If you can't stand the heat ..

SO I know I am sorry that it took so long for me to post this! I had a very busy weekend. But now it's Sunday, My favorite day, and I am gonna take some time this afternoon to talk to all of you! (:

Thursday was amazing .. My first day in the kitchen! I was so excited .. I took lots of pictures!

That was before I left for school. That thing on my head? A sleeve that D gave me to help keep all my little hairs from sticking out of the touque. I apparently am the ONLY one who listened to chef when she said our hair had to be completely inside. But you will see that in the pictures.

My name on my chef's coat. I was so very proud!

My cuts .. Chef said that I did a very nice job on all of them, which made me very happy.

The other half .. my onion was fantastic!

My new best friend! I love my knife .. I think we will get along very well.

My full board ..

My station .. Katie W, Katie R (with the knife) and Karly was next to me.

That's Brittany in the back and Anushka (who is from Belgium) they were at the station behind us.

Kyle is on the far side, David and Cait.

Family meal .. I love that we have a cookery class at the same time .. Double the food! (:

The whole class .. Can you spot me? Oh and the two black women are Collette and Sylvia. Blogger wouldn't let me upload their photo. Oh and Chef Sue is the in bottom left hand courner. She has green stripes on the collar of her whites.

So that was my amazing day. I have asked and Chef said that I could bring my phone into the kitchen to take pictures so you should see some new ones every week! (:

I gotta get ready for work .. write more soon ..

Xo
Jay

If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything

So this post is going be a little heavy for a food blog, but since this is my platform and my baby, I choose to write about this today. So bear with me.

I know I posted something on here a few weeks ago about this whole occupy me thing and to be honest I am so sick of hearing about it. I don't get it. It makes no sense to me at all as to why people are thinking standing outside is going to make billionaires give up money and/or jobs, but whatever. I am not into politics, I am not a registered voter, and I know that means I can't complain and I have chosen that path for myself and this is why. Not all CEO's are bad. Not all politicians are bad. But all of them get lumped together and some innocent is going to get hurt because people don't just go out and get jobs. Why would you want to be a billionaire in the first place? Sounds like a terrible place to be right now if you ask me. I don't want to be a billionaire. I just want to make enough money to have a family and live comfortably for the rest of my life and that probably means that I am going to have to work into my 60s. But I have also chosen a career that I am passionate about and love so I will hopefully be very content doing that. But seriously, how many of these people actually wrote their congress people or representatives and tried to get assistance if they were upset with the way things were going? And I know people are going to say, “Because all politicians are in the big banks pocket or whatever stupid crap. NOT EVERYONE IS BAD. And if people want money so bad, why aren't we occupying the other half of the 1% instead of bankers, CEOs, and politicians. Where is the occupy NBA, NFL or Hollywood? They make millions of dollars doing what? Making movies, playing sports? Why don't you go occupy them instead of people who are actually working. And yes I am sure there are a lot of corrupt assholes out there who only care for themselves and line their own pockets and all of their cronies, but can we really target everyone? I am so so so sick of hearing words like scandal, corruption, and conspiracy. I am a part of the 99% you're right, but like I said I don't want to make millions. I just want to make enough to be comfortable and happy. I thought maybe I was in the 53% because I liked their message, they were more like me. Work as many hours as I can, go to school over full time, dream big, yada yada, but then I realized I don't want to be a percent I just want to be Jess. My parents raised me middle class, which is a dying breed, I didn't have to ask for a lot, they paid for my education, and I wasn't really without anything. Now at 24, I work as a cashier, looking to get a second job at McDs so I can take over paying my own rent that my amazing parents have helped me out with (thank god) since I have lost my previous job, I go to school full time and am working my ass off trying to get my GPA so I can pay my way to a ridiculously expensive college of my choosing that I believe will put me farther in life. This is why I hate this shit. I don't want to be a percent .. 82, 45, 99, whatever. You want to know what I stand for, what I believe in?

