Day 16: Julia Country Style

Menu:

'Epinards 'Etuv'es au Beurre JC
(Spinach Braised in Butter)

Chicken Livers w/Saut'eed Onions ME

Mashed Potatoes ME

Chicken Gravy ME & JC

Sweet Tea ME

I loved cooking today's meal. It was good American food with that southern influence. The spinach was going to be a challenge because I have never liked cooked spinach. Prepared the Julia way it was delicious and nearly addictive. That's something I'd thought I'd never say. But, with it being baby spinach leaves braised with hamhocks (Julia used ham pieces) it was really good.

The chicken liver was my recipe with sliced onions cooked with it. I took the drippings and made a typical white sauce gravy but I threw in some of Julia's techniques and came up with the best tasting gravy I have ever made. I put a bit of cooking wine and about a 1/2 tablespoon of tomato paste in with it. I let it get real thick and then I seasoned it to taste. I'll be making this gravy again real soon. I was going to make biscuits but Michael and I both are skipping bread and dessert tonight. You'll see why when you read the facts below.

I used my own tried and true mashed potatoes only because it is habit and I could just make it and not think about it. I did make Julia's famous mashed potatoes on a different blog day and loved them. But I am learning to pace myself with her recipes. This evening I had to eat alone since Michael worked a little late. I could have waited on him and I thought about waiting on him but nawwwww I was too hungry for this meal to wait on anyone. While some of the other meals were out of this world delicious, I personally liked this one because I was craving a good down home country style meal. It hit the spot, sweet tea and all. Julia is turning me on to French cooking but I think with this meal I could have easily turned her on to some good American down home cooking.

Facts:
Day 16 of 100 (I could do 365 days like this, it was a breeze with just one of her recipes)

Pounds Lost: 3
Pounds Gained: 2
Happiness Level: 100%
Missing My Kids: 100%
Eating Enjoyment: 100%
Meal Presentation: 90% (I thought it looked scrumptuous)

Day 15: Jazzin' Up A Fricassee

Menu:

Chicken Fricassee JC (leftovers)
Saut'eed Mushrooms JC
Saut'eed Green Beans ME
Salmon Souffle JC (leftovers)

Today was an absolutely beautiful day. My husband and I took our Lhasa for a hike on the trail. And then after much of my hinting around over the last 15 days, my husband finally asked me if I would like to go look at flooring for my kitchen. I was ecstatic! I want a Julia Child chef type kitchen badly. I already knew exactly what flooring I wanted so we checked out the sample and brought it home and Michael loved it too. I've been working on reorganizing my cabinets so that I have easier access to everything. As I go along I will start posting pics of my progress.


Even though the chicken fricassee was bland I decided to serve up the leftovers this evening. It needed something to give it more flavor so I flipped through the cookbook and decided to saut'ee mushrooms and put those in it. I followed the Champignons Saut'es Au Beurre recipe. This will be a recipe that I will keep handy to jazz up any stew or casserole. After the mushrooms were done I put the heated chicken fricassee into the pan with the mushrooms and a bit of Bourdeaux wine. I added this for two reasons. It gave the cream sauce a nice tint and it also put that bang of flavor into it. I let it simmer for a several minutes. In the meantime I saut'eed green beans and heated the leftover souffle. As you can see I'm getting a little more comfortable with my Julia cookbook. She isn't quite as intimidating as she was two weeks ago. I don't think she would be disappointed in me because most of my day was spent fashioning my kitchen after her's.

Dinner turned out really good. I was glad to have somewhat of a break with only having the mushroom recipe as a new one this evening. We had some port wine with our meal and then we went for a fast paced walk to work all this butter off from the week. Like I said before she lived to be 90-something so she must know what she is talking about with all that butter. No dessert tonight when you see the facts you will know why. Ugh!

Facts:
Day 15 of 100 (I'd do 365 days if it were quick and easy like today but where would the lesson be in that?)

Pounds Gained: 1 (so back to the 4 lbs. game)
Pounds Lost: 4 total (in the last 15 days)
Happiness Level: 100% (Brandon called me last night and Rebecca called tonight, I'm happy)
Missing My Kids: 100%
Cooking Enjoyment: 100% (very easy meal with the leftovers)
Eating Enjoyment: 90% (much better than the original fricassee)
Meal Presentation: 95% (It looked more appetizing with the mushrooms in it)

Day 14: Fancy Burger Night

Menu:
Bifteck Hach'e A La Lyonnaise JC
(Hamburgers w/Onions and Herbs)

Sauce au Porto JC
(Brown Port-wine Sauce)

Potato Salad SW (my mom)

Corn On The Cob ME

Baked Beans ME

Michael and I spent the day together out bike riding and then went hunting for a wine making book for Michael and then things for my kitchen. I don't think I've ever mentioned that I am doing a Julia Child kitchen makeover. No, I"m not obsessed with Julia. The change is out of necessity to make my utensils more handy. Sure I could have just placed them in a crock but I want them to be just right there where I can get to them and then always returned to the same spot. I kept thinking all day that I am just making burgers and a sauce how hard can it be with the rest of the menu being things I have made hundreds of times over the years. I spent about 3 hours on this meal. It went from simple burger night to fancy burger night the minute I decided to add the brown wine sauce.

