My Day According to French Cooking

Today I learned how to make the perfect omelette.
I was watching an old rerun of The French Chef on tv with my dad- and Julia was making omelettes.
These weren't just any ordinary omelettes, either. They were authentic, miraculous, ingeniously crafted, straight out of the original Le Cordon Bleu style omelettes... Cooked in only the best way possible: French.
Now, this might all seem a little extreme, but once you hear my story, I guarantee you'll understand exactly why I'm so excited about this.... Or maybe you won't. I don't know. It really all depends on how excited you get by cooking.
However- here is the miraculous part of this process: the entire process, from cracking the egg to plating the omelette, takes less than one minute total.
How is this possible??? thats what I asked.... I didn't believe it until I tried it... and I did try it. My dad and I were so excited about it that we rushed downstairs once the episode was over and whipped out the eggpan. (I come from a long line of food-obsessed individuals).
Anyways, the trick is, as Julia explained, to wait until the pan is incredibly hot.
Then you place a slab of butter in the pan, and you wait for it to completely foam and then once the foam subsides, you put your eggs in. You cannot put your eggs in until the butter has stopped foaming. Then, you let the eggs sit for the first 2-3 seconds. Then you grab the handle firmly and begin to shake it with all you've got. Jerk it back and forth vigorously until it looks done enough to add the filling. Add whatever you want- my dad and I put cooked chili beans in the middle and topped with some white cheddar cheese...yum!- then, you slowly slide the omelette onto the plate and gently fold the half still in the pan over the half now on the plate.
It's almost poetic how beautifully this process works. I can stand to testify, I've never made an omelette before today in my life, and by using this process I made the most beautiful omelette me and my parents had ever seen. And if your pan is preheated and your filling ready to add, the process really does take less than one minute.

That was the start of my Julia-filled day... I'm not sure what it is, but its been my experience that every time I attempt a recipe out of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, its like Julia Child is there with me; an invisible force, cheering me on and guiding my instincts to irreputable success, time and time again. She's like my Foodie guardian angel, always watching over me. :)

She was definitely with me again today. I attempted, for the first time, Boeuf Bourguignon.
I know... kind of ambitious, right? I mean... what with all the hoopla and the intrigue surrounding this dish, I was sure I was going to fail miserably and never want to open any cookbook ever again.... But Julia had other plans for me. With her help, and the irreplaceable aid of my trusty sous chef (my dad), I braised those pearl onions with confidence, simmered the bacon in water like a pro, sauteed the mushrooms into submission and browned the beef with all the grace and poise of a seasoned Executive chef.
..... It was stressful though.... Without a doubt, this was the hardest meal I've ever attempted in my life. I was in the kitchen from 1 in the afternoon until 6:15 in the evening and during the last hour and a half almost broke down because I had forgotten that the onions must be braised for an extra fifty minutes, even though the stew was ready to be served at that point. But, I soldiered on, putting the stew back in the warm oven (turned off, by this point, of course), and waiting for the onions to finish braising.
In the end, everything came together perfectly. The French Beaujolais-Villages we bought for the stew was a wonderful addition to the simple flavors. The beauty of French cooking is that its designed to bring out the natural flavor of each ingredient. The essence is to make chicken taste really chicken-y, beef to taste really beefy; every ingredient has such a delightful natural flavor, that instead of adding a lot of unnecessary seasonings, the focus is to highlight and draw out the flavors already present.
So, even though the stew took me five hours to make, and had a zillion tiny steps along the way, the list of ingredients was relatively short. Beef stewmeat, bacon, onions, carrots, wine, fresh thyme, mushrooms and beef bouillon.
Served with boiled potatoes and crusty bread- it was a delightful way to end the exhaustive adventure in the kitchen..... I can't wait to make it again. However, the second time around, I will definitely have learned a thing or two about how to make the process go a lot quicker.... like how half the recipe can be completed way ahead of time. If I had known that, perhaps the meal would have been a lot simpler to prepare. :)

All in all- I feel very proud of my efforts today. However, now I don't know what to tackle next.
Boeuf Bourguignon has been at the top of my list for so long, that now I've completed the task, I'm not sure where I want to go next.
I'm thinking somewhat along the lines of roast Duck.
Who knows... I'll just have to flip through the soft pages of my Mastering the Art of French Cooking and wait for something exciting to jump out at me.
The possibilities are endless!
So thank you, Julia, for being my guide today.
I wouldn't have had such a spectacular day if it weren't for you and your wisdom, cheer and lightheartedness guiding me along all the way. You inspire me every day!