I believe in our military men and women who risk their lives for us every day and who stand ready to defend this nation against enemies foreign and domestic. I believe in the policemen who keep my streets safe so that as a woman living alone I don't have to be afraid at night. I believe in the firefighters whose job it is to run into those buildings that everyone else is running out of. I believe in the teachers who love their jobs and work hard every day to make sure our younger generations have every opportunity they can imagine. I believe in my dad, who was one of nine, and paid for all his own college and worked his ass off to get where he is today and is one of the best guys I know. I believe in my mom who sacrificed her dreams to stay home and raise us and be an amazing mother. I believe in the single mother who works 3 jobs just to pay the bills and day care and save money for her children to go to college. I believe in the nurses and the doctors who save peoples lives, whether they deserve to live or not. I believe in the people who as crazy as they seem risk it all to save every creature on this planet. I believe in the small towns, the entrepreneurs, the farmers, the dreamers, the idealists, the activists, the feminists, the gay rights movement. I believe in a woman's right to choose, equal rights, clean air, good food, laughing, writers, fairy tales, passion. I believe in the things that this country was founded on and I believe in the bill of rights. I believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and most of all I believe in love.

Call me naive, stupid, a hippie, new age, dreamer, ridiculous. I don't give a damn. At the end of the day, this is who I am and what I stand for. This is what really matters to me.

What do you believe in?

Make way for ducklings

Good Afternoon Monday!

I was not such a happy girl when I woke up this morning, but now as the day has progressed into a beautifully sunny afternoon things are looking up. I had class this morning and now I am in the lilbrary working on homework .. still. I usually get distracted and can't seem to finish everything. But I have decided I am not leaving the library until everything is complete. I want to be able to enjoy my days without the stress of mounting homework combine with too many classes and trying to pick up hours all combine into a nasty 15 car pile up. My mind is like a busy highway right now and I need to just take some time, slow down, and make way for the ducklings crossing the road.

So here I still with all my stuff ready to go for a fun filled afternoon of studying. *sigh*

Anywho, here is what I have been up to for the last couple of days ..

Friday- I went to the library all day, made a facebook page for my blog, Yay! and tried to complete some homework. I then moved to Panera for 2 more hours and got about halfway through my first chapter of culinary stuff. Then I met up with my friend Amanda, we looked at Halloween costumes, and walked around Meijer for a while. Called it an early night and I crashed out.

Saturday- I went to the library again before work and completed more of my homework, Worked from 1-5. D sent me a cool video tour of his friends house, where he is staying, and then I went to my friend Cassie's house for her stepdaughter, Megan's, 15th? birthday. She is 15-16 .. Anyways we ate pizza and cake, played just dance three on the wii, and then they all left for haunted houses and I went home and crashed.

Sunday- I worked 11-3. Came home and napped on the couch and then proceeded to do nothing with my night. I laid on the couch with my cat and watched The Devil Wears Prada.

All in all it was a very quiet weekend and it made me feel old and lame. Haha. ):

Now it is Monday and its homework time. Its also my dad's birthday .. Happy Birthday Daddy! (:

So off I go, wish me luck!

P.S. - Here is a pretty tree I spotted on campus this morning. Bring a little sunshine into your day! <3

Xo
Jay

Offically a Culinarian

I have offically started my culinary class and I couldn't be happier! So since it was just day one we went over the syllabus, over a begginning powerpoint/lecture of some old but famous chefs, Careme anyone? Than we took a tour of our kitchen and where we will be setting up next Thursday for our first day of knife skills! I was proud and disappointed all at the same time that I was the only one who knew all of the chefs, present day and departed, that we talked about. (Given that I have a boyfriend that already went through Gastro and has told me all about the old guys it was kind of unfair) but the fact that most people didn't know who Alice Waters, Thomas Keller, Ferran Adria, ect were boggled my mind. I knew them all, they are everyday knowledge and conversation in my life .. I was slightly disappointed that no one seemed to know anyone beyond the food network. I told D about my disappointment and he brought up a good point which I guess I had forgotten. A lot of these people don't care the way that I do or they care for different reasons about wanting to pursue this profession or even just take the class. My class in made up of a lot of people who just want to learn how to cook, and probably won't do anything with this ever again. There is nothing wrong with that, I guess I was just excited to emerse myself in a world where people think, talk, act, and know as much about the culinary world as I do and so we ride off into the sunset as a team taking one chef at a time by storm. I guess we shall see.

