Something Delicious

[SomethingBeautiful]

Originally Posted by Sun

Did you all miss my post on this? Omg it was tragic.

So thank you, I do not think it was charisma I think it was the genuine look of shock on my face that I could be so stupid as to bring a "weapon" through Homeland Security surrounded by armed guards. My mind was somewhere else when I was packing. So my knife..my beautiful Shun Santuko knife that I worked with every day for the last year, was going to either be confiscated or..and here is the real miracle..they gave me a chance to go check my carry on.

Really they should have just taken the knife, but I must have looked so shocked, sad..I dont know I was probably pouting, had puppy dog eyes..! I've been told that if I pout I can get anything out of anyone, and seriously I do it and I don't even know I am doing it.

God I cant believe I just admitted that in a public forum.

*so embarrassed*

Well those big bruiser, Homeland Security guards were so concerned about my reaction to not being able to take my knife once they realized that I was a Chef and not a terrorist..that they really did try hard to help me. In the end it was too late to check a 2nd bag and I had to just give the knife away. Its so stupid but I was so upset. Then I stopped to think of all of the nice things that people have done for me in my lifetime and I gave it to a nice lady who worked for the airlines who said she would give it to her son in law who was just learning to cook and did not own one good knife.


Suppose that was paying it forward in some way.

*shrugs*

It was not a good week. Or month. One loss after another.

I can haz the pouty/puppy eyez irresistibleness too! With some people - I don't know if ALL of the time but I still likez to think it works. At least I still thinks I doez. Doez I? I don't try to but I can get very emotional and whimpery when overwhelmed or well, almost anything. Perhaps my friends need to be the ones to answer. I wouldn't be able to even get them to be nice. Knowing my luck they would just takez me and cuff me I am sorriez about your pretty knife.

I can haz soup , please? Beer too!

[Ursy]

Originally Posted by Sun

Did you all miss my post on this? Omg it was tragic.

So thank you, I do not think it was charisma I think it was the genuine look of shock on my face that I could be so stupid as to bring a "weapon" through Homeland Security surrounded by armed guards. My mind was somewhere else when I was packing. So my knife..my beautiful Shun Santuko knife that I worked with every day for the last year, was going to either be confiscated or..and here is the real miracle..they gave me a chance to go check my carry on.

Really they should have just taken the knife, but I must have looked so shocked, sad..I dont know I was probably pouting, had puppy dog eyes..! I've been told that if I pout I can get anything out of anyone, and seriously I do it and I don't even know I am doing it.

God I cant believe I just admitted that in a public forum.

*so embarrassed*

Well those big bruiser, Homeland Security guards were so concerned about my reaction to not being able to take my knife once they realized that I was a Chef and not a terrorist..that they really did try hard to help me. In the end it was too late to check a 2nd bag and I had to just give the knife away. Its so stupid but I was so upset. Then I stopped to think of all of the nice things that people have done for me in my lifetime and I gave it to a nice lady who worked for the airlines who said she would give it to her son in law who was just learning to cook and did not own one good knife.

Suppose that was paying it forward in some way.

*shrugs*

It was not a good week. Or month. One loss after another.

Aww sweets.

*hugs*

I hope the guy who ended up with your knife treats it well and appreciates it.

Now I'm trying to imagine you with the pouting and the puppy dog eyes.
No, stop it with the puppy dog eyes! *chortle*
Stop it, I said!

I have favourite knives. One of them is a purple ScanPan. Kris has a habit of putting it back in its sheath the wrong way round. I have no idea why his brain thinks it goes in that way.

Actually another one of my very favourites is a smallish cheap no-name one that just says "stainless" and "made in Japan". It sharpens up beautifully. I think I stole it from my mother.

[MarquisdeShey]

Quinta do Alqueve - Fernao Pires - 2010 - Portuguese - White wine

Playful...rich... with a palatable kick...

[TheMerryFairy]

Originally Posted by MarquisdeShey

Quinta do Alqueve - Fernao Pires - 2010 - Portuguese - White wine

Playful...rich... with a palatable kick...

I will take some of that! It sounds delicious.

[Nadeest]

Originally Posted by Sun

Did you all miss my post on this? Omg it was tragic.

So thank you, I do not think it was charisma I think it was the genuine look of shock on my face that I could be so stupid as to bring a "weapon" through Homeland Security surrounded by armed guards. My mind was somewhere else when I was packing. So my knife..my beautiful Shun Santuko knife that I worked with every day for the last year, was going to either be confiscated or..and here is the real miracle..they gave me a chance to go check my carry on.

Really they should have just taken the knife, but I must have looked so shocked, sad..I dont know I was probably pouting, had puppy dog eyes..! I've been told that if I pout I can get anything out of anyone, and seriously I do it and I don't even know I am doing it.

