Culinary School Snapshots – Part 3

Since we just finished our 3rd course – Artisan Breads – I figure I should do another culinary school snapshots post.  The breads course was amazing.  We made so many different types and styles of breads.  Below is just a small sampling of what was made.

I’m still having a blast in culinary school.  I’m pretty proud of still maintaining my 4.0 average and 100% attendance record.  I miss my husband (a lot) but I know the time apart will all be worth it in the end.

Brioche a Tete

Epi Baguette

Bagels

Multigrain Sourdough

Soft Pretzels

Light Rye Bread

English Muffins

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Homemade Vanilla Extract

Back in August I stumbled upon Beantown Baker’s post about making homemade vanilla extract and decided that I just HAD to give these as Christmas gifts to all of the special ladies in my life this year.

So, I ordered the bottles, secured the beans, bought the vodka and got right to work.

The extract is so simple and pretty much does all the work itself!

INGREDIENTS
Vanilla beans – 2 per jar
Vodka

DIRECTIONS
Wash and dry bottles well.

Add one or two beans to each jar and fill with vodka.

Close tightly and store in a box somewhere cool and dark (I used a corner of our basement).

Every week or so, take the bottles out and give them a good shake.

Your extract will be ready in about 2 months, but the longer you let it sit the better!

Husband Rating – 5 out of 5 – “Brilliant idea!  I had fun shaking these – LoL!”

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And The Winner Is …

I just wanted to thank everyone who entered my recent sassyapron giveaway.

I have never had so many comments on a single post!  You guys rock!

51 responses were received.  Everyone’s last meal requests sounded so delicious!  The food choices ranged from lobster and duck confit to cheeseburgers and a milkshake – all very good choices!

I used the random number generator to determine the winner.

And the winner is…

Linnea of Linnea Ann Photography is the winner (check out her blog when you have a minute – it’s lovely)!  Linnea, you’re going to love the apron!  Be sure to take a picture of you wearing it when it arrives!!

I will email you soon to get your shipping address.

Thanks again to everyone that entered the giveaway!  And, if you didn’t win, but would still like a sassyapron of your very own, you can get it here.

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Happy Blogiversary to Me (and a Giveaway)!

This week marks my 2-year Blogiversary!  I’m so proud with how far I have come in the kitchen and am so grateful to have such amazing readers.  So…to thank you for sticking with me, I’m doing a giveaway!

I love cute aprons.  I have a whole bunch decorating my kitchen.

Last year I purchased a few aprons from Etsy seller sassyapron and fell in love!  These are by far the most adorable aprons I’ve ever seen!!  I have one that is a cupcake pattern and one with multi-colored snowflakes.  I can’t even tell you how many comments I’ve received from people on my aprons!

To share my love of these aprons, I’m giving away this sassyapron half-apron and towel set.

The main print is a yellow/green honeycomb with little bees scattered all over.  It is trimmed with black and white polka dot fabric (100% cotton).  How cute are the little bees?!?!

To be entered to win this giveaway, please leave a comment below answering the following question: 
“What would you eat for your last meal?”

I love asking this question to other ‘foodies’ – the answers are always so interesting!  Personally, mine would be:  Caesar salad with blackened shrimp and garlic croutons, crispy pan seared salmon topped with lobster meat and hollandaise sauce, creamy garlic and butter mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus, my Grandmother’s peach pie with vanilla bean ice cream and a big Dr. Pepper.

A winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday, August 20.  Good Luck!

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Restaurant Review: VOLT

I’ve never posted a restaurant review here before, and don’t plan to do much of this in the future, but after our dining experience this weekend I just had to post about it!

For Christopher’s birthday, I surprised him with a mini-vacation to Frederick, MD and reservations at Bryan Voltaggio’s restaurant VOLT.  Not only did we eat at a Top Chef restaurant, but we dined at Table 21 (their 21-course tasting menu served in the kitchen of the restaurant)!

Chef Voltaggio hard at work

This was, without a doubt, the very best meal I’ve ever eaten!  The food, the experience of sitting in a real working kitchen, getting to meet Chef Voltaggio – everything about our trip to MD was amazing!

So, have you ever wondered what is served during a 21-course dinner?  Wonder no longer!  Here we go (click on any of the pictures for a larger image):

1.  “Nitro” mint lemonade with crown royal, strawberry foam and mulberries

2.  Prosciutto chips and dip

3.  Celery root macaroon filled with foie gras

4.  Tuna tartare with cilantro, jasmine rice, soy, yuzu and avocado

5.  Yellow corn chowder with Maryland blue crab, cucumber and coconut

6.  “Chicken Parmesan” with tomato fennel dipping dots and opal basil (picture 1)

