Thursday, February 28, 2014

The last day of February! Where DOES the time go?! I awoke to a very cloudy sky, which soon was producing rain-we need it. Since then, it has gone from cloudy to sunny and back to cloudy.

I finally have a set schedule at Gas Lamp. Wednesdays 9AM-4PM, 3pm to ? (close) Thursday through Sunday. On Mondays, I work at GIC (I just can't quite let nursing go all together) and starting next Tuesday, I go back to cooking for my best personal chef client. No days off in the near future. We'll see how long I can carry on with this schedule!

As for Gas Lamp, Danny fired the bartender Wednesday evening. I guess they've had a lot of complaints about her being rude to customers. The owner of another local restaurant came in Wednesday and was told we were closed. Guess he went ballistic! Starting yelling at Danny, Danny yelled at Kerrie, the end result of which Kerrie was let go and the people whom were told we were closed, got fed. Glad I missed that drama. Things were quite subdued Thursday. I have mixed feelings about some of my decisions, although a friend reminded me today that there is drama everywhere. That certainly appears to be true!

I had to tell Gabrielle I could not cater her June wedding. I guess I was reminded Monday evening, when I did a tasting for the bride and groom and both sets of parents, why I don't usually enjoy catering weddings. Shows like Bridezilla tend to put one off on weddings. There are always little changes people want to make to a menu and while I believe that people should get what they want as they are paying for it, the requests sometimes are too much to deal with (we've had several "we were talking and thought "this" would be a nice addition" emails). So, after much thought, I withdrew my bid and let it go. I feel good about that decision-right now, life is just too hectic!

Wednesday, my new baking day, I went in to work at 10am and began dessert making. I switched the Creme Brûlée from coconut creme brûlée to mango creme brûlée. Yum! I found a can of pureed mango, the same type of puree they use to make (east) Indian lassi's. It is an absolutely gorgeous color! I mixed it in to the creme brûlée recipe I use. It baked up nicely in shallow ramekins, then got refrigerated and it's burnt (I mean that in the best, most tasty sense!) sugar-coating will be fired right before service.


Next came the Bourbon Pecan Tart. I've made a link to the Epicurious page the recipe came from. REALLY good and a big seller. I try and make up Pate Sucre dough ahead of time and freeze it so I always have dough available for both the Pecan tart as well as the Apple Gallettes. Makes life easier in the long run!
I had enough gallettes, so just baked up the pecan tart.

We serve this with a scoop of handmade maple ice cream. Are you salivating yet? :-)

It's a friend's birthday today-actually her birthday is February 29th so she only gets to celebrate on the actual day every four years! It's an almond layer cake with a raspberry filling, no frosting, just a dusting of powdered sugar. I'm taking it over to her house this afternoon.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

I was going to be SO diligent about writing on my blog after I left Maui. I haven't done a very good job of that, have I, lol? I thought it might be a good way to decompress after working at Gas Lamp but I am usually so tired by the time I get home that I have not kept up.

The morning after I arrived back from Maui, I had to work at GIC. At 7AM! Ugh! I literally hit the ground running that week. That Monday at GIC was very busy and I worked over my 8 hours.

The next day I had a catering event for a group from Bosma, called "Get Connected", a "Biz Talk" group used for networking (especially small businesses). Grab and go appetizers for 20 people-no plates and no napkins, although I insisted on having napkins. No one is that neat! Someone in the group provided wine and water. And did I tell you the woman who hired me wanted me to "WOW" the group. Apparently they had not had any success with past food endeavors so were discouraged about finding someone to give them the finger food they wanted. I made Asian Spiced Chicken with Vanilla Apricot Sauce in Won Ton cups,

Apple and Onion Confit on Crostini
and Tunisian Vegetable Salsa with Pita Chips. The woman how hired me, had a sample of my cooking when I catered a birthday party for one of the nurses I work with at GIC. Small world..... Anyway, I was a success and now they have asked me to provide food for the next "Get Connected" in April (they have this event every other month).

