry! B-I-G!
So I may have purchased twelve flats, and may or may not have made a mountain of jam. It may, by the way be delicious! If you ask real nice, I may also give you some. ;)

Recent Projects

2008-06-21T04:47:00.003-06:00

So I have gotten quite a bit of complaints about the lack of pictures of my food creations on this blog. I do take pictures, some just haven't made it to my computer yet. I will try to update them a little more frequently.
Among the pictures is a chocoblok cake with caramel coconut and truffles, mini chocobloks & apple chausons & profiteroles with caramel caps, flourless choco cake, and a wedding cake. Enjoy! (I sure did!)

Whee!

2008-06-19T11:00:00.000-06:00

I went skydiving when i was in Hawaii. 14,000 Ft drop! sweeeeeeeet!

Goodbye Texas

2008-06-12T00:35:00.003-06:00

I didn't really think too much about it, the last time that I walked away from my parents house in Deer Park. It was mostly a moment of stupidity I guess. I had gone down with the sole purpose of helping my mother pack, before my dad got there to actually move her. For some delusional reason, i assumed I would still be back at some point. It dawned on me later that my parents would actually be selling the house as soon as they were fully moved out. I felt a little dumb when I finally realized that. I think I would have spent my time there a little differently.

We moved there when I was 7, the summer of 1988. I grew up spending as much time as possible outside with the neighbor boys playing football, street hockey, and trying to not get caught doing stupid kid stuff. I got the chance, (more so than any of my siblings) to actually grow up in one place.

Without getting too self indulgent, suffice it say that i had a good "growing up" experience, and I am a little sad to be closing the door on that part of my history. So thanks, texas, for what you've given me.

New Tunes!!!!

2008-05-25T13:24:00.002-06:00

I have been looking for new music for my upcoming island getaway. I have found some really great new artists! I have to be honest and admit that I "found" them while catching up on this seasons grey's anatomy episodes. Regardless, I think they are great! They all have a mostly chill vibe, but can have great rhythm.

The first is a British girl. "Adele." She's kind of like a cleaner, drug free version of Amy Winehouse. You can listen to adele with out hating yourself for liking her. always a plus! here is a link to her myspace page. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=7032442

Second: Joshua Radin. He reminds me of a cross between William fitzsimmons, Adriano Schiavo and Damien Rice. Good acoustic singer/songwriter. Not bad looking either. ;)
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=2871686

Third: Bryn Christopher. Haven't had as much time to explore/ listen to it. I was interested by the song "the Quest." Again, it's a little tune I gleaned off Grey's. Yeah, that's right!
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=78626737

The Barefoot-Whisperer

2008-04-22T07:39:00.002-06:00

So it really all started with an episode of the Barefoot Contessa. She was having another group of fabulous friends over, and made a chocolate sorbet for dessert. That got me thinking: "Sorbet? Chocolate? Wouldn't that be DRY? Hmmm..." I just wasn't sure that chocolate without a measure of cream could be all that delicious. So I completely forgot about it, until yesterday. My current baking class has been a whole lot of fun for me. Yesterday my chef instructor, "the baking whisperer" had us make ice cream in class, and guess what was made? You guessed it, chocolate sorbet! I only had one bite, as it was going from the machine to the freezer, but what I had was INCREDIBLE! So I immediately set off to make my own!
The problem was that the recipe we used in class called for orange zest and orange extract, and while I very much enjoyed the flavor of it, I wanted to try a more classical approach. I found a recipe on chocolateandzucchini.com, which I think is a pretty good blog. My sorbet is currently in the fridge cooling- tonight I will toss it in my ice cream machine!

And just for the record, for those who have been waiting for me to post recipes, I have been waiting for a really good one to strike me as blog worthy. Take it as an HIGH recommendation. This recipe is for all those peeps who can't ever get enough of the good stuff. Chocolate, mostly.

Sorbet Chocolat Noir

275 mL (1 cup + 2 tablespoons) water
40g (1/3 cup, packed) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
100g (1/2 cup) sugar
85g (3 ounces) bittersweet chocolate (70% cocoa solids), chopped as finely as your patience allows
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
A pinch of salt

Makes about 1/2 liter (1/2 quart); the recipe can be doubled.

Pre-freeze the bowl of your ice cream maker as instructed by your friend the manufacturer.

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the water, cocoa powder, and sugar. Set the pan over medium heat and bring to a boil, whisking continually. Remove from heat, and add the chopped chocolate. Let rest for 30 seconds as the chocolate begins to melt, add the vanilla and salt, then stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Let cool on the counter, then refrigerate until chilled.

Whisk the mixture again just before using, and freeze using your ice cream maker.

Adapted from The Perfect Scoop, by David Lebovitz.

Go Freeze!

2008-04-13T09:48:00.002-06:00

I am killing time today, waiting for my next hockey game: the championship game of the Ogden Womens Tournament. On Friday we beat the Golden Spike Girls/Ogden Wings team 4-0. Saturday Morning we beat the Durango Fury 5-1. And last night we beat the Vixens (those mouthy girls!) 3-1.
We will be playing the Prove SheRox at Noon!

Steak Salad!!!

2008-03-09T13:53:00.003-06:00

Baby field greens, strawberries, pears, balsamic reduction, grilled ribeye and blue cheese. My favorite summertime meal. Also great during the long winter months when pretending it is summertime.

Chocolate Festival 2008

2008-03-09T13:48:00.003-06:00

My entry for this year's chocolate festival: Raspberry infused flourless chocolate cake with a triple berry glaze. People's Choice Award!

Let them eat cake!

2008-03-09T13:41:00.003-06:00

My Baking Midterm: Almond Genoise cake with pastry cream filling and Italian Meringue Buttercream. Delicious!

Sitting Midterms

2008-02-27T16:10:00.002-07:00

I thought, post mid-term fun, that i would finally get an all access blog going. I gave up on MySpace, seeing as how 5 people ever look at it, and while i have tried Facebook, it still limits availability to those who use it. So... Blog! I say, Blog!

If anyone needs an explanation for my blog name, you obviously don't know me well enough to be reading this. Move along!

That said, to those of you left, I say WELCOME!

Let the tasting recommence!