Eat Play Live

I have been thinking lately of other areas of the culinary field I can diversify in when I start personal cheffing.

I have already decided I would like to develop a clientele based around weight loss surgery patients (pre-op and post-op), food allergy sufferers (celiac/lactose intolerant/etc.), and overweight children (teach good habits young while offering healthy foods that appeal to kids).

I have had a few other ideas pop into my mind recently that I think might be interesting areas to pursue. They are based around my thoughts that I would like to be in a teaching type of role in my food profession. My original choices in this field also include education because I would be showing people good food sources and how to couple them into nutritious meals that are tasty.

One of my new thoughts is reaching out to families that home school their children. I could offer cooking classes that would incorporate math (measuring, using scales, ratios, etc.), science (how food reacts to heat/how baking soda works/etc.), and sanitation/safety topics.. In the course of the “class” they would learn various math and science topics, while also learning how to cook and bake, plus they would be taught safety with knives and other kitchen equipment and how to properly clean up after preparing food. After the class they would have a meal including a bread and dessert to take home and share with their family.

Well, I just wanted to jot down my thoughts while they were fresh on my mind. Still a lot to figure out logistically, but I think I may be onto something unique and worthwhile.

It’s been a while since I have stopped in to say hi.  I’m still here and well.  All I can say is that 2010 was a whirlwind of a year and 2011 is shaping up to be the same.

To give a brief glimpse of the last year I have lost 100 pounds and have gained a whole new lease on life.  Perhaps that is why I wandered away from this blog.  I was more active and enjoyed life in a whole new way over this last year!

But, I still feel I have a lot to share with people via this blog.

I am cooking more often….including now being able to call myself a “professional” chef as I am working with the Dallas Woman’s Forum catering various special events.  I catered their holiday tea room for two weeks in December and received rave reviews!  It was the hardest I have ever worked in my entire life…and one of the best times of my life!  I am scheduled to cater a monthly brunch for them, as well, starting in February, and at the end of March a week long Spring tea is scheduled.

As mentioned, my weight loss surgery journey is going well.  I am still enjoying food tremendously, but in much smaller portions. Just last week I attended a dinner that had 8 courses and several appetizers.  I was able to have a taste of it all, without overdoing it or feeling like I overate.  Just a small bite or two of each item to savor and enjoy.  It made me happy.  As the saying goes…it’s the simple things that make us most happy.

I am embarrassed to admit that I am failing miserably at the exercise component of this lifelong commitment, but I have talked my DH into starting to walk with me in the mornings.  I am going to follow the Family Circle Walking Challenge, a 12-week, easy to follow guide to what I hope will be continued weight loss and improved health.  I am also looking into a beginner’s yoga class.  I need to unlearn a lifetime of laziness and embrace the joy of movement and exercise.

My family is well, my DH is just as fabulous and loving as he always has been – if not more! – and my friends are good ones.

Enough looking back.  It’s now time to look forward, and part of that is hoping to share more of my day to day here.

See you soon, and, as always…

Margie and I were at work at 7am. Early…but maybe not so bright. We did get everything bagged and overall the morning went well.

I got off at noon and picked up Pei Wei for lunch. JJ hadn’t eaten this morning, so he was hungry when I got home.

After lunch I quickly fell asleep and napped for about 3 and a half hours! I was very tired.

Tonight we enjoyed a nice meatloaf from TDS for dinner and now we are just kicking back watching our usual Saturday night shows. Such a wild life we lead, huh?

I have really enjoyed the last week following my menu plan. We have both been very good about sticking to it. Really the only big change up we had was this morning. Instead of the planned cereal and piece of fruit, we had toast and bacon. How could we not? After all, I made my first loaf of bread in my bread machine last night and I had leftover bacon that needed to be used up. It would be a sin to pass up toast from homemade bread…and we all know that bacon makes everything better!

I have to rave about the maple salmon we had tonight. It was a super simple recipe, but boy, was it good! JJ said that we have to have this again soon! Good thing that salmon goes on sale tomorrow at Tom Thumb. I can stock up and add this meal to my menu again soon.

So tonight I have put together my menu plan for next week. It is heavily weighted toward beefy meals. But it works for me this coming week.

I would like to work some simple green salads into our menus as we go on…but right now, I am just not in the mood for salad. We have certainly been eating more vegetables though, so I am pleased with that. Actually, one meal on my list next week is meatless.

The bread machine is going to be wonderful to have. I made the loaf last night that we enjoyed as toast this morning, tonight I am going to set it up to make dough for homemade sausage kolaches in the morning, and next week…I am going to get even more adventurous with it! Just wait and see!

Well, the only other thing that happened today was I worked the afternoon at TDS. It was a good day…Melissa is always nice to work with. I am lucky to work with such awesome people as Margie, Melissa, and Heather. I hope when I move on (eventually) from TDS that we all stay in touch.

Alright…it is late and I better set up the bread machine for tomorrow’s breakfast treat.

Today I worked from 9am to 6:15pm at TDS. We had 18 carryouts and it was just Margie and I. We both were so tired we decided to bag tomorrow morning. So I have to be to work at 7am instead of 8am. Margie is going to meet me and we will bang it out and she will leave and come back at noon for her regular shift.

On a really good note…my new bread machine came in! Wooooohooo! I am looking forward to making fresh bread a couple times a week.

The only other thing today is JJ and I watched the first episode of the new season of Hell’s Kitchen. I am glad this show is back. I really enjoy it.

Well, I am tired as sin and have that early morning tomorrow, so I am heading to bed. G’nite.