My Culinary Heros!

This is my last day of total freedom. I start at 11:30 am on monday and I dont get done until 11pm! I was flipping thorugh the books i recieved and its all seems pretty interesting. Anyhow since i didn't officialy start yet, i though i might instead share with you some of my culinary heros. these people inspired me and i think inspired many people to love, appreciate and truly enjoy cooking as well as eating. Here they are, (in no particular order:

1. Julia Child- gotta love the high pitched voiced woman. She also went to the Le Cordon Bleu! so I am following her footsteps, sorta. She demystified french cooking with such a down to earth, friendly attiude. I also admire that she was a woman, in a profession dominated by men, she really shone and was never afraid to get her hands dirty. I love her quote, "I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate."

2. Ruth Reichl: she was the food critic for top newspapers in the country and nowadays the editor in cheif for gourmet magazine. I am mostly a big fan of her books, "Garlic and Saphires" and "Comfort me with Apples". Being trained as an actress myself, this woman really inspired me that you could combine those two passions as she narrated in "Garlic and Saphires" about all her many disguises, alias, and personalities she "put on" as she reviewed resturants in New York.

3. Graham Kerr: He's a scottish (although lived most of his life in London) chef that had a really awesome show called "the Galloping Gourmet" in the 70's. Its such a delight to watch (they used to air it at like 2 am on food network but i haven't seen them do so recently, ahh well, theres always youtube). He was known for not skimping not wine and takes several swigs of it throughout his show (he actually ended up becoming an alcoholic, but he recovered thankfully and is still alive today).

4. My mom: She was also a Julia worshiper, its her collection of julia books that introduced me to high end cooking. She wasn't he best cook, but far from the worst. She had some winning dishes, a few flops (but dont we all), but she enjoyed food and relished new flavors and dishes. Once she go cancer, she tried to watch her diet and cut back on eating her ulitmate guilty pleasures, (Big Macs and chocolate). She was actually very funny in that way, she would make all sorts of healthy and tasty dishes and go to the gym regularly, but she had to get a weekly fix of these big macs i tell you. Anyhow, she knew how to appreciate good food and passed that influence down to me.

there they are, I might add more as I delve deeper into the culinary world.

Orientation and My Student Chef Garb!

so today was oreitnation (no elaborate breakfast spread, but sorta sad looking sandwiches and chips, really gourmet like doritos and fritos) and i got my books for the term, my uniform, my classes, and tools. The tool kit is mind blowing, its like every item from william sonoma in a suitcase! The one thing i still need is my shoes which they also provide since we all have to have leather shoes because they can hold up to hot liquids. I get that on monday though. The one thing that bugged me was that i have to actually take classes on saturaday! yep from 8 am to 2:30 and its not that exciting of a class, sanitation. important, but not as interesting as other courses. Plus, next saturday is my birthday and i was looking forward to sleeping in and enjoying my day, not learning about how to be an ocd clean freak. They didn't do much in oreintation, but they seem very strict with attendence and dress code. No jewlery, make-up, hair must be up, black or white socks (i dont get this one since you can barely see your shoes with the clown chef's pants on, maybe i'll wear my purply fluffer ones and be "bad"). We get at least an hour on homework a night (so the student coucil president told us) but being a college student for two years prior to this, i have a feeling it might take me less time since some of these students are in their 40s and 50s and havent done "homework" in a while. We also got a cute key-chain of a mini whisk (you know, like in case someone needs an emergency custard). My tool kit does make me feel very secure though. If i walk back from class and someone want to rape me (which is a waste, i am not that hot anyhow) i'll filet or de-bone their ass. I have like seven knives and a sharpner to do so. anyhow, I feel like this will be very stressful, and i was considering to start a job too cause this school aint cheap and there are lots of job placements connected to the school. for the first term, i might just see how i handle things before i start looking for a job. anyhow, tomorrow i'll give you a picture of the tools and maybe better ones of my in my uniform (this one stinks cause of terrible lighting, i am exhausted, and haven't done up my eye brows).

Nerves, Matza Balls, and Al Dente Penne!