Wednesday, I catered lunch for my sister's earthquakes in Nevada meeting up at the Great Basin Science Library, up near the Desert Research Institute. She usually works in Carson, so I was very happy to hear the meeting was in Reno and I did not have to deliver anything to Carson City! Southwest Chicken Wraps, Big Green Salad (it had lots of "stuff" in it-a variety of lettuces, legumes, cheese, tomatoes, etc) and Rocky Ledge Cookie Bars. The cookie bars are so named because if you cut them into triangles, they look like craggy ledges!

Wednesday evening, I started full time at Gas Lamp, if you can call any job at a restaurant full time. Unless you are the executive chef or manager, the restaurant is only open from 5pm to closing, which in our case is anywhere between 8:30-10PM.

The week of Valentine's Day was CRAZY busy! We were booked for Valentine's Day by the Sunday before. And I guess those people who didn't go out on Valentine's Day, went out on Thursday or Saturday. Even Sunday was unusually busy, I think because it was a three day weekend (President's Day was Monday). Special desserts for Valentine's Day were Chocolate Oblivian Truffle Torte , a thick, fudge, chocolatey slice of heaven, and a "Berrymisu" Parfait. The parfait had mixed berries, mascarpone cheese, whipped cream, Chambord, and ladyfingers, all layered like a coffee tiramisu. Can you say YUM?

We were hopping every night and there were tempers flying everywhere. I think I was unprepared for all the drama that happens in restaurants-maybe I don't watch enough reality TV (no thanks!). So I guess all the drama you see on TV is somewhat real and not made up. People do crazy things, or out of ignorance, make mistakes.

My first week back they fired the dishwasher. My second week back, they fired a waitress. Hmmmmm.... Hope there is not a pattern here. The found a new dishwasher, have not so far hired a waitstaff person but did hire another woman to work the bar with Kerrie. And did I mention one of the staff seems to be taking cash out of the profits? This is truly fodder for a soap opera. At my age, I am not so into drama everyday!

I'll update you more soon. Lots of stories to tell in Reno, "the biggest little city in the world"!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Well, folks, I was home by midnight Sunday but had trouble sleeping that night. Monday morning, I hit the ground running! I worked as a nurse Monday-had to be there by 7AM. Yikes! It was a busy day so I knew I wouldn't get off early or even on time, for that matter. I did make it through the day, however, and after grocery shopping for my Tuesday catering job, I was able to take it easy. I did sleep well Monday night, lol!

Today I was up at 7am and admit to slacking off for about an hour or so before starting to prepare for my Tuesday catering job. I made Tunisian Vegetable Salsa with Pita Chips, Asian Spiced Chicken in Wonton Cups with Vanilla Apricot Sauce, and Apple & Onion Confit on Crostini. Alas, I did not take any pictures, so cannot post pictures. The meeting I was catering for was called "Get Connected", which is a way for business people to network and meet new people. They asked me to stay, which I did and met some really nice people. The get-together took place at Bosma Business Center, which is a building that houses a number of business that rent anything from a cubicle to a suite of offices. A concept I was unaware of. Time will tell if anything comes of "networking".

I came home and made dessert for another catering job-Rocky Ledge Bars. They have alittle bit of everything in them: chocolate chips, white chocolate, mini marshmallows, toffee bits and chewy caramel! Gotta be good! I will take a picture of those when I cut and plate them tomorrow. After that-Chocolate Oblivian Torte, a dessert I am trying for Valentine's Day at Gas Lamp. Just three ingredients: dark chocolate, butter and eggs. Who'd of thought cake could be that easy?! I will take pictures of that as well tomorrow.

For now, as I write this, I am surrounded by sleeping cats. I think I need to join their ranks and become a sleeping cat as well, lol.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

My last day on Maui! The sun came up and there are clear skies. Wouldn't you just know that?! I fly out this afternoon. It has been a very relaxing two weeks, although they certainly have gone past quickly!

