Saturday, December 10, 2011

It rained like crazy last night and woke me up, so with interrupted sleep, I didn't wake up until 7am this morning (9am back in Nevada!). Coffee, then prepared half a papaya for "first breakfast", as I have been calling it. Mostly because there is then yogurt or a fruit smoothie for "second breakfast" about mid-morning. I did make a yogurt parfait with strawberries and bananas this morning. The strawberries don't seem to last very long here, even in the refrigerator! I'm a little surprised, but they had the same problem on St Thomas at Bolongo, so it must be the tropical climate.

Today was a lazy day. The sun did peek out at times, but it was cloudy and rained off and on. I did receive a call from Jim Lynch (while on his way to London!) asking if I could do a cocktail party on December 23. What could I say but yes! I am gonna have to move my butt, (I get back to Reno Friday morning) but am happy to have the opportunity. So I spent part of the day looking at appetizer recipes so I can put something nice together for 30 people.

Lunch today was leftovers (can't let them go to waste!). I made Pumpkin Walnut Cranberry Bread this afternoon. It turned out flatter than I expected but I seem to have a harder time making bread at sea level than I do in Reno or Denver for that matter. Hopefully it will taste good! Dinner was Seasoned Ribeye, a baked potato (wrapped in bacon and baked in the oven) and a mixed green salad with Dijon Vinaigrette. I made ice cream sandwiches with a couple of the chocolate chip cookies. There was Rum Raisin ice cream in the freezer. It tasted better than I thought it would, lol!

But now, it's early to bed... I need to add some pictures tomorrow. I have been taking photos!

Friday, December 9, 2011

I woke up at 5am this morning! Hawaii is two hours behind Reno, so that was just about right for Reno time, lol. We went to Safeway (having been to Costco on the way back from the airport and spending $400!!!) this morning. I bought most of what we need for the next week or more. Unfortunately, there are no spices at the house so besides food, there were spices to buy. $306!!!! Everything here is SO expensive. I am mindful of doing a good job, so that it will have been worthwhile bringing me out here!

We came back from shopping, put groceries away, then I mixed up a fruit smoothie with strawberries and banana, yogurt and milk, guava juice and cinnamon. Very tasty. I was up so early, it was only 10:15am when we got back, lol. About an hour later, I started lunch. Corn and Crab Chowder. It rained off and on today, never for very long. Makes everything greener. I did take pictures of my view out the kitchen window and I will add those tomorrow. This afternoon we went to Maui Prime, the island gourmet store. It wasn't as big as I thought it would be, but they had lots of food items. We bought cheese and crackers, Lavender Passion Fruit Jam, duck breast (the last one on Maui we were told!), and Manchego cheese. when we got back from Maui Prime, we met our next door neighbor, John. We chatted for a bit, then he was off to teach. John is a school teacher and does tutoring on the side.

I also made chocolate chip cookies this afternoon, then took some over to the neighbors (we had so many anyway). We met John's wife and little girl. Cute girl.

Dinner was Seared Tuna with a cannelini beans flavored with carrots, celery and onions as well as thyme and lemon zest. There was also a Sun-dried Tomato Sauce. It turned out yummy! That paired with a nice French wine was a perfect ending to the day!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Wednesday I had my mom and Janell over for lunch as I am leaving in the morning for two weeks. I served a variation of shrimp scampi, still using garlic and olive oil, but adding orange zest, orange juice, cilantro and a few pepper flakes rather than adding parsley. I made an icebox cake for dessert. Icebox cakes were popular decades ago. You layer chocolate wafer cookies or graham crackers with either whipped cream or pudding or something just as creamy, put in the icebox (refrigerator) for at least four hours and are rewarded with what looks like an intricate layer cake when you cut into it. The whipped cream softens the cookies so they taste more like cake. It's yummy! A nice "retro" dessert.

Jordan didn't think I should cook my last night in Reno, so he took me out to dinner at Charlie Palmer's Steakhouse at the Grand Sierra. A little bit of a sticker shock there, but good food. We split a steak/shrimp combo. I'd forgotten what it was like to order food that is all ala carte! I guess nothing is simple, lol.

