The Sweet Life

No food today.  Ok, maybe one shot. The End of Profiteroles @ Bistro Bordeaux . There.  Satisfied? My dad just left town today.  He said that he didn't eat in Chicago, he dined . In the past 2 weeks I've taken 1011 shots. I like maybe 15-20 of them.  Isn't that how it goes? I'm still sorting, learning how to use my editing software, creating slideshows, burning discs for the bride, her friends, and family. While dining out is a lot of fun, it makes for laziness once company leaves and you're left to fend for yourself.  Or send out the boyfriend. The rigid lines of man vs the curves of nature. Things I realized about my photographic style today: I have an eye for lines. I also like reflections. I need more practice, more perspective. I tend to shoot a lot of flowers, food, water scenes, buildings.  I need more subjects. I also need to go to bed.  I've got fall desserts to dream about.

Time is slippery.  Just when you think you have a hold on it, before you know, it's the morning of your friends' wedding, and you're going over details in your head, trying to get everything done.  There's champagne and snacks for the bride and her nephews, there's snapping photo after photo, praying you get a couple of good shots, because, let's face it, I'm more of a got-lucky photographer than a skilled one. Is it just me, or when you help a friend plan her wedding, you don't realize what you've signed up for until it's over and people have told you that you did a lot?  That happened last night at the reception and I started shaking my head before I thought about it.  It was fun, and I did it because I love the couple, but now I wonder how I did it all without going crazy.  She's the most laid-back bride I've ever known and that made it more of a pleasure working with her.  I was more high-strung about the whole thing.  I needed Xana...

I've broken my culinary "dry spell" in one day with two dishes.  Today I made veggie pot pies for another time and tuna curry for lunch.  The pies are frozen for those days/nights when I really don't want to cook.  They're also a way for me to remember another comfort food from my childhood. I don't want to say that I "grew up on Swanson's Chicken Pot Pies" because that's not all that I ate.  My mom was a single working mother, and there were times when a pot pie was dinner and I was fine with that.  I loved the crust pretty well cooked, nicely browned, flaky.  Come to think of it, I think that was my favorite part!  Anyway, I've been a pescetarian for many years now, and with fall approaching, I was craving pot pies-or maybe craving home and childhood-and since I had the recipe from Barefoot Contessa, I figured now was as good a time as any to make some.  I bought some veggies from the market last Saturday, and picked up a few other ...

What do you do when you've hit a wall you can't climb over or blow apart?  When every recipe you try, even those recipes you've made night after night for service in the restaurant, fail in your kitchen at home?  When money runs out after buying dozens and dozens of eggs, and the price of butter makes you want to cry?  When frustration causes you to doubt yourself and you just want to give up and consider another career?  You take a break.  A long one.  You turn your back on the thing that used to excite you and just get through each day without thinking about tomorrow. I haven't baked or cooked anything in a while.  A long while.  Though I clock in and fulfill my obligations at work, at home I haven't done anything.  I've been wearing my Grumpy Pants and Frowny-the-Clown shirt like my favorite sweats I wear when I'm home and it's just me and a movie and fried foods and ice cream.  I've grown comfortable in this funk and I don...

Prairie Fruits Farms Dinner , August 7, 2010 It’s now the end of the summer.  Though not officially Fall, I can feel a change in the atmosphere signaling it's quick arrival.  My blog has been untouched for a while.  It’s not that I haven’t been busy, on the contrary.  In between 8- and 10-day weeks, I’ve squeezed in a few projects and many sleepless nights.  It’s just now that I’ve really been able to catch up on rest.  Last week I took the ServSafe test, and to my surprise got a 3-day weekend (as a reward?), and after two days of social obligations and light housework I took Saturday as my "Me Time" day.  That's right, 24 hours of bad tv-Lifetime had a marathon titled You Can't Handle the Youth -staying in bed, and eating whatever I found in the fridge. Roasted Peach Chevre Tart with Cornmeal Crust The August dinner at Prairie Fruits Farms was a success and a blast!  I hardly remember much of it since the Saturday prior I had a...

It's a holiday.  People should be out cooking over an open flame, enjoying a beer maybe, watching fireworks, chasing kids with water balloons.  But, there are those who choose to enjoy their holiday at a fine dining establishment.  Why?  Who are these people?  Seriously folks, it's an outdoor fun holiday!!!!!!  I am working, but I did manage to make cupcakes for C.'s outdoor extravaganza.  S. will be delivering them while I'm waiting for people to choose their desserts for the evening.  Should I mention that these will be enjoyed out-of-doors?  Maybe peeps will pick up on that and take the hint for next year. Ganache filled . . . 'Mallow topped . . . Torched!!!! Have a safe and fun filled 4th!!!

It's summer.  I've had a birthday.  I've changed shifts at work.  I'm getting used to nights.  I'm visiting the farmers markets.  I'm trying to start a new venture.  I'm baking cupcakes for C.'s parties.  I'm surviving.  I'm missing the summer.  I bought myself a great birthday present.  I'm learning how to shoot with my new Nikon D5000.  I'm learning to see things in a different way. I'm torn.  I'm excited to cook with the beautiful produce available to me at this time of year, and yet I want to spend as much time outside as possible.  I managed to bake myself a birthday cake, and make some fresh fruit tarts. Projects abound: two weddings, a birthday.  Cakes to make and decorate, candies to package as favors.  Ideas to sketch and execute, details to go over.  S'mores cupcakes to make for a Fourth of July party this Sunday.  Up early Saturday to shoot the market.  Friday before work, it's the T...