I need to think of better titles for posts, this is one is just silly. Anyhow SO great to hear comments from readers! i was begining to think this blog was going to be defunct (cause ive attempted other personal blogs in the past that were complete busts). Nutritious Junk has been my selling one, hopefully it will give me enough cred for this new one.
so tomorrow morning i make th 45 min drive to school for the make-up orientation. I am going with my dad (feels so elementary school or freshman year of college, no?) and i am honestly looking more foward to visiting the beverage wharehouse where they sell everytype of beverage imaginable for 1/2 price and they have wine tastings! I should be phyched about getting my uniform and tools, but all i can think about is this stupid bevarge store on the way. I am crazy.
My sister (15 yrs older half sister, really, from my mother's side, but i dont like that term because its not like her right side or bottom half is my sister and the other isn't) is newly pregant and can barely stomach anything due to terrible morning sickness, so i thought i'd swing by this weekend and make her matza balls which she has apparnetly been craving like mad recently. I cant wait to be an aunt, although i think my sister is way better with kids than i am, she'll be a fun mom.
I had to babysit for my dad's girlfriend's daughter today and that meant serving her dinner. I didnt get much of chance to really cook since her mom already made sauce and all i had to do was boil water for penne. This got me thinking about how cooked people like their pasta. I dont know what i loath more, spoiled milk or too soft pasta. Milk is probably worse but i can stand when pasta is overcooked, looses its flavor, and basically becomes starch pudding! A dear family friend of mine is Italian and lived there for many years and swear by an egg timer to make sure the pasta is cooked "to the tooth" (al dente, in Italian). I'll probably learn more about this in culinary school, but i have the al dente thing down, cause even though this kid probably doesn't care how her pasta is, I wouldn't want her getting used to me giving her less than fabulous food. I'll give you a full play by play of the orientation when i get back tomorrow.

Lonliness and some reasons it sucks to be a waif!

So the orientation is on friday at 11 am (so long chic breakfast spread), and i just thought about how lonely i feel going in. I suppose i started this blog to sort of give me the sense that someone, somewhere, cares about what i am going through and sort of "backing me" up. I dont know anyone, and i dont know if i'll "click" with people there, i mean the ages can range from 17-70. i wish i had a friend going a long with me, you know to gossip with about the teachers, talk about the work, the mishaps, the spills, all that good stuff. Thats mainly why i am sharing this with you (which i am even doubting a little too because not many have commented). anyhow, i am very indpendent and do fine on my own, but i would like to feel some sort of social life spurring from this.
and on a completly different note, i saw a post somewhere about reasons its not that fun being thin. I am not out to offend anyone of any size, i think the best size is one your happiest in, but i get a lot of flack for being thin and small. sure i exercise and eat try to healthfully, but i dont monitor my weight daily or aspire to fit some sort of thin ideal. For the record, ive always been slightly smaller. my hands and feet are teeny (i wear a size 6 or 5 shoes, my nike running shoes were from the kids line and 60 bucks less!). i am not complaining about my size, i just thought i'd humor you with some points about why its not always great to be thin.

-people grab you, or at least me. Its like they have to feel my body to make sure i exist or something, i am sure pregant people get this done to their belly. anyhow, unless i love you and am trying to give you a hug, keep your paws off my body.

-nothing fits. yea, often i am just too short for jeans and forget about the kiddie dept, cause i DO have hips (hey i went through puberty), i am just not tall and lanky.

-people assume i dont have an appetite or dont enjoy food, but i can actually wolf down a lot at once. id be a good candidate for an eating contest. gross, but i might have a chance. And i love to eat, i enjoy it very much so!

-I cant give blood. i need to weigh more than 115 lbs, believe me i want to do good, but i guess ill have to donate my hair or something.

-I am always cold, although i admit ive been better about this, the summer has made me more tolerate to colder temps because as much as i dislike being cold, i loathe being too hot

-people think iam weak and frail, that is until they see me flex. I strength train a lot more than i used too and have a bulging bicep!

dont take these too seriously, i just wanted to poke fun at myself, we all need to from time to time.

