Chef Du Jour

Ninth Anniversary of my 21st Birthday!

2008-09-30T21:32:00.004-05:00

In just 1hour I will celebrate the 9th anniversary of my 21st birthday. Yes, I'm turning 30! Some think this age to be the beginning of the end, but for me it's the just the beginning. I am so excited to see what this decade holds. My twenties brought some amazing life lessons and opportunities, but the best is yet to come. My dreams are big and God hasn't failed me yet....so 30 here I am.

NOSHing... it's what I'm doing these days

2008-09-18T16:37:00.008-05:00

Some people have said they don't know what's going on in my life if I don't blog... so Sandra, this one's for you!

I spent a year working at the Angus Barn and learned a lot... like my heart really is in the kitchen. One might think I'd have figured this out after going to culinary school over two years ago. But, as always the Lord was requiring a little time, faith and patience to get me to where I needed to be. So, believing once again that He said "LEAP!" I did and decided to quit my job (on a Monday) at the Barn to see what God had in store for the future . On Tuesday I found an add on Craig's List for a job at NOSH. Just in case you're not familiar with the term...

NOSH- (nsh) v. : to eat a snack or light meal; Informal n. : A snack or light meal.

nosh·ing, nosh·es, noshed – intr. v : To eat a snack or light meal: noshed on a bagel between classes. nosher n. : one who noshes

nosher n. : one who noshes

Origin: Yiddish nash, from nashn, to eat sweets, nibble on,
Middle High German naschen, to nibble, and from Old High German hnascn

Nosh Brit, Austral & NZ slang

...I called to set up an interview and on Thursday I had a new job at NOSH Food in Durham, NC http://www.noshfood.com/

I am back to working the hours of the land of the living, 8-4pm or until the special is made. I help get catering orders together in the morning, "wo-man" the take out orders and help keep the lunch rush running smoothly, and then I hit the kitchen around 2pm to find something creative and yummy to make for the nightly dinner special. So far, hands down the best job I've ever had. I really enjoy my boss, I get to exercise that side of me that needs to organize and then I get to play and create eclectic foodstuffs.

On Tuesday nights and every other Thursday you can find me in my tiny apartment kitchen teaching cooking classes to some novices and food lovers alike. We discuss a topic pertaining to some aspect of cooking and we put those skills to use and make dinner together. All in all I've found my way back to my two passions in life... food and people.

Life is Not for the Faint of Heart

2008-04-16T23:09:00.004-05:00

My title used to be "minister" and some days I actually got to do that. But these days it's not my title but I get to do it on a daily basis. Sometimes just listening is more powerful than any words we have to say. When we listen we get to a chance to see into someone's heart, to see who they are and minister to their soul.

A friend recently told me that my compassion gifting made me a great listener because she knew I really cared. A nice compliment, but it really made me think. All those things that God allows into our lives, the challenges, the ups, the downs, and the in betweens are what help us learn to love others. You can love the unlovely when you hear how their heart is breaking. Patience isn't as hard when you know that same hurt. Words don't slice so deeply when we've seen their wounds too. What I've seen myself and working in the midst of hurting people is that life is not for the faint of heart. So many turn to things, to people, and to empty rituals but in the end without love, without compassion and without someone who cares life is just plain hard.

Don't forget to listen quietly you just may get to hear someone's heart.

Don't Grow Up

2008-04-02T23:27:00.002-05:00

It's great to know that we don't ever have to grow up all the way. Today as we went into hour 2 of our staff meeting the GM and owner decided it was time to engage the remote control fart machine as people walked by. Needless to say, it's still as funny now as it was in third grade.

Where my sis works they practice "relaxaflatluentology." A stress relieving technique where one makes fart noises with their mouths. This is only for the really mature.

New Shoes

2008-03-04T02:23:00.002-05:00

Well, I got my "one shoe" at work. I am unofficially officially in management training for the Pavilion. The thing I didn't count on with this shoe is that it would take so much breaking in. But I guess the shoes that become our favorites initially gave us blisters.

I'm in the blister stage, ie. limbo. Not quite off the restaurant floor and not entirely on the Pavilion floor. I must remember not to despise my small/humble beginnings. At the appointed time it will be great. In the meantime I just have to remember to smile....

"One Shoe Can Change Your Life" - Cinderella

2008-01-18T13:31:00.000-05:00

After a brief hiatus from the blogging world due to the crazy demands of the restaurant world during holiday season... I'm back.

HOPE is my word of declaration and belief for 2008! Though I'm glad to be back in Raleigh-Durham, I never expected to encounter the challenges that came with moving back home in 2007. But I am home and I have found a new love for this area that can only come from the people that make a place home. I have come to appreciate the familiarity of the Triangle while exploring it with eyes of a newcomer. A lot changes in such a short amount of time, and life surely didn't stop here during my absence.

