Weekends and Comfort Food.

On Blast - Shawn Colvin - "Sunny Came Home."

I love cooking on the weekend, mainly because I actually can take my time with no obligations. I wanted to try out some new recipes... Asian contemporary comfort food with a healthy twist. I didn't concentrate much on presentation:

Fried Rice Style Risotto with Nori Crab Fritters With:

-Stir Fried Vegetables.

-Sweet Chili Lemon Sauce.

Jasmine Tea Shortbread

Anyway, I have a party to go to after I eat all this. Nom nomm.

ALSO, new pics of the bike. I got some cheap drop bars :). I plan on painting the body next week.

-KJ

If You Build It, They Will Come.

On Blast - Toni Braxton - "I Get So High."

So my search for a road bike is finally making progress. I scored a Univega Supra Sport frame and fork set for $20 and I plan on getting some drop downs for around $5.

I needed a project to work on to keep myself busy and I think this is appropriate.

I might repaint it... Thinking white with maybe purple and blue somewhere there, probably making the fork purple and the drop bar wraps blue. The school is sending me to Santa Cruz for some food show next week so I want to visit the Bike Church up there... I'm hoping it's open when I'm in town because I hear that shit is pretty legit and I wouldn't mind getting things for close to nothing.

I miss San Francisco. My weekend visit was wonderful but I'm in slight withdrawal again.

Also - "Fat girls and mopeds, fun to ride until your friends see you" : Sarah Colonna.

-KJ

Cooking (for) Mama.

Crab Cakes with:

-Spinach and Mushrooms with Balsamic Vinegar.

-Pesto Israeli Couscous.

-Pan Fried Herb Polenta Cake with Oven Dried Tomato and Basil.

-Tomato and Pepper Leaf Sauce.

-Sweet Chili and Lemon Aioli.

For my mama. Nom nom nommmm.

-KJ.

Weekend.

Let's catch shit up to speed.

So midterms worked out pretty well and I'm stoked because now I have a few more months until I graduate. I like being a senior in culinary school now, things are lax and I'm actually starting to learn again. However, once school is done, I'm not quite sure what I should do. There are so many options and a lot of things I wouldn't mind doing, but the trick is getting a job in this crack ass economic climate. I have to stay optimistic though.

Also, I've been trying to go out more often. I know bar hopping isn't the best approach to getting back in the niche of things, but it really is helping me open up and just get rid of so many insecurities I had. It's weird... Maybe it's the meeting people and never seeing them again thing... or just watching drunk girls dance and boys continue to buy them drinks. Good times.

This weekend is going to be a lazy weekend and I frankly think I need it. I plan to play WoW, sleep, and cook for my mom this weekend. Cooking for my mom is a little less stressful and I think it's pretty fun just because I never get to cook for her in the week because I'm in school.

Boring blog. Blah blah.

-KJ.

Help I'm Alive.

On Blast - METRIC - "Help I'm Alive."

I've been in a pretty bad funk lately... I'm not sure what to do about it. I'm lacking inspiration and motivation--I'm hoping it passes soon because it's a real buzzkill.

-KJ.

Midterm Stress Pt. 2.

On Blast - Lemuria - "Pants."

I got the chance to practice my midterm today... I took some pictures, woot.

Just a refresher, it's a three-course meal prepared for four judges that must be completed in four hours. Here's my menu:

Appetizer: Sake Bomb Potstickers with Teriyaki Vinaigrette.

Main Course: Chicken Adobo Pot Pie

Dessert: Chocolate and Fig Napoleon with Raspberry Coulis.

Potstickers (using top right presentation and drizzled with teriyaki):

Chicken Adobo Pot Pie (only with puff pastry squares on top):

Chocolate Napoleon (needs raspberry coulis):

I'll take some better pictures next time around. Holler.

-KJ

A Bad Idea.

On Blast: Tegan and Sara - "The Con (Live)."

So I decided to gauge my ears from 2g to 0g.

I've been considering for a little bit, I even consulted some of my friends (who I found are not pleased by this decision, but what the hell?) So I went and bought some tapers and just went for it. I was okay with it for a little bit but I've been a 2g since my senior year (almost four years ago) so my ears were not pleased. I also chickened out because I don't want to get in anymore trouble in culinary school with my apparent crazy liberalistic appearance.

Anyway, let's close with a good idea.

Canele with Cardamom Creme Anglaise.

Caneles have been on my mind ever since I tried my first at Clementine's. It's a win-win texture/taste situation and I've also discovered how amazing cardamom is in sweet dishes. I stumbled upon this recipe and I HAVE TO TRY IT. The only setback is that canele molds are either expensive or online... at least the ones I've found.

Random Fact: My night elf hunter's pet's name is Clementine.

Random Fact Deux: I play World of Warcraft.

Random Fact Trois: Clementine is a crab.

(Crab sounds... click click crack.)

-KJ.

Birthweight.

On Blast: Joanna Newsom - "Peach, Plum, Pear."

