Oy. What a week.....

This week (specifically Monday) I began my Gordon Ramsay project. I was excited to buy all the ingredients, put my skills to the test and create a wonderful dish. Tuesday I expected to share the experience with you all. But then something happened. Something huge. Something bigger than any project I could be undertaking at that moment.

I haven't really had the time nor the words neccessary to express my deepest sympathies for the victims and families affected by this monstrous event. And what can I say? What can I say that hasn't already been worded so eloquently? Words and writing are my forms of expression and unfortunately I am at a loss this week. So i've sat quietly watching and listening to the simultaneous outpouring of grief and support for a town I hold so dear. My town. My home. My Boston.

I keep writing something that I think is good and then erasing it because I know it doesn't fully describe how I'm feeling right now. I thought taking a few days to process everything would make it easier to finally get out but I still can't describe it. There are so many different levels of incredible sadness and anger coupled with glimmers of hope that I feel here and there. The past few days have been some of the longest that I think I have ever experienced in my life. What was supposed to be a short 4-day work week has turned into a nightmare. I can't say too much about where I work but I can say that it has played a crucial part in the recovery process from this horrific occurence. I've watched my coworkers work their asses off trying to reconnect victims with their loved ones. I've dodged journalists trying to "get the scoop" and I've even seen some high profile visitors come through my lobby. All of this coupled with trying to process what the fuck happened, trying to keep tabs on my own family and friends and learning about my grandmother's recent hospitalization has resulted in me being a very tired and somewhat numb Jo.

I don't think I've ever once felt unsafe going into town. And I'm not saying I do even now, but I'm still in utter disbelief that something like this could possible happen in a place I felt so secure. As a child, my aunt would often bring me into the old Boston Garden for the circus or for numerous "Disney On Ice" shows. When I became a teenager, my best friend and I thought we were really "cool" when we got to hang out in Boston for the day. Faneuil Hall with all it's tourist-y glory was the place to be, after all. As an adult, I got a job IN Boston literally right around the corner from where the blasts occured: The Ritz-Carlton, Boston. (Of course now it's the Taj, but that's a horrible memory to recall). I was able to walk through the Public Garden everyday, take a Swan Boat ride on my breaks (when I got one) if I wanted, stroll down Newbury and Boylston street and just people watch.That's when I started really falling in love with the city and embracing every aspect that it had to offer.

I remember vividly that first Red Sox parade that happened just a street over from us. I opened the window and the roar of the crowds just poured into the club where I worked. It was glorious. I truly felt the love that the citizens on this great city and Commonwealth had for their beloved Sox. And of course every 2nd Monday in April, the hotel was fully booked with marathon runners and supporters from all over the world. I think my favorite pair of runners I met were a father and son team, whose names I can't recall. The father had open heart surgery and was running his first post-surgery marathon! I remember being amazed that he would be able to undertake such a feat! He was truly an inspiring individual. After hearing the news on Monday (and on top of everything else flooding my mind), I wondered if he and his son were running this year.

Today, amidst the insane manhunt that is still going on as I type this, I went into work armed with the knowledge that I may not be leaving anytime soon. As terrified as I was, I still went in. I don't know why but I felt compelled to be there and help. Maybe it was because I wasn't there to help on Monday and I feel a touch bad. I could've stayed home today but I did not want to abandon my coworkers, friends and patients who I knew would need support today. We waited and watched the live video feed of SWAT teams and armed police as they patrolled through Watertown looking for the bastard responsible. As the day wore on (as many of you may know), travel restrictions were eased gradually and we were eventually allowing people to leave, as long as they weren't going to any of the restricted areas/towns that were affected. The mass exodus from my job could not have gone any quicker. When I was given the go ahead to eventually leave myself, I was relieved. I would soon be safe at home. It was just about then when I heard the faintest of cries. I glanced over to my right and there was a mom and dad with their newborn baby ready to go home. I briefly froze for a moment. I couldn't believe they were about to bring a poor innocent baby out into such a cruel and horrible world. I was sad. 