In other news:
The Saints won the Super Bowl today....
I was more preoccupied with other things- but I did deeply enjoy the halftime show.
I think they've been particularly spectacular the past couple of years. The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I've been happily impressed. :)

I bought this magnet the other day- its in my bathroom right now, propped up against the mirror. It reads, "Go for long walks, indulge in hot baths. Question your assumptions, be kind to yourself, live for the moment, loosen up, scream, curse the world, count your blessings, just let go, just be." (Carol Shields)
Its a good reminder to not stress as much. I'm hoping by keeping it somewhere where I can see it often, the thought will reinforce itself in my brain. I'll keep you posted on whether or not it works. ;D

Well... it is late, and I am exhausted.
Billy Joel's Lullabye is playing on my iPod and gently lulling me away from the world of conscious thought......
goodnight, world.
Thanks for listening to my rambled thoughts and retellings of my days.
Its nice to know somebody's listening!

Quotes

All things splendid have been acheived by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance (Bruce Barton)

Young. Old. Just Words. (George Burns)

Life is infinitely stranger than anything the mind could invent. (Arthur Conan Doyle)

Always make new mistakes. (Esther Dyson)

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. (Emerson)

To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child or a garden patch... to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. (Emerson)

Avoid making irrevocable decisions when tired or hungry. (Robert Heinlein)

The best and the most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart. (Helen Keller)

This is your world. Shape it, or someone else will. (Gary Lew)

Some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.... (gilda radner)

Fall in love or fall in hate. Get inspired or be depressed. Ace a test or flunk a class.
Make babies or make art. Speak the truth or lie and cheat. Dance on tables or sit in the corner. Life is divine chaos. Embrace it. Forgive yourself. Breathe. And enjoy the ride.... (solbeam)

Live in the present. Lauch yourself on every wave, find eternity in each moment. (Thoreau)

Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult. (Charlotte Whitton)

Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast. (Oscar Wilde)

1. the path is not straight.
2. mistakes need not be fatal.
3.people are more important than achievements or possessions.
4.be gentle with your parents.
5. never stop doing what you care most about.
6.learn to use a semicolon.
7. you will find love.
-Marion Winik

The great opportunity is where you are. Every place is under the stars. Every place is the center of the universe. (John Burroughs)

You are unrepeatable. There is a magic about you that is all your own. (D.M. Dellinger)

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. (emerson(

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. (robert FRost)

Life is a series of thousands of tiny miracles. (Mike Greenberg)

When one door of happiness closes, another one opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. (Helen Keller)

The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the sky... (Jack Kerouac)

Find life experiences and swallow them whole. Travel. Meet many people. Go down some dead ends and explore dark alleys. Try everything. Exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life. (Lawrence K. Fish)

Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is. (Mary Anne Radmacher)

A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day. (proverb)

Go forth and set the world on fire. (St. Ignatius)

Go for long walks, indulge in hot baths.
Question your assumptions, be kind to yourself, live for the moment, loosen up, scream, curse the world, count your blessings, just let go, just be. (Carol Shields)

Celebrating Womanhood

I'm celebrating womanhood today.

Here are a few pictures to inspire you to celebrate too.

This one of Barbra Streisand is my favorite. :)

PHENOMENAL WOMAN -Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them

they think I'm telling lies

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

the span of my hips

the stride of my step

the curl of my lips

I'm a woman

phenomenally

Phenomenal woman, that's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please

And to a man,

the fellows stand

or fall down to their knees
Then they swarm around me

a hive of honey bees

I say,

it's the fire in my eyes

and the flash of my teeth,

the swing in my waist

and the joy in my feet

I'm a woman

phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, that's me.

Men themselves have wondered

what they see in me

They try so much

but they can't touch

my inner mystery.

When I try to show them,

they say they still can't see

I say,

It's the arch of my back

the sun of my smile,

the ride of my breasts

the grace of my style

I am a woman

Phenomenally

Phenomenal woman, that's me.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed

I don't shout or jump about

or have to talk real loud

When you see me passing

it ought to make you proud.