Saturday was cloudy most of the day but we went to Kapalua Beach anyway. There were lots of surfers and lots of great waves.



Saturday lunch was leftovers as we had some chicken and roast beef left over and I hate the idea of wasting food. I did cook eggs and bacon for breakfast as I had both left over. I LOVE breakfast!

There is a picture hanging on the wall here that depicts four women sitting together talking or working or both that speaks to me of female camaraderie.



Don't they look like they are having a good time? I am not much into island artwork (with a few exceptions) but I really like this print.

Dinner last night was at Merriman's in Kapalua. The food there is always good although it does get noisy! There is a great view of the ocean from that restaurant as well. Almost all their food is local and fresh, a trend quite a few restaurants are following. That makes sense. Use what you have on hand, cut down on the food miles.

This is my last entry until after I get back to Reno. I will be starting a new routine this week, working at Gas Lamp five days a week, work one day for GIC as a nurse, then fill in the rest of the time with personal chef jobs and catering. I have two catering jobs this week, for which I am thankful. Hopefully I can make all this work physically and financially!



This is part of the hibiscus hedge around the lanai at the condo we are at. Beautiful!

Aloha for now!

Friday, February 7, 2014

Yesterday and today, I woke up to cloudy skies. No rain, just cloudy, which keeps things from heating up too much here.

Although you may think it exotic to travel and be a private chef, The days here are pretty quiet. Breakfast out on the lanai (more Cherry-Chocolate Scones), reading, whale watching, take a walk. Right now there are several guys out on the water who are using some type of kite to move through the water, much like windsurfing. It certainly doesn't look like it's an activity for sissies!

Yesterday a couple of whales (humpbacks) surfacing but no jumping! There is no way to do them justice with an iPhone camera but I did manage to partially capture them surfacing.



Ah, the elusive whale…….

Lunch yesterday was a Ham, Gruyere and Apple Panini (a recipe borrowed from Giada deLaurentis). An easy recipe to follow even if you don't have a panini press (think grilled ham and cheese sandwich).



Dinner was Sunday Pot Roast with mashed potatoes and roasted Peas and Carrots (I know, it's not Sunday but you can eat that any time). It roasts in the oven for about 3 hours which gives it a nice melding of flavors. There are some left overs so those will be for lunch Saturday.



I guess I never did show a picture of the kitchen I am working in. Other than wishing there were newer, better pots and pans, it's a pretty kitchen to work in. The other picture is my view from the kitchen sink. Not bad, aye?



Lunch today was a Roasted Vegetable and Chickpea wrap. And would you believe I forgot to take pictures!!
The filling could just as easily be served as a side dish-it's a spin-off of ratatouille. Yum!

Still cloudy but I think I am going to sit outside anyway. One guy walking by called it a "cloud-burn". Ha, ha. Needless to say, you can still get some color sitting out even when it is cloudy. I am off to the pool.
Dinner will be quick tonight-Pasta Carbonara!

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Well, I must confess I was expecting the worst when I woke up this morning as the weather forcast said rain, rain, rain over the next five days. I was pleasantly surprised to find the sun shining!! Yay!



It was breakfast on the lanai once again-I don't think I would ever get tired of doing that nor tired of the view. This morning we were greatly entertained by whales jumping out of the water and splashing down. You can barely see them in the middle of the photo. They looked like they were having great fun! Such magnificant creatures. I feel like you see them come up for air and as soon as you get your camera out, they are gone. Ah, well.

Lots of reading again today and working on menus for Gas Lamp dessert and a catering job I have when I get back to Reno. Lunch today was a "Stuffed Sandwich to Go". Simple but it looks impressive when sliced.



The sandwiches are made out of an artisan boule-type bread that is hollowed out so you can layer ham, Swiss cheese, spinach, flavored cream cheese, repeating these layers twice total. Nice flavor as well!