The burgers were easy enough because I made the same kind from a few nights ago and so I didn't have to look at the recipe much, not a problem. I had the potatoes going and corn boiling as the burgers were searing. By the time I was ready for the wine sauce the potato salad needed to be made and the corn needed to be buttered and seasoned. The sauce didn't get thick so I "Googled" it and noticed that often times it isn't thick. I wanted mine thick. I worked on that sauce until it was thick thick. It clung to the burgers just the way it should. If you are reading this and thinking when did she get her beans going? Well I nearly forgot about them. But I got them together and since it was taking me a while to get the sauce thickened I got the beans baked and everything was finished at the same time. I even poured the wine myself. I'm really liking the port wine.

All in all it was a really good meal. Taking the time to make the sauce was worth every minute. Got to go for our walk and then it will be time to kick back, relax and watch a movie and have dessert. We have two choices pecan pie or sugar cookies. Then the rest will go in the freezer so we can savor it another day.

Facts:
Day 14 of 100 (I better not try the 365)

Pounds Lost: 5 (I finally got off of my 4 lb. kick)
Pounds Gained: 0
Happiness Level: 100%
Missing My Kids: 100%
Cooking Enjoyment: 100%
Eating Enjoyment: 100%
Meal Presentation: 100% (I thought it was a fine looking burger)

Day 13: Just Me, Julia and My Favorite Rolling Pin

Menu

Artichoke JC
Hollandaise Sauce JC
Chicken Fricassee JC
Baked Sweet Potato ME
Pecan Pie JC

The entire day was devoted to "The Joy of Mastering French Cooking". I started around 11:00 a.m and finished around 6:30 p.m. All that work and the chicken fricassee was our least favorite of all the JC recipes I have made so far. But then I am not a fan of curry. I haven't ate enough to acquire a taste for it yet. I was like that with cilantro and now I love it.

I have never prepared an artichoke before. I've eaten the hearts but never the petals. Dipped in the hollandaise sauce it was spectacular. I don't think the artichoke had much flavor but Julia's hollandaise sauce recipe would make anything taste better. We liked it so much we started breaking pieces of toasted bread and dipping it. If you ever make it keep it mind it has to be served immediately.

The chicken dish called for a fryer to be cut up. So I did that and learned real quick that it isn't as easy as it looks. Those wings and legs were meant to stay attached. I made brown rice to change up the monotony of white potatoes. Since the chicken fricassee was innocuous in both presentation and flavor, the baked sweet potatoes gave the meal a little splash of color and flavor with melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon on top. We opened a bottle of Riesling that our friends brought over to the Greek dinner Sunday. It made the chicken taste much better! Michael and I both liked the wine.

I've got Julia's "Cognac Pecan Pie all baked and cooled. We are going to go for a walk and let our dinner settle and then have a slice of Michael's favorite kind of pie. Will have to let you know how it tastes. I've never had it with cognac in it. I used my glass rolling pin again today and made the sugar cookie dough for the pie crust. I love that rolling pin.

Facts
Day 13 of 100 (365 days? I'm just not going to do it)

Pounds Lost: Ugh! Still 4
Pounds Gained: 0
Happiness Level: 95%
Missing My Kids: 100% (Hey Brandon and Rebecca call your mom)
Cooking Enjoyment: 100% (I should stick with one recipe a day)
Meal Presentation: 25% (Chicken Fricassee doesn't photograph well)

Day 12: Julia's Burger Recipe

Menu:
Bifteck Hach'e A La Lyonnaise JC
(Ground Beef w/Onions and Herbs)
Baked potato w/toppings sauteed in butter ME
Sugar Cookies JC

Now I understand why back in the 70's my mom had to make it a priority to be home by 3:00 p.m. every day to start making dinner or supper as she called it. No matter what we were out doing for the day she always wanted to be home by 3. Well now I know why. You cannot run in the kitchen at 4:30 and just throw a delicious meal together and be ready to eat it at 5. Our parents from that generation did not rush their meals. Preparing meals was simply part of my mom's day. Well I think I finally get it, plan ahead and prioritize my time.