Fasting Sucks

So, yom kippur came and went, very sloooowly as i'd imagine it would being hungry and all. The fast went, ok, i mean i survived, but man was i tired and (excuse my bluntness) bitchy. I used to work at a fashion house (one of my countless interniships i've completed on my journey to "find myself") where i was actually fired for trying to do more than clean after everyone (well excuse me if i've got an opinion!) and i'd imagine my boss must have been hungry a lot, cause man was she a bitch. She always talked about food, never actually eating it, so i guess that was the reason. And maybe all those 13 year old models who devoured everything and noticably not gaining an ounce must have pissed her off too. Anyhow, the party was ok. Sadly, i was trumped by my dad and his girlfriend as far as food prep would go. But thats ok cause i was so hungry, i barely had energy to open the fridge let alone cook for 30 people. Since my hip fracture, ive been taking a dreaded break from running which i miss so much, but instead i've been taking these weight lifting classes at the gym i never attend (cause i dont use it to run, so i really wonder why i am still a member). Anyhow, i must say although taking a running hiatus, I've developed some serious guns and i swear i can flex my ab muscles a little and you can see the very early grooves of a modest sixpack. But in today's class, i realized it will be the last monday one i'd have for a while. Cause next week, i start school which runs from 6 pm and 11pm. I know, you must think i am nuts for choosing such a late schedule. But i could have had a 6am-11am slot (no, chance bud, i am used to going to bed at sunrise) or the 12-5pm which seems reasonable but i was a bit worried it would kill my day and that i'd be a slave to traffic. So i choose the night one, i figure i could get a job in the morning, catch up on homework, blogging, and life in the afternoon, and then go to school. If its that bad, i can change next term which i think actually begins soon anyhow, like mid-november. I got a nifty package fed-exed to me today from McCormick to try out their new steamer seasonings for "nutritious junk". Ahh, food sounds so good now, after ive been deprived of it for 24 hrs. Maybe this fast was good, it reminded me i should be greatful to able to nourish myself with all these fantastic foods that are available and not take it for granted. This is why i refuse to eat bad food, even junk food must be good, i wont settle for bad quality junk. And food deprivation has really made me realize how wonderful it is to cook, taste, and nourish my self.

Breaking the Fast Soiree

So the orientation for school is this saturday, but the numb nuts over at the culinary school picked out the most holy day (for jews, that is) of the year to have their oreintation. And this isn't something one can just skip because we get our tools, uniform, schedule and not to mention, i hope a map because i got lost there just on the tour! Anyhow, i go to make-up orientation next week, but on Saturday is yom kippur and at night, my dad is hosting a "breaking the fast" party type thing. My dad's live in girlfriend is probably going to be more in charge of what's being served than i am, but i asked my dad if i could be in charge of a few dishes for the sake of our guests paltettes (shes a terrible cook!). So i need to think of big crowd type dishes to serve. Not sure yet what to do, but ive been surfing the net of my favorite cooking and food sites to be inspired. I am not fasting, i have a hard time not eating or drinking cause your actually not suppose to drink as well, but i dont want the first meal after the fast to be to heavy on the stomach. So i am thinking about light but yummy things. Watching top chef, i was inspired to maybe consider the smoked salmon mousse (its buffet style so appetizer-like things are better)which is really easy and quick to make. simply blending smoked salmon, cream and cream cheese until evenly smooth in a blender and serving it on cucumber slices and maybe a nice roasted vegetable terrine. I am not sure yet, havent done the shopping for it yet soanybody has any suggestions feel free to throw em at me. I promise to post the party pics and of the final spread i end up making. BTW: that picture is the dinner buffet spread of my cousin's house. they live in a rural town in Israel and my dad is usually so fasinated the rustic-ness of it all that he took pictures of the most simple things, like this dinner. It was very delicious and healthy i might add.