I found a quote from Cinderella that hangs on my wall so I can read it each morning as I get out of bed, "One shoe can change your life." (For those that know me and my love of clothes you can appreciate the doudle entendre here.) But the truth of this simple statement is what really touched my soul, no pun intended. You may wake up a servant girl in the morning and find yourself the belle of the ball that evening. Because what seems sudden to the world is really years of preparation and intended position. In a moment God reveals your true identity and purpose for the world to see. But it is the rags, the years of toil, and the endurance under pressure that develop the diamond that is just beneath the surface.

For those that are still in rags, still enduring, and feeling the pressure continue to HOPE for on the appointed day you will receive the gift of a lifetime.

Speaking from the Heart

2007-10-24T01:49:00.000-05:00

I was telling someone this week how I wished we would all just wear signs that said who/what we really are. I am so tired of trying to figure it out. I believe the best despite the fact that life has proven me wrong so many times. I put on my armor, strength/indifference, after I've been wounded. For a time I'm poised defensively ready for whatever comes at me. I've fought long and hard for most of my life. I'm tired of fighting against what life would try to make us... hard, bitter, and alone. I want to fight to live from my Spirit. To live and be who I was created to be. Allowed to be tender, respected for my honesty, and valued for my loyalty. I want to be able to speak from my heart and be truly seen for the first time ever.

Finding ME

2007-10-16T22:51:00.000-05:00

I've learned a lot in the last few months. Took a bit of a mental time out for a while... a little overwhelmed and somewhat scared. My solution was to go numb. But if we go through life numb we miss out on all that God has for us... what He put us here to do.

"How do YOU do what GOD is calling you to do?" You do it with God, not on your own. You do it as the person he created you to be and not the person you "think" you should be.

I'm two months into counseling and I feel like I'm meeting "me" and hearing my own voice for the first time in 29 years. Who knew? I am an introvert! I love people, but I need my own time/space. Being strong is a survival mode for me and I'm really a tender romantic at heart. I want to believe the best even though my past only shows disappointment. It's okay to be honest, even if others don't want to hear it. I am ENOUGH, not too much. My dream is perfect because it's mine.

Supporting the Arts: Hannah Miller

2007-09-13T23:26:00.000-05:00

Hannah Miller, is a friend of mine from Columbia, SC working on her first album. Got to go to some of her shows when I lived there and she's AMAZING!!! Here's a link to her myspace page www.myspace.com/hannahmiller to check out some of her music. If you fall in love with her voice like I did, she's also pre-selling CDs. Let me know and I'll get you the address to send orders to.

Taste of Freedom

2007-09-04T22:17:00.000-05:00

I have recently decided that investing in being whole is worth it since I have to live with me for the rest of my life.

I have been toying with the idea of seeking out Christian counseling for a while and two sessions in, just as I thought, I wish I'd started long ago. The cost was my biggest deterrent, but now I would give every penny I have because even the taste of freedom is glorious!

Kitchen Oil Fire from Haydar Azzouz

2007-08-27T00:03:00.001-05:00

Okay, so Chef Du Jour is going back to it's roots. Posting food advice, cooking tips, and recipes. This is tip that could save your life and your home. Never put out kitchen fires with water. Having a kitchen grade fire extinguisher on hand is a must. You can get one at Wal-Mart or any hardware store. Happy and safe cooking to you all.

Everything But Sleep

2007-08-05T22:03:00.000-05:00

We recently took a road trip to VA to celebrate the wedding of my best friend Shae, pictured in blue. Lu, Shae, Jess an I have been friends since college, roommates at various times, and often the bridesmaids in other friends' weddings.

We stayed with another college friend and got to see all the exciting highlights of VA Beach. Zach talked up the boardwalk so much that we decided to take a trip at 12:30am to see for ourselves. The beach at night was beautiful as always and the best part was the DQ butterscotch dipped ice cream cone. Somehow lots of sugar and sleep depervaion made it seem like a good idea to start watching "High School Musical" at 2am. A fabulous movie for those brave enough to embrace their inner teenage dork. Shae's reception the following evening provided us the opportunity to have a small college reunion and then it was on to more musical madness with the late night viewing of "Hairspray". Again a must see for those who wish life had outbreaks of choreographed dance routines. Sunday brought a quick look at Regent University's campus and CBN and then off to Zach's church for worship and the Hip Hop dance a friend of his performed in. Lunch at Qudoba and few hours in the car and I was only two hours late for work that night. Somehow, in the mix up of my schedule earlier that week I didn't know my call time. One of those opps moments you can't fix by freaking out, so why bother. All in all a great weekend with everything but sleep.

Finding Your Inner Cook

2007-06-27T14:58:00.000-05:00

I have officially stopped working two jobs, taken another job as a server at the Angus Barn, and working on a timeline to make my cooking school a reality.