But then I thought that maybe, just maybe, that kid could be hope for a new beginning. Even though things seem so miserable and scary now, there is still that small chance to try and turn it around. With every new baby born, we're given another shot at changing this world for the better. These dickheads may have tried to scare us and break us down, but they failed. We will not falter. We are Boston after all. We are one of the oldest cities in this great country of ours. We always endure. A city that endures and grows, instead of backing down is a town I am proud to call my home,

And as I close out this post, they got him. #BostonStrong

A Necessary Evil

Running. Everybody does it. Hell, some people actually enjoy it. But I am not one of those people.I tried to like it. I really did! But I hate it. I hate that I have to buy special shoes so I can actually do it. I hate the shin pain that I get from it.  I hate how it hurts to breathe when I run outside. But the thing I hate most of all is that it actually works for me when it comes to weight loss...so I HAVE to run.

I kinda feel bad posting this considering the Boston Marathon is coming up on Monday. Thousands of people will fly in from all over the world to run 26.2 miles voluntarily and here I am complaining about how much I hate it.  I can't even wrap my head around that! Kudos to all the runners this year, in the past, and those to come! You guys have an intense amount of strength  and will power that I don't think I will ever achieve. Simply because I loathe running.

Even as a kid, I hated it! Most kids like to run around and play tag and chase each other. But not me. I remember running in gym class in elementary school and the teacher would make us run across Merritt Park in Chelsea to get warmed up. It really was hard and painful to breathe afterwards! Thinking back on it now as an adult, that was probably a bad thing. It's probably STILL a bad thing since it happened the other day. Maybe I should get that checked out.

I've always had an underlying fear of running as well. Being a long-time sufferer of heart palpitations, I'm always worried that my heart is going to crap out on me right in the middle of a run! Even though they're waning in consistency and I've been told they're nothing to worry about, they're still terrifying to experience DURING a run. Yeah, that totally happens to me! I'm so thankful for those heart rate monitors on the treadmill for the terrifying moments when I DO feel some flip-flopping in my chest cavity during my workout! They help check my hypochondria at the door before I can convince myself i'm dying.

Yes I know I can get my cardio in on the elliptical and the stationary bike but they don't really work out that well for me. I don't "feel the burn", as they say. I can't really SEE a difference with the low-impact cardio either. This could just be all mental of course. At the end of a long run on the treadmill, I'm covered in sweat and I can feel that every muscle got a great workout! But that still doesn't mean I enjoy it.

Anyone out there have any tips on how to make this seemingly mundane exercise more fun? I've heard great things about the "Zombies, Run!" app, but I've yet to try it. Lady Gaga seems to work wonders when it comes to helping me zone out and forget that I'm running but even that gets old after a few runs. I'm running out of ideas (no pun intended)!  

I guess the most important thing out of all of this is that even despite hating running, I still do it. I still realize that is going to be a key ingredient during this phase of my life. Approaching my 30th birthday in the next few months, I realize that I'm not getting any younger and as a result am fast losing my youthful metabolism. Focusing on my diet and exercise will be crucial to maintaining how I look and feel! 

Hopefully by the time I reach 40, I won't hold such a grudge against running. ;)

Cake Decorating Class Week 2!

As you may or may not know, I've recently started a Wilton Cake Decorating course! And as I type this right now, I am currently enjoying the very first piece of my very first finished cake from class. I don't mean to toot my own horn too much but I am extremely impressed with how it came out, both in flavor and presentation!

See what I mean?? I wish I could upload how it smells and tastes too! And this is just my second week of class!  Of course it probably helps that I've been watching my dad  do it since I was little but I'm so thankful that a lot of the techniques and practices that I am learning are flowing so naturally. It's fun to watch the instructor do something and think "I already know how to do that!". I actually feel kinda smart and my self esteem goes through the roof!  I can DO this! I'm actually good at something!  