Ultra-Annoying and Produce Picking

Well I had a very strange morning....I had an abdominal ultra-sound. no, i am not pregnant, but ive been having some tummy issue so my doctor suggested i get it checked out. This meant i had to eat nothing about 8 hours before. Normally, the avergae person might find this easy, but not me cause i am a late night owl and i like to spend my nights eating and relaxing. I know, i should be able to just not eat that late for one night, but even just telling myself that made it incredibly hard. Anyhow that aside, I realized i am only about a week and half away from starting school. I should relish this extra free time, but i am really not doing anything exciting especially with my hip and all. (although i might add its feeling better, cant run yet, but i can walk ok). Can i just say that as i am writing this, i am snacking on a costco size bag of baby-carrots (better than cheetos i figure) but i must say these taste off, has that ever happened to you? sometime i just get a batch of bad baby carrots, like taste-less or something. Maybe i am paranoid, but one thing you should know about me is that i am a picky produce picker. My pal, Al can testify to that. I like my mushrooms and peaches hard, not firm, HARD. Same with cucumbers. And call me crazy, but i prefer big, thick, stalks when it comes to choosing romaine lettuce, as in more of that crunchy-ness and less leafy-ness. I am crazy right? and the very odd thing, i find the veggies and fruits at the farmer's market to sometimes (not always, sometimes)be underwhelming compared to the beautiful, unblemshied display at places like Whole Foods. I dont really believe the whole organic hype, mainly because i cant afford it, but also its a bit over-hyped. As far as where my produce comes from, i can't say i raise the bar that high. If its tasty, i'll eat it. My mom had a similar philosphy, i remember her driving me back from pre-school and buying oragnes and cherries from those people that sell them off the high way. My dad didnt like this and told her "do you know how many chemcials they sprayed over it?". but my mom shrugged it off and ate them anyway cause she figure, hey they taste good, and she probably helped a guy pay his rent. I just wish she could come produce picking with me today.

Lacing up the apron...

Welcome to "this waif cooks", a bit of an extention of my site http://www.nutritiousjunk.com/, but this is not about reviewing foods, this about my year in culinary school and all the stories from my life as a culinary student at the Le Cordon Bleu. I suppose most of you know me from my site, but i'll provide a wee bit more about me in this post so you'll understand future posts. Hmm....where should i start, i guess ill tell you briefly why i decided to attend culinary school in the first place. I've been a theater major at the University of California in Santa Barbara for the past two years. Since i can remember, i've always wanted to be an actress. Stranger, because i was always shy as a child and a little introverted in high school, but i suppose thats why the stage spoke to me, i could escape from "me" and be someone else. Anyhow, i hated Santa Barbara. i need a city to thrive and its a small city run by wealthy retirees and students. But the classes were also not very stimulating either, i wasnt even getting many acting oppertunities. So this summer, i took an acting class at UCLA while back at home (in LA) and fell in love with it. So i thought i would transfer, BUT, i can only audition in november for fall of 2008. The thought of returning to SB made me cringe, so i thought, what can i do for a year to make me happy? Because on a side note, although i may appear happy and energetic on my site, i've been rather depressed for quite some time. My mother died when i was thirteen, and its weird becaue i miss her more now than i ever did in high school. Plus, i feel a bit of a failure as an actress. I signed with a minor agency a year ago and only got like two gigs out of it. I know, i am not a failure deep down inside, but acting is a cruel business and i still need to learn about rejection and not let it bring me down. But besides acting, i love food and cooking. I dont know which i prefer, i suppose both equally but its something i really love. And i do try to be healthy, and i find it so silly when people go on "diets" can eat steamed veggies and poached chicken for dinner and say they are happy. Eating healthy doesn't have to be bland and taste less, infact, the truly best tasting dishes dont have much too them and are probably wholesome and healthy as they are. I do believe the obesity problems are due to poor lifestyles (relying on elevators, cars, and those stupid segways to replace good old fashion biking or walking), poor resturant portions, reliance on cheap, processed, and packaged foods, and ironically enought, our society's obsession with weight, period. Sorry about that rant.....anyhow, so i thought i'd turn a new leaf and start a serious culinary program.
i start October 1st, but my orientation s in about a week where i recieve my extensive tool kit (packing with all sorts of nifty gadgets like a silpat, knives, whisks, spatulas, piping bags, etc), my uniform, and i am not sure what else to be honest, but i guess i'll find out soon. I am nervous, i dont know what to expect out of the atmosphere. Will i make friends? will they even be close to my age? will this be more stressful than college? will i even have an appetite after all this food prep, and what the hell happens to all the left over food?! apparently, my advisor at the school told me that we can't give them away to the homeless (lawsuit fear) but i couldn't just toss good food. I'll eat some, but lord knows how much i'll be making. Sorry this welcome post turned out to be longer than i expected. Anyhow, thank you for visit, and come along on this culinary ride i am taking (man thats cheesy, but i needed to end on a sweet note)

P.S. feel free to comment and ask questions, i ll try to answer them in future posts