So, I'm looking for people that want to find their inner cook and are willing to be my first "official" students. I start my job on Monday and will know my schedule soon. I then want to schedule the first dry run cooking class. So if you're interested in being in the first class, let me know.

Leap of FAITH

2007-05-30T20:44:00.000-05:00

I have now been back in the Triangle for almost six months. I came back here because God gave me a vision to start a cooking school for the culinary faint of heart. No five course meals, fancy french words or even an once of pretension in these classes folks. After helping/teaching many of my friends some cooking basics and spending the year before I went to culinary school on my face before God to figure out what my destiny was I realized that there was a need to restore the gifts of hospitality to my generation.

Since January I have been working for two friends who own their own businesses to learn the "secrets" of business ownership. I know the secrets now... it's hard, but when it's what you're created for the grace is there to do it. So now it's time to take my leap of faith and move toward getting my school started. Going to read Business Plans for Dummies, work on some curriculum development, and even do some trial classes. So if your up for beta testing my cooking school ideas I'd love some feedback because it's to "stop pretending that I am happier than I am, my life is better than it is, and embrace the destiny God created me for!" - the John Eldridge quote that pushed me out of my comfort zone into LIFE!

Life in a Box

2007-05-08T18:40:00.000-05:00

Yep, it's official I can't remember how many times I've moved now. I do know it's been three times since I moved back to the Triangle in January. Live with my sis now which is only fitting as all my stuff has been living in her garage for two years. All my cooking stuff under one roof again, unfortunately I don't remember which box it's in most of the time. I'll just have to cook a lot and dig a little out each time.

This is my sis and I in a box at the African Children's Choir house on the work day we did with our church.

Etiquette Woes

2007-04-06T16:31:00.000-05:00

Calling all etiquette challenged and etiquette pros to let me know "what are your etiquette woes in life?" I will be teaching an overview etiquette class for Axcess, the singles ministry at my church, on May 11th.

I have some ideas in mind, but really want to know, what do you wish you knew and what you wish others knew about etiquette. One of my pet peves in life is the RSVP! It means, "Please respond." I'm not sure what gets lost in translation for people, but not responding to an RSVP invitation is just RUDE!

So, if you don't want to be "that guest", wish you knew which fork to use with the which corse, or want to the why behind many of the social rules and norms you may want to come. To ensure that your question gets covered, now's your chance to ask before I make my final decisions on what topics make the grade and which ones don't.

Tokens of Grace

2007-04-03T20:39:00.000-05:00

Life over the past few weeks has stretched me beyond anything I've ever known. Kind of fitting as travail is the pain of laboring... until a birth. So, Pastor Taylor's message about being "Offended in the Wilderness" came right on time for me. Have to believe that all this is not in vain, a there is something so much greater being produced in me. Learning to see the tokens of grace that God extends each day. I was sitting at a stop light the other day battling feeling overwhelmed by it all, and I looked up to see that the tulips had bloomed in the landscaping just in front of me. Tulips are my favorite flowers and just seeing them there at that moment, "just for me" was reminder of His grace and love for me.

The Purpose of Travail

2007-03-29T00:27:00.000-05:00

"The pursuit of God will embrace the labor (travail) of bringing our total personality into conformity to His." AW Tozer - The Pursuit of God

Travail: labor with pain

2007-03-25T18:09:00.000-05:00

So, I moved back to the Triangle area out of obedience. I know God wants to build the dream He's given me here. I've been working for two friends that own their own businesses in an effort to learn from their experience. Somewhere in the back of my mind the thought that I could be 8-12 months down the road with "nothing to show" for this season really scares me. But God's promises do not return void, and so while this season may not look like what I think or even hope it is what I'm sure I need. The analogy that came to me was that I am starting a new chapter in my life an the only thing written on the page was the chapter number. At the end of February I was praying and very clearly I heard the Lord say, "travail" and I knew it was the title to this chapter. Not what you'd hope to hear him say, but as I looked up the definition for further clarification all the definitions revolved around the labors and pains of birth. I thought, how fitting as God has brought me to a season of being prepared to birth the dream He placed in my heart almost two years ago. The dream that pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and into the destiny I believe He created me for. So on the days when I feel like I'm being stretched beyond what I can bear, I only have to remember that travailing, laboring with pain is only for a season and always unto a purpose.

Remember when...

2007-03-18T15:14:00.000-05:00

all you had to worry about was all the fun things you could think of to do with an empty box? I miss those days a lot. Recently I've tried to abdicate the throne of adulthood on mulitple occasions, yet I somehow seem to be chained to this throne merely by the number of years I've been alive. Who decides when you're an adult anyway? I remember waking up one day when I was 24 and realizing that the world viewed me as an adult so I better act like one. Now I'm not so sure that I want the job.

Move #...Who knows anymore?

