The Start of a New Year...

Now that I'm graduated maybe I'll have more time to dedicate to this blog. I've been brewing with ideas lately, one of them consisting of teaching child how to cook through summer camps or community outreach programs. This will help children understand the primitive nature of cooking, getting back to the origins of food, how to use basic ingredients, and an illustration of our cultures values towards food. Another idea I've been stirring around was influenced the other night by a conversation concerning the restaurant industry. We were discussing the hiring practices of some new managers, actually looking to hire only very clean, straight laced workers. Then problem with this approach is that it's not usually what the restaurant industry is made of. The restaurant industry is the dirty tattooed kids in the kitchen, its a trade, people who use their hands. It's the kids that are out at 3 in the morning drinking at bars after they got off work around midnight. It's sweat over an open flame. We are the laborers that are working the hours when people want to hang out, go on dates, eat dinner with loved ones. Were dirty, were creative. You can almost call us the starving artists in some sense of the phrase. These are the people I adore, because well quite frankly, I am one of them. Therefore, my idea was centered around pictures of people in the cooking world, and calling it "We Are the Restaurant Industry". Now, all of this is just brainstorming, so we'll see where the universe leads me.

"Danielle, shall be the Chosen One, the Child of Light, who will teach them! Go forth and give them tasty snacks!"

Christmas Time

Odd Kitchen Toys

I haven't been cooking much lately, which is probably the reasoning behind why I feel so discounted. I've been making a lot of life plans, but thanksgiving and christmas are arriving shortly giving me ample reason to cook. I need to be in the kitchen.

I love kitchen gadgets. Especially overpriced one thats I know I'll hardly use. I've refused to buy any lately because I am going through a period of life where I feel I own too many possessions. But this doesn't mean I still can't 'google' them.

Fred always makes these brilliant ice trays. I never seem to have a reason to whip out ice shaped as the titanic though.

A Quick Dinner for One

Roasted Pork Loin

I put that pancetta I was searching for to good use. I covered a pork loin with fresh sage and pancetta, and roasted it at 450 degrees for 40 minutes. Next time I'll use kitchen string to keep the pork together for better presentation. Tasted great!

Odd Kitchen Toys

We had this cute little pot holder at work for a few weeks. While its fun to make it say cute things, it is impossible to hold anything with it. I have really small hands and it was still difficult to pick up a pan. It was also a horrible buy for a restaurant. I would suggest it for a cute home kitchen to look at, not use.

Lack of culture and deli meats

Why is it so hard to find deli sliced pancetta in Tuscaloosa, Alabama?
Publix- nope
Brunos- nope
Wal-mart- nope, ended up buying pre-packaged pancetta.

This was highly a disappointment!