Out Of The Woods

It was a first-time realization tonight that I haven’t taken the time to record any of the last few months’ culinary school happenings. This could be a potential regret, since the ones I journal are most likely the only ones I will be able to recall as an old granny, sharing my life’s pearls of wisdom with all who will inquire, and, frankly, all who will not.

Unfortunately, I will not commit to be better at recording the culinary journey- it’s a 2015 New Year’s resolution I just wont keep.  Over the last three months, I have never felt so stretched in every direction with the limited time each day is allotted. I have mastered the art of multi-tasking, surviving the first few months of school by memorizing tablespoon to gallon conversion tables on treadmills, reviewing traditional French cuisine recipe flashcards on stroller walks, and reading up on the history and method of basic culinary techniques while watching sesame street. You'd be surprised by how many days you can get away with without washing your hair thanks to baby powder. 

Chris has been gone most of the time on a rotation in Tucson and then in Houston, and I have developed a deep respect for single full-time working mothers. When weeks have been particularly rough and I have been so tired I fall asleep at 1 AM with my chefs hat still on to wake up to an eager, hungry baby boy at 6, I am reminded that these challenges are temporary by the girl next to me in the kitchen who not only attends night school full-time as a single mother, but also works the other full-time she has in her life in a restaurant at Sky Harbor Airport. I have SO much respect for her.

It has been a personal goal to not let this experience take away any of the limited time I have with Adele and Kellen in their baby years. I feel guilty for not being there as much for Kellen as I was for Adele, but I plan to make it up one way or another in the years to come by never letting him move away from home.

My first impression of Culinary School was a hard realization that this was not going to be a walk in the clouds dream fulfillment. Most nights I feel like I am either in the military, or the bottom line of a soup kitchen- taking orders from a no-nonsense master chef. Which isn’t too far from accurate, considering that every professional kitchen is essentially modeled after the French military brigade. In the late 19^th century, Georges Auguste Escoffier replaced the grand cuisine that ruled for nearly a decade with a system that is still used in kitchens today; the purpose of the brigade system is to ensure that talent and workspace are optimized, each position within the kitchen having specific station and responsibility. So all those kitchen competitions on the food network really are measuring skill by making time and efficiency such a big factor in the process of production.

On the first day of school, we were instructed of the rules of the kitchen and the classroom and reminded that any time the Chef addresses us we are to reply, “Yes Chef”, or “No Chef”, and that it is disrespectful to question the “Chef’s ways”- even if we think he is wrong. Until recently, the title of ‘Chef’ was not necessarily one of respect, and so the culture of the chef world is a rags-to-riches, work-you-way-up-in-this-world kind of attitude. Most chefs are self-proclaimed snobs and expect respect for their hard work and life experiences.  

The last couple of weeks have been much easier having Chris home, and I look forward to the remaining time left to learn and practice new cooking techniques. I know I am blessed and fortunate to be living this dream and to receive the culinary training each night. I believe whole-heartedly in making your passions and goals a reality and hope I can somehow influence or support that necessity in the future of my children.

On a more personal note

The last couple months have been full of decision making and changes, and the stress has been in good company with a bowl of bluebell ice cream each night. I never realized I would be so sad for our medical school days to come to an end- but it has been such an enriching experience. There have been a lot of ups, and a lot of downs, and I am grateful for all the ways we have each grown, for the good friends we have made, the family we have started, and the home we have established. Only the hope of a future just as fulfilling eases the way I am feeling about packing up our life into boxes to leave.

We have decided to sell all our furniture and live the lives of vagabonds living with parents or in month to month rentals for the next year while Chris does away rotations and travels for residency interviews. He officially finishes school next March, and initially we had thought about taking our family to live out the next summer on the beaches of Nicaragua improving our Spanish and surfing skills. But instead, we have decided to carryout an agreement Chris and I made when we started this whole med school experience- and that is for me to go to Culinary School. It’s something I have wanted to do for a long time, but I didn’t think it would happen this soon. We agreed that if I supported Chris through Med School, he would support me through culinary school- and now it looks like both our dreams will finish about the same time. But for the record, I would support Chris through anything- culinary school or no culinary schoolJ.