My class was supposed to be 12-13, but there were only 8 of us on Thursday. 7 women, one man. Everyone seemed really nice and I think that we will all get along very well. There doesn't seem to be any dominating personality that will disrupt the balance. I already seem to be emerging as the leader (go figure) and so we will just go with that. I will be my own appointed team leader to my group. (:

So next week we start on our begining cuts. I am excited about that but I am also excited for next weeks lunch! We have a garde manager, cookery, and chocolate class all in the kitchens with us at the same time! Yum! Julienne-ing and eating, don't mind if I do.

This morning I woke up feeling very happy, beautiful, and alive. Its been so cold and rainy the last two days I was estatic to hear that there were no raindrops dancing gracefully off my window. I hopped out of bed, hugged my cat, threw on one of my dads old sweaters (which have become essential to my wardrobe this fall, (thanks dad for getting rid of them!!)) and came to the library, where I have been since. 4.5 hours .. What have I accomplished? Two phone calls and a facebook page later, nothing that I came to do! Lol but all in all its been a pretty good day. It looked like rain this morning but it's held off! Yay just cloudy!

Well, I am going to try to complete my homework before they kick me out at 5! :)

Xo

Jay

Thursday Thinking

Its Wednesday .. I don't know if I can hold myself over until tomorrow!!

And incase you forgot ...

MY CULINARY CLASS STARTS TOMORROW! (:

I know that we aren't gonna be in the kitchen on the first day, but I am still as giddy as a kid before Christmas! I will def. let you all know how this goes. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

So I am contemplating putting some links up here for my writings .. they aren't anything special just assignments for my creative writing class that you can give feedback on .. anything thoughts to anyone that actually reads this?

I had a character overkill assignment that is due today .. It was supposed to be 1-3 pages .. mine wound up 5 .. -_- ack! Why can't I just do things the simply way ..

Oh well gotta go print my assignment. I will post more tomorrow..

Wish me luck!

Xo
-Jay

Occupy myself?

So without cable, and lets be honest, my parents or D being around I haven't really kept up on the news. Politics doesn't excited me, I am not a registered voter and I tend to just ignore it. I have friends who are super into it all and they seem to tell me whats going on in the world. Not that I don't think they are important, its not that I don't care, and I have my own opinions and things that I think the government should be focusing on, but I usually can't keep up and get lost very easily in all the jargin and the run around. I do not have a very good game face to say the least. So I did not understand this whole occupy me thing when I saw it being posted all over facebook (I know its super lame that facebook is my news source) bur D was kind enough to explain to me what is going on. Needless to say I am kinda freaked out by the whole thing and it really does not make a whole lot of sense. What are they really trying to accomplish here?

I am worried that someone is going to get needlessly hurt. I mean do they really think that the rich are just going to say, "You know, you people who have been unemployed and living off the government for years on welfare are right. Here is all my money!" I can bet even if someone started setting up jobs these protestors would be particular and turn up their noses at what was being offered. Beggers can't be choosers. Welcome to my life as a Home Depot Cashier :) lol .. Anyways, this whole thing is just insane and hopefully with either explode soon so we can all get on with our lives or die fairly quickly.

So here are the pictures that I promised from D being home and the things that we cooked. It was really awesome but he indimidates me in the kitchen. He always has. He has this amazing palate and I don't. I need to develop mine like woah. So he makes me nervous. I can't wait to get in the kitchen and get my confidence up and be able to cook for anyone including him. I gotta get over this fear factor. He would never be mean about my cooking, he would be honest, but never mean. So anyways, it was a really fun time and here they are ......

