basic food prep, part 2

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Jessica

back in october, if you recall, i posted some photos of what i had been doing in culinary school so far, and i never posted the pictures from the second half of the semester. tomorrow, i begin fundamentals of baking, my second in-the-kitchen course [sanitation & safety was a lecture class], and i have a sneaking suspicion that i’m going to love it. if my carb addiction doesn’t give it away, then surely my sweet tooth does. i see either a LOT of exercise or some extra lbs. in my future, and only time will tell which of those will prevail. [i have high hopes and determination that it will be the EXERCISE!]

anyway, i decided that today was the perfect day to post the rest of basic food prep. i learned so much in that class and can’t wait to continue with advanced food prep in a semester or two.

{my midterm: cream of mushroom soup}

{potato chowder}

{chicken consumme… so much work for a clear broth!}

{finally moved on to something other than soups – macaroni and cheese!}

{practicing those knife skills}

{treats from the baking class… croissants and palmiers}

{ratatouille}

{grilled kebobs}

{green curry stir-fry}

{acorn squash with butter and brown sugar}

{more treats from the baking class… swan-shaped pastries and some kind of peanut-butter-creme-goodness of a cake roll}

{eggplant parmigiana}

{gratin of fennel… got a little toasty on top but still soo tasty!}

{green beans with roasted peppers and bacon}

{onion rings with a beer batter! they were so rich that you literally couldn’t eat more than one.}

{MORE treats from the baking class… cinnamon apple danish and another apple danish}

{rustic french fries}

{twice-baked potato, all dressed up!}

{green lentils with celery root and carrot… they look gross but they tasted great! good for you too}

{risotto with mushrooms}

{gratin dauphinoise}

{turkey BLT wrap}

{chicken caesar salad}

{grilled chicken aioli sandwich}

{i messed up my hollandaise sauce on the final, hence the thick, weird-looking texture. it was so disappointing, since i had made it perfectly the weekend before, but my chef gave me some extra points for saving it…}

{…and luckily, my ratatouille – the second part of the final – was exceptional. whew!}

so i got out of there with an A in the class. and that concludes basic food prep [minus one little tutorial, coming soon, that you should definitely stay tuned for!].

i hope that those of you who had the day off enjoyed it as much as i did! happy MLK day.

the last ones standing.

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Jessica

i think these are the last and final stragglers of the christmas photos from this year waiting to be posted. and on january 17th, no less. so maybe i’m not known for my promptness of picture-posting [i was just telling my friend ashley the other day that every instagram is a #latergram for me. ha.], but as they always say, better late than never, right?

so here they are, once and for all.

{dallas, taken on my last night of culinary school for the semester}

{west end and mockingbird station}

{leftover cake… and only in my business would you receive a christmas card with a picture of lettuce on the front!}

{me and brother bear, reunited!}

{red velvet cake pop from cake pop shoppe}

{buffalo exchange and society bakery, dressed for christmas}

{just some little things that made me excited for the holidays!}

{this is what i came home to and it was oh so sweet.}

{do these photos look familiar? hint}

{liberty burger and my favorite brother}

{the cutest cupcakes ever made by my talented friend julee}

{huge holiday potluck lunch at work…}

{…complete with wine and desserts!}

{a little friend we met in the airport on the way to florida. his name was murphy.}

{the first thing we did in florida was eat some gator!}

{…and scallops…}

{…and po’ boys…}

{aunt debbie’s pretty decorations}

{christmas in florida}

{ashlin and hunter + christmas eve service}

{still sitting at the kids’ table…}

{hawaiian pineapple martini}

{ceviche}

{seasons 52}

{tripoly + christmas cookies!}

{my first in-n-out experience}

{the lake}

{you can tell by lucky’s silly grin that he’s in love with his new bed!}

{two of my favorites: caprese and apple-berry pie}

{lucky and the big white dog… love them!}

{snow! and a cactus that doesn’t know what to do}

{i finally own cupcakes and cashmere!}

{ribs}

{uncle jim caught a fish!}

{peeping tom}

{i’m famous! taste of home magazine dec/jan issue}

{my new tv + apple tv}

{two gifts from my friend ruthie at work: a doll from mexico and an extra bath & body works bag from a supplier!}

ahh, christmas. what a fun way to end the year.

xoxo

let’s play a game…

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Jessica

…called instagram time travel.

all you have to do is look at my instagram photos which i’ve been meaning to post for months, and you’ll feel like you’re in a different season.