2007-02-25T22:53:00.000-05:00

Well, I've officially moved AGAIN! I was keeping count of how many moves in the past seven years, but I just can't remember anymore. I think it's #14 or 15, maybe 16.... I'm giving up counting. I am now living with my old college roommate Miriam, and her husband, Dan Catron, in Durham. This move was just 20minutes from my first transitional landing spot. Have a new address and phone number so just call the same old cell phone number... it won't change any time soon. It's the only thing about me that does stay the same.

Keep Fighting... The Good Fight of Faith

2007-02-05T11:59:00.000-05:00

"Keep fighting!" That was the word for today and this season of my life. "It's not time to lie down, but time to actively fight for the call/vision God has given to me."

This was my encouragement from a friend this morning as we chatted and spurred each other on toward greatness. So many days I feel like giving up and laying down. Especially on the days when I have "nothing to show" for what I'm doing in this season. I feel like this little guy who's put on his gloves and is trying to take on the world. Explaining to people day in and day out that you're in a posture of waiting on God (which often looks like idlness from the outside) has taught me that humility and faith go hand in hand. So I say to you my dear friends and readers, what ever season you find yourself in today put on those gloves and Keep Fighting!

Surreal Experiences

2007-01-26T14:02:00.000-05:00

For those of you like me who haven't been in a math class in a long time, a $220 Uhaul rate quote actually costs ~ $400 when all is said and done. My wonderful friend Sam, who I coersed with promises of home cooked meals and the use of my bed that I needed stored anyway, went with me to SC to retrieve my stuff. Just as we crossed from NC into SC we saw northbound traffic sitting still due to a Uhaul accident (not the picture shown). It was being towed out of the median and the front corner of the Uhaul had been ripped open at the seam where it's riveted together. A never before seen sight for me. I volunteered Sam to drive the Uhaul home since they gave me the "upgrade" from a 10ft to a 14ft truck (translation they overbooked and were doing a little CYA). He then volunteered me to pay for the insurrance in light of our experience on the way down.

In addition to accquiring a larger truck I also accquired laringitis Sat night much to Sam's delight... at first. He said it was because I talked to much on the way down, but for those that truly know me- you can atest that this is a gross misrepresentation of fact. So, with no voice and a few extra hands we got the truck loaded just in time for that nasty weather front to start with freezing rain that continued all the way back to NC. Just on the eastern side of Charlotte I witnessed an accident that I am not sure the passengers survived. But without a voice and a Uhaul full of stuff I decided that I would be most helpful by praying for them instead of slamming on brakes causing another accident. It was such a surreal experience to see something like that firsthand that I reduced my speed to 55mph and prayed all the way back to Raleigh. A very pointed reminder that we are not guaranteed tomorrow and it's time that we get brave enough to embrace today the thing we were created to do.

Balance & Flexibility

2007-01-18T17:41:00.000-05:00

Well for all those of you that have been wondering if I fell of the face of the earth... I didn't. I have been in a constant state of flux since the Monday before Thanksgiving and I don't operate well in limbo mode. I'm actually going back to SC this weekend to retrieve the last of my things and officially be back in NC.

Things are finally starting to settle as I get some sense of a routine. I've started working at Joyful Noise Studios, a music school my roommate from college started. I've also applied to work at a gym to have another part time job and get a free gym membership. I really need to practice my pilates again to make sure I'm as flexible as the Lord seems to think I need to be.

I've learned so much in such a short period of time. Though it doesn't outwardly appear to get me any closer to opening a cooking school, I have to remind myself that I am laying the foundation to allow me to be excellent in all that God has called me to steward. I have had to come to terms with the fact that this next season, though it is what I believe the Lord created me to do, is probably not going to be easy. I have tendency to want to believe that walking in His will means no pain or stretching, but this is often not the case. I've got my pilates mat in one hand and my Bible in the other, so balance and flexibility here I come.

Oh, the places I will go... and did go

2006-12-23T20:27:00.000-05:00

The 2005 to 2006 Recap... and into the New Year 2007
(Britt this pig's for you!)

June 2005 decided that my six year stint in youth ministry was coming to an end
July 2005 dreamed of the one thing I would do just for me: go to culinary school
August 2005- May 2006 moved to Charlotte to go to Johnson & Wales Univ. to get my Associate degree in Culinary Arts (then took the summer off to recover)
August -November 2006 headed to Columbia, SC to work at Sysco Foodservice to intern and officially complete my degree
November- December 2006 declined the offer to stay at Sysco, God reminded me of the vision he gave me to start a cooking school, moved back to Raleigh, NC in faith
January 2007 and BEYOND... God only knows

New Careers

2006-12-19T12:13:00.000-05:00

During my brief stay in Columbia they called me the "Yankee" because I was from North Carolina and not South Carolina. Well, I am now officially a Yankee again. My clothes and I have made our way back to Raleigh, NC. I have left so many times and I always end up back here.... maybe the Lord is trying to tell me something. Actually I am very glad to be back in familiar territory. God is opening doors I didn't even know existed in order to provide for me as only He can.

