Things That I Love RIGHT NOW.

It never ceases to amaze me how life can change so drastically in just a couple of weeks (or days or hours or minutes).  In particular, I will write about how this relates to my current school/work situation.  My first block of courses at Le Cordon Bleu are now finished.  It all went very well, I left all of my classes feeling confident in my skills and knowledge level.  Also, I felt validated by the chef instructors who I have become very fond of.  This second block of classes only includes one: Culinary Foundations II.  This runs Monday-Friday, 7am-10:30am.  A typical day looks a bit like this: present converted recipes to our chefs, listen and take notes on lecture, watch a demo, get into groups and replicate the demo (last week: SAUCES), clean the kitchen, and get instructions for homework.  It is non-stop and there is a lot of (negative) pressure from the chefs. I am truly exhausted (probably more emotionally than mentally) at the end of every class.  That said, today was our practical on sauces and I can confidently say that I did well (at least, I am pleased with my work).  We made Buerre Blanc, Robert, Bechamel, Mornay, and Hollandaise.  One thing that is most difficult for me (but, also the thing I am excited to finally be understanding) is how to properly season a sauce.  "Season slowly and taste often" says Chef Lentini.  I always taste my sauce before seasoning, and then  probably about ten times before I get it right.  BUT - I can really taste the change once the sauce finally gets THERE ("there" being that elusive perfect taste of a properly seasoned sauce). This week: SOUPS.

There may be some of you who know this and many others who do not, but I have a somewhat addictive personality.  I find something that I love - and then I proceed to love it with all of my being.  It tends to overcome my thoughts.  This blog is one of the things I love right now and have what I would consider a small obsession.  It gives me an outlet for some other things I am addicted to (i.e. cooking and writing).  I thought it would be fun to give an update of my life simply by telling you what I am loving excessively at this point in my life. Here goes!

The Decemberists

We will start with music.  Probably the thing that keeps me MOST sane throughout my day.  Now, I have loved The Decemberists before.  Their new album though, The King Is Dead, is something I want to listen to constantly.  Greatest reason?  The harmonica of course!  I am such a sucker for the harmonica.

Clover Fast Food

This is where I work.  Above is a picture of our seasonal sandwich, the Sweet Potato (with jicama slaw).  It's an awesome little company.  When I got to Boston I read about Clover in a magazine and said, "I want to work there."  The company is growing, it has a great mission, the food is fresh and delicious - read their blog.  Funny story, the first 6 week block of school included about 4 hrs of work per week at Clover.  About 2 weeks ago I got the call: Monday-Friday 1-7pm.  Hello FULL-TIME!  What?  I can actually afford my life now?  What?  I leave my apartment when it's dark and get back when it's dark?  Yes, I am exhausted, but it is a welcome and productive exhaustion.  Oh, and I now work on the truck.  It is very cold, but totally worth it.  I am far more fortunate than words can describe here.

Love Soup

Oh goodness, I love everything about this book.  Mostly, I have been making gigantic pots of delicious soup. Plus, these so-much-fun trail-mix cookies.  A blog to follow, dedicated to some recipes from this book.

Lindy Hop 

It has been a bit on and off since getting to Boston (right now, OFF because of this crazy schedule I am juggling), but swing dancing has been such a joyous addition to my life!  Every night of the week you can find swing dancing in Boston (which still has an active Lindy Hop scene).  I prefer to do the FREE lessons and dance at MIT on Wednesday nights when I can.  Also, on Friday nights there is a live band at Boston Swing Central.  They have twinkly lights and a room crowded with dancers.  Dancing is so freeing and social; just a wonderful time all around.

Gabrielle Bernstein

This girl taught me how to meditate.  Meditation has changed me.  I have never seen life - its situations, my relationships - with so much love and peace; until now.  I found her lectures on a podcast by mistake at what was a difficult time for me.  I recommend this book with my whole heart not because it picked up my spirits one day, but because the tools I have learned and applied to my life (meditating, journaling daily, releasing negativity) are lasting.

Esther and Paula

My bestest friends in Boston.  I also happened upon them as a fluke.  Let's not call it a fluke, it's more like fate.  Truth be told, I wouldn't still be in Boston if it wasn't for these two beautiful ladies.  You know when you meet a person and you instantly know them?  I love that feeling :)

Gilead: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson

A recommendation that I am glad to pass on.  The language is so beautiful that I want to read it out loud (and don't think that I didn't).  Its flow is enough to cause an emotional connection to the book (not to mention the story).  Most of you know that I am not a fan of inspirational movies (for example: Remember the Titans or Seabiscuit.)  At first, I thought this book was headed in that direction, but it wasn't so.  The energy of hope that the book expresses was so simple and lovely.  Please read.

Were you wondering when I would get to the FOOD?  Yeah, okay.  This one you will all love.  Some people love coffee, some people love tea.  I am not into coffee, I am mildly into tea, but I adore hot chocolate.  In the beginning of the winter I was ordering hot chocolate from coffee shops.  Then, I was buying the little packets at the store.  A little later I was making the packets with coconut milk, whole milk, and adding chocolate syrup. FINALLY - I decided to stop messing around.  Below is the recipe I have softly nestled into.  You can't call this stuff hot chocolate.  It is so thick that you actually feel like you are DRINKING. CHOCOLATE. (Oh, and HAPPY (belated) VALENTINE'S day to you all!  Sending you lots and lots of love via chocolate!)

Short and sweet notes:

1.  Sooooooo chocolate-y.

2.  As always, use the BEST ingredients that you can afford.  For me, best right now means the Ghirardelli brand chocolate chips (bittersweet and milk).

2.  Remember: it's all to your taste.  (And don't get carried away with the cayenne.)

Drinking Chocolate with a KICK!

Yield:  2 cups

Difficulty:  Easy

Prep time:  Under 10 minutes (seriously, it's that fast)

Ingredients:

2 cups half and half or whole milk (or 2% milk or soy milk or coconut milk - go WILD)

4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped

2 oz milk chocolate, chopped

Salt, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat about 1/3 of the milk with the chocolate and salt, on low heat, until melted.

Whisk in the remaining milk until the mixture is nice and hot.

Season with cinnamon and cayenne.

  

Serve warm with homemade whipped cream (remember, Santa is watching for naughty - from the can - and nice - whipped by you, for you).

Afterthoughts:

1.  Try not to burn your whole, entire mouth.  I have been there and it isn't pretty.

2.  Oh man, save this stuff and heat it up later on the stove.  It is so good the second and third time around!

3.  Nutrition disclaimer: kids (and adults who cannot control themselves when chocolate is around), you can't drink this every morning, like coffee or evening, like tea.  Whole milk and melted chocolate?  It's tempting.  You know who you are :)

It has now been two weeks of full-time school and work.  I have always wondered what it would be like to do this, and now I know.  Finally I am standing back on my feet after a little insanity.  This morning I even packed a lunch and I exercised between school and work.  This past weekend Aunt Liz came to visit and it was fabulous.  We explored cold, cold Boston, ate yummy food, saw some sweet live music, and had lots of visiting time.  Speaking of things that I love to obsession...it's my favorite thing - to share my life with my loved ones, which I am attempting to do here.  Thanks for reading, I hope you did so with some drinking chocolate in hand!