Chateau, Tournee, Work.

Well, clarified butter was fairly simple. I got a pretty decent yield out of mine, I think right around 12 oz which is what you should yield from a pound of butter. What a lame process, though. There has GOT to be a more simple way than skimming the milkfat from the butter and then ladling the butterfat into another container while trying not to disturb the water on the bottom. *shrugs*. As far as chateau and tournee'd potatoes go? *Kicks* SUPER lame. Thankfully, most everyone couldn't produce a good one, so I didn't feel totally inadequate, but I mean, what a lame process and what is the point besides having a pretty little vegetable... yes I suppose that IS the point. (Tournee/Chateau is basically just a 7-sided football shaped vegetable such as potato (refers to Chateau if it is whole) or carrot, beets, etc. I also made an herbed cream reduction with a tarragon compound butter that Robyn made the week before (my compound butter was black sage honey, and a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg, so we didn't use that for our sauce....) Anyway, Chef said it tasted delicious.... but I felt it was too thick (I think he mentioned the thickness of it, also). We initially felt it need more salt, but I suppose if we were serving it with ham or some other cured meat, it would be perfect.

I actually NEED to get lots of work done this week. I always feel like I am slightly slacking, but then I tend to know just as much if not more information than most everyone else in the class. This is comforting. I think my current grade rests at a 98, I've realized that some people don't even read the book or do the assignments....??? I have a practical exam next week, as well as a portion of my excellence project (personal mission statement section) and a midterm in my sanitation and safety class, so this week I will be working most of the week on those things, particularly the project.

On another note, tonight I am starting at Rendezvous. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I, of course, have the vision of myself mixing cocktails and making cash hand over fist.. I am trying NOT to let the images of me standing around awkwardly, wondering where things are or what I should be doing creep into my head. I'm doing this for fun, for extra cash, and for some time out of the house. This will be fun. *shakes head firmly*.

i think now I will enjoy a nap before I have to get ready to actually work for the first time in almost a year.


Oh, and today Lillian is OFFICIALLY one year old :D