I'm not much of a shopper these days but for some reason I am on a quest to find the perfect canisters. I've had the same set for 26 years. So once again I shopped my day away. I didn't plan my meal this morning nor did I have everything I needed to make it. So at 4:00 I was rushing around at the grocery store and then that left me rushing in the kitchen to throw dinner together. Julia would have been appalled! I tried to keep it simple by making just the burgers from her cookbook. I then made a baked potato and topped it with butter, sour cream and sea salt and pepper. The burgers were a meal in itself, very juicy. I added an egg, seasonings, and then rolled the patties in flour before searing. They were then served ladened with a hot wine syrup. Michael and I both indulged in some sugar cookies for dessert.

Preparing dinner tonight was a disaster. I thought I could make an old school dinner with new age ease. I was wrong! Julia Child's recipes are a work of art. She has each one down to a fine science. In the future I won't take shortcuts. A portion of my day needs to be set aside for preparing dinner. This is why I feared trying to do 365 days. Getting these 100 days in will be difficult for me because I am not a planner and I have never compartmentalized my time. I'm wondering if Julia's cookbook "Mastering The Art Of French Cooking" is actually about teaching the reader how to form good habits and become a more successful person. She has a tough nut to crack with me. Good Luck Julia!

Facts:
Day 12 of 100 (I may have to do the full 365 days in order to learn what Julia is teaching me)

Pounds Lost: Ugh! 3 (I just keep battling back and forth with 4lbs)
Pounds Gained: 1 (... and I need to lose 20)
Happiness Level: 20% (I blew it today)
Missing My Kids 100% (no shopping will ever fill the void. I should stick to cooking)
Cooking Enjoyment: 10% (Do Not Rush Julia!!!)
Eating Enjoyment: 100% (This would be a comfort burger)
Meal Presentation: 100% (For a burger it looked mighty beautiful)

Day 11: Above and Beyond Dessert

Menu:

Greek Salad ME

Hard European Bread w/Tzatziki ME

Filets de Poisson Bercy aux Champignons JC
(Fish Filets Poached in White Wine w/mushrooms)

Gratin de Pommes de Terre Provencal JC
(Scalloped Potatoes w/Onions, Tomatoes, Anchovies, Herbs and Garlic)

Sauteed Asparagus ME

Galettes Sabl'ees JC
(Sugar Cookies)

After exerting myself yesterday with dueling Julia recipes I decided that today I would take a break. Most of her recipes usually serves six. So every evening there is always some left. I started looking through the Julia Child cookbook this morning and decided I would make sugar cookies. It was an easy recipe that we could have for the next several days. The more I perused the book the more I realized I really wasn't that overwhelmed and that I could try just one more recipe. A fish filet in wine sauce sounds easy enough...doesn't it?

I made the cookie dough earlier in the day since it has to refrigerate for several hours. As soon as Michael called (on his hands free cell) and said he was on his way home I started the fish sauce. The sauce was made with wine, butter, heavy cream and flour and then I added in the mushrooms and minced shallots that I had sauteed. I then poached the fish filets which I had never done before. I just knew they were going to turn out dry and flaky and I bought catfish steaks of all things. But I kept on with it. After the fish seemed poached I placed it on a broiler pan and poured the heavy cream wine sauce over it and then added shredded swiss cheese and lemon juice with seasonings. I broiled this for about 3 minutes.

I had a bit of tzatziki and plenty of salad ingredients left for another salad like we had on Sunday with our Greek meal. There was still some of the scalloped potatoes from yesterday left. I also had some fresh asparagus in the refrigerator that needed to be used soon. While the fish was poaching I sauteed the asparagus and seasoned it and made up salads and prepped our bread plates. When Michael walked in he poured us a glass of red wine while I was getting pictures of everything and then we sat down to eat.

You would have never guessed that was catfish. I asked Michael what kind of fish he thought he was eating and he said swordfish. It was wonderful. It tasted like the "catch of the day" at a fine seafood restaurant. We kept looking at each other and widening our eyes with each mouthful. We savoured every bite saying wow, and that is so good and I can't believe this is catfish steaks. We were once again impressed with "The Julia".

The sugar cookie dough is made and still chilling in the fridge waiting for the house to cool when the sun goes down. I opened all the windows even though it is warmer today than it has been for most of the summer. Once a good breeze gets going through the house I will preheat the oven. I'm anxious to roll out the dough with my new glass rolling pin that I bought a few months back. It has a cork at one end and you fill it with very cold water and as you are rolling chilled dough it keeps it from getting too warm and soft. Even though I planned just a dessert for today it just goes to show you that if you are willing to go above and beyond with her recipes, Julia will get you through yet another arduous meal. After we indulge ourselves I will be sure to let you know how the cookies turned out.