God I cant believe I just admitted that in a public forum.

*so embarrassed*

Well those big bruiser, Homeland Security guards were so concerned about my reaction to not being able to take my knife once they realized that I was a Chef and not a terrorist..that they really did try hard to help me. In the end it was too late to check a 2nd bag and I had to just give the knife away. Its so stupid but I was so upset. Then I stopped to think of all of the nice things that people have done for me in my lifetime and I gave it to a nice lady who worked for the airlines who said she would give it to her son in law who was just learning to cook and did not own one good knife.


Suppose that was paying it forward in some way.

*shrugs*

It was not a good week. Or month. One loss after another.

I do think that that was paying it forwards, Sun. Thank you for caring about that knife and giving it to someone who will appreciate it. I've never had any Shun knives yet, but I know that they are good ones. I just don't think that I need to spend that kind of money on knives, at least until I get better knife skills.

[Sun]

Originally Posted by MarquisdeShey

Quinta do Alqueve - Fernao Pires - 2010 - Portuguese - White wine

Playful...rich... with a palatable kick...

Please pass some my way, I just engaged in publicly humiliating myself with my knife story *smirk*.

On another note..I love Portugese wines..especially a good Port.

Mmmmm...velvety, silky, full of fruit that explodes on the tongue...raspberry, cherry, plum...I especially like the play between a fine chocolate that is seductively rich and a warm port. An intoxicating combination.

[Sun]

Originally Posted by SomethingBeautiful

I can haz the pouty/puppy eyez irresistibleness too! With some people - I don't know if ALL of the time but I still likez to think it works. At least I still thinks I doez. Doez I? I don't try to but I can get very emotional and whimpery when overwhelmed or well, almost anything. Perhaps my friends need to be the ones to answer. I wouldn't be able to even get them to be nice. Knowing my luck they would just takez me and cuff me I am sorriez about your pretty knife.

I can haz soup , please? Beer too!

I see you as a cute lol cat and you can haz soup I duz not know if ah should be responsible for givin you beer. I sawz what yo cat frenz duz wif beerz. Jus sayin

Originally Posted by Ursy

Aww sweets.

*hugs*

I hope the guy who ended up with your knife treats it well and appreciates it.

Now I'm trying to imagine you with the pouting and the puppy dog eyes.
No, stop it with the puppy dog eyes! *chortle*
Stop it, I said!

I have favourite knives. One of them is a purple ScanPan. Kris has a habit of putting it back in its sheath the wrong way round. I have no idea why his brain thinks it goes in that way.

Actually another one of my very favourites is a smallish cheap no-name one that just says "stainless" and "made in Japan". It sharpens up beautifully. I think I stole it from my mother.

OMG I already humiliated myself with that story and you are laughing at me too!

*whimpers*

Trust me, no one, but a select few..and no one at this point in my life, gets to see either the pout or the puppy dog eyes, its a natural side effect of huge fricking disappointment like losing my favorite knife that I make a living with.

*sigh*

Ursy you stole a knife from your Mother?

Why do you do these things? Was she going to take it through security at the airport? Gee I kinda wish someone that I loved would have stolen my knife. lol

[TheMerryFairy]

Originally Posted by Sun

I see you as a cute lol cat and you can haz soup I duz not know if ah should be responsible for givin you beer. I sawz what yo cat frenz duz wif beerz. Jus sayin



OMG I already humiliated myself with that story and you are laughing at me too!

*whimpers*

Trust me, no one, but a select few..and no one at this point in my life, gets to see either the pout or the puppy dog eyes, its a natural side effect of huge fricking disappointment like losing my favorite knife that I make a living with.

*sigh*

Ursy you stole a knife from your Mother?

Why do you do these things? Was she going to take it through security at the airport? Gee I kinda wish someone that I loved would have stolen my knife. lol

Give her a beer and let's see what happens!

Don't whimper, I'm not laughing at you & you didn't humiliate yourself. You opened up and showed a vulnerable part of yourself. The experience may have been embarrassing but you have comfort here, with us.

[Sun]

Originally Posted by Nadeest

I do think that that was paying it forwards, Sun. Thank you for caring about that knife and giving it to someone who will appreciate it. I've never had any Shun knives yet, but I know that they are good ones. I just don't think that I need to spend that kind of money on knives, at least until I get better knife skills.

Thanks hon. What I would suggest is that if you want a Shun watch for sales. They go on sale once or twice a year. I really wish I had been working with one long ago. Friends tried to tell me to switch from German to Japanese knives but I am stubborn. The Shun are lighter and hold an edge much longer. The heaviness of the German knives made no sense to me once I tested a Shun. With such a sharp edge I was able to use the knife for so many tasks including filet. I could take a whole Salmon down in no time. The knife just glides right through everything. Beautiful.

