I think Julia Child would absolutely approve of a ziplock pastry bag!

The first time I read a ladyfinger recipe I felt so intimidated! After I finished making the recipe I giggled at myself a little bit because it was so easy and I had so many home-made ladyfingers! Keep us updated on the fun work! Happy Holidays

Thank you for brightening my week! I have lost 3 very close family members in December and every year I think things will get easier. I guess in some small ways it does get easier. Helping ourselves master things like this but it also helps us make new memories and overcome the grief.

I had the opportunity to help one of my pastry Chef Instructors create a croquembouche for a benefit dinner. It was by far one of the neatest things I have ever had the opportunity to make. Nothing compares with the nervous excitement of removing the croquembouche from it’s mold or transporting the thing! What a great sense of accomplishment I had knowing that I helped create that, and that it didn’t collapse and that people were going to eat and enjoy it!!

Happy Holidays and thank you for sharing

For my family it is my grandma’s pot roast. No one is quite sure what she did to it to make it so moist and so wonderful. I am sure I will spend the rest of my life trying to figure it out!

What a great recipe for the upcoming holidays! I have seen potato dauphinois please everyone from a down home crowd to a room full of gourmets. I’m sure that no matter how or to who you serve this dish it will be a big hit!!

I swear by my waiter’s corkscrew!! It is so easy to use, and store and super durable. I have had the same one for 2 years and it has been through quite a bit. I use it at work and at home, but still works like the day I bought it!

I cannot believe I didn’t read this post sooner. I have worked in BBQ for four and a half of my six years, so far, in restaurants so talk of BBQ doesn’t get me as excited as it used too. Currently I work for Mike Mills at his 17th St. Bar and Grill in O’Fallon, IL location!

Right now we are gearing up for the Apple City BBQ Cook-off put together by Mike and the Apple City BBQ team in Murphysboro IL. If you are interested in trying out his dry rub or a bottle of sauce let me know and I can send you some!

I’M SO JEALOUS!!!! I have got to get an American Express card!

One of the Chefs at school just lead a little, informal, discussion about what affects flavor and people’s flavor perception. One list we came up with was things that we felt that, as chefs, we cannot change (i.e. a bad food memory). The second list was a list of things we determined we are completely responsible for and at the top of the list was technique, followed by product.

Thank you for posting this. I am a little frustrated with my baking class right now and this has reminded me that I am still learning and practicing my technique!

School is going really well! I had the opportunity to prep and serve food for the MBL All-Star Game (the Commissioner’s Gala and the VIP Party before the game. That was unbelievable!!! I’ll be posting about that soon.

Thank you for clearing this up for us! It is so confusing to see all of those labels that seem so nice and squeaky clean.

I start June 22nd. I just finished moving all of my things back to my home town. I’m sure I will have lots of great stories. I’m so excited to learn from the best chefs in the midwest!!!

I think everyone has to figure out what works for them when cooking. Sometime I follow a recipe exactly as it is because it tastes great and I wouldn’t change a thing. Sometimes I tear the recipe apart and rearrange eveything, add, subtract and make it my own.

I totally agree that people should be more willing experiment with foods and recipes. Everyone has different tastes and trying new things is never a bad idea!

As far as mise en place is concerned, I wish there were magical knomes who would have everything prepped for me when I came home from work. As that is not the case I usually prep as I go too!

I couldn’t believe what a big deal everyone made out of this. Just because he is President does not mean he cannot enjoy a beer at a game like everyone else!I thought it was refreshing to see too!

I’m looking forward to fresh berries, tomatoes, lettuce, and Georgia peaches! Also, there is a couple who comes to the farmers market every other week with Amish made cheddar cheese that is the bomb-diggity! It never last long in my apartment.

Oh and who doesn’t love to do some people watching at the farmers market! Parents with kids on leashes, people trying their hardest to speak Spanish to the Mexican farm hands, watching people pick out a chicken or rooster to take home. Nothing beats the smells and sounds of a farmers market!

Thank you for educating us on olive oil. I think it is an ingredient that a lot of home cooks over look when it comes to the quality of the oil. I always try to keep two bottles in my pantry. A less expensive bottle for cooking with a and a really high quality extra virgin for dipping homemade breads and what not in.

I made the Chicken Curry and Cucumber Raita recipes last night. It was easy to fix and tasted great! I can’t wait to make it again.

I made a batch of this granola yesterday and I love it!! I made a kind of deconstructed version because my boyfriend does not care for nuts. It worked out will though because now we can customize the granola to our cravings (more sweet or more salty).

Besides the taste being great my kitchen smelled amazing while it was baking!

I add it to the pot of soup and let it cook for a few seconds before I scoop everything out into a bowl to eat. It’s so tasty!!

Before I got a rice cooker I used to treat ramen like bibimbap and add anything extra or left over I had to the bowl.

When I want some quick comfort food I add a little chicken, green onion and a soft boiled egg to my chicken ramen. The egg yolk gives it a rich taste just like egg drop soup!

Thanks for reminding me about ramen noodles. I haven’t bought any in a while but I’m craving them now!

If no one has claimed Gillian McKeith’s Food Bible I would be more than happy to review that one! My boyfriend and I love to watch her in You Are What You Eat on the BBC. She doesn’t take any crap from those people!

That’s so wonderful! I have always wanted to start an indoor garden but just don’t have the space for it. All of the photographs were great too!