Portfolio - Culinary Ideas

 ABOVE:  Chimichurri Sauce with Seared Strip Steak

Here's the culinary portfolio from over a year ago from the chef's course that my sister in law and I completed awhile back that I had intended to share and just got busy with life and trying to make sure my priorities in putting God first are right.  I love sharing things that may be beneficial to others, but I'm careful because I want to make sure things aren't based on vanity or self, so I find myself posting less and less these days.  The course was a lot of hard work that was not just executing cooking; but it involved taking "written" tests (online), studying notes, listening to lectures, but I'm so glad  that we did it.  I learned a lot and hope to be able to implement it more in my life in entertaining to serve on a higher level.  It was definitely worth taking, and God blessed us with an affordable price to be able to as well.  I would never choose to work in a commercial kitchen as I don't have what it takes and the stamina, but it's nice to have the hosting training for entertaining guests in a home.

 Here are a few portfolio shots for ideas in the future of the plating we created.

BELOW:  Nicoise Salad with Grilled Fresh Salmon

 Beef Stroganoff

 Roasted Chicken with Pan Gravy

 

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs

 Crispy Fried Chicken Wings with Perfect French Fries

 Duck Confit

 Au Gratin Potatoes

 Chicken and Chickpea Curry with Cilantro Mint Raita

 Fresh Handmade Dough Pasta

 Spaghetti and Meatballs with Fresh Handmade Dough Pasta

 Spring Vegetable Frittata (Really neat to serve it in small cast iron skillets on a hotpad.)

 Chicken Paillard with Arugula and Lemony Vinaigrette

 Mushroom Risotto

 Stuffed Lamb Leg Roast (proper serving etiquette would be to have the meat facing you, but I preferred this shot of the overall plating.)

 Baha Style Fish Tacos

 Mixed Berry Compote

 Flourless Chocolate Cake

 Red Wine Poached Pear

 Chicken and Chickpea Samosas

 Miso-Glazed Sea Bass with Pickled Baby Bok Choy

A Few NTBMO Pics

 Thanks to my brother and sister in law for hosting a fabulous NTBMO!  Everything was great!  I'm guessing I'll probably be hosting again next year and am looking forward to that, but it was nice to be a guest and made it even more special to be with physical family as well as extended family.  The food was absolute 5 star restaurant quality, the decor was fit for royalty, and the conversation was inspiring.  The best part of everything all put together besides the physical aspects of everything mentioned above, was just being blessed to participate in serving each other on this special occasion raising the standard every year until we finally reach what we're celebrating.

 ABOVE:  Dan and Paulette.  Yes I'm a little biased b/c I've been friends with them for so long, but many others who haven't known them nearly as long think the same, so I have to say, they are amazing and they rock!  They are always serving others ahead of themselves, they seem to always put God at the center of their life, and they are sooooo kind to everyone!  The big book says let others lift you up, so I can compliment them since I'm not them.  :-)

BELOW:  The aunt trying to keep the niece happy when she got frustrated about something.

 We got Sophia a child's sewing machine to learn how to how sew as she's been wanting to learn.  I remember as a child, receiving a gift on this special occasion really made this evening stand out.  In fact, I confess, I still have the very first NTBMO gift I ever received.  It's old and broken down, but I can't part with it.  Since children only know and see the physical, it's proven in my family to be a nice way to get the kids excited about everything.

...so it is no secret that I will never be in the technical department of HQ......  LOL  ...though my video skills are usually better than this, but I chalk it up to being exhausted from all of the effort leading up to the HD's, so I forgot to focus first before shooting, but it's a general overview of the royal evening spent with family.  Thanks to my brother and sister in law for hosting.

