baking Baking!

Hah! That's it...I'm out of the savory kitchen again. Smile. A big sigh of relieve. Really, I've had it doing pasta and omelet for a week!

Well, the thing is...it's not the choosing recipes, or the prepping ingredients, or the cooking a la minute, or the assembling/preparing the orders of this station that frustrated me the most; but it's the one in particular of lab mates who was assigned beside me. He was purely annoying!!! I'm not talking about the ex-con (bad apple) before in the group who got kicked out of the program already, but it's another type of person whom you might also encounter from time to time out there...the selfish one who wants to get his needs met first, no matter what!

You know what I'm talking about? He does whatever it takes to get his job done including taking over a lot of space, asking for help constantly, being in your way most of the time, being blunt and ignorant for other people's needs, insensitive, and also he doesn't seem to realize all the above I mentioned, even when he was being criticized for them! The way he works...is very hazardous to himself and other people around him; he was so chaotic that he left things burning on the stove, burned his own hands, etc. etc. Amazing...

I finally couldn't take it anymore that I had to talk with him...to figure out how to work efficiently in a shared space and so that my needs were also being respected and met on time. I had to ask him ahead of time what he was planning to make so that I knew what he was going to do and how much space he was going to take, for example. Anyways, it was just not pleasant to be working with someone like this in the very busy intense kitchen.

And guess what? He dared to tell me, after I had scolded him one time,...{when he was using the oven just under my stove, to reheat pizza slices, while I was busy cooking my pasta/omelet order (there are other ovens, mind you)}...that I need to have a little patience??? Wow. I was so pissed at him after that. I wanted my pasta/omelet duty to be over 'cause I can't stand working with this guy anymore. Hopefully not ever again...

At the end of Thursday, it was our last day for that station, I needed to tell him (while he asked) that I was glad to be in Quick Bread station (baking side) and to be farthest away from him in the kitchen. I meant it, but he laughed a little for that comment...and said that he knew I didn't like to work with him. Good. It's settled now! Laughs.

Told you guys, there are dramas every single day in the kitchen!

But that's it! For now!

I'm back to the Bake Shop. I started my day yesterday baking...
Dutch Crunch rolls and Corn kernel and Bacon Muffins!!!
Yoohooo, they were delicious and gorgeous looking! Smile.

Here are the pictures:




Have a visual taste, please.
I'll be baking more...

While updating this blog, I'm making red lentil curry with zucchini for a friend's party tomorrow night! It's simmering...so I have a little time to write. wink. wink.

Have a nice weekend!
Cheeriooos.

in Transition

I've been swamped!

Can I have another one of ME? I need to clone myself...I want to do so many things. Let's say there are so many things I'd like to accomplish, but I can't do it all! My body and time are limited; the physical aches and pains I can't ignore. In fact, I've been more in shape than when I started. I guess I want to do more, and I expect to be able to do better and faster.

And NOW, besides school and its demanding duties, I got offered a part-time gig, BAKING! Can you believe it??? And I got another 'little' offer for a complementary days and hours. Like I said, there are so many things I'd like to DO, but I'm not a super ME! And there's only 24hours in a day, whether we like it or not.

I'm happy; I'm honored that someone or people believe in me and seeing something special I can contribute. It's not a sad problem, but I don't know how I'm gonna get my body in shape for all these demands. I'm sure you'd say...Mind over body...if I put my mind into it, somehow my body will follow. Sure. I'm doing it, but it doesn't mean my aches and pains go away in an instance. Smile. I need to get enough rest. Put my feet up. Rest my back. I know I'll be able to perform even better. I need to learn how to manage my time better.

With that said, I got one of my favorite stations in the kitchen! I'm in Pasta and Omelet station for 5 days, and I've been too busy to do it better than the first attempt. I want Chef to notice that I've learned a lot so far and that I can handle the station better with better outcome. So, excuse me for not having the time to take photos in the kitchen at all this week.

These are what I've been making and planning to do in the station besides the basic spaghetti and ravioli with marinara sauce that we have to have available every single day:

Pasta specials:
*Aglio e Olio (spaghetti with olive oil and garlic);
I added Italian sausage for this version.
*Lasagna
*Baked Mac and Cheese
*Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia (with squid and its ink)
*Gnocchi (don't know what sauce to go with it just yet; or I think I'm gonna make a pesto sauce from scratch at home and bring it to the school kitchen...we'll see)

Omelets:
*BLT (Bacon Lettuce Tomato); yes...even Chef was impressed with how daring I was to think about this! Wink.
*Ricotta with fresh chopped basil, avocado and cherry tomatoes.
*hmmm...what else? I haven't thought much about omelet recipes, to tell you the truth. I'll come up with something when I see what ingredients we have available. Any suggestions?

Anyways, It's been fun. It is, for sure, a huge learning experience for me, in a different way than before. It is intense! I'm sure...

I WILL SURVIVE!
Smile.
Cheers.