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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Day 100: Woo Hoo!




Menu:


Marinated Pork Loin JC
BraisedCabbage JC
Potatoes, Onions and Carrots in a Wine Sauce JC

Custard w/ Praline JC

Pio Cesare Wine
I ended my project today by cooking Julia Child recipes all day long. It was worth every minute spent preparing it. The pork was so melt in your mouth tender. The vegetables were really flavorful with the wine sauce blending them together. I braised the cabbage in wine and then added the vegetables and cabbage to the pork and then baked it all for an hour and a half. I had made the custard praline a few days ago but it turned out loose and a bit liquidy. It tasted really good though. I made it again today and it turned out perfect! This meal was a perfect 10 and a great way to end my project.
When I first started this project I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It is a very expensive and time consuming project. Each and every recipe required a pan purchase or a different type of liquor or wine. I have an abudance of pans and wines and flavorings. One pan that I needed for the Beef Burgundy cost almost 100 dollars. But Julia recommends the porcelain clad cast iron type of flameproof dish. It is best to use that type because she takes you from the stovetop to the oven in the same pan in several of her recipes. It takes some getting used to but I've never been a fan of Teflon so I adapted pretty quickly. I have several copper molds, tart pans and I have doubled the amount of cooking utensils. It was all worth it in the end because Michael and I experienced some of the best meals of our lives. Had it not been for Michael pitching and doing dishes most nights, the project would have went to the wayside real fast. At least three sinkfuls of dishes per meal on most nights. Thank you for helping and supporting me...even though I know you'd say the food was thank you enough. Glad you enjoyed it, baby! Thank you for my new floor. I love it!
After doing this project I have learned that I absolutely am not a person that enjoys doing things by instruction. I've never cooked with recipes, In the 25 years I have been cooking for my family, I've always just thrown meals together doing what feels right when I add my ingredients. Julia is very scientific while I prefer to cook with passion and with a more artistic approach. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Julia Child, her recipes are definitely a work of art...her art. No matter how hard I try to follow her instructions I just can't seem to duplicate her masterpieces. I've learned a lot from her cookbooks and enjoyed her book, "My Life In France" I've mostly learned that I'm no Julia Child. She's like a renoir painting, a one of a kind.
Facts:
Day 100 of 100 (I'm amazed that I completed this, utterly amazed.)
100% Amazed!
God bless to all who have hung in there with me, especially you my dear Michael. You always make me feel like the sun, and the moon and the stars!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Day 99: Sirloin Steaks


Menu:

Saut'e de Boeuf a la Bourguignonne JC
(Beef Saut'e w/Red Wine, Mushrooms, Bacon and Onions)

Sweet Corn ME

Garden Salad ME

Michael intended to pick up Ribeye steaks last evening at the grocery store. He bought sirloin steaks instead. We both prefer ribeye and after tonight's dinner, it lamented the fact that we really do prefer ribeye. I used the Saut'e method as directed in Julia's recipe. The mushrooms and onions were superb the steak left us a little blah. It's worth the extra to get the ribeye.

All in all it was a good meal with the sweet corn and salad as side dishes. Tomorrow, I will go out with a bang. Mostly to celebrate the fact I have actually completed something in my life. I never complete anything. Ever.

Facts:
Day 99 of 100 (One more to go and I'm outta here.)

Pounds Lost: 8 lbs (I'm going easy on the Julia food...she's fattening.)
Pounds Gained: 0 lbs.
Happiness Level: (I got my health, my family and much laughter, what more could you want?)
Missing My Kids: 100% (Love you both lots and lots.)
Cooking Enjoyment: 100%
Eating Enjoyment: 100% (Loved the meal but bring on the ribeye.)
Meal Presentation:100% (If nothing else I can now photograph food like no other.)

Day 98: Creme Plombieres Pralinee

Menu:

Creme Plombieres Pralinee JC

This was a very easy custard recipe. I couldn't figure out what she meant by macaroons so I used the other option, almonds. I had Michael searching every where for macaroons but all he came up with... the cookies. He tried to convince me that macadamia nuts would work but I just used the second choice of almonds.

This recipe called for rum. The whole time I was carmelizing the almonds I kept thinking how great this dessert would be with a Thanksgiving dinner or any dinner that you are serving sweet potatoes with it. I would definitely make this again. It's a dessert that everyone would like because it is bland enough to suit any taste yet the almonds and rum give it enough of a unique flavor to make you want to keep eating and eating it. Yummy.

Facts: Day 98 of 100 (2 more to go!)

Pounds Lost: 8 lbs
Pounds Gained: 0
Happiness Level: 100%
Missing My Kids: 100%
Cooking Enjoyment: 100% (One of the easier recipes)
Eating Enjoyment: 100% (Very good)
Meal Presentation: 100% (Photo coming soon)

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Day 97: Orange Bavarian Cream





Menu:

Orange Bavarian Cream JC

I'm not sure that I made this properly. I think I messed up the thickening process. I had to let it chill for a few hours. I tasted it and I'm pretty sure the consistency is not what it should be. It has a great flavor though. I rubbed down two oranges with sugar cubes then let the peel and sugar sit with gelatin poured over it. I beat the yolks and prepared the rest while the gelatin was soaking up the sugar and oranges. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to unmold it after chilling.

Day 97 of 100

Facts:
My morning is a bit chaotic.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Day 96: Cabbage Soup



Menu:

Soupe Aux Choux-Garbure JC
(Cabbage Soup)

Cornbread ME

French Rose Wine

Happy New Year Everyone! Michael and I brought in the new year with a nice steaming hot bowl of cabbage soup. My mom always had cabbage on New Year's Day to bring good fortune to the family. I believe it is an Irish tradition. This year I was smart in buying my head of cabbage a few days beforehand. Normally, if you wait till the last minute, nary a head is to be found.

I used the online Julia recipe rather than the Volume I recipe. It is closer to the recipe my mom made...actually now that I think about, she didn't really use a recipe. Let's just say it is closer to what my mom made. I made cornbread and served the cabbage soup with plenty of juices so that the cornbread could be broken up and soak the juices. Mmmmm, mmmmm. Delicious!

Facts: Day 96 of 100 (I just may complete this blog, I never complete anything.)

Pounds Lost: I'm losing weight steadily now. The potatoes just might put some right back on though.
Pounds Gained: Prolly a few with those potatoes I ate...worth it though.
Happiness Level: 100%
It's all good, even the pic turned out.