Facts:
Day11 of 100 (Michael would love for me to do 365 but I just can't)

Pounds Lost: 3 in 11 days (It was 4 lbs. Guess I better exercise this evening)
Pounds Gained: 1 in total
Happiness Level: 70%
Missing My Kids: 100% ( I chatted with Rebecca last night. She has no clue she is still my baby)
Cooking Enjoyment: 100% (I paced myself today. Much smarter.)
Eating Enjoyment: 100% (We need some new yummy noises we make so many)
Meal Presentation: 90% (A creamed wine sauce dripping over anything looks delectable)

Day 10: The Julia Smack Down

Menu:

Tournedos Saut'es Aux Champignons JC

(Filet Steaks w/Mushroom and Medeira Sauce)

Gratin de Pommes de Terre Provencal JC

(Scalloped Potatoes w/onions, Tomoatoes, Anchovies, Herbs and Garlic

Green Beans ME

Toast w/currant jelly JC

Julia recommends in her cookbook that you NOT cook more than one of her recipes at a time. Well that is for good reason it turns out. I tried to do the Potatoes and Ribeye all at the same time so they would finish up and be ready to serve at dinnertime. It is very important to focus on one of her dishes at at time. I did have to keep going back and checking the recipes and I did get quite flustered trying to keep up with everything saut'eei-ing and searing and rapidly boiling and baking. I felt like I was in fast forward motion. Julia was definitely giving me a smackdown when Michael walked in home from work.

However, the ribeye was out of this world. Michael and I both just kept saying wow while we were eating. the wine sauce simmered with small portabella mushrooms were poured over the steak making the flavor incredible. I have never seared a steak before and done the Julia Child way is perfection. The potatoes were of a very Mediterranean flavor. I enjoyed them but then I love thyme and oregano.

The toast was also part of the steak recipe. The recipe called for it to be served with the filet. I added the currant jelly that was leftover from the tart I had made. The green beans were saut'eed in bacon grease and then I added seasonings. It actually went well with the dinner. We drank port wine as we ate our dinner and that helped to ease the "Julia Smackdown" I got today. Lesson learned...when Julia says not to do something then don't do it.

Facts

Day 10 of 100 (365 Days???? Are you kidding me!)

Pounds Lost: 4 lbs (got those two lbs. off from exercising and not eating much until dinner today)

Pounds Gained: 0 (As long as I don't gain and keep gaining I'll keep adding the butter)

Happiness Level: 100% (I completed two Julia recipes...HELLO!!! Who does that?)

Missing My Kids: 50% (I bought some things for Joey today so it made me happy)

Cooking Enjoyment: 10% (She kicked my arsre today)

Eating Enjoyment: 100% (It was Divine)

Meal Presentation: 50% (I thought it looked pretty fancy. Keep in mind we are real anxious to eat at picture time.)

Day 9: Honey Wine Is Making Me Feel Fine

Menu:
Salmon Souffle JC
Broccoli ME
Au Gratin Potatoes JC
Salmon Filet JC
Honey Wine

The salmon souffle was fairly easy to make. Hand beating the egg whites until they form peaks was not so easy. This would be a great main dish to start with if you wanted to try French cooking. Not a lot of effort for a Julia recipe but you still get the superb flavor. The recipe only called for a portion of the salmon so I served the rest with a splash of lime and dash of ground ginger.

The broccoli was just a simple recipe with a bit of seasonings. And then we had the rest of the potatoes with this meal that I made late Saturday evening. I served honey wine with our dinner tonight. If you haven't tried that yet and love sweeter wines then you gotta try this. It is my new favorite. All in all the meal was good. Tomorrow I will be more well rested and will tackle a more arduous meal. I still have two slices of that tart left. If you ever want to impress company and your thinking you will make a cheesecake...don't. Make a pear tart instead. It is delectable. That cajun dancing and Greek cooking over the weekend wore me out. So let me get a good night's rest and I'll be up and ready tomorrow to bring on the butter!

Facts
Day 9 (still just doing 100 days, 365 would make me too tired to dance on the weekends)

Pounds Lost: It was 4 but now it is 2 (I was very bad over the weekend too much dessert and wine, it was good though)
Pounds Gained: 2
Happiness Level: 100% (thanks for letting me vent Michael)
Missing My Kids: 100%
Cooking Enjoyment: 100% (quicker and easier...loved it!)
Eating Enjoyment: 100% (everything had lots of cheese and butter of course we enjoyed it!)
Meal Presentation: 40% (I just put it on the plate and we ate it tonight...I'm tired)

Day 8: Julia Child Greek Style

Menu:
Greek Salad ME
Crusty European Bread (Schnucks Grocery Store)
Tzatziki ME
Fried Cheese ME
Gyros w/Greek Seasoned Pork Chops ME
Au Gratin Potatoes w/Polska Kielbasa JC
Raspberry/Strawberry Lemonade Me & JC
Pear Custard in a Sugar Cookie Pie Crust (The Pear Tart) JC

I spent most of the day in the kitchen preparing this meal. I served it in courses because the fried cheese has to be fried when ready to serve. The salad was a big hit. I've been making this salad for several years now and it is the best way to compliment a Greek meal. Michael and I were stationed in Crete, Greece so the foods I learned to cook have a more country flair rather than the more traditional Greek foods in the mainlands.

