mizchef

Archive for June, 2010

Hi, gang.

I’m really excited because I’m going to have my first guest blogger, Melynda Huskey,  soon. I think you’re really going to enjoy it because Melynda is an extremely talented person, who comes up with the most fabulous recipes. You can check out her many projects (not limited to cooking) at her website, The Things That Make Us Happy Make Us Wise.

So, stay tuned for that, coming up shortly.

In the meantime, stay cool, everyone!

Hey, gang. So, I’ve been at my new job for almost three months now and I haven’t yet introduced my co-workers to the insanity of my cooking. (I call it insanity because I’ve brought in all kinds of foods to my co-workers over the years, and I’ve taken some pretty big chances with some pretty unusual stuff, like Burmese tea-leaf salad and vegan stroganoff.)

Anyway, I’ve decided that it’s time to whip something up for the gang and show them what I can do. I’ve been thinking all week about what should I should make. I have to choose wisely because the first time should be special. The first time sets the tone for future offerings.

Co-workers will always remember the first food you bring in for them. If it’s good the first time, they’ll expect all your food to be good. Conversely, if it’s bad the first time, don’t be surprised if the next time they sniff and inspect it before eating it. Plus, I think that the outcome of the first experience psychologically sets them up to either like or dislike subsequent dishes. In other words, if they expect it to be good or bad, they will find it good or bad, despite what the reality might be.

So, what will it be? Cookies? Brownies? Chocolate chip muffins? It’s too soon for “real” food. That comes later, after I’ve established a food rapport with my co-workers, after I’ve planted it in their heads that it’s okay to try my dishes, to take a chance on something “new.”

I’d be interested in hearing stories about foods you’ve brought in to your co-workers and their reactions. Please feel free to leave a comment.

In the meantime, I’m going to look through my cookbooks for ideas. It’s been a while since I’ve fed a crowd. This might just be the thing I need to get myself back on track.

So, that’s it for me this week. Hope everyone has a great week.

peace

Hi, all. Summer’s rolling in and we’re finally able to do all those things we love to do in beautiful weather. One of the nice things about summer is being able to stroll leisurely around the neighborhood after a good dinner.  (I suppose you can do that in winter, too, but who wants to?)

The other evening, I had dinner with a couple of friends in an area of Brooklyn called Carroll Gardens. It’s a really cute little area, reminiscent of Greenwich Village, only more intimate and with a “local” feel to it. Anyway, after dinner at an excellent vegan restaurant called Wild Ginger (more on that another time), we strolled Smith St. I picked up menus from restaurants I wanted to try, window shopped, and caught the strains of various types of music coming from different bars  (I really must try the Zombie Hut one of these days). On this stroll, I encountered a tiny little gourmet shop called Stinky’s Cheese. It’s aptly named, I realized as I stepped inside–the aroma of the cheeses they offer permeates the entire space.

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Hi, kids. In case you haven’t guessed, I’m a foodie. I love to eat. But I’m also a cook (some have even called me a chef), and when a foodie and/or chef can’t cook, it’s problematic.

I’ve never experienced a time when I’ve had no time to cook, at least on the weekends. The circumstances of my life have changed in numerous ways over the past year or so, which has changed what I am able to do with my time. Most recently, about two months ago, I started a new job after being unemployed for a year and a half. And a direct result of that is that I have almost no time to cook. Over the past two months, I’ve relied almost exclusively on my mother’s leftovers. See, my brother and I usually go each Saturday to have lunch with my parents. Mom cooks for 28 people, even though it’s just the four of us. As you can imagine, we take home lots of leftovers. And it’s great. I love my mother’s cooking and all I have to do when I get home from work is pop some in the toaster oven, or into a pan, or in the microwave (notice I listed that last).

But it’s frustrating when one loves to cook but simply doesn’t have the time. It also impacts your diet (if you’re on one) because you lose control of what you’re eating. Fortunately, my mom’s leftovers are generally on the healthy side, but it’s still a challenge putting together a breakfast and lunch menu that I can easily take to work. A few times, I’ve had to go out and buy lunch, which is dangerous for me.

This past weekend (Memorial Day), I actually had time to cook and set myself up for the week. I cooked a big pot of vegetarian chile, some veggie burritos, a veggie frittata, and some millet to go with the chile. Now, I have some still in the fridge and some in the freezer for future desperate times. And now I plan on starting a diet next week. I mean, a real diet. So I have to do some real preparing.

I have to figure something out, figure out a way to get some more cooking in. Maybe I just need a little more time to settle back into a routine. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Have a great week, everyone.

Peace.