today, we’re going back to fall, starting when the weather was beautiful…

{tandem bikes and a foodie’s paradise}

{spending time on the balcony}

{home means country walks and good cookin’}

{our weekend trip to jefferson, tx}

{food truck day at work}

{traveling for work and a tasty whole foods lunch}

{i bet a quarter on the texas a&m vs. arkansas game with my sweet grandmother!}

{fun drinks in houston with friends}

{sophisticated mac ‘n cheese and saint arnold brewery}

{messy hair and dad’s homemade waffles}

{my first time at the belmont hotel and i fell in love}

{these two crack me up}

{my pretty place of worship, holy trinity catholic church}

{first wedding shower!}

{got to see an old friend and meet her boyfriend too!}

{fall at the office… colorful trees and halloween decorations}

{dallas traffic}

{i won a beertender at our work fall festival!}

{whoopie pies from the office bake sale… and lucky making a face}

{my little guitar named lucy and torchy’s tacos}

{fall at the village}

{grown-up birthday party and the cutest wine charms!}

{my boyfriend}

{thanksgiving potluck brunch at the office}

{homemade minestrone and blue moon winter sampler… i’m beginning to feel winter coming on…}

{the corner market is my favorite place ever}

…and we breezed right through fall, just like that.

now that we have cold, wet, winter weather at its finest, i’m going to go enjoy being cozy in my little apartment with hot tea and a book, but i hope you’re ready to play this game again soon!

xoxo

winter trip to germany, part 1

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Jessica

so i’m back from my little thanksgiving getaway to germany, and despite my suitcase’s very tardy arrival [it came 3 1/2 days after i arrived... i had one full day left...] and the inevitable joys of flying stand-by, changing planes, 9+ hour flights, etc., i had a fantastic time!

my friend gianina and i are soulmates in the way that we met in high school and our personalities just clicked and we somehow started this thing where we take turns visiting each other, and it is AWESOME. literally, life-changing experiences. we will be friends forever and ever, as will our children.

i was fortunate to see many of her friends and family that i had met last time i was there – they are so kind and so fun, and it was so wonderful to feel like i had so many friends and family in another place halfway across the world, because that’s exactly how they made me feel. it makes me happy to say that i will probably see them again, and also hopefully some of those who i wasn’t able to see during this short trip, next time i come. because i know there will be a next time. :)

thanks to gianina, every day that i spent in hamburg was packed with a number of fun adventures for me [and just the kind of adventures i love - food adventures, culture adventures, people adventures, and adventures of experiencing a part of the world's beauty], which of course leads to photos, in my case. here are a few of them, courtesy of my iphone, with a little preface at the london heathrow airport.

{what was going on at LHR? christmas at harrod’s and pippa middleton’s cute new book!}

{finally in hamburg!}

{starbucks was where gianina and i decided to meet… i got a latte and sandwich while i waited for her to get out of the lab}

{reunited at last! and the view from her apartment}

{i loved this building… it had “merry christmas” lit up in all different languages}

{my first night in hamburg. tried the new popular drink in hamburg, called a hugo, and fell in love!}

{german breakfast!}

{christmas shopping}

{innenalster is a lovely place to shop}

{st. peter’s church and seagulls at innenalster}

{we stopped at a cafe for a latte/hot chocolate break… i had no idea that the lattes come in soup bowls!!}

{we watched the christmas market getting set up in front of the rathaus}

{my first christmas market was on the reeperbahn, the red light district of hamburg. as gianina put it, it was “a special sort of christmas market!”}

{i tried gluhwein for the first time – it’s a hot mulled wine that reminded me of apple cider. so tasty and great for a cold night!}

{the dom}

{those little decorated gingerbread hearts are so german and so cute!}

…to be continued…

lately.