7.  Cherry Glen Farm goat cheese ravioli with maroon carrots, yellow oyster mushrooms and sage

8.  Lobster with butter, garlic, sunchoke and fennel

9.  Halibut with cauliflower and white truffle

10.  Arctic Char with red onion, potato, cucumber and chive

11.  Skate wing with truffle gnocchi and yellow corn (picture 2)

12.  Veal sweetbreads with fennel, kalamata olives, capers and meyer lemon

13.  Tuscarora beets with goat cheese mousse, watercress and balsamic (picture 3)

14.  Red wattle pork belly with calypso beans, carmellini beans and mostarda (picture 4)

15.  Border Spring Farm lamb loin ratatouille

16.  Pineland Farm beef with yukon gold potato, chanterelle mushrooms and bacon lardon

17.  Point Reyes blue cheese with almond, apple, walnut and balsamic

18.  Goat cheese cake with blueberry and marcona almond (picture 5)

19.  Meyer lemon ‘tart’ with apricot, cherry and basil

20.  Textures of chocolate with caramel and chocolate ice cream (picture 6)

21.  Assorted chocolates, candies and macaroons

I can’t believe we ate all of it!!  You practically had to roll us out of the restaurant!

Honestly, the only thing I really didn’t enjoy was the foie gras.  Everything else was incredible!  The ravioli, pork belly and halibut were definitely our favorites, though.

I wish we had more restaurants like this in New England!

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I’ve been tagged!

Special thanks to my good friend, Mrs. LLL, of Life, Love, & Laughter for tagging me in a recent blog post.

This post isn’t food related – but I’m enjoying the opportunity to let my readers know more about me!  Enjoy!

1.  Who is your style icon?

I absolutely adore Kate Winslet – have for years.  She’s a fabulous actress, has great style and is someone I think most girls should look up to b/c she has a very positive body image and isn’t stick thin like most of Hollywood these days.

2.  What is your favorite Socialite Lit. book?
Honestly…I have no clue…what an odd question.

3.  Favorite party theme.

Game night!  We love getting together to play games with friends (board, video, lawn…all kinds of games)

4.  Go to Halloween costume.

A witch, I suppose.  I have a great black hat covered with feathers (that the cats just can’t wait to get their little paws on)!

5.  Extravagance you can’t live without.
Eyebrow waxes.  At $10, it’s not all that extravagant, but it would be free if I did it at home.  It’s so tedious that I’d rather just pay someone to rip the suckers out!  LOL!

6.  Living person you admire.
My Grandmother (I’m not sure she’d want her picture plastered on the internet, so I’ll leave the pic out of this one).  She’s the greatest lady on the planet!  All of my friends wish she was their Grandmother.  She’s kind, loving, helpful and is my inspiration in the kitchen (especially when it comes to pies)!

7.  Greatest fear.

Drowning.  Not just dying in general…but drowning…I can’t hold my breath for long and really don’t care for water at all.

8.  Trait(s) you deplore in yourself.
I admit I can be a little lazy some days…but I certainly don’t deplore anything about myself.

9.  What talent would you most like to have?

Musician…I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the violin.

10.  What is your greatest achievement?
Well, I’m not that old, so this one is tough.  I guess I’d say doing everything on time and in the right order (graduate high school, boyfriend, graduate college in 4 years, apartment, move in with boyfriend, get engaged, get job, have wedding, buy house and maybe someday have a baby).

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Bon Voyage!

Greetings all!

I just wanted to post to let everyone know that my blog will be pretty quiet over the next 2 weeks.  The hubs and I are about to embark on our first-ever trip to Europe (Amsterdam and Paris to be specific)!   

I’m certain I’ll have a bunch of restaurant reviews and pics of wonderful food when we return.  Stay tuned!

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And the giveaway winner is …

Last week was my one year blog-iversary, and to celebrate the occasion I held a giveaway.  Visitors to Bella’s Bistro could comment on their favorite ingredient and be entered to win this fabulous garlic roaster.

37 comments were received.
Random.org was used to generate the winning number.

And the winner is ……

KOKOMAMA of My Adventures in Food

Koko told us that her favorite ingredients are olive oil and lemon.  Yum!

Congratulations Koko – I will be in touch shortly to get your mailing address.  Thank you to all that entered the contest!

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Welcome PJ and Welcome 2009

Happy New Year Everyone!

This isn’t my usual kind of post, but this hasn’t been my usual kind of week.  On Monday morning, my sister went into labor and Phillip James (PJ for short) was born at 8:35pm (9lbs 12oz, 20 inches).  Shortly after, they noticed something was wrong.  He was rushed to the local children’s hospital and had to have surgery.  One of his testicles was twisted.  They tried to untwist it, but could not restore the blood flow, so it was removed.

Then, after that whole thing, the little guy had a reaction to some of the medicine they gave him.

Everyone was hoping to come home today (Jan 1) but after removing his IV, they realized he hasn’t yet learned to swallow.  So, they’re all going to be in the hospital for another day or so.  (Mom and Dad, although a little stir crazy and sleep deprived, are doing well).

Hubby and I went to visit them this afternoon. Ok, now onto the good stuff…PICS!

Little PJ with Mommy, just a few hours old – He’s so chubby!

Little PJ with Daddy.

PJ and Auntie Jordan.

PJ with Auntie Jordan and Uncle Christopher (that’s hubby).

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The Omnivore’s Hundred

From Very Good Taste Omnivore’s Hundred:

“Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food – but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognize everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.”

If you want to join in, here are the rules:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whiskey from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe Beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

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