Zach and Arianne

 My little friendly tribute to Zach and Arianne B.!  So happy for them.  They had a beautiful wedding ceremony.  Despite the fact that my allergies were maxing out yesterday from pollen and stirring up dust from cleaning my home, I wasn't going to miss their wedding since I had nothing contagious.  This is the first wedding in awhile where I didn't have any responsibilities, so it was nice to just show up and to be able to attend in honor of these two.  Two super special and serving friends that I'm blessed to know.  Back when Zach was a young, poor Freshman at AC I never forgot how he volunteered to take out and pay for a senior citizens dinner we had.  I was impressed for a young person to take the initiative to do that.  Arianne has also been so loving and mature.  We played a game at my place with some of her AC classmates back in the day; and during the game many of them said her favorite character quality was of being nurturing and loving.
(Congrats also to the wonderful Daryl and Stephanie Hochstetler on their big day.  I woke up sick the day of their wedding and missed it.  Didn't want to pass on my illness, but I was so happy for them too!)

A Few Candid Ellis Wedding Shots

A BIG YEAH to Jordan and Kayla Ellis!  These two are both sooooooo super sweet.....one of the sweetest couples that I know.  I was so happy for them.  I really enjoyed their wedding....It was so family oriented and they both wanted everyone to enjoy themselves and relax.  Everyone pitched in.  Jordan's sisters, Anna G. and Ellen B. made the brownie tower.  Jordan's brothers, John E. and Jed E. provided the live music during the dance.  Many men volunteered to pitch in to help set-up  and "move the furniture" for the reception right after the ceremony.  It was neat to see that team work, and many ladies pitched in to make the reception line like an all you can eat buffet restaurant.  It was a family dinner/reception, and I'm not the only one who thought this.  It was neat with so many contributing in one way or the other.  A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Jordan and Kayla for their marriage and for making their wedding so family oriented.  We all loved it!

Sophia came over the night before the wedding and helped make some food for the wedding.  Here is the evidence.  She is turning into a big girl who is super helpful!  I'm so proud of my niece!  :-)  Her parents are doing a great job with her.  I can tell.

Sophia Time

My niece Sophia found/discovered my flute for the first time ever.  I had even forgotten about it.  When she found it; it made me realize I haven't played the flute since she's been born.  Wow!  I use to play it all of the time, but getting back into piano put the flute on the back burner for me I guess.  She has seen IA kids play the flute on stage in recitals and s.m. and was surprised and so excited to find that her aunt had one and could play it.  She blew the cobwebs out of it.  Being the age that she is, that means it has been that long since I've even gotten my flute out of it's case.  Wow!  She had me to try my best to show her how to get a sound out it, but I told her that her lungs probably hadn't developed strong enough yet to get a sound out it.  I remember, when first learning to play the flute, getting a sound out of it is the first big hurdle to playing it.  It's not easy for a beginner, but I have to give my niece props, she tried and tried, and finally realizing she was unable to blow it hard enough to make a real sound, she improvised and started making the sound with her vocal chords herself shown in the video below.  So cute!!!  Now, she told me that she wants to play the piano, the flute, and the violin, and continue with her ballet lessons too.  I told her she's always said she wanted to play the piano and the violin as it's hard enough to keep up two instruments at a time, but she said she wants to play the flute now too.  LOL. I think once she starts taking piano lessons to start with and learns how much you have to practice just on one instrument, her lists of instruments she wants to play will dwindle down quickly.  LOL!  Hit the play button to see the below video of Sophia attempting the flute.

After her "flute practice" she said she wanted to practice the piano.  This girl was on fire yesterday.    LOL!  Look at that smile.  Then she wanted to do dance moves.  Aunt Carolyn slept well last night, but it was all very fun Aunt/Niece time!  Thanks to her great parents for letting her have extended family time!

Piano Fun

Piano lessons resume for me tomorrow which means tonight, I will be on the piano making up for three weeks of no practice while on winter break.  This, by the way, is not recommended; but it's the hard truth in my case.  It's been busy and I suppose a bit of procrastination too.  Anyway, I saw this joke online, and thought I'd post it.  Reminds me of myself right now.  :-)