Thursday, June 23, 2011

An Overview to Start Us Out

This blog, off the bat, has a few purposes. First of all...I need to get further in touch with my creative side. I know that may sound a bit hokey and "new-age", however, I have found that as I get older, my brain starts to shut down and rebel if I'm not finding something to do that I enjoy. I see so many people that I know in Social Media, who are starting side projects; whether it's local theatre, photography, food, or music, everyone has started to branch out and put energy into things that make them happy. Daily life can certainly suck the living Bejeezus out of me (and I know I'm NOT alone in that feeling). This journey is about starting to do something I hope to be able to do for the rest of my life.
Now enough of the serious stuff. ANYONE who knows me KNOWS I consider myself a Foodie. I will surely use and over-use that word in the coming postings on this blog. I don't consider myself one of those food people who will constantly combat your opinions, or talk for hours on the blah blah blah impact of the blah blah blah people on the bean sprouts at the local organic grocer. Nah. All set. I have been known to speak at length about coffee, and how darn good it is...but that's about it. You'll never hear me unnecessarily spouting about crap that I know nothing about, just to sound smaht. (That's smart for you Non- New England Folks)
I am the chick who takes an issue of Bon Appetit to bed and reads all of the recipes before I sleep. I may also have a copy of Larousse Gastronomique in my bedside bookshelf, for the times when I need to unwind. There's nothing better than thumbing through that MASSIVE book and discovering new culinary terms. For a long time I thought about going to culinary school. After high school I decided to get a free education at a local college. (Clearly those two years of Acting took me very FAR. Not.) After having a few different jobs (one which GREATLY influenced my adoration and obsession with coffee), I wound up where I am now; in a seemingly giant swirling cyclone of Corporate America, in which the harder you fight to get on solid ground, the more the moving monster pulls you up into it's winds. Now please. Don't get me wrong. I will forever be grateful for the experiences I am having and have had with this company. I have worked my tush off, and make a pretty good salary for someone who hasn't finished college. But, I'm going nowhere. And fast. I also know that I am not the only person on this planet who feels this way. The other purpose of this blog is maybe to inspire you, whomever reads this gibberish, to go out and make yourself happy and fulfilled. Maybe not today or tomorrow or even this year...but SOMETIME to make sure that you inject some sort of self-happiness into your every day life....just that little bit can do big things.
I plan (PLAN being the operative word) to do something food related, specifically BAKING something, at least every week. I will then be adding to this blog, with pictures and descriptions and anecdotes, when my projects are complete. Why Baking, you ask? More to come on the whys and hows etc in later postings.
THIS week...well....I fudged. I may not have actually BAKED something...I mean....I used the OVEN! That counts, right? Nah...notsomuch. Not in my book anyway. Baking to me, is like a therapy session with out the high price tag. I know as soon as I start creating something, that any worry or stress or concerns get momentarily put to the side, and I can be free...(well, at least until the timer goes off. Ha ha)
Last Saturday for Father's Day, I made a mini version of my "Famous" Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cheesecake. This, I will have to make soon, again in mini size, and follow with a post. (Should've taken pictures) This week, was my aforementioned notsomuch baking experience. Yesterday at work I started thinking about dinner. I decided to buy the ingredients for some Pulled Pork Nachos (yeah yeah I know...NOT super healthy) for myself and one of my roommates. Pulled Pork (Whole Foods has a GREAT no preservative version), cheese, black beans, and TONS of veggies to top it with. I already had the Low-Fat Sour Cream and Guacamole in the Fridge at home. It was TASTY! Not baking Per-Se, but a damn good end to a long work day.



See? Even used a festive plate!!
Next posting, I PROMISE will be something more Pastry or Bread like. Can't wait to start this project!