It’s humpday today and I am t-i-r-e-d!!!!! I just couldn’t seem to get to sleep last night, as tired as I was from my day. I decided to take an exercise break today as a result! I took time in my morning to go slower, unload the dishwasher, make breakfast and tea…really just slow down. I wish more than anything I could crawl back in my bed right now though! 🙁
Last night in school we had our practical (I got an A) and I got SO messy! Seriously, I had chocolate from head to toe. I tried to take a picture but the picture doesn’t really do the mess justice. For some reason I look a lot cleaner on camera!
This morning I made another hot bowl of oatmeal with 1/2 cup oats, half soymilk and half water, a small banana and a spoonful of almond butter. It was good but felt quite heavy. Maybe it’s the soymilk that’s making it taste that way? I also had a cup of english breakfast tea. Lately, I’ve been *trying* to drink tea with my breakfast at home and then I’ll have coffee when I get into Roy’s. The chefs make the BEST coffee there and its soooooooo strong I can only drink a small cup and then I’m wired for the rest of my day. Yesterday in my rush though I made an iced coffee to go at my apartment and then made another iced coffee at Roy’s mid afternoon.
For lunch I kept it simple. I defrosted some soup I had made a couple weeks ago and served it with kashi crackers (about 20) and a pear. For a snack, I’m bringing half a cup of 2% cottage cheese and strawberries.
Does it feel like it should be Friday to anyone else but me?!
Sarah
July 16, 2008 at 1:05 pmHow do you make your iced coffee? Every time I try, it turns out bitter and gross. I’ve worked at 2 coffee shops in the past and we used simple syrups and a cold press machine to make it, but I don’t have a cold press and don’t like adding all that sugar…I’d love your recipe!
jenna
July 16, 2008 at 1:08 pmSarah,
I usually just make my coffee extra strong (doubling the strength) and then I cool it down, add some sweetener (cane sugar or splenda) and milk and then put it over ice. It’s nothing like starbucks—I LOVE their iced coffee with the simple syrup! but its pretty good and saves money!
Kristin
July 16, 2008 at 1:25 pmI feel like it’s friday as well! However, my entire time is messed up because I’ve been in Italy for a month and hardly ever know the date!
But I’ve been keeping up with this blog, because it really is my favorite!
Congrats on your practical, you always sound like you have a great time at school, as stressful as it may be sometimes!
Here’s my question of the day; for Jenna and all those others who want to answer.
I’ve recently made the decision that I want to go to Culinary school as soon as I finish the degree I am currently going for (Nutrition; I’m trying to graduate early).
This year will be the first year I will have my OWN kitchen, to stock and experiment with, and although I have all the tools to cook/bake and do it quite often at my parent’s house, I’m starting completely from scratch at my new house!
My question is- What would you all reccomend me as your top most important kitchen tools/knives/appliances, etc for my new kitchen? (Brands, and other kitchen staples would be helpful as well!)
I’ve asked a similar question before, but now that I’m serious about becoming a prof. chef, I’ll be in need of some nice cooking equiptment to use!
Thanks to all in advance
P.S. All of those who read my blog- I apologize for lack of pictures lately, they’ll be up soon the internet here in Calabria is a bit touchy!
~C~
July 16, 2008 at 1:43 pmI had a tired day yesterday. Congrats on your A! How far along in school are you?
caitlinbo
July 16, 2008 at 1:47 pmhi kristin:
honestly, my kitchenaid handless mixer (stand alone) was the BEST GIFT I EVER RECEIVED. i love it. it makes baking so much easier. 🙂 totally worth the $200 price tag. sometime i see it on sale for $150 or so.
ModelBehavior
July 16, 2008 at 1:57 pmI love when you post pictures in your chef outfit, you look so official!!
And YYEESS it should be FRIDAY!!!
http://modbehav.wordpress.com
Heather
July 16, 2008 at 3:48 pmCongrats on the practical! Those are so nerve wracking. What did you prepare?
I skipped my workout today too… sometimes you just need a break!
arielle
July 16, 2008 at 4:42 pmI just have to tell you that the same thing happened to my Mac laptop and they had to replace my keyboard, too. It must be a common thing. The genius lab people, however, told me that I “type too hard.”
Mandy
July 16, 2008 at 4:58 pmSo how many of those “chef outfits” do you have? Do you have to wash them yourself/ have a clean one before each class?
Just curious 🙂
Chandra (Eating to Live)
July 16, 2008 at 5:28 pmyou look so pretty with glasses! 🙂
congratulations on the A in your practical; looks like getting covered in chocolate paid off! hehe
hope your day is devoid of anymore stray peas 😉
Emily
July 16, 2008 at 5:38 pmKristen –
1) Cutco knives. You can’t purchase them in the stores, but they last forever (although pricey)…
2)i also really enjoy the Kitchenaid mixer, life saver.
3) clear glass bowls from william sonoma..i really use them all of the time!
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sku8667537/index.cfm?pkey=cctlmixecg
4) all-clad pots and pans.
ok thats all! sorry for so many things
Jen
July 16, 2008 at 5:43 pmHi Jenna, or anyone else that can help!
I’m going on a trip to Paris for 16 days and I’m wondering if anyone can offer up any tips on what/where to eat, their experiences there, etc. I’m getting a little worried because of the language barrier. A few people have said that many Parisians speak English, but I’m afraid I won’t understand anyone and they won’t understand me. Help?!
BethT
July 16, 2008 at 6:17 pmJenna, I remember you commenting one time that you get in trouble if you’re missing any part of your chef outfit. Why is that? To prepare you for the work environment? Just curious.
mi
July 16, 2008 at 6:45 pmthis is so completely unrelated to anything, but i have never figured out what humpday actually means, and what makes a humpday! please enlighten me 🙂
Foodie
July 16, 2008 at 7:00 pmCongrats on the A!
And mi, I always wondered what humpday was too. So glad I am not the only one.
~C~
July 16, 2008 at 7:56 pmHump day is Wednesday, the hump of the hill to the weekend.
caitlinbo
July 16, 2008 at 8:31 pmmonday is the bottom of the hill, tuesday is a slow climb, but wednesday is hump day because then you’re over the hump and its ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE 🙂
Monica
July 16, 2008 at 8:46 pmOatmeal totally seems to make me super full when I haven’t had it in a while. Maybe that’s why it seemed so heavy?
jenna
July 16, 2008 at 9:21 pmKristin,
I agree on the knives! They might be expensive but they *should* last your forever! (if you take care of them!). I also suggest a cast iron skillet because I got one for christmas and LOOOOVE it!
C,
I officially have about 10 weeks of school left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (can you tell I’m excited?)
Heather,
I tempered chocolate to produce 1 chocolate fan, 1 chocolate roll, 1 transfer sheet and then I made raspberry coulis and creme anglaise that I flavored with chinese 5 spice powder—it came out amazingly tasty!
BethT,
Yep–its really to prepare you for the real world. A lot of people have compared culinary school to the military and I have never been in the military but it sure is strict! They want to scare the people away that aren’t cut out for it (the slackers) so they produce the strongest class of chefs possible. Everyday I have lineup at 6:30 where even my fingernails and socks get inspected…
Foodie
July 16, 2008 at 11:30 pmC and Caitlinbo, thanks for explaining. I thought it was something like that but didn’t know for sure. Now I know!