So I've found true motivation to continue on Project Birthweight... the ability to wear shorts and tights.

It reminds me of fourth grade... simpler times, birthday parties, cowboy boots, boys you can play with in the sandbox with no repercussions later that evenings. I figure I'm going to look for a picture of my fourth grade self rocking this look... back before it was hip and stylish.

For those unfamiliar, "birthweight" is a mock-diet developed between my friends and I back when I lived in San Francisco. Another term related is Project Clean Plate, which is the absolute opposite, but that's a different story.

Fin.

-KJ.

Midterm Stress pt. 1.

On Blast: Rachael Yamagata - "Reason Why."

"So steal the show and do your best to cover the tracks that I have left."

So just a few recent updates:

-Midterm is in like two fucking weeks... Okay I just realized this a few seconds ago so I'm a little freaked out. The next 14 days I'll be dedicating to practicing my midterm and feeding whoever will let me. Three courses with one chicken. Good times, I'll come back to this later in the blog.

-I'm officially sensitive to caffeine, which I found out on friday. I spent my pre-weekend puking my guts out after an excessive ingestion of caffeine. My friend had a theory that the body just starts to breakdown after 21 since we've both noticed that after we turned 21, we can't handle caffeine or alcohol as well as we did in the years before. I'm currently developing my thesis on this.

-Project Birthweight pt. 9834523673 is in session.

So my midterm is soon, three courses, two with chicken, one emulsified sauce, one savory sauce, and one dessert sauce.

Appetizer: Drunken Chicken Potstickers with Teriyaki Vinaigrette.

Main Course: Chicken Adobo Pot Pie.

Dessert: Death by Chocolate.

So for my potstickers, I decided to pull out an easy taste card: alcohol. Basically chicken and beer... and other stuff in a potsticker wrapper. I'm not as much concerned for this... I tried it at my friend Natalie's house and I've figured out what I need to do to make it work.

Chicken Adobo Pot Pie... I haven't tried this out yet so I'm a little worried about this.

Death by Chocolate, I'm worried as hell about this. I've successfully made it at culinary school but it was incredibly stressful for me.

So here's what I've made for dessert... Three layers of flourless chocolate cake with chocolate cream and fresh figs in between, all completely submerged in white chocolate ganache, topped with macerated berries, and finished with a mixed berry coulis.

I should go, I'm hungry :| and I want to try out a recipe for a Shrimp Banh Mi, which is a Vietnamese sandwich with shrimp inside. I have baguette dough and shrimp defrosting... I'll post pictures next blog.

-KJ.

"It's Hard To Stay Sober When You Don't Look At Me."

On Blast: Lemuria - "Buzz"

It's awfully early but my chef instructor lost his keys so I have an extra hour of doing nothing until I have to go to class.  I haven't blogged in a while either, so I thought I'd unload a little bit.  I'm watching The Early Show right now and they're discussing the Cash for Clunkers deal that's going on since recessions are fun.  There's a car on TV that's a "clunker"... poor clunker--it must feel like shit.

I really need to start working out, like yoga or some shit.  I feel a bit uneasy and disgusting... maybe it's with all the stress from culinary school and having to deal with my sister (hah just kidding Portia if you're reading this. Sort of).  Well maybe all the time I have left before class should be spent on that shit...  

Final thought: people with bad toupees should not be on television.

-KJ.

"I Go Walking In Your Landscape."

On Blast: Radiohead - "There There."

I feel like I look like a total asshole when I'm at the car wash...  I don't have enough money to afford the regular car wash where you stay in the car the whole time and keep your car in neutral, so I go to those shady $2.50 self car washes where you basically look like an asshole and try to finish presoaking, soaping, rinsing, and waxing before the allotted 4 minutes is up.  Basically I look like a retard trying to wash my car...  I'm all over the place, getting soaked by hose, covered in suds, and drenched in sweat by the end of the day.  Also, these self car washes always seem to be centered in the shitty part of town, so not only do I look like an asshole, I get whistled at and witness drug deals at the same time.  All I want is a clean car :(.

But I've been having a pretty retarded week...  I've been kind of all over the place, getting flustered, and taking serious note of my stupidity.  Anyway, I'm exhausted, I need to update my ipod playlists since I have nothing else to do.

Happy Father's Day.

-KJ.

"It's Like Rain On Your Wedding Day."

On Blast: Alanis Morissette - "Ironic."

So I've been thinking about this, which is kind of an excessive use of my time, but whatever... Anyway, what if life were like the video to "Ironic" by Alanis Morissette?

I'd fucking love it.  I already talk to myself in my car, so I probably would look a little less crazy if there were three other me's in the car.  Okay, so maybe people driving in the lane next to me would see myself and my three other doppelgangers and freak the fuck out, but at least I wouldn't be the crazy one.  I mostly drive by myself...  On the rare occasion, I'll be in a friend's car or I'll have one or two people in my car, but for the most part, it's just KJ, party of one.  I'll admit, I do talk to myself a lot in the car...  I'm guilty of that.  Maybe I should have started out by saying that I sing loudly in the car, but it's too late now... yes, I fucking talk to myself in the car.