Our friends were very impressed with the meal. They absolutely loved the tzatziki because most that you buy is very watery due to the cucumbers not being properly drained. The bread was an European type and I sliced it thick to make it great for dipping. Once we ate the salad, bread and dip I got the olive oil heated and fried the cheese. This has to be done at a certain temperature for just the right amount of time. Otherwise you end up with a big melted cheese mess in the oil. Once it was finished I did the lemon and salt and served them. This was a big hit. I haven't met anyone that doesn't appreciate fried cheese.

We were now ready for the main dish. I got the gyros made with the pork, more tzatziki and saut'eed onions and tomatoes. The Julia Child potatoes and kielbasa were our side dish. Julia yet again got me through another delicious recipe. I've never had au gratin potatoes like that before...I still love the ones you make mom with the Velveeta. But you got stiff competition with this swiss cheese and heavy whipping cream version.

The lemonade is the most refreshing summer drink. I did make an raspberry syrup from the Julia Child cookbook to add to the lemonade. It gave it a nice deep reddish pink color. We enjoyed our friends baby for a while. She is just a pleasure to be around. A very sweet little girl. Then we had some honey wine and Schlafly beer. Then came the dessert. All four of us could not contain ourselves. It was a true European type dessert.

And so while I didn't get a full menu of Julia in today, I think she would completely understand. She'd maybe even admire my efforts of taking on another European cuisine that is just as time consuming and requires a lot of TLC to complete. Yep, I think today Julia would be proud! I'm off to get some rest now.

Too busy for pics. Didn't even think about the camera today.

Facts:
Day 8 of 100 (So not entertaining the thought of 365 days of this)

Pounds Lost: Still 4 lbs.
Pounds Gained: 0
Happiness Level: 100% (was great visiting with friends...that always makes me happy)
Missing My Kids: 100% (especially after seeing sweet little Kaveri)
Cooking Enjoyment: 100% (I love making Greek food a lot of work though but fun)
Eating Enjoymentt: 100% (It was excellent)
Meal Presentation: 100%

Day 7 Julia On The Back Burner

Menu

Beouf Bourgignon JC (Had to have leftover beef stew YAY)
Strawberry Lemonade ME

Michael and I were both busy on this Saturday. We were to go to our local Goshen Open Air Market but we had a leaky pipe and that kept Michael at home. So while he was playing plumber and fixing my pipes I had to go to market alone. Then we had to take care of some errands in the next county and by the time we got home it was getting into the late afternoon. We hit the nature trail with Dixie and then I wanted to take an half hour nap. Michael fell asleep too and we slept for 2 and half hours. OH MY! I had a potato dish to make. YIKES!

I also had to get ready to go to the winery to meet a dear friend I hadn't seen in years. It was an easy decision. Put Julia on the back burner meet my friend at the Villa Maria Winery and listen to her husband's band. He plays with Zydeco Crawdaddys. We had a great time and I thoroughly enjoyed dancing to the cajun music they play. The wine was fantastic too.

The Gratin de Pommes de Terre et Saucisson (potatoes with Polish sausage) is now in the oven at 11:00 p.m. and it smells wonderful. We will have it with dinner tomorrow. Our friends from India are coming over tomorrow and I think this potato dish will be a nice compliment to the gyros, fried cheese and tzaziki that I am making for the Greek meal. This Julia Child potato dish recipe is made and in the oven by midnight which officially counts for cooking a Julia recipe. I have the custard with pears frozen to serve for dessert tomorrow as well. This will be the first time I have served my French cuisine to someone other than Michael. I can't wait for their feedback.

Well I really cut a rug at that cajun shindig. I'm tired and going to get the potatoes out of the oven and then I am off to bed.

Facts:
Day 7 of 100 (365 days are a lot when you figure Saturdays are included)

Pounds Lost: Still 4lbs
Pounds Gained: 0 (thank goodness for the dancing exercise I got this evening)
Happiness Level: 100%
Missing My Kids: 20%
Cooking Enjoyment: 100% (this recipe was easy and fun and Michael helped)
Eating Enjoyment: 100% on the Beef Stew (don't know about the potatoes yet)
Meal Presentation: 100% (It's still in the casserole dish but looks real nice)

Day 6: Mastering The Tart

Menu:
Rosemary Butter Breadsticks (No soup or salad)
Beouf Bourguignon (Beef Stew)
Tarte Aux Poires A La Bourdaloue (Pear and Almond with a Custard filling Tart)
Homemade Strawberry Lemonade

Since the Beouf Bourguignon was made last night I figured I could lull around the house a bit. I was wrong. I started the tart at 2:00 this afternoon. Again, just like yesterday I should have started earlier. It took until 5:00 and 3 sinks full of dishes to make this pear tart. First I had to get the pears peeled and ready to simmer in the wine sauce. Once that was complete the sugar cookie type tart crust had to be made. Then while the pears were draining I made the custard. What a lot of work. Half way through I thought I wrecked it because it was looking pretty bad. I contemplated just throwing it away because I didn't know what I was doing.