After lunch, it was off to the pool. Maybe I'll get my tan after all, lol. It stayed sunny until about 4pm, then started to cloud up. It never did rain, though, so maybe my last days on Maui will be full of sun and not rain. A girl can hope!

Dinner was Pasta with a cheesey Asiago sauce, a kind of Italian mac'n'cheese. Very yummy! Dessert was a Chocolate Peanut Butter parfait, again improvising and building it in a martini glass. Really rich tasting!



We sat out and watched the sunset-just beautiful!!

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

I awoke to another cloudy day. There have been spots of clear skies and sun, but I don't think I'm going to get the great tan I was hoping for! It is still possible to have breakfast out on the lanai, even with rain showers. Can't beat the view!


Yesterday was much the same. Not a lot of excitement (I really am NOT on vacation here, no matter what you think). Breakfast and coffee on the lanai. Walk to the store, then make lunch.

Monday's lunch was Green Goddess Salad with Shrimp.


Pretty simple. Green leafy lettuce, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts, chopped celery and, of course, cooked shrimp. The Green Goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk, a mix of fresh herbs (your choice of mixed herbs), white wine vinegar, anchovy paste, all of which gets blended together in the blender. This recipe is from www.eatingwell.com, so is a lower calorie salad than the original recipe. Just trying to eat healthier!

I did lots of reading yesterday, which is something I have not had time for in Reno. Although it was cloudy, we sat outside in the occasional sun-still trying to get that great tan, lol.

Monday dinner was Beef Kabobs a-top Autumn Vegetable Pilaf.


No skewers to be had, so maybe I shouldn't call these beef kabobs, but they still turned out well under the broiler. Usually I leave the oven door ajar to let out some of the heat, but last night I forgot. It started to get smoky so turned on the vent fan after my friend asked if something was burning. Said friend looked quite worried we would not get dinner! I guess I didn't think anything of it because at Gas Lamp, when we are busy and there is a lot of grilling, etc, it can get smoky and a vent in the roof needs to be opened. You get used to it, or maybe I don't think a little smoke is abnormal. :-)

Dessert was a Strawberry Parfait.


When going to a place, other than your home, to cook for others, you quickly learn to adapt and use whatever is available. It has been a good lesson in improvising and not being dependent on working with a lot of pots, pans, baking sheets, mixers and many of the other equipment I am used to using. I built the parfait in a wine glass using cubed pound cake, sliced strawberries and whipped cream. It's so pretty to see all the layers through the clear glass. Easy peasy as they say!

This morning when I got up, I baked more scones. This time using dried tart cherries and chopped dark chocolate. Oh, my, very yummy!


This time around, I cut them into wedges, a slightly more classic shape for scones, but you are certainly free to bake them up however you like. If you like scones, give these a try. The dough is light and moist, not dry at all. And freshly baked scones out of the oven? Doesn't get much better!

For lunch today, I am serving Pan Bagnat. I bought a baguette, cut it in half, then sliced open one half and pulled out some of the bread to make a hollow space in the baguette. Brush with a little olive oil with garlic, put down a layer of tomatoes, basil and onion that has been marinated in either red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar, then a layer of sliced black olives and a layer of sliced hard boiled eggs. The French also serve this with a layer of tuna. It seems, as with many popular dishes, everyone has their own version of it. This recipe is from Laura Caulder of the Cooking Channel. As I said before, the French sure have a way with food!



And now that I am done with lunch, I am headed out-I see sun!!!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Yep, woke up to rain again yesterday morning. Still warm weather, though, and still beautiful scenery. I can't complain too much about that!



I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast. Sunday just seems like a good time for a leisurely breakfast. A substantial kind of breakfast. I was lucky to have all the ingredients on-hand.