Okay, I think we've settled that I'm a little bit crazy, but fuck it, in conclusion, I think it would be fucking awesome to have three other people in my car at all times.  My car is usually filled with my shit anyway, I bet it would be better to have three cool kids to talk to.

...Nevermind, I think I would piss myself off.

-KJ.

"It's a Shock, Shock To Your Soft Side."

On Blast: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Soft Shock."

So I'm officially 21, which is a lot better than I had anticipated.  It's probably the first time in a while I felt older on my birthday.  I remember turning 18 and seriously being like... "so what?" which was odd to me because I remember the feeling of getting older on my 16th and 17th birthdays.  From age 18-20, I really didn't feel anything, probably because I didn't really celebrate it that big but I just felt like the same person.  Anyway, I went to San Francisco and spent my birthday with Melissa and we went to Dragon Bar... I thought it would just be a chill and whatever experience but it turned out to be really fun and I met a bunch of people who were really nice.  It was a lot different than 18 and up clubs, a lot less creeps and stuff, but that night really got me excited for the days ahead.

I've taken advantage of being 21 to the max.  This has seriously been one of the best weeks I've had in a long time, even with the whole "almost fainting" in school thing, but I do realize who my friends are and who I want to be.  

On a random note, I did work BeerFest this weekend as well having a girls' night out with Mindy and Audrey.

=FUN.

-KJ.

"I Told You I Was Trouble."

On Blast: Amy Winehouse - "You Know I'm No Good."

I think I'm watching too much E! Entertainment Television.  It first started with me always watching Chelsea Lately every night, but as the days went on, I just kept the TV on.  Now I think it's a problem, I've woken up to The Soup, kept it on through the True Hollywood Story: Eva Longoria Parker, and now I'm going to continue through watching a rerun of Keeping Up With The Kardashians... and I hate to admit it, I've probably seen every episode of Keeping Up With The Kardasians... twelve times.

I suppose the rational choice is just to turn it off, but I can't.  Khloe Kardashian is currently trying to get back into her DUI class!  Err, I mean, yeah I should turn it off.  I am no longer tickled by other channels I used to like, for example, The Food Network.  I suppose ever since I jumped into the culinary industry, having my life revolve around food 24/7 is a little too much for me.  Ever since I started culinary school, I've been exposed to many people who's lives solely orbit food and everything about it, which I find pretty boring.  I like having the multi-faceted aspect and I indulge in exposing myself with people who are the same. 

 I mean, I don't hate it when people really love the food industry, but when I enter a room and people either find out I'm a chef-in-training or something and start bringing up some foodie crap, I don't really know what to say.  I mean, for God's sake, I have no shame in eating Spaghettios or $0.29 ramen in front of my chef instructor and my peers... 

We're in a recession people.  I'm not the fanciest girl in the kitchen, I love making pretty things but I don't indulge in eating it all the time.

When I get home from class, I usually just find something in the fridge (even if it's been there for ages) and just eat it.  My guilty pleasure has gone full circle back to my first potato love, criss-cut fries from Carl's Jr.  Whenever my culinary classmate friends and I decide to walk to the Carl's Jr., we mostly eat it outside in the smoker's area instead of inside... maybe it's shame, maybe it's just that we like the sunshine.

Anyway, it's Saturday, and I don't know what my plans are.  I might persuade my mom to go outfit shipping with me for my 21st birthday next week but she's acting like a homebody today.  Ann C. is home from Santa Barbara so hanging out might happen, but I haven't received word from her yet.  Tomorrow is my grandmother's first posthumous birthday so I'm probably heading up to Sacramento to jam out on the cemetery lawn and eat sketchy Filipino food.  

For the record, Keeping Up With The Kardashians is STILL on.  I have made no progress.

-KJ.

"I'm Living Without You."

On Blast: Garbage - "Special"

Yes, I know I keep deleting blog posts all the time but I think I should start fresh. I'm still without a laptop but HOPEFULLY I'll get one for my 21st birthday... but we'll see though, recession sucks, unemployment sucks, paying for culinary school sucks.

But other than that, things are relatively peachy. Only petty things to complain about but I usually refrain from doing so. I mean I'll slip up (most likely on this blog) but whatever, it's cool. Among the petty things, I miss San Francisco and everyone I left behind there. I visited the City a few weeks ago and it really made me miss everything even more.

Anyway, I'm exhausted--culinary school sent me out to a bakery in Castroville around 3am-8am, I was very pessimistic about the experience upon waking at 2am but the bakery was so much fun. The owner, Claudio, was probably the chillest guy ever and shared his recipes with whoever asked.

Yadda yadda yadda, I'll try to keep this updated but right now I'm pretty boring.
-KJ.