This tart was actually 3 different recipes. I had to keep flipping through the cookbook to make it. But, I put some faith in Julia because she hasn't steered me wrong yet. I stuck with it and I ended up with perfection! The pear tart was AMAZING!!! Michael said it was the best dessert he has ever had in his life. He then followed it with this is the best meal I have ever had. While Michael is a polite and mannerly man he has over the past 25 years of our marriage been conservative with the compliments. Julia Child has changed all that. Michael just can't praise my cooking enough.

By letting the stew sit covered in the fridge all night the juices really soaked into the meat. If you choose to make just one Julia Child recipe let it be her version of beef stew. It is so rich in flavor and will be by far the best beef stew you have ever eaten. The tart on the other hand was more work than the ratatouille. But worth every minute of it. I'm not sure if I will make another custard type dessert but after eating this one this evening I can see where one would crave something like that. And then be very tempted to make it again.

Facts
Day 6 of 100 (that tart should count as two days and 365 is still too much for me to handle)

Pounds Lost: Still 4 lbs.
Pounds Gained: 0
Happiness Level: 100 %
Missing My Kids: 100% (But just dont' have much time to think about it)
Cooking Enjoyment: 90% (I got into the wine while I was making the pear syrup and it made me really enjoy making the tart a whole lot more)
Eating Enjoyment: 100% (I finally had to put the quietus on Michael he went back for seconds so much)
Meal Presentation: 50% (Beef stew just keeps looking like beef stew no matter how you put it on the table)

Day 5: My Happiness Is Filling The Void

Menu:

Leftovers JC (But for good reason let me explain)

Garden Salad ME

Today I spent the day shopping for an enameled cast iron dutch oven. I didn't want to spend 60

or more dollars on one so I shopped around until I found a really nice one that was seen elsewhere for too much but I got it for 30 dollars. I love when I do that. I also picked up a garlic press and a new smaller sieve. I punched my hand through mine when I made the peach cardinal. it was 25 years old and had seen better days anyway.

At 4:30 I got home and started making dinner. I thought after all the prep work the whole stew baked for 8 minutes. I was wrong I should have been home at noon to start this dish. Boeuf Bourguignon is not a quick and easy recipe it is a labor of love dish. I just didn't realize it would take about 6 hours to make. That's a lot of loving. And so, tonight we had the rest of the Roti de Porc aux Choux that I made on day 3 and the chilled watermelon and raspberry soup with a fresh garden salad and a beer. It was good but after inhaling the aroma of the beef simmering in the broth, wine and herbs it made us turn our noses up at pork.

I miss my kids tremendously and wish they were still at home most days. But my son found out he made staff sergeant today and my daughter sent me an email reassuring me that her family is doing well. There are days when I don't understand why we spend all these years preparing a protective nest as we raise and get to know our children. We provide for them, care for them and envelope them deep in our hearts just so they can one day spread their wings and fly.

Being an empty nester is an accomplishment of sorts but it broke my heart to see them fly away. As they envelope themselves into their own lives I am finding that I can move on with my life. They will come and visit and they will give us the greatest gift of all...grandchilden. Now that I am convinced that they are fine and have become adults and I can now grab the hand (cookbook) of Julia Child and move on with the next phase of my life. Brandon and Rebecca keep soaring...because we couldn't more proud.

The Beouf Bourguignon will be in the oven until 9:45 tonight. I have saut'eed mushrooms and new potatoes waiting to be added. Michael and I are going to walk to the store to buy some tiny onions that I just became aware belongs in the finished stew as well. I added some photos of the Beef Bourguignon in the prep stages, one of me becoming a french cook. That's the new dutch oven in the other photo.

Facts:

Day 5 of 100 (365 days is still more than I can handle)

Pounds Lost: 4 in total (but I probably put them back on with that box of junior mints)

Pounds Gained: 0

Happiness Level: 100%

Missing My Kids: Alot% (but they are happy so I need to let go)

Cooking Enjoyment: It was 100% when I was chopping the salt pork then I saw it had to bake for hours so it went down to 30%

Eating Enjoyment: I'll get back with you tomorrow on that one

Meal Presentation: ditto

Tomorrow I will take on the daunting task of making Tarte Aux Poires A' La Bjourdaloue (pear and almond tart) since I get the day off from making a JC meal.