At the start of the New Year I hopefully will be teaching some cooking classes at the only cooking school in the area. Hoping to learn lots and open my own cooking school in due time. Will also be working at a music studio that a good friend owns. Yes, I will be teaching the spoons. I know, one's head reels that I could be so multi-talented but it's just a fact. Actually, I'll be helping run the office, with some management opportunities and learning how to run my own business. Amazing what the Lord provides when we're willing to be obedient.

Sugar and Cream

2006-12-05T22:19:00.000-05:00

Yes, these will be our stage names when my sister and I take our show on the road. So, for those that don't know my sister is stepping in the Kings Park Church Christmas talent show. I'm not really part of the show, but I'll be there to cheer and yell loudly when appropriate. Britt and I have been told more than once that we must have some chocolate in us somewhere... it's just white chocolate I tell them. Not to mention that my old roommate called me "Cocoa" and for you foodies out there all white chocoalte is, is cocoa butter (chocolate), milk solids (cream), and sugar. And there you have it, the Barr sisters are Sugar and Cream!

Coming home... wherever that is

2006-12-03T21:01:00.000-05:00

Well... I'm in packing mode once again. Some of the boxes never got unpacked and the others are waiting for me back in Columbia. After much prayer and many coversations I think that I'm heading back to Raleigh for stint before I end up in Charlotte to start my school of hospitality! For those that know me well, just hang on for a week and God could change things drastically.

Half way between Charlotte and Raleigh

2006-11-27T20:39:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd try riding my niece's little motorbike at Thanksgiving. Though we didn't catch it on film, I'll have you know I popped a wheelie on my first try. Really, there is just a flaw in the engineering of the throttle and the bike went up on it's back wheel and was about to take off with or without me. Needless to say, there's no need to buy me a pair of leather riding chaps for Christmas.

The safe road didn't work out, but the good news is I don't have to stay in SC. Three months of Southern culture was enough for me. But as I sat there with my head reeling from the news that I did not have a job to return to after Thanksgiving, I heard a still small voice ask, "Why did you go to culinary school?" I replied, "To open my own cooking school." The voice replied, "Why wouldn't I do that for you?" It was all a little too much to take in just at that moment, but with some time a prayer now, Why wouldn't He fulfill the dreams He placed in my heart?

I don't know where I'll land or what job will pay the bills, but I figure following after God is the best place to be. Who really needs an address anyway? For the next few weeks to months you can find me half way between Charlotte and Raleigh, just like my name... The first part of "Char"lotte and the last part of Ra"leigh"

Down but not Out

2006-11-20T15:16:00.000-05:00

Well, the unthinkable has happened... I am without a job and thousands of dollars in debt to Johnson & Wales. They decided that their original, rediculously low, offer was the best they could do. I didn't agree and so it's on to find the perfect job. Is it ironic or divine that the fiction book I'm reading is about a life commited to obedience to God? When I got the phone call from the company I was reading the chapter on faith in Tozer's book The Pursuit of God. Whoever it was that prophesied over me in college that patience would be my greatest testimony can rest assured that their prophetic gifting is in tact. My life has been an exercise in obedience, faith and patience. None of which are easy usually. Still coveting your prayers as I wait to see what will unfold. The bright side is I may get to move for the 14th time in six years. Fortunately all my stuff is still in boxes, what fun would settling down be?

Eye of the Tiger

2006-11-18T14:53:00.000-05:00

Do you hear the soundtrack from "Rocky" playing in your mind? This past week has been a fight. My internship for culinary school was officially over on Thursday... I'm done! You'd think it would be time to celebrate, but instead it was time to go head to head with my boss about permanent job opportunities and salaries. Sure glad that I still have those boxing gloves from when I used to kick box.

On a serious note, this was just one more opportunity for God to teach me to trust him. I was offered a title and salary way below my education and qualification level. I declined their offer stating that it was in fact not a salary I could live on nor a title that I felt commanded the respect I deserved in this industry. So, now we wait. My boss is going to call on Monday to see what other options they can come up with. Until then, I covet your prayers that the Lord would fight this battle for me and get me the salary and position that He has prepared for me.

Drastic Enough

2006-10-06T16:33:00.000-05:00

"If she will become drastic enough, she can shorten the time of her travail from years to minutes and enter the good land long before her slower brethren who coddle their feelings and insist upon caution in their dealing with God." A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

This quote caused some unsettled feelings within me as a I asked the Lord, "how much more drastic can I be?" I left the place I'd lived on and off for almost ten years, moved to Charlotte to go back to school to pursue my dreams. Completed a AS in Culinary Arts in one year and then moved again to a city where I knew no one and had only visited once to interview. "Lord, I don't know how to be more drastic than that." The answer came that maybe staying in one place for a while might seem normal to others, but in my case might be drastic enough.