The class itself is such a great time. Our instructor, Nicole, has been such a joy to learn from!  There's about 13 or 14 of us in the group (including one guy!) and everyone is friendly, enthusiastic and ready to learn! It's a very hand-on class and you learn as you go! I think my favorite part so far was learning the icing recipe! I've been trying to replicate the recipe my dad and grandma have been using for YEARS and couldn't get it right until now. It is the exact same one they use and eating it brings me right back to my childhood days! It's a wonderful feeling!! :)

Every Wednesday there is a new class and there are 4 courses total to take!! I'm really looking forward to taking them all. Next week we will be working on CUPCAKE decorating and filling! Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely looooove cupcakes! As soon as I have pics of the final products, I will definitely post pics for you all to see! I won't be able to make it for the very last class unfortunately but I think I have a pretty good excuse for missing it ;):

HELLO :-D

Phew! Between this and my Gordon Ramsay project starting up very soon, I'm going to be surrounded by delicious food and baked goods! Is there anything better in life? I don't think so ;). Although to balance it out,I guess I'll have to start hitting the gym harder and more often. BOOOO!! But it's worth it I guess. As a friend of mine said just today "Life is Short, Eat Dessert First!". I don't think I've ever agreed with anything more in my life :)

And The Game Is On!!

I've arrived home from my second night of cake decorating (more on that tomorrow) to find that a very important element to my Gordon Ramsay project has arrived!!! I'm over the moon! I can't wait to dive into this book and learn to cook some amazing dishes and share it with you all!!  What a great way to end Wednesday! :-D

An Update Of Sorts....

OK, nothing says "You NEED to get to work on this Gordon Ramsay project that you keep going on about." like randomly opening a web page and seeing an Amazon ad for Gordon Ramsay cookbooks staring you in the face. So yeah. Maybe I should I get started??

Phew!

What a week it's been! Between working, taking care of my home, getting things ready for Easter, trying to get back into a regular running schedule and starting my cake decorating class, I've been a busy girl since my last post (which was two weeks ago, yikes!!)! I remember waking up at around 4 a.m this past Monday and wondering how in the world I was going to get it all done! But here I find myself on Sunday afternoon still in one piece! It's been nice having some time between yesterday and today to relax for a little bit, but now it's time to get back  business and update you all on what i've been up to :).

So remember in my last post I talked about how impossible it is to find "Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery Course" book? Well as luck may have it, it turns out that another book entitled "Gordon Ramsay's Home Cooking" is being released on April 9th, 2013! I can't find too much info about it but from what I can see it looks like the exact same book (same cover, number of pages, etc) but with a different name. So I'm really looking forward to this coming in the mail and getting started!! I find it so funny that just the other day I was talking about this on the blog and then all of a sudden this new release turns up! Maybe it's just sheer coincidence or something bigger trying to push me in the right direction? Only time will tell ;)

Yesterday I actually got to experiment with cooking Greek food for the first time! I happened to buy some ground lamb the other day and while perusing recipes for it,I came across a dish called "γιουβέτσι με κιμά αρνίσιο" (and for those of you who can't speak or read Greek, that is pronounced "yoo-VET-see meh kee-MAH ar-NEE-seeyoh." Overall I think I did  pretty well with it! It basically consisted of the ground lamb, orzo pasta, chicken broth, tomatoes, onions and celery (and of course, olive oil and spices or else it wouldn't be Greek cooking ;) ). 

Apologies for the pre-packaged broth and tomatoes!  I had very little time this week!

The finished product!

While cooking this delicious dish, I broke one of the cardinal rules of cooking: Make sure you have all your ingredients prepped and ready. Don't just assume you have what you need! The recipe called for chopped tomatoes which I forgot to pick up at the store! All I had to substitute was that can of Pastene ground tomatoes hidden in the background there. It wasn't absolutely correct but didn't taste bad overall in the end. Although it did contribute to the unfortunate end result of overdone Orzo in the final product. Too much liquid +not enough Orzo to soak it all up = a bad time. 

The verdict: Not bad for a first attempt! I brought this dish to a get together at a friend house and it got pretty favorable reviews! Thanks to all who gave it a shot even though it looked odd :). I will most likely make this dish again. Only next time i'll have EVERYTHING I need!

The second dish I attempted yesterday was a dessert called "Peeps S'mores Bars" from a blog called 'Bake at 350'. It's the perfect dish to throw together if you don't know what to do with your leftover Peeps! Of course, you could just EAT your leftover Peeps, but where's the fun in that?? Also why does anyone HAVE leftover Peeps in the first place. Eat them! Anyway....