I will start attending the night program at Arizona Culinary Institute in late September, and we will both finish school by the end of next summer. I am so excited to learn the in's and out's of making the perfect chocolate chip cookie, the secrets to recipe creations, and the skills for top-notch cuisine production.

I couldn’t ask for a more supportive and amazing husband, and I am so grateful for who he is and all he does. It will be challenging to miss out on a few hours of Kellen and Adele each day over the next year- I love them so much and enjoy being a stay at home mom with them.

I also know that this experience is one that can enrich and fulfill our family’s lives. I hope to learn the skills I need to be able to be a personal chef or do some out-of-the-home event catering. And, make some really good family dinners, to say the least.

Because Every Dessert Should Be Chocolate.

Our family has decided to take on the 'Whole 30' challenge for the month of July. For thirty days we are committed to eating only whole foods- no sugar, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, grains, dairy, lentils/legumes, or anything else delicious and happy. So far, it has been somewhat difficult- we both realize how much we like to eat on-the-go and finding natural whole food that is quick and filling can be difficult. But it has also been rewarding- we have had fun trying a lot of new recipes, discovering new vegetables, and have already felt the healthy side effects of more energy. (Win Win Win:)…I have even started making our own home-made almond milk- something I plan to continue to do even after this month of Oreo, Brownie, and Chocolate Ice cream sabbatical. We will continue to adapt the diet to our family's individual needs- but it has been a worthwhile experiment for sure. One thing I have discovered is how much satisfaction I get from chocolate. Diet or none, I believe every dessert to be considered worthwhile, should be chocolate. And so, although we are not making many chocolate desserts in our home these days, (however- a little cocoa powder, frozen banana, and coconut milk really isn't half bad…) I did want to post a recipe I had tried just a couple of days before we had embraced the Whole 30 experiment. I have always loved Creme Brûlée- and just when you think it couldn't get any better, I found a way to make it chocolate. Well, Martha Stewart found the way. But I found her recipe. And it's for sure worth your time. We added some raspberries to this recipe and it was absolutely one of the best Creme Brûlée experiences I've ever had.

Chocolate Creme Brulee

This chocolate-centric creme brulee retains the creaminess and caramelized-sugar topping of the classic version. Though caramel and chocolate are considered sweets, the real secret to their allure is an undercurrent of bitterness, a natural component of cacao and burned sugar.

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Martha Stewart Living, February 2011http://www.marthastewart.com/332279/chocolate-creme-brulee

YieldMakes 4 (or enough for 15 sandwiches)

Ingredients

• FOR THE CREME BRULEE

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (1/2 cup)
  • 5 large egg yolks

• FOR ASSEMBLING

  • 4 tablespoons sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Make the creme brulee: Heat cream and 1/4 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves and the cream just begins to simmer. Add chocolate, and whisk until melted and smooth.
2. Whisk remaining 3 tablespoons sugar with the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Slowly pour cream mixture into yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Strain custard through a fine sieve.
3. Pour custard into four 4-ounce ramekins. Transfer ramekins to a roasting pan, and fill pan with enough boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of ramekins. Bake until custards are just set, 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Carefully remove from water, and let custards cool.
4. Assemble the cremes brulees: Refrigerate for 1 hour. Top each with 1 tablespoon sugar. Hold a small handheld kitchen torch at a 90-degree angle 3 to 4 inches from surface of custard. Move flame back and forth until surface is caramelized. Alternatively, broil custards on top rack until caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes.

Cook's Note

Baked cremes brulees can be refrigerated overnight. Caramelize tops before serving.

© 2014 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. All rights reserved.

The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost

Literally the best book I've ever read. And I'm no Reading Rainbow Man or Matilda, but, I was an English major. (And yes- I did graduate; best 7 years of my life). At the beginning of one school year, I piled all the books I was assigned for the semester and it was taller than me. Literally taller than my 5 foot 6 inch stature. That's a lot of reading for four-and-a-half months. But seriously- if you have never heard of J. Maarten Troost, then check out one of his books asap. His writing is the kind that makes you laugh out loud- and it inspires me to write my own witty whimsical travel log one day. The title is completely misleading and somewhat unfortunate. (Who wants to be the the one to recommend such a title to a Relief Society book club? Well I did recommend it, but not without some serious hesitation). But then again, the title is a prototype for the experience of the book itself- ironic and thought provoking. Seriously- did cannibals have sex? And was it a black widow experience where you then turned around and ate your lover? Don't really know- but it does get me curious, and all internet filters in consideration I will probably be doing a google search on cannibals and their procreating  lifestyle sometime in the near future. 