I have decided to stay in Columbia. I moved here to do my internship for culinary school and hoped that it would turn into a "real job". I am currently in the midst of the dance to negotiate getting myself a full time job with SYSCO. I just have to convince them that they can't live without me.

Only hours before I had my epiphony on being drastic enough I found a house for sale that I absolutely fell in love with. I looked at it and said to my friend, "this is my house." It's mostly the kitchen I love, but the rest of the house is really cute too. The only problem is that this house is on the market for $200,000. New job or not, this is not in my budget. Believing that if this house is meant to be mine that God will make it happen. So, now that I've made my decision you can pray with me that God would give me the perfect job, I essentially get to carve out my own niche, the salary I deserve and not what they want to pay me, and the perfect place to live. I will be staying with my current roommate (still in the same place I started, didn't end up moving if you heard that rumor) in Blythewood outside of Columbia until God opens the doors he wants open. We have plenty of room, so come on down south for a visit. Be sure to bring your camera interesting sights never cease here.

Taking a Vote

2006-09-25T18:52:00.000-05:00

Well, I've been in South Carolina for two months this Sunday, which also happens to be my birthday. This week starts my seventh week at work and so it's getting close to crunch time to make my "will I stay here?" decision. Right now I'm thinking yes, but not so sure I am destined to be a South Carolinian for life. So, I'm taking a vote to see what you all think? Be advised your opinion may be overrided by the will of God for my life at any time. But, none the less I would love any words of encouragement or wisdom from you.

Things I didn't know before SYSCO

2006-09-07T17:08:00.000-05:00

...you realize some men never really grow up (making a KIA "hood ornament" out of an aluminium foil to go swan someone made is my case in point).
...you can wash more dishes than you actually have in the kitchen.
...you can somehow haul more pounds of poultry upstairs than your body weight.
...how much a two seater deer stand costs.
...taking about firearms can help you sell food to your local correctional facility.
...car racing is a religion in the south.

Ingredients for a Magic Act

2006-08-30T18:38:00.000-05:00

Each customer visit is different and one of our reviewers always has a ton of last minute add ons which makes our life interesting. But as Todd (the chef I work with) always says, "Flexibility is the key to our business" and "when attending a magic act always make sure that someone brings the rabbit and someone brings a hat."

Crack of Dawn

2006-08-22T18:54:00.000-05:00

I have to be at work at 6am this Friday. Suddenly 7am classes at JWU seem nice. It's my first sales meeting at work. We have to go set things up at the hotel downtown for the meeting. Funny to be on this side of doing a meeting at a hotel. Throw backs to my days at the good old Hampton Inn and Suites in Chapel Hill. Needless to say, I'll be staying with a friend who lives downtown so I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to make it downtown from the sticks. Getting up at 4:30am to make it work doesn't seem godly to me.

Broken Promises

2006-08-16T17:58:00.000-05:00

I know, I know I promised weekly recipes and food advice but the follow through has been poor at best. So, to restore myself to your good graces I thought I'd include a very Patriotic picture of my cousin Josie and I on a day that was not July 4th. How can you be upset with someone this devoted to the good old US of A?

And now to honor my commitment to the blog world I give you today's culinary corner note. You don't have to spend hours in the kitchen or even have a green thumb to make great semi-homemade black bean salsa. I used one can black beans rinsed and drained, one can corn rinsed and drained, one can chopped rotel tomoatoes original recipe half liquid drained because it packs a punch, one teaspoon prepared chopped garlic, one teaspoon dried cilantro, a chopped roasted red pepper (optional and made my placing a raw pepper under the broiler turning occasionally until blackened, wrap in foil or cover with plastic for 10-15 minutes and then the skin peels right off), salt and pepper to taste. You can always add other ingredients you love just allow to sit as long as possible for flavors to blend nicely.

For those of you following my life and not just here for the food, today was day 3 on the job. Yesterday was a brutal marathon day of 8 solid hours of work. Tackling a disasterous kitchen due to remodeling, a lunch meeting for 15, and a client visit immediately following. And to top it all off we changed out the fryers and spilled grease in the main hallway trying to get the two 5 gallon pots to the trash. Today was a chance to catch my breath and catch up on reorganizing the kitchen. Yes, my chef encourages me to be OCD. It makes him feel better about his tendencies. All in all I think I am really going to like it at SYSCO. On a sad note the company kickball game got canceled due to weather this evening. Not that I'm playing, but thought you might like to know I am building company loyalty already.

It's a Man's World

2006-08-14T21:30:00.000-05:00

Day 1 at my internship is done! I spent the day with the boys, the good ole boys that is. Discovering that although our typical connotation of cooking is a feminine task, it is a very male dominated industry. The chef I'll be working with was out of town today and so I shadowed his fill in. What I learned today is that everyone there plays golf, no one that was there this past week has my standard of clean... but if you know me well you can atest that not many do, and trying to look busy when there's not much to do is challenging. I think I'm going to like it there but be sure to check in later this week for more interesting updates on my life in the culinary world.