I improvised a little with this recipe too! But not in a bad way this time :) ! I added some extra chocolate chips and M&M's for flavor! This is was a fun recipe to try out and even more fun to eat in the end! You can't see but in the blue bowl there are rolled oats and in the sauce pan there is butter and dark corn syrup.  My only downfall with this one was not enough Peeps! There wasn't enough marshmallow goodness to make a whole layer. So I ended up cutting the peeps in half to compensate (again, not a bad thing just sad :-/ ).  The end result came out like this: 

Melted Peep-y goodness!

Verdict: Not a smashing success, but better than I imagined. I think i'm just not as big a fan of oats as most people. It was certainly sweet enough! Between the Peeps, the M&M's and the chocolate chips, you might need a glass of milk or water afterwards :). One of my friends who tried this actually used the phrase "It's a lot of things from my childhood rolled into one." The flavor was definitely a familiar one, but oddly enough it tasted completely different than what was in it! Strange, huh? 

I guess that's all for now since this post is pretty long already. I hope the next time I have a dish to share that it will be a Ramsay-inspired one!! I'm so excited to get started on this! 

Tools Of The Trade

About a week ago, I posted about starting a new project inspired by Chef Gordon Ramsay. In the subsequent days that followed I've been getting really excited about it! Even when I stumbled upon someone trying the exact same idea as me, I still didn't let it get me down. I actually find it quite funny! I've even acquired a brand new knife set! Granted it was a free set that my grandmother was about to sell at a flea market and  had never opened before but...it's a start right? The knives are still super sharp!

Starting to get serious over here...

It's important to note that I've never been 100% sure why there are so many different kinds of knives. If they're sharp they'll do the job, right? Apparently not! I know that the tiny paring knife at the bottom is used for peeling ( I actually prefer it to a standard carrot//potato peeler). I can't wait to learn what each knife is best used for and hopefully not lose any fingertips in the process! I also need to invest in a good case for these new shinies! Right now I have them wrapped in a towel and in a cloth shopping bag. I know. Safe, right? Instead of just throwing them in the drawer with the rest of the knives, I want to keep them separate, embrace them (figuratively, not literally), and treat them like a real chef would!

I'm also trying to get my hands on a copy of Gordon's Ultimate Cookery Course book! It's not easy to come by! It seems most copies are currently in the UK and will take over two weeks to get here! I guess I could start with another book of his while I wait? I wish it didn't have to be that way but I'm chomping at the bit and really want to get started soon! 

Over the week, Yeti and I discovered another one of Chef Gordon's shows based strictly in the UK called "Gordon Behind Bars". I must say, if you haven't given Gordon a chance outside of "Hell's Kitchen" and "Kitchen Nightmares", type Gordon Behind Bars into YouTube and check it out. It's all about the Chef's attempt to teach convicts in HM Brixton Prison how to cook/bake and run a business, which not only provides them with some useful skills when they are eventually released, but also allows them to make money and give back to the prison while serving their sentences. Their operation was named simply: The Bad Boys Bakery. I can't help but applaud such an honorable idea. As someone who watched a loved one go through the prison/rehab process, this hits particularly close to home for me. 

Now i'm not talking about the child molesters, rapists and murderers. They can rot, as they are a danger to our society. I'm talking about those who commit victim-less crimes. Crimes that could be avoided if these people were given a decent chance to try and change their ways. Yes I do know someone who went through the system. I watched as he screwed up over and over again. Every time it would end with the same result: a jail sentence. The ultimate "time-out" to sit and think about what they've done. We thought that all hope was lost for this person. It wasn't until one judge sent him to a rehab facility that we started to see real change. A place were he had to earn privileges by being an upstanding member of the program and attend regular counseling sessions. It was a long, hard, road but eventually I got my brother back. Does he still have his ups and downs now? Of course he does. But he's far better off now then he was. He's not the only person that has come out of the program for the better either, I know a few more who have. All have re-acclimated themselves to the outside world and have become fully function and respectable member of society.

