Being on your own, and in my case without a girlfriend living with me, has been tough. The one thing i have learned is how to cook for one, instead of two. I always had found myself making t much food and having leftovers. Which in my case would just sit in the frig and get old and then eventually thrown out to make room for the newer leftovers.
I found myself obviously throwing away food and money. I have found myself now buying only the items i truly like to eat. I also found myself cooking just for me in the process. my habits have totally changed, i don't have potato chip in the house, no soda. I have gone from fatty foods to starting my meal off with a simple salad with veggies that i have gotten from the farmers market or organic section at the local food store. If i eat pasta, which i love so much i either have whole wheat pasta, or i am making my own pasta. However i have found that the more you make homemade pasta the more you want it. there are many reasons, and simple if you will as well. Homemade pasta is just eggs, flour, water, olive oil and salt. If you want the exact recipe i am more than happy to give it to you, just get a hold of me, and or i can always edit this post and add it at the end for everyone. Homemade pasta is fun to make, add your own flavorings, and types of pasta or even ravioli. Its takes half the time to cook in boiling water and taste so much better, almost like being in Italy, but not so much.
I am a fan of a simple cucumber sandwich in the summertime, sliced cucumbers in between to slices of bread smeared with mayo and or a flavored mayo to make it even more delicious. that to me is a true sign of summer. I know i just said that cucumber sandwiches are my key to summer, well so is fresh tomatoes from the farmers market, or better yet your own garden. The most simple application that i know of is a simple capresse salad, fresh mozzarella, with fresh basil, aged balsamic. this is something so refreshing, light and paired with a good glass of wine will make you melt in your seat.
I have realized that i enjoy making any type of food, but more often enough it is food that is available at that time for me to make. I just find items to cook and then find other items available to me to use. Doing this i have to think out of the box, and really use my knowledge of food to come up with something. you see its not all about just making something, its making something and making it taste good, appealing to your guests and or family. This is were knowledge and or a good book comes into play. The book i go to when i have my own questions about food and other foods it goes well with, and or what a word means in general, the two books always on hand for me are, Culinary Artistry and Food Lovers Companion.
I guess what i'm trying to get across is that food is simple, it can be as simple as you want it, its just the knowledge that you apply to it that you then can create something outside the usual box. That's what makes cooking so exciting and interesting and its something that truly can become family orientated.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Stanley Cup Champions
Last Wednesday, June 9th to be exact, will be a day i will never forget, ever. I was suppose to go play soccer, but decided to take a very long nap before going out to the bar for game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers.
I arrived at the bar a little before 6pm, and grabbed a seat at the bar and saved a few as well for some friends. No joke, within 15 minutes, Ryans Public house was filling up, there were people coming in and saving tables, sliding tables together, hell even the back room that i have not seen really used for a hockey game was filling up. By 6:30 the bar was full, beer like Guinness and Summer Ale was pouring from the taps, as was miller Lite which was only 6 bucks for a pitcher, so you could guess that i was drinking that, its cheap and it gets the job done.
Everyone was very anxious, my friends had finally arrived, so the seats i had been saving were filled and everyone was anticipating the start of the game. Soon food started to fly out of he kitchen, everyone trying to get a bite in before the game started. Its hard to eat and give all of your attention to the TV in a pivotal game 6 for the Hawks, they win this one they win it all.
Soon the game started, the singing of God Bless America sucked, and does not even compare to the singing of the National Anthem at the United Center, and the noise, the noise at the UC is defyning. Everyone at the bar was on the edge of there seats through out the game. A very well played game by both teams. My phone began to blow up, friends texting me, asking me if i was watching the game and were i was, I told them and even had some surprised visitors come to the bar which made the evening even more enjoyable.
It was amazing, nobody and i mean nobodies eyes left the TVs until the end of the periods, that's when the lines formed for the bathrooms and the back and front patios filled up with smokers talking about the game and there predictions.
The game was intense and for every goal the Hawks scored there was free shots going around which made it even more fun and exciting.
Hawks were up by one goal in the third period and then the Flyers tied it up and the game went into overtime.
During overtime Ryans got so loud, people were standing and hanging on every play, 4 minutes into overtime, Patrick Kane gets the puck and makes a horizontal shot at the goal and some how it slides through the 5 hole and scores, game over or is it. Nobody new if the game was over, did he score or did he not. Kane knew he did, the bar went silent for a moment until they showed the replay, then this place went crazy. They played Chelseas Dagger on the jukebox and everyone was cheering, high fiving, hugging, I never have been in this atmosphere before, it was unbelievable. By this time i had quite a buzz going, i went out to smoke with everyone else near the street and people were going by honking there horns and cheering out there windows as they passed the bar.
I did not want the night to end, surrounded by great Hawks fans and friends, what more could i ask for. My night ended at 2:30am, and unfortunately i had to be at work at 5am that morning. It was well worth it, the road through the playoffs was amazing and I would not take back anything saw every game, cheered for the victories and asked my self why when they lost. Its not everyday you get to be a part of history these days, but this day i was and will always remember this for ever and even eventually tell my kids about the Blackhawks and there championship, One Goal was the Hawks motto and it was accomplished, lets see what happens next year.......
I arrived at the bar a little before 6pm, and grabbed a seat at the bar and saved a few as well for some friends. No joke, within 15 minutes, Ryans Public house was filling up, there were people coming in and saving tables, sliding tables together, hell even the back room that i have not seen really used for a hockey game was filling up. By 6:30 the bar was full, beer like Guinness and Summer Ale was pouring from the taps, as was miller Lite which was only 6 bucks for a pitcher, so you could guess that i was drinking that, its cheap and it gets the job done.