You Need a Passport

2006-08-07T22:58:00.000-05:00

to come to the South that is. My favorite thing that I saw today was the 5 o'clock beer crew at the local gas station/grill. Yes, there were 9, count them 9 large pick up trucks parked at the gas pumps. No one was getting gas, they were just parked there and inside enjoying a beer.

Found out that in some counties you can't buy anything before 1:30pm on Sundays... Blue Laws. They rope off the non-food section of Super Wal-Mart. This I find both amusing and annoying.

I'm oficially unpacked and boredom is starting to set in. Hoping that starting work on Monday will add some pizzaz to life in the country.

Life in the Fast Lane

2006-08-03T00:12:00.000-05:00

Thought I'd share another photo from the family vaccation. Yes, I did run the kid in background off the track. What else are you supposed to do when he tries to box you out?

Well, I finally bought a map of Columbia, checked out a local gym, and saw the saddest excuse I've ever seen for a mall.

Day 1 Down

2006-08-01T23:31:00.000-05:00

I have officially been a SC resident for 26 hours and 39 minutes. I am unpacked and ready to go get lost a lot tomorrow as I venture out to find my way around. Today I experienced a brief reminder of what it's like to live in a small town. No, Blythewood does not have it's own Wal-Mart Super Center so we had to travel to the neighboring town. And if you get there after 7:30pm on a Tuesday the deli is already closed. After a little shopping I decided it was too late to cook dinner and took a gamble on the only Chinese take out place my roommate knew of...which happened to be next to Wal-Mart. Dinner was okay, as someone who almost has a culinary degree I would challenge the fact that General Tsao's Chicken needs to be a glowing red color. If I had a digital camera I'd insert a picture of said chicken HERE.

Do you ever wonder...

2006-07-30T22:59:00.000-05:00

...what you might look like as a hermit crab?
...if you really could move 13 times in six years?
...if all those boxes will fit in my car?
...what it will be like to officially be a South Carolina resident in less than 16 hours?

Can't believe time has flown so quickly. The boxes are packed and it's on to a new adventure. Hope you enjoy one of the pics from my family vaccation to the beach. People have always told me that I look good in my favorite color, orange.

Profound Glimpses of the Obvious

2006-07-27T23:09:00.000-05:00

My profound glimpse of the obvious came tonight when I went to homegroup and we talked about identity. Robert, the pastor that was speaking referenced the fact that knowledge for Adam and Eve was relational and not just head knowledge. Had never really thought of it that way as it often takes me so long to get things from my head to my heart. Our identity is wrapped up in what or should I say who we know.

This One's for My Sister

2006-07-23T21:53:00.000-05:00

Pete, or as my friend Heather likes to call you, Cliff, this picture is for you.
This takes the cake for ugly pig toys.

Drawn Out of a Hat

2006-07-23T21:39:00.000-05:00

I went to Columbia on Friday to do the required drug screening for my new job and find a place to live. When I went to the counter at the Urgent Health Clinic and announced that I needed a drug test, the lady behind the counter laughed and asked if I'd gotten my name drawn out of a hat. So, the good news is I don't look like your average drug screening candidate.

As of August 1st I will live in Blythewood, SC. It's just outside Columbia and only one hour from Charlotte. I start my internship on August 14th and finish up just before Thanksgiving.

Culinary Myth #2

2006-07-10T17:24:00.000-05:00

EASY does not mean QUICK! So during my family vacation to the beach this past week each family was supposed to take a turn cooking each night. The only problem was that there was 27 of us and this can be a little intimidating if you aren't used to it. My sister-in-law glared at me and announced that the recipe that I had left her to prepare while I went to the Acquarium for the afternoon "was not easy!"

What I learned as I passed along recipes and suggestions to everyone this week is that easy and quick are synonymous to most people in cooking terms. What I meant by easy was that it did not involve precise timing or mulitasking which can be somewhat stressful even when you "know what you're doing".

I've included the link for Grilled Chicken with Italian Salsa from Cooking Light, the recipe I left my sister-in-law to conquer. Give it a try if you're feeling brave. Don't forget that while it may take some time to chop tomatoes or gather ingredients, quick and easy are NOT the same. But after having this twice I can assure you it tastes divine.

NEVER Argue with a Woman

2006-06-30T15:59:00.000-05:00

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book. Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the Woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"
"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?")
"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.
"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."
"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."
"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.
"But I haven't even touched you," says the game warden.
"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."
"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

Injured, Injured Bad!

2006-06-30T15:40:00.000-05:00

For all those of you that have been injured by or in life. Check out this video clip of Injured Bad.

the "Real Carolina"

2006-06-23T08:41:00.000-05:00

I AM MOVING TO COLUMBIA! Yes, move number 13 happens in the beginning of August. I got the internship at SYSCO Food Services and now it's time to sit back and watch God set every single detail into place... that means I need a place to live and knowing someone might be nice too.