The book is a travel log of the author's experience in on Equatorial Pacific atoll. It's interesting, clever, quick-witted, and full of cool historic island beginnings, like- the first interactions between the white skinned explorers of the old world and the dark skinned inhabitants of the South Pacific islands, or such as the introduction of Christianity to the isolated indigenous islanders. I always finish a book if I start it (no matter how boring or dry it may be- Moby Dick- I'm looking at you) and I rarely read a book twice- but I have read The Sex Lives of Cannibals three times now. A great read if you're looking for a laugh and a mental get away from US city living. One day I will have my own long term island living experience. My husband and I love to travel and we have big plans for our future family travels. (But for now, we also have big student loans to pay off first). While we were dating Chris asked me where I wanted to end up in life, and I told him I'd always wanted to move away and live in a hut on a beach. I know I will be happy with the simple life with nothing but a small hut on a beach. With lots of books. And my own sonic ice machine and diet coke supply next to the window that overlooks our lime tree...The "hut on a beach" idea contues to expand as we have more kids and realize more fully what 'paradise' needs if we will be including these newest additions of our family in the "hut on a beach" experience. So, for a good read- check out The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost; you won't be disappointed.

Creamy Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

If I had to choose only one food to live off of the rest of my life it would be smoothies. I LOVE a good smoothie. Green smoothies, Jamba Juice, Dairy Queen Blizzards, Protein shakes- you name it- as long as its a great combination thrown in a blender, I am 100% satisfied. I have a feeling my own daughter would make the same choice- she loves to sit on the kitchen floor each morning and watch me prepare the ingredients for a good smoothie (assuming she gets half the drink, of course). The best purchase we ever made was our Vita Mix blender- seriously, life changing. Lately my newest favorite is this Chocolate Avocado Smoothie I found online. Its packed with protein because of the almond milk and almond butter, and I like to think its healthy? (Please don't tell me otherwise.) The avocado may sound weird, but you don't actually taste it (although- I do love avocados)- but it gives the drink a smooth texture. It's a great post work-out drink. Enjoy:)

Creamy Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

AUTHOR: Danielle Walker - AgainstAllGrain.com

SERVES: 1

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces almond milk
• ½ cup crushed ice
• 1 ripe banana
• 3 dates, or 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ avocado (about ¼ cup)
• 2 tablespoons raw cacao
• 2 tablespoons almond butter
• 1½ teaspoon golden flaxseed

Instructions:

Blend for 30 seconds until smooth.

From One Motha To Anotha

Last week a tired friend emailed myself and a few other moms about what a crazy Mothers Day she had last Sunday. She was upset that her one day a year to get breakfast in bed and be showered with gifts was a day of sick babies and overall chaos. She wrote how her attitude took a 180 when she stopped to realize that this day of celebrating Mothers was no better opportunity to "roll up her sleeves" and face the grit and grime that all Moms face on some days. I was grateful for the honest email- it came at a good time for me, and I was quick to reply:  

Ok, so I just got home from the gym (but it's 12 o'clock, your thinking- just now?... Turns out the routine of breastfeeding, burping, spit-up cleanup, blowout changes, feeding and clothing an impatient, demanding toddler (don't know where she gets it from...) takes several hours to go anywhere- and let's throw in part of that routine again because by the time we are packed up and ready to go out the door, Kellen needs fed. Again.)  