I started on a new adventure today! I took a flight to Maui this morning via Seattle, to take a private chef job for two weeks. Beautiful setting here. We are on the northwest section of Maui called Kapalua at "The Ridge" near the Ritz Carlton. Beautifully manicured grounds, lush and green, although not all of Maui is green. They are in the middle of a drought. It's always a difficult concept for me when an island (in the middle of a large body of water) is said to be a desert island! Just doesn't seem possible, lol. As it's been a long day, we went out to dinner at Merriman's, a restaurant up the street. Lovely view, excellent food, excellent French wine, and good company. Tomorrow I begin working, although I don't think this will be a hard job. I'll be doing what I love to do-cook! This does feel like a dream....being paid to do what I love, in an exotic setting. I feel very lucky!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Monday I had lunch with one of the girls I used to work with at SCOR. We had sushi and caught up. After lunch, it was time to get down to business, so to speak. I had assembled my mini apple pies in the morning so baked them after lunch. I also made Irish Soda Bread. Then put the pork roast in the oven to roast, made the Soy-Honey-Bourbon sauce and made the Stewed Green Beans with Bacon. I had about an hour before it was time to deliver my meal, when I realized I forgot to put the Bourbon Sweet Potatoes in the oven to roast! A near disaster! I quickly put them into roast (I had actually mixed all the spices and brown sugar with the potatoes earlier in the day, then put them aside. So aside I almost forgot them, lol! Everything turned out well, though. I delivered the meal and came back home to leftover Hoisin Short Ribs (not quite as good as the first night).

After dinner, I finished wrapping the Cake Truffles and boxed them up. Then bed. It was a long day!

Today I spent the morning working on the computer and having a meeting with Jordan and David in LA regarding the LAHI project. David seemed pleased with the information I came up with, so who knows? Maybe it will result in a little paid work for LA county or SKK or LAED.

I dropped off the cake truffles to Jennifer. She was pleased with the packaging (which is always a relief) and wrote me a check (even better!). I picked up my dishes from last night and talked to a few of the nurses I used to work with. It was nice chatting with them. Once I got home, it was time to get tonight's dinner going. New York Stead Roast with Marsala Pan Sauce, Roasted Spiced Carrot, Parsnip and Potato Coins, Mixed Green Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Gruyere, and Strawberry Almond Crumble Pie. Anne said everything last night was very good, especially the Mini Apple Pies. Yeah!

Tomorrow I'll go pick up my dishes, and then be done with it all for a couple of weeks. Off to Maui on Thursday!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

We had brunch today at Hobey's, breakfast really, with my mom and Janell. Jordan went off to program and I went home. I dipped cake truffles most of the afternoon. Spice cake dipped in white chocolate then sprinkled with roasted Saigon cinnamon and chocolate cake with coffee added for more depth of flavor, dipped in dark chocolate with chocolate jimmies sprinkled on top. I'm getting better at dipping, but I still need more practice. Practice makes perfect, right? I got the cake truffles boxed up, four to a box. I'll finish them off with ribbon tomorrow and a label saying they are from Jennifer. I did remember to take pictures of everything, I just need to be on my computer to upload them onto the blog and I'm afraid I usually write this on my iPad. It's so much more convenient to use!

I thought I might get my little mini apple pies baked today, but alas, I did not. More to do tomorrow! I still need to pick up a pork roast for tomorrow and some chocolate wafer cookies for Tuesday, but other than that, I have everything I need. A nice feeling. I get less "worked up" about all this cooking, so I guess practice does make perfect as far as cooking goes (although I am far from perfect, lol).

Only four more days until I am off to Maui for my next culinary adventure! Hardly seems possible it is already here....