Everyone was very anxious, my friends had finally arrived, so the seats i had been saving were filled and everyone was anticipating the start of the game. Soon food started to fly out of he kitchen, everyone trying to get a bite in before the game started. Its hard to eat and give all of your attention to the TV in a pivotal game 6 for the Hawks, they win this one they win it all.
Soon the game started, the singing of God Bless America sucked, and does not even compare to the singing of the National Anthem at the United Center, and the noise, the noise at the UC is defyning. Everyone at the bar was on the edge of there seats through out the game. A very well played game by both teams. My phone began to blow up, friends texting me, asking me if i was watching the game and were i was, I told them and even had some surprised visitors come to the bar which made the evening even more enjoyable.
It was amazing, nobody and i mean nobodies eyes left the TVs until the end of the periods, that's when the lines formed for the bathrooms and the back and front patios filled up with smokers talking about the game and there predictions.
The game was intense and for every goal the Hawks scored there was free shots going around which made it even more fun and exciting.
Hawks were up by one goal in the third period and then the Flyers tied it up and the game went into overtime.
During overtime Ryans got so loud, people were standing and hanging on every play, 4 minutes into overtime, Patrick Kane gets the puck and makes a horizontal shot at the goal and some how it slides through the 5 hole and scores, game over or is it. Nobody new if the game was over, did he score or did he not. Kane knew he did, the bar went silent for a moment until they showed the replay, then this place went crazy. They played Chelseas Dagger on the jukebox and everyone was cheering, high fiving, hugging, I never have been in this atmosphere before, it was unbelievable. By this time i had quite a buzz going, i went out to smoke with everyone else near the street and people were going by honking there horns and cheering out there windows as they passed the bar.
I did not want the night to end, surrounded by great Hawks fans and friends, what more could i ask for. My night ended at 2:30am, and unfortunately i had to be at work at 5am that morning. It was well worth it, the road through the playoffs was amazing and I would not take back anything saw every game, cheered for the victories and asked my self why when they lost. Its not everyday you get to be a part of history these days, but this day i was and will always remember this for ever and even eventually tell my kids about the Blackhawks and there championship, One Goal was the Hawks motto and it was accomplished, lets see what happens next year.......
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Obstacles of Life
The past few weeks have been a journey for me. My girlfriend and I split after 6 years being together. I have my own apartment and for the first time in my life i am truly on my own. Don't get me wrong it was extremely tough the first month or so, but i had friends, one really good friend that was there for me through all of this and if it was not fr him, i would not be were i am today. I call him Doc. Doc, helped me keep my head above water through those hard times and listened to me ramble on about silly stuff and the way i felt. A true, great friend.
Once i got on my feet, and began to move on in my life, i opened myself up to this world, focused more on my job and carear as a chef, doing whatever it took to get things done and getting them done better than what they had to be, that's how focused i have become. I also believe it or not became more of a people person.
All of this happened thanks to the Chicago Blackhawks believe it or not being in the playoffs. I went to a local bar down the road, got myself a beer and asked for them to put on the game. the response they gave me changed my life. They did not have Comcast and therefore would not have the game, I was shocked....i downed my beer and headed down the road to what is now my second home Ryan's Public House. I watched he game there and have been there for every game since. I have meet some great friends, so many new people that i have met and i don't even know all of there names, i have never had this problem before. They have some great food the fish tacos are too die for, there burger is amazing, i mean who puts a 8oz. beef burger between two grilled cheeses, delicious, is all i can say.
Don't get me wrong it was tough to begin with, i am a shy person that does not open up to people, yet i did, and it has rewarded me with being surrounded by great people that enjoy my company and me for who i am.
I have been able to open my home to people, entertain and cook meals for people that enjoy food that is simple and yet delicious and they will never forget that meal that i made for them and that is what makes me happy. Its amazing that food has such a impact on people and it is also the way to a women's heart.
i may not live the way i did before and there are things i miss that i had before yet, i would not be were i am or who i am today if that difficult decision that was made was never made.
With that being said i plan on writing more, hopefully once a week if possible, and i promise it will be more about food, yet i thought i needed to explain my absence and how it did evolve around food, so with that being said, till next time, eat your way through your life one day at a time.
Once i got on my feet, and began to move on in my life, i opened myself up to this world, focused more on my job and carear as a chef, doing whatever it took to get things done and getting them done better than what they had to be, that's how focused i have become. I also believe it or not became more of a people person.
All of this happened thanks to the Chicago Blackhawks believe it or not being in the playoffs. I went to a local bar down the road, got myself a beer and asked for them to put on the game. the response they gave me changed my life. They did not have Comcast and therefore would not have the game, I was shocked....i downed my beer and headed down the road to what is now my second home Ryan's Public House. I watched he game there and have been there for every game since. I have meet some great friends, so many new people that i have met and i don't even know all of there names, i have never had this problem before. They have some great food the fish tacos are too die for, there burger is amazing, i mean who puts a 8oz. beef burger between two grilled cheeses, delicious, is all i can say.
Don't get me wrong it was tough to begin with, i am a shy person that does not open up to people, yet i did, and it has rewarded me with being surrounded by great people that enjoy my company and me for who i am.
I have been able to open my home to people, entertain and cook meals for people that enjoy food that is simple and yet delicious and they will never forget that meal that i made for them and that is what makes me happy. Its amazing that food has such a impact on people and it is also the way to a women's heart.
i may not live the way i did before and there are things i miss that i had before yet, i would not be were i am or who i am today if that difficult decision that was made was never made.
With that being said i plan on writing more, hopefully once a week if possible, and i promise it will be more about food, yet i thought i needed to explain my absence and how it did evolve around food, so with that being said, till next time, eat your way through your life one day at a time.
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