We made it to the gym and back and after we walk through the door I am running around the house with no shirt because Kellen needed to be fed as soon as we got home and Adele needed a snack before her nap time which needs to happen pronto cause if we don't put her down by noon, she gives up on the whole nap idea and all of us have a really great rest of the day with a no-nap toddler, an infant, and a disrupted-sleep-for-two-months-now momma… 

So I chased down Adele, helped her chug some apple sauce, carried both crying baby wanting to finish his feeding and squirming toddler upstairs. Right now Adele is in her crib and keeps yelling "uhoh"- which means she's either thrown her pacifier out of the crib (which she won't sleep without), or has her legs stuck in the bars of the crib. But I am pinned to the chair letting Kellen finish a feeding so I am checking my email on my phone (because that's also what Moms do- multi-task, right?) and I read your email and seriously started crying. Our Mothers Day experiences were similar- Chris was on-call all morning, and- miraculously- we made it to church (and only lost one of Adele's shoes in route). 

Thanks for the shout out- a real tender mercy in a time of need:)

Rachel

Becoming a mom and accepting the daily (and nightly) responsibilities has been one of the most humbling challenges I have experienced. But also one of the most rewarding. I can't imagine a life without Adele and Kellen- they bring me so much joy and satisfaction. True- it may be humanly impossible for me to get through it without a diet coke and something chocolate when the days are long and the tempers are short- but I know that in the end, they will be the greatest thing I ever had a part in. 

In the mean time however, I find so much validation and solace from other moms who are also experiencing the difficult beauties of raising children. Chris showed me the following Youtube video the other day, and I had so much love, pride and humility all at the same time for these rocking moms. It made me feel like a real champion.

Katy Perry - Roar - Alex Boye Ft. Mom Bloggers United (Africanized Cover)

Our Southeast Asia Adventures At An End

Home again. Home again. What was the first thing we did after arriving back in the states? Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich. Two of them. I don't think i will eat rice or noodles for a year. It has been so great to be back home. Connie made a big bag of cookie dough to satisfy Chris's withdrawals. Our sheets are not only not pee-stained, but they also smell clean too! The bathroom has a toilet seat and toilet paper, and the hot water shower was a deluxe commodity. I have not seen one cockroach since being here. I love America.

Our last week in Vietnam was so much fun; a great way to end our adventure! For the most part, the trip was a success. One downside: receiving counterfeit money from an ATM. Really?No wonder no one will take our U.S. bills if their crinkled or slightly ripped...We spent the first part of it at Kataba island, a big vacation spot for the Vietnamese during the summer, and the second half of it in the city of Hanoi. It was hilarious to come around the corner and see so many of the Vietnamese swimming in the ocean, fighting for the shady parts of the water to avoid any kind of suntan.We kayaked around the lime stone cliffs at Hanoi Bay- beautiful!!
While Chris did most of the rowing, I valiantly called out the direction we should steer. Some might say that's just the natural born leader in me. We came upon some locals farming oysters. They scoop up buckets of sand where oysters grow and cultivate until the fishermen harvest them to sell.
We boldly rock-climbed 6 different cliffs on a small island. It was beautiful! We both got pretty bruised up, but are anxious to continue such a thrilling hobby- so much fun!


After rock climbing, we rode by a small water village on our way back to the big island. The guide told us that the families there have never known anything different other than being raised in their boat homes on the sea. It was beautiful!
Chris got his fill of "good sea food" one night.
A persistent lady wanted me to buy a pineapple and had us take a picture like this.
Souvenir shopping. Love it.
There are rarely any trash cans anywhere- but when we do come upon some, hold your nose!!!
If only we could get live animals through customs...
It rained and poured the entire time for our last two days in Hanoi. This is us just after visiting the temple of literature. We also went to a nearby museum to see the body of Ho Chi Min that has been preserved by the russians since the 1960s! Unfortunately, it was closed for the day. We did google pictures of it at the hostel- kind of bizarre! I told Chris if cremating my ashes and setting them free over the ocean doesn't work out, then this doesn't seem like a half bad idea either to properly preserve my legacy.

Goodbye Vietnam!

And now for the long awaited "after shot":
Classy.

We are so grateful and feel very blessed to have had such amazing experiences, growth opportunities, and chances to serve others across the world. Thanks again friends and family for all of your support! If anyone is interested in following up with the projects we helped to begin in Thailand, the Help International Web-sight has a team blog with updates and the status of the service projects.

Sawadikaaaaa!