And I WILL come back and add pictures!!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Had lunch yesterday with my mom, Janell and Kasia at Bangkok Cuisine, Thai food. Pretty good actually! We had a nice time. Janell and mom and I did a little shopping at Kohl's-mom wanted a new purse. A stop at Walmart for MVIs and fiber, and we were off, lol. I spent part of the day working on the LAHI project and the rest of the time looking at recipes. I also tried to come up with a list of kitchen basics for my Maui job. It's set to start in less than a week! Jordan and I watched a movie again-Pirates of the Caribbean, Uncharted Waters (or something similar). It was ok, although I liked the other Pirates movies better.

Today I went shopping at Trader Joe's with Janell. I bought quite a few of the things I'll need for my Monday and Tuesday jobs. I'll just need to pick up the meat Sunday or Monday. I also received a call from Laurie at SOE. Apparently the corporate chef (Rachelle) wants to come up to Reno to do the last demo of the year. Guess they forgot to tell me! Laurie thought Chef Rachelle was going to contact me-I don't know what Chef Rachelle was thinking. It's kind of a bummer because I'll be losing income, but on the other hand, I won't be rushing to pack to leave on Thursday and it allows more more time with Jordan and my family. Gotta look on the bright side!

I got some baking time in today. I took pictures so will add them tomorrow. I made Spiced Nuts (Janell had given me an empty package from some sugared walnuts she bought at Whole Foods and asked me if I could mimic the recipe), Chocolate Cocoa Kiss cookies (another recipe Janell gave me and asked me to make) and Turtle Bars. I haven't been baking much because other than the few sources I have for clients or giving it away, I have no outlet for a lot of baking. Seems a waste to always give goodies away (although I am sure everyone appreciates it). I need to pay for all that schooling in the culinary arts somehow, lol! Guess I need to work on solving that dilemma.

Watched another movie tonight-Pirate Radio (a Pirate theme this weekend, lol). Great music! That movie ended up being much better than I thought it would be and after googling "pirate radio 1960s, found the movie was based on the history of pirate radio stations in the UK. We laughed a lot during the movie. The cat on the other hand, liked Pirates of the Caribbean better, lol. During that movie he stood on the chair in front of the TV and watched the TV for quite a while. Too cute!

I did more work today on the LAHI project-I'll have to see what happens with that. Just tidying up my list a d verbiage. Tomorrow is breakfast out with Jordan, Janell and Mom. Hobey's I think they wanted. Otherwise tomorrow will be chocolate dipping day!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

December already!! Only 24 days til Christmas, lol! And only a week before I leave for my Maui private chef gig. Just as it is starting to get cold in Reno......

I wrapped Christmas presents this morning, then went and had lunch with John Springgate at Silver Peak. I parked at his office and we walked over there. It was cold on the way there, but nicer by the time we finished lunch. A salad and pot stickers for me, corn chowder and a salad for him. They have surprisingly good pots tickers. I say surprisingly, because they are not a Chinese restaurant, lol.

After that, I ran some errands, did a little grocery shopping, then came home and started dinner.

I made Hoisin Short Ribs, which take a little time. Take 2-3 pounds of short ribs, salt and pepper them, then brown them in oil in a Dutch oven on top of the stove. Remove the meat and drain off all but 1 Tbsp fat and add 10 cloves of peeled garlic and a one inch piece of fresh sliced ginger to the oil. Stir for 1-2 minutes, then add 12 oz of a hearty ale and 3 Tbsp of rice wine vinegar. Mix, then return the meat to the pan. Simmer on top of the stove for 2 1/2 hours, covered. After 2 1/2 hours, add 1 cup Hoisin sauce to the pan over the ribs and place in a preheated 300 degree oven for 30-60 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve with mashed potatoes and Sesame Seed Sugar Snap Peas (sauté the sugar snap peas in 1-2 Tbsp of oil and 1 Tbsp sesame seed oil until softened. Add in 1 Tbsp sesame seeds, salt and pepper to taste, stir and serve. Everyone seemed happy with the meals, which is always a good thing. I made some chocolate mousse for dessert.

My sister and mom and I watched "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town" on TV (I love Christmas!) then they went home. It was a nice evening.