[Sun]

Originally Posted by TheMerryFairy

Give her a beer and let's see what happens!

Don't whimper, I'm not laughing at you & you didn't humiliate yourself. You opened up and showed a vulnerable part of yourself. The experience may have been embarrassing but you have comfort here, with us.

Oh trust me I have humiliated myself in stories to Ursy for years. She has been one of my go to friends when I am feeling beaten down by the world.

Really I would never publicly admit to such a thing as pouting. So in a way, this truly cracks me up. It is a behavior unbecoming of a Daddy and a Sir, but thank you, very kindly for your support of my revealing my inner boy. *grin*

[TheMerryFairy]

Originally Posted by Sun

Oh trust me I have humiliated myself in stories to Ursy for years. She has been one of my go to friends when I am feeling beaten down by the world.

Really I would never publicly admit to such a thing as pouting. So in a way, this truly cracks me up. It is a behavior unbecoming of a Daddy and a Sir, but thank you, very kindly for your support of my revealing my inner boy. *grin*

Well, I guess then I can admit that I am not aware of what Daddy/Sir behavior consists of. I have never been exposed to that type of dynamic *blushes* As long as it is healthy behavior, I see no harm in anything at all - inner child or otherwise.

[cinnamongrrl]

Originally Posted by Sun

So..I made a soup today, by request for a friend who needs to get back on her yoga healthy eating track. She is super busy and stressed out so I was happy to help.

Here is what I used:

Veg Soup

2 Large Sweet Potatoes (Cut into 1/2" chunks)
1 Large Turnip (cut into 1/2" chunks)
3 Large Leeks (halved and sliced)
2 Sweet onions chopped
8 cloves of garlic chopped
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 Red Bell Pepper, diced
1 Bunch of Turnip Greens, chopped
2 Cups sliced button mushrooms (any variety would work)
1 Head Broccoli, chopped
1/2 Cup Fresh Italian Parsley, chopped

Stock:
1 Qt Chicken Broth
1 Qt Veg Broth
1 Cup water

Seasoning:
3 Bay leaves
6 Coriander seeds
1/2 tsp Turmeric
ground black pepper
& sea salt (to taste)


I started the soup with the broth heated up and tossed in the Turnip and Sweet potatoes first. They take the longest to cook, after 20 mins, added the celery, onions, then carrots. After cleaning the leeks well, they can be full of dirt this time of year, they were sliced and added to the pot. Cook another 15 mins on low and then add everything else. Simmer for another 30 minutes.

This really needs another quart of broth or stock but at this stage is hearty. Adding cooked protein like sliced chicken or black beans would work too.

Omg thank you for this darlin!I love me some nummy veggie soup...winter is great soup weather!

[JustLovelyJenn]

Originally Posted by Sun

Great ideas TMF, you could develop a website concept in cooking from the pantry, whatever is on hand. Smart and timely.

Friends of mine are opening a new "Free Clinic" downtown and today they are painting it. Getting closer to opening. I want to help but was unsure what I could do. The director, a friend, just got back to me as I asked if they needed coffee. Because really, God forbid that my friends should do anything with no coffee resources. You see the theme evolving, I am sure.

Anyway the Director told me that they do not have coffee or a coffee pot and in fact they kitchen is a shell and they left that for last.

So guess what? New project! Someone needs to stop me from taking on volunteer work because as it is I wind up working until midnight some nights getting deadlines met in addition to my regular work.

Truly this is a great project and will serve a very under served population including migrant workers who are trying to get citizenship but are in the red tape loop and cant get basic health services for themselves or their children. Seeing a child suffer with a cold and the look on the Mothers face when she has no resources is one of the worst feelings ever and its just not ok.

Some folks have asked me how they funded this free clinic model and I have no idea but will find out and report back if anyone is interested.

Have a great day all.

This is a wonderful project!! There are so many communities that could benefit from people who are really willing to work for a difference. Working in the local schools I see so many children that go without. They are in need of health care, basic needs like clothes, coats, and shoes. Food is sometimes much farther down on the list. At least they can eat at school.

As a teacher, once I am settled those types of projects will be high on my volunteer list. Sadly, there are not many projects like that where I am now. I help where I can, food banks, clothing banks, etc. BUT, I am looking forward to being in a position that I can initiate programs if they do not already exist.

[Sun]

Originally Posted by JustLovelyJenn

This is a wonderful project!! There are so many communities that could benefit from people who are really willing to work for a difference. Working in the local schools I see so many children that go without. They are in need of health care, basic needs like clothes, coats, and shoes. Food is sometimes much farther down on the list. At least they can eat at school.