Day 4: My Void Is Filled

Menu:
Ratatouille (eggplant dish) JC
Foie De Veau (baby beef liver) JC
Pur'ee de Pommes de Terre a l'ail (Garlic Mashed Potatoes) JC
T'as la Peche (peach cobbler) ME


Okay, so the ratatouille kicked my butt. All that chopping and cooking each of the 5 vegetables separately in butter and olive oil that you have to keep really hot but keep from burning. I dumped the butter and oil 3 different times before I got it just right. I didn't use canned tomatoes, I stewed my own. I know a lot about tomatoes now. I can peel them, remove the seeds and pulp it. It tasted very good for being cooked mixed vegetable chunks. Would I make it again? Probably not. It is a lot of work and difficult to get the vegetable to turn out just so. Tasted great though.

We didn't have bread with this meal because I had planned to bake a loaf of bread. And, that just didn't pan out with the time consuming veggie dish. I'll have to bake it tomorrow when I can stand it.

The liver was by far the best liver Michael and I have ever eaten. Julia's recipe gave the liver a whole different flavor. The things Julia can do with butter. I also made her famous mashed potatoes. No one alters her mashed potato recipe because it is perfection! The dinner was served with chambourcin wine. Michael like it all so much that he offered to do the dishes by himself tonight. I agreed because I am tired from the ratatouille butt kicking. Actually, I don't think Michael is out to give me a break. I think he is really wanting to get the dinner dishes cleared so we can serve up that peach cobbler.

Off to go power walk and then kick back and relax the rest of the evening. I'm going to be well rested so when I get up in the morning I can tell Julia to bring it on!

Facts:

Day4 of 100 (after today I wouldn't even entertain the thought of doing this for 365 days)

Pounds Lost: 3
Pounds Gained: 0
Happiness Level: 50%
Cooking Enjoyment: 70% (got owned by Julia today)
Eating Enjoyment: 100%
Meal Presentation: 80% (liver just aint pretty)

Day Three: Too Busy For A Void

I relaxed on my front patio with my cookbook this morning in an Adirondack chair . I needed to pull my menu together for the day. I had a cup of coffee and my dog at my side. The neighbors are busy with back to school and I miss being a part of that whole flocking to the box stores for discounted school supplies. I started missing my kids so I got up and got busy pulling a few weeds as my coffee went to the wayside and Dixie ended up in my Adirondack chair. I got all the weeds up, came inside and went over what I already had in my kitchen and started searching through the recipes. I knew a pork recipe would be on the menu but I needed to come up with the rest of the meal. My goal for this meal was to use up stuff I already had so I wouldn't have to make a trip to the store. I pulled strawberries, watermelon, yogurt, peach cardinal, raspberry sauce, potatoes, and so on until I had enough to come up with this menu:

Day Three: Too Busy For A Void

Menu:

Watermelon/Strawberry Vischssoise (chilled soup from recipe online)
French Baguette Bread
Roast Pork w/Carrots, Onions and Cabbage JC
Boiled And Saut'eed Potatoes JC
Peach/Raspberry Thick Shake JC and Me (I used the Peach Cardinal for the shakes)

Julia Child definitely had a gift for cooking. This roast recipe gave pork a whole different flavor. I marinaded it in salt water then baked it for one hour with the carrots, onions and cabbage. Once it was cooked I added the potatoes that I had saut'eed in bacon fat. I started preparing for this meal at noon. I made the chilled soup and got the pork roast in the oven. Michael loved the potatoes and couldn't believe the taste of the pork. We are suppose to be eating just the said serving mentioned on the recipe. If it serves six then we portion out what would be a serving and eat just that. Tonight with the shake being part of our meal we got up from the table a little too slow and a little too full.

The shake was made with the peach cardinal and raspberry sauce. I added ice cream and then blended it all. Then topped it off with whipped cream, chopped pecans and a cherry. The french baguette was very crusty so I broke it up onto a bread plate and then drizzled some of the pork broth over it. Tonight I had the food on the table a bit earlier and the presentation was much more appealing. Michael made yum noises throughout the meal and was very impressed. Now I can see why Paul absolutely adored Julia. Michael looks at me from time to time with the most adoring eyes now. Or wait, maybe that's just hunger for dinner in his eyes. Anyway, we got the dishes washed and we are heading out the door to walk off some of that dinner.

Facts:

Day 3 of 100 (365 days still seems to lofty for me to attain even though I'm getting good at it)

Pounds Lost: 2 lbs in 3 days
Pounds Gained: 0
Happiness Level: 60%
Missing My Kids: 80%
Cooking Enjoyment: 100%
Eating Enjoyment: 100% (even had ambience)
Meal Presentation: 60%

Day Two: What Void?

Day Two: What Void?