I hear they have a school there they like to call "Carolina". Well, for all my Tar Heel friends I will forever be a "Carolina Girl" from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

As for those Gamecocks, these are the only two avions I have any afinity to... Meriweather and Aurora, birthday presents to my friends Emily from her newlywed husband John.

The Blog of all Blogs: the Post School Pre-Internship Scoop

2006-06-21T22:20:00.000-05:00

Well, for those of you that haven't heard from me in a while or haven't ever met me... here's the scoop on my life as I know it. Finished the two year program for my Associates in Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales Univ. in Charlotte, NC (this was my 12th move in six years) in one year. No, sleep was not a part of my life. Didn't know a soul and hadn't been to Charlotte since I used to come to swim meets at the MAC pool, but have loved the city and everyone I've met. Go to a homegroup bible study on Thursdays which has come to be known as Thursday night dinners since I plan new menus every week and cook for anyone that shows up.

I worked full time in addition to going to school... those bills just don't seem to quit. I have worked retail for Williams-Sonoma, which has taught me that people will pay rediculous amounts for small gadets they don't need. I worked as an assistant for an artisan chocolatier of
"DaVine Chocolate" where I learned that chocolate, though one of my favorite foods, is more tempermental than the teenagers I previously worked with for six years. From there I moved on to my current employment as a personal chef. Yes, I go to people's homes and cook for them. I get to try new recipes everyday and they get to eat at home with their family. I have also been gathering data to support my hypothesis that America at large no longer knows how to cook. No, take out is not a cooking technique.

In order for JWU to send me that little piece of paper that says I have a culinary degree, which I will proudly put in the same 3o gallon tupperware container with my linens and my UNC Psychology degree, I must pay an addtional $6,000 to work 40hrs/week for 11 weeks. Yes, I have to do an internship this fall and then they will bestow my illustrious degree upon me. I have been fortunate enough to get connected with SYSCO Foodservices of Columbia, SC. I interviewed last Friday and should find out for sure this week or whenever the USPS decides to get my application to their office. Should they be so kind as to accept my application to be the test kitchen intern , I will be moving, yes move #13, to Columbia in the beginning of August. I will acclimate myself with the city for a week or two "adventuring" around (this means I will be trying to drive while looking at a map and doing my best not to yell explicatives when I miss my turn) and starting work in mid August.

The rigorous schedule of school wore me out and so now I am catching up on many hours of missed sleep. I now get up promptly at 10am instead of 5am, and I work a grand total of 3hrs per day instead of 16-20 hrs/day. I have spent the last two weekends at the beach so I have decided to take this weekend off and go to Raleigh to help paint my sister's new house. But don't worry, I'm heading home to the beach to spend July 4th with my family.

Stay tuned to learn where my adventures will lead and pick up a few culinary tips too. Each week I will be posting weekly favorite recipes and debunking culinary myths.

Much love to those I haven't seen in a while and hopefully our paths will cross soon.

So You Think You Can Dance

2006-06-21T21:49:00.000-05:00

Do I think I can dance? Well, some have told me that I have rythm "for a white girl". Truth be told, I would love to be a ballroom dancer. Sadly my dance career came to a screeching halt after my much aclaimed role as a duck in my four year old ballet recital... that's right the ADD kicked in while I was waiting for the other girls to get it together.

Seriously, there's just something fun and exciting about dancing that I think we're missing in our everyday lives. Case in point, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" staring Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt. Come on, admit it, you want to join in every time you watch a movie where the entire cast suddenly breaks out in a choreographed dance sequence. For all you dance lovers out there that have been tapping your toes through the decades check out this link The Evolution of Dance.

Culinary Myths

2006-06-20T22:04:00.000-05:00

I've decided to share my wealth of knowledge with the world. So keep coming back to learn how to debunk your common culinary myths.

Myth 1: At the request of my friend David, "the mailman", I tell you all that putting oil in boiling pasta water wastes oil. Oil and water don't mix as we all learned in 3rd grade, so it doesn't really stick to the pasta in the water either. If you really don't want your pasta to stick together, put a little oil on the pasta once you've drained it and returned it to the pot or bowl.

There's a little Mr. Wizard in all of Us

2006-06-19T22:39:00.000-05:00

If you've ever or never wondered what would happen if you put mentos in Diet Coke... check out this site Mentos . I've actually tried this because a friend heard about it on NPR. Our results were not quite as spectular, but I must say we were very scientific in our approach trying generic colas and various candies.

Girls with power tools

2006-06-19T21:41:00.000-05:00

For $20,000 you too can learn to use power tools. My first attempt at ice carving... not bad if I do say so myself. My friend Nicole and I in Garde Manager class.