You could tell just by watching this show that Gordon really cares for these men he recruits for the program. His drive to help them learn and actually feel good about DOING SOMETHING for themselves is extraordinary. Even knowing the dangers that can come with working inside of a locked kitchen, he still went in and did it. It's nothing short of inspiring. If he feels that even these people, the ones that society has forgotten, can learn to cook and successfully run a business, then why can't I? Granted I don't have the same stigma attached to me that these inmates do, but it still gives me hope that I CAN do this. I've never been more motivated!

Kudos to you, Chef Ramsay! Kudos to you for inspiring the down-trodden to be better than they are. Even if they aren't up to your standards in the kitchen, that doesn't mean they aren't willing to learn and BECOME great. Everyone has that potential in them. They just need to be given the chance.

The Strangest Idea I've Ever Had (That just Might Work)!!

I've posted on here before about my affinity for baking. It's something I really enjoy doing and I seem to have at least some form of talent for it. But what I haven't gone into much detail about is my relatively new passion for cooking in general! I always thought cooking was fun, but never really took it too seriously. To be honest, I was an extremely picky eater up until just recently. 

Over the past two years or so, however, I'm very proud to say that I've expanded my limited palate. Gone are the days of buying pre-packaged, pre-made foods! For example, one of my favorite things to do is make my own pasta sauce! I can make a giant pot of it and have the confidence of knowing what exactly went INTO that sauce is fresh, free of sodium and preservatives, and most importantly tastes great. This newfound love for food is mostly thanks to my wonderful Yeti. He's even gotten me to try a bunch of different kinds of seafood which I used to LOATHE only a few short years ago. But I also feel like I need to give some credit to another gentleman. A gentleman who has, in fact, inspired the strangest idea I've ever had. And that man is none other than Chef Gordon Ramsay.

Yes, that's right. Gordon Ramsay. Most people here in the states know Gordon as the hot-headed, foul-mouthed Chef from "Hell's Kitchen" and "Kitchen Nightmares". On the surface he seems abrasive, pompous. and just plain angry. However, in my own opinion, what we see on his American television programs are almost the exact opposite of what is shown in the UK. Take for example his show Cookalong Live!:

The Gordon we see here is happy. SMILING (shocking, right) and enthusiastic! He not only cooks live in the studio with a guest, but fans tune in from around the country via webcam and cook right along with him! His excitement and passion for food shines through! "The F Word" (another UK only show) spotlights Mr. Ramsay's outstanding devotion to his craft. Even on the UK version of "Kitchen Nightmares", the emphasis seems to be more on teaching the chefs and owners how to run a restaurant rather than the makeshift family counselor role Gordon takes on on the Fox version.

But what does any of this have to do with my strangest idea ever, you ask? In my on-going efforts to make myself a better writer, a healthier individual and expand upon my own abilities in the kitchen, I've decided to challenge myself in a way that may seem a bit silly but I think it might just work.One of the observations i've made about Gordon's cooking style is this: simple, fresh and easy. Sometimes the simpler the recipe, the better the quality of meal you'll have. With that said, I've decided that it might be fun to try a "Julie and Julia"-style experiment. Not being a trained chef in any way, shape or form, I plan on using Gordon's amazing cookbook "Ultimate Cookery Course" and trying to make as many of the recipes in it as I can. I fully plan on documenting each attempt and sharing each dish with family and friends! Yes that's right. You will all be my culinary guinea pigs!! I can only hope and wish that my food will come out half as good as the world-renowned Chef who created the recipes, and hopefully not get sued in the process! And who knows? Gordon may actually LIKE the idea ;).

I'm still trying to come up with a title for this ambitious project. Yeti threw out the name "LAMB SAUCE!" because, well, it's hilarious and so very Gordon (any fan of "Hell's Kitchen" will get the reference).  My instinct, however, is to keep it simple. That is the point after all, right? Something along the lines of "Average Jo" which is pretty straightforward and true. Because really that's what I am. I'm not a "Master Chef" and i'm nowhere near ready for "Hells Kitchen". I'm just your average Jo. Literally. 

So get ready, Chef Ramsay. I can't guarantee that the meals will be stellar every time (please don't yell at me!!) but this girl is gonna try really hard to make you proud!