Menu:
Red Leaf Lettuce Salad (w/raspberry vinaigrette dressing)
French Baguette (from Schnucks)
Potage Parmentier (potato soup left over from last evening) JC
Gratin Aux Fruits De Mer (Creamed Salmon) JC
Praline Sweet Potatoes
Peches Cardinal (served with ice cream) JC

I felt completely fulfilled today just being in the kitchen preparing another french dinner. I started at one o'clock this afternoon. I got the salmon broiling and the peaches boiling. Before I knew it I had the mushrooms saut'eed and was folding them into the cream sauce with the salmon. The house was a little quiet so I popped Carol King into the CD player and my mind stopped wandering off to my kids and I focused on making another Julia Child inspired dinner.

By 4:00 I realized I needed more sugar and some raspberries. So I headed to the grocery store and went ahead and picked up the ingredients for tomorrow's dinner as well. As I was checking out a terrible storm had brewed. I loaded the car in the pouring rain wondering if all this is worth it. I was soaked! I got home a little after 4:30 just in time for Michael's daily call on his way home from work. He needed to focus on driving in the storm and I still needed to force the raspberries through the sieve so we just said bye and hung up.

I've spent so much of my life wondering what I am missing out on and what my purpose in life should be. I am starting to think that if you keep real busy with something you love doing then you don't have time to think about a purpose because you are too busy serving a purpose.

Finally, at 6:00 I served our salads, soup and bread with a glass of Chambourcine dry red wine. Michael was pleased to have the potage parmentier again...he loves it! Then I served the Creamed Salmon. Oh my goodness it was yet another wonderful dish from that amazing cookbook. That lady can do things with salmon that I never dreamed. The sweet potatoes were my own recipe but complimented the salmon dish nicely. Just when Michael thought eating for pleasure could get no better, I served the compote of peaches with the raspberry pur'ee and just when things are tasting sweet I like to make it sweeterby adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream. That is just what I like to do. Yeah, I think I am going to absolutely love this new hobby of mine. Kids what kids? I can't wait to get started on the pork dinner tomorrow. This is fun! And, I get no complaints from Michael whatsoever. In fact he is thinking about making his own wine to go with our dinners.

Facts:

Day 2 of 100 (365 days is still too long for me to reach a goal)

Pounds Lost: 1
Pouunds Gained: 0
Happiness Level: 50%
Missing My Kids: 90%
Cooking Enjoyment: 100%
Eating Enjoyment: 90% (still need more ambience)
Meal Presentation: 30% (too anxious to eat it didn't have time to think to make it pretty)

I got up this morning got online and ordered Vol. 1 and 2 of "Mastering The Art Of French Cooking". The library will be wanting their copy back soon and I do plan to cook from Julia's book for 100 days. I'm so jazzed to get started on today's dinner menu. I'm planning to make Gratin Aux Fruits De Mer which is Creamed Salmon. We will have the rest of the potato soup and I haven't picked a veggie yet. I love all the cream, wine and butter!

Day One: Filling The Void

Menu:
Garden Salad w/Raspberry Vinaigrette (my recipe)
Homemade Honey Oatmeal Bread (Amish made from Goshen Open Air Market)
Potage Parmentier (Potato Soup) JC
Fondue De Poulet A La Creme (Chicken Breasts in a Lemon Cream Sauce w/Asparagus) JC

On a whim I dragged my husband Michael to go see Julie and Julia with me last night. I found the movie to be so inspiring that I am going to attempt to cook away the void left in my heart from my two kids moving out to join the Air Force. And so every day I am going to pick at least two recipes from Julia Child's cookbook and see if I too can cook my way to happiness. Today being my first attempt I made the potato soup and a chicken recipe. AMAZING!!! I've made a few Martha recipes in the past and wasn't all that impressed. She is too beige and blue and blah for me. But I had never thought about Julia. She seemed antiquated so why even open the book, right? Wrong,

Well, this evening while I was cooking the soup Michael kept saying wow that smells so good. Then we had our salad and bread with a glass of wine. As we were waiting for the chicken breasts to finish simmering. We ate the soup and Michael felt it was much better than Bread Co. Then we had the chicken. It melted in our mouths. I don't know what Julia does differently but let me just say with just this one meal and two recipes and I am deeply impressed. I had gotten so bored with cooking that I dreaded going into my kitchen and would just prefer to eat out.

Yesterday I got up with intentions of starting my day today with following this life altering food regimen that included nothing but fish, chicken, preferably raw vegetables and fruit. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be following Julia's cookbook instead. Yeah I think me and Julia are going to get along just fine. I'm pretty sure I will keep my weight down with this new way of eating because Julia keeps one hopping in the kitchen. She lived to be 90 something so she must have been doing something right. Oh, and I do still miss my kids but I can't think about that right now because I am planning the menu for dinner tomorrow.

Facts:
Day 1 of 100 (365 days is too long for me to stick with something)

Pounds Lost: 0
Pounds Gained: 0
Happiness Level: 40%
Missing My Kids: 100%
Cooking Enjoyment: 100%
Eating Enjoyment: 90% (Need to work on ambience food was way too good for that setting)
Meal Presentation: 30%