This is the pasta we made the first night. Its ravioli with sauce and then we made some chicken to go with it. An amazing arugla salad and some boursin home made garlic toast. We also had ice cream and homemade carmel for dessert!! (:

This is the dinner we made 2 nights before D left .. It was 3 different types of sliders, loaded tots, and mac and cheese ..

This is the Turkey Burger and the Chicken Slider. The Turkey burger had avacado, wasabi mayo, roma tomato and boursin cheese. The Chicken Slider had shredded chedder mix cheese, arugla, santa fe sauce and green onion.

This is our classic slider. It hd mayo, mustard, onion and pickle and a slice of colby jack cheese! It was the perfect burger bite!

This was my baby! Its a white cheddar/ dill harvarti mac and cheese! It was awesome .. We topped it with diced tomatoes and green onions.

These were the tots! Topped with queso cheese, salsa, peppered bacon and sour cream they were really good. They got cold very fast though which was kind of a bummer! ):

And last but not least, dessert! We did apples and pears in a home made apple cider/wine syrup and then topped it with molassess cookies and baked it in the oven. With some vanilla ice cream it was pretty delicious .. we did bake it too long and the fruit got mushy, but the flavor was still there ..

This was actually my post from yesterday so I will probably post again for today!

Xo

Jay

Tight Ropes && Sharp Knives

So I know it's been a few weeks since I my last post and I don't have that many to begin with -_- but I have been busy or lazy .. lol you decide! My boyfriend was back so I was spending as much time with him as I could, plus with school and finally working again and of course needing my ever so special beauty sleep .. well you do the math.. c:

So a lot has happened since I last posted .. here's an update ..

Like I said my whirlwind of a man, Dustin or D, was home. I got him for a whole 1.5 weeks so needless to say I was a very happy girl! It was just a passing through trip because he is on his way out to California for his extern. San Francisco to be exact. He is going to be working at this amazing resturaunt called Epic Roasthouse which is right on the bay. I am so jealous and cannot wait to go out to visit! He is definately an inspiration to me to say the least. We've been together now for 2.5 years but he was my best friend long before that. He was the one who told me about the Culinary and told me to pursue my dreams instead of just standing idly by watching my dreams slowly fly out the window. He is pretty awesome. And he is a definate force of nature, not unlike myself. If we ever have children lets just say they will probably cause earthquakes. We are both strong willed, stubborn, and fighters for the things that are important to us .. Yep. I am very lucky. He is pretty awesome.

I just finished up my Culinary Standards and Food safety class today! Yay! So that means I have my first offical culinary class this Thursday! I am very excited but also very nervous. I know if may sound stupid, but I don't want to make a fool of myself. I know I am one of those people who get discouraged and can sometimes quit and I don't want that to happen at school. I am definately gonna have to stay on top of everything and practice at home. But I will be sure to keep you up to speed as to how things are going!

I also started working again recently .. nothing exciting just a cashiers position at my local Home Depot Store. So balance is definatly at word for my books right now. I have never been very good at balancing everything, especially when it comes to school and work. I usually start working 40+ hours a week and let my school work slip. THAT. CANNOT. HAPPEN! I need to get good grades just as much as I need to make some money. So its all gonna be about balance.

Other than that things have been kinda quite. I got to see my mom a few days ago. She was in town for some fitness stuff and just to visit so that was really nice. I miss her a lot. I think I am gonna try to take a trip down there soon to see their new house and to see my dogs. I am a dog person. Not a cat person. That much I have figured out since taking over the family cat. Its a good thing that he is so likeable or we would have problems! lol.

I have been in a weird mood all day today. I just kinda wanted to be left alone to chill out in hibernation mode today .. maybe because it was FREEZING outside! I dunno. Whatever it was my couch was def. calling my name all day .. I just wish I had t.v. so I could've watched some smutt like Real Housewives of Beverly Hills while I napped lol ..

Anyways I think I am going to hit the hay. I have to work in the a.m. and need to be up early to shower and look presentable! haha .. Write soon.

Xo,

Jay <3.

P.S.- D and I made some really good dinners while he was home. I am gonna try to get the pictures from him and I will upload them onto here A-SAP! Night!