As a teacher, once I am settled those types of projects will be high on my volunteer list. Sadly, there are not many projects like that where I am now. I help where I can, food banks, clothing banks, etc. BUT, I am looking forward to being in a position that I can initiate programs if they do not already exist.

Yes it is a great project but you have to get a snapshot of my life. Before the day was over one of my friends who emerged from this wonderful project covered in paint had to come and tell me "Sun they have a HUGE piece of land and want to grow an organic garden" so of course I should help them and teach them how to do a food bank and hot meal program and lets get them into solar technology..do you see the great thinktank here?

My friends are amazing, giving, loving people, but..I cant keep taking on projects. I can lead a project and delegate but I will not have a lot of time to do so. What I can do however is help them to find funding for these projects and then identify the right people who will actually be here to help them when I return to CA.

[Ursy]

Originally Posted by Sun

OMG I already humiliated myself with that story and you are laughing at me too!

*whimpers*

Trust me, no one, but a select few..and no one at this point in my life, gets to see either the pout or the puppy dog eyes, its a natural side effect of huge fricking disappointment like losing my favorite knife that I make a living with.

*sigh*

Ursy you stole a knife from your Mother?

Why do you do these things? Was she going to take it through security at the airport? Gee I kinda wish someone that I loved would have stolen my knife. lol

Aww love.
I can't laugh at you when you whimper *squishes*

Yes, I've stolen a few random things from my darling wonderful Mum.
I think it was that "leaving home for the first time and taking a bit of it with you" kind of thing. I went to Uni miles away from home, and if I coudn't take her back to college with me, I wanted to take "bits of her". <3

I wonder what bits of "home" Bek will steal from me one day.

[JustLovelyJenn]

Originally Posted by Sun

Yes it is a great project but you have to get a snapshot of my life. Before the day was over one of my friends who emerged from this wonderful project covered in paint had to come and tell me "Sun they have a HUGE piece of land and want to grow an organic garden" so of course I should help them and teach them how to do a food bank and hot meal program and lets get them into solar technology..do you see the great thinktank here?

My friends are amazing, giving, loving people, but..I cant keep taking on projects. I can lead a project and delegate but I will not have a lot of time to do so. What I can do however is help them to find funding for these projects and then identify the right people who will actually be here to help them when I return to CA.

No you cant keep taking on more and more projects. Its time to prioritize i think. Look at what is really on your plate and make sure your not going to burn out before you can complete whats there. You do so much, its absolutely amazing, but your right... You really do need to make sure your taking care of yourself. I am sure you will be able to help find the right people to keep the project going!

[JustLovelyJenn]

I had the most amazing, simple, dinner...

I found some very nice mussels in the freezer section of our outlet grocery store... Its a big treat for me to get seafood!

So I steamed them in some turkey broth I had in the freezer with a fresh lemon, and some coriander and fennel seeds. Then just poured some garlic butter over them in the bowl. I made a salad to go with it... fresh organic kale, campari tomatoes, and baby bella mushrooms with a horseradish mustard vinaigrette. So simple, but so satisfying.

[TheMerryFairy]

Originally Posted by JustLovelyJenn

I had the most amazing, simple, dinner...

I found some very nice mussels in the freezer section of our outlet grocery store... Its a big treat for me to get seafood!

So I steamed them in some turkey broth I had in the freezer with a fresh lemon, and some coriander and fennel seeds. Then just poured some garlic butter over them in the bowl. I made a salad to go with it... fresh organic kale, campari tomatoes, and baby bella mushrooms with a horseradish mustard vinaigrette. So simple, but so satisfying.

What a beautiful dish!

I love when you can still taste the fresh flavors of the food. It can be simple and elegant. All you need to do is highlight what's already there! You're a natural at it.
Have I mentioned that you can also cook for me anytime? LOL

[Nadeest]

Originally Posted by Sun

Thanks hon. What I would suggest is that if you want a Shun watch for sales. They go on sale once or twice a year. I really wish I had been working with one long ago. Friends tried to tell me to switch from German to Japanese knives but I am stubborn. The Shun are lighter and hold an edge much longer. The heaviness of the German knives made no sense to me once I tested a Shun. With such a sharp edge I was able to use the knife for so many tasks including filet. I could take a whole Salmon down in no time. The knife just glides right through everything. Beautiful.

A friend of mine, and a classmate in culinary school used a Global Chef's Knife. It worked pretty well for her, and I liked the look of it.

[Ursy]

I have a sous chef now

I've started getting Bek involved in the kitchen. If something happened to the adults in her life, she would be totally unprepared to take care of herself, even though she's 18, and that frightens me. (She's a young 18 - she has Asperger's, like me. We are late bloomers).

Tonight was fried rice. She did a great job