I say,

it's in the click of my heels,

the bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

the need of my care.

'Cause I'm a woman,

Phenomenally

Phenomenal woman, that's me.

So go out and celebrate youself, woman.

You are phenomenal. :)

Love Languages, The Decemberists and If....

Have you ever heard of the Love Languages?
There's five.

Physical touch, quality time, acts of service, encouraging words, and gifts.

You determine yours by thinking about how you like to give and receive love.
My love language list looks something like this.
1.Acts of service
2. Quality time
3. Encouraging words
4. Physical touch
5. Gifts

I feel the most loved when people put time into doing things for me.... Not that I can't do those things by myself, in fact, anyone who knows me knows I'd prefer to do things myself.
But, if someone were to help me clean the kitchen without being asked, or run an errand for me voluntarily on a whim, or wash my car as a surprise, I'd feel like I'm valued enough for people to put time and work into making me feel loved. I like to give love in this way, too. If I can help somebody out by doing something small, I think it turns out to mean something much more than an insignificant gesture.
Secondly, I feel loved when people just want to spend quality time with me. Spending quality time with my friends and my family is when I feel the happiest. Even if we're not doing anything exciting- even if its just watching movies, or sitting on the couch, talking, my love tank fills up quickly.
Although, my list does contain all five of the love languages, I don't usually pay much attention to the last three. My top two are acts of service and quality time.
Its not that I don't appreciate encouraging words, or gifts, its just that I'd prefer to spend time with you rather than receive a gift from you... And as far as physical touch goes, I'm one of those people who have a definite bubble, and don't appreciate it being popped. :) However, every now and then, I do appreciate neck rubs and hugs... sometimes cuddling, rarely hand-holding; what can I say? I feel like I can give love and receive love without having to touch people. ;)

What interests me the most about the Love Languages is how compatible people are, even when their love languages are different.
In one circle of my friends, "The Family", I'm the only member who's Love Language is acts of service, and there's three others who's languages are physical touch. This doesn't mean that I avoid those three friends at all costs, because I shirk away from touch- it just means that we mold to each other and give love as we know the other would like to receive it.
I do love hugs, and I love to hug my physical touch friends often, so they can feel loved by me in their preferred way- and there's members of my family who are quality timers- and I like to show them I love them by giving them more quality time than anything else.
And, in turn, my family loves me by spending quality time with me, and also doing small things for me to show me that they love me.
It is amusing, however, to watch The Family's interactions with each other.
Last night we were all together in celebration of a birthday, and as we were sitting at dinner, the three physical touch members were all sitting on one side in very close proximity to each other, holding hands and giving love in small physical ways.
Us quality timers were seated on the other side of the booth, at a comfortable distance from each other, reverting to conversation and laughter to fill our love tanks.
We all love each other equally, it just comes out in different ways for everyone.

What I have pondered about Love Languages, however, is how they work in romantic relationships.
I wonder if a relationship is destined to be more successful if the two individuals have the same Love Language, or if a difference in preference really matters, as long as the one knows how the other wants to be loved...?
I think of myself, and how I really don't think I could be with someone who constantly needs to be touching me in some way, but then I wonder if I would care because I loved that person so much anyways?
... I guess I'll just have to wait and find out, now, won't I? ;)


Amongst other things, I've just discovered 75 songs by The Decemberists on my iPod and have been listening to them for the past two hours. I have to say, I'm falling in love.
Their songs are very calming, and very refreshing for when you're in an introspectful mood, which today I find myself lost in.... Not to mention, they're one of those bands that are amazing to clean the house to... And the lyrics are very insightful, which I love.

We played a game last night, called the "If" game, where you ask a series of "If" questions from a book and everyone must answer. One question last night was something along the lines of, "If you could change the name of everyone you're with right now,what would you change their names to be?"
I was renamed Lucy, Gwendolyn, Julia and Audrey.
I kind of wish my name was different, now. Any one of those would be a gorgeous change. :)

Hm.. it's 2:15 and I've got things to do, yet.
I guess this is the time for me to get off my bum, go heat up some lunch, do some half-brained homework and relax back on the couch for either a nap or some more writing.
I haven't lost interest in my story, yet, by the way.... In fact, I can't get it out of my head. This is a very good sign. :)