It's nice to sit out on the lanai to eat at least breakfast, but it was raining so hard the entire lanai got wet, even though it is covered. I love listening to the sound of the waves pounding on the sandy shore.

Lots of reading during the day as well as working on a new dessert menu for Gas Lamp. We will be offering ice cream sandwiches when the weather warms, so I have been practicing (research I like to call it). I recently made Ginger cookies with Lemon ice cream-a great combination!
Don't they look yummy?

Lunch was a Croque-Madame, the French version of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. The recipe is from "Tasting Table", an e-letter sponsored in part by Williams Sonoma. A great way to get new ideas as the editors look a new trends, new restaurant, new chefs and offer some great recipes.


Ingredients:

2 1/4-inch slices of artisan bread
2 slices of ham
2 Tbsp butter, softened, divided
Dijon mustard
1/2 cup shredded Gruyere chese
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
3/4 cup of milk
Salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste
1 egg

Directions:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Butter both sides of your bread then place them on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake in the oven until lightly browned, about 5-8 minutes.
3. Melt 1 Tbsp butter in a small sauce pan. Add 1 Tbsp of flour and whisk for one minute until flour and butter are incorporated, then whisk in the milk. Heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat and add 2 Tbsp Gruyere and 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese. Season with salt, pepper and a dash nutmeg. Set aside.
4. Spread a scant amount of Dijon mustard on one side of each bread slice. Layer two slices of ham on one slice of bread. Top with 2 Tbsp shredded Gruyere cheese, then place the second slice of bread on top of the cheese, mustard side down. Place your sandwich back on the baking sheet.
5. Top your sandwich with the cheesy béchamel, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the sandwich and place back in the oven for 5 minutes. Turn on your broiler and broil the sandwich until the cheese on top begins to brown.
6. While your sandwich is baking, melt a scant amount of butter in a small frying pan. Crack your egg into the hot frying pan and cook, removing the egg from the pan before the yolk hardens. You do want the yolk to be runny. Place the egg on top of your sandwich after you remove it from the oven. Serve warm.

You have to hand it to the French, they do have a way with cooking!

The sun did come out for a while so we went grocery shopping for the coming week. I also managed to get some time sitting outside in the sun. The weather cleared for at least part of the afternoon-no complaints there!

Dinner was Prosciutto-Provolone Stuffed Chicken Breast with a Mushroom Sauce, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables (baby carrots, broccoli and cauliflower) tossed with some balsamic vinegar and olive oil. You slice the cooked chicken breast at an angle, so that you can see the inside swirl of prosciutto and provolone-it makes for a lovely presentation!


The dessert du jour, was Coconut rice pudding with a spinkle of pumpkin spice mix. Nice and creamy and easy to make!


Ah, the versatility of a martini glass-not just for martinis any more!

More sitting out on the lanai after dinner. The ocean is very soothing.


It is now early Monday morning and still dark outside. We'll see if it rains today as it was forecasted to do. Otherwise, I think today will be a pool day!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

The 1st of February! Hard to believe we were just engolfed in the Christmas-New Year's holidays!

When I woke up, it was raining. Actually a very nice sound, as far as background noise, for sleeping or being lulled to sleep. We went out for breakfast this morning at The Westin. Eggs Benedict!


A cup of coffee, some hash browns, and you're set for a filling breakfast. And you can't beat the setting: Ka'anapoli Beach. You can see Lanai across the channel to your left, and Molokai in the distance off to your right. Moored boats are scattered offshore. Birds flitting here and there looking for crumbs you may have dropped-very peaceful. Jordan asked me last night if I would want to live here year 'round. I told him no. Eventually I always feel "stuck" on an island. There are only so many places to go and if you want to go any distance, you have to take a plane or a boat to get there. No road trips here!

Not sure what we are doing for lunch today. We thought perhaps that after such a large breakfast we would not want lunch. I am getting off easy today, she says with a smile.



Just sitting here enjoying the scenery…..