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Jessica

{home sweet home}

{maple cupcake that mom brought me from georgetown cupcake in dc}

{projects. and handy men to help with some of them!}

{a perfect peach}

{still looks and acts like a little pup}

{messy braid}

{interesting salads. they’re like candy.}

{taking the DART to culinary school instead of driving is awesome in so many ways.}

{fall is here!}

{good friends…}

{…and wild nights!}

{that place where i work is just so pretty.}

{my dad makes me smile. and he teaches me how to play guitar, which is a bonus.}

{i should really be asian. kaze sushi and fat straws bubble tea.}

{he loves his toys! and a dog’s eye view}

{pumpkin muffins and other sweets from the culinary team at work. healthiest breakfast ever. ha.}

{getting up close and personal with downtown dallas on class days}

{we tailgated – or “boulevarded” as they like to call it here in dallas - at smu for the a&m vs. smu game, and it made me so happy to be back in football season!}

{happy things}

{buffalo exchange… still my favorite store}

{oh, how i love to play in the kitchen… whether it’s dry ice in the sink or knife skills!}

{these two photos are not related, although they should be. because really, who doesn’t want a chocolate cupcake while relaxing by the pool at sunset?!}

{my homework – culinary terms and bible readings. somewhat voluntary right now but important all the same. oh, and a blue moon harvest pumpkin ale for good measure.}

santos sabores

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Jessica

the third buenos aires cafe that i wanted to share is one that we went to multiple times and was conveniently located on the same block as our loft, santos sabores.

i loved the turquoise and teal, the long family-style table with a fresh flower centerpiece when you first walked in the door, the counters on the side displaying colorfully-labeled jars of jams and jellies and other goodies. i loved the baskets of fruit, the large white-framed chalkboard that was so artfully decorated, and the little potted plants at each table.

i loved the lady who worked there that we saw every day. she was kind and smiley, and she brought us lagniappe, “a bit of something extra,” as they would say in new orleans, every time we went there. one day it was four little wedges of a berry fruit tart, another day it was fresh-squeezed orange juice. she showed mom and me the best places to buy boots, and she even chased us down a couple blocks one day because mom had left her umbrella at the cafe.

and the breakfasts we ate there were perfection. they had the best lychee white tea, and i wish i had taken a picture of these awesome croissants we had with ham and melted cheese inside. the croissants were small and had a sweet glaze on the outside, which isn’t typical for an american croissant sandwich with ham and cheese, but it made them so good. and then there was a basket of the most tasty little scones, served with raspberry jam and creme fraiche.

like i said, perfection.

when i think of buenos aires, i think santos sabores will always be one of the first places that comes to mind, just because of how it felt so familiar it became, a happy little breakfast routine.

cafe tortoni

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Jessica

the second cafe we visited in buenos aires was cafe tortoni, the oldest coffee shop in all of argentina. it was large and absolutely gorgeous, with huge wooden columns, stained glass ceilings, and marble tabletops – quite different from many other ba restaurants and cafes, which tend to have very modern-looking decor. the perimeter of the place is decorated with awesome paintings and pictures, most of them dedicated specifically to the cafe. in fact, it has been named one of the top 10 most beautiful cafes in the world by u city guides. the place has a rich history, and has been frequented by artists, politicians, and intellectuals, including albert einstein!

we’d eaten a big lunch, so we opted for a lighter dinner here at the cafe. mom and i each had a salad [they were very interesting and tasty and very different from american salads], and the boys went for sandwiches.

then we headed down through a narrow little staircase in the cafe to a basement for some drinks and a tango show. we couldn’t leave ba without one!

the dancers were so sexy and sultry, as is the way of tango. the girls’ outfits were stunning and left little to the imagination [with slits up to there], but it was so fascinating to see this culture which was so argentinian. there was a bit of a story to go along with the dancing, like a musical, and even though they were singing in spanish, they were very expressive so we could follow along. and oh, how they moved those feet! it was such fun to watch.

afterwards, we went back upstairs, but we weren’t finished with cafe tortoni yet – we each ordered a piece of cake and some tea or coffee. good thing we’d gone light on dinner, because the cake slices were huge! mom and dad both had black forest, mike had a chocolate mousse, and i had coffee-flavored. they were to die for.

the waiter was such a sweetie – he brought us little brochures about the history of the cafe, a little wooden side table because all of our sweets and beverages didn’t fit on the little tabletop [i know, that's a bad sign! haha], and he even took our picture.

cafe tortoni, your old-world charm, entertaining tango show, and delectable desserts were a pleasure!

the cafe with no name

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Jessica

known as “the paris of south america,” buenos aires has a strong european influence that’s visible throughout the city, yet it still maintains that latin american flair that is both fun and cheerful. this is especially the case with the unique mom-and-pop-style cafes that dot the street corners of ba like starbucks dot the street corners of seattle [which is bit ironic, if you ask me].

only these cafes serve homemade pastries as well as other breakfast and non-breakfast items, miniature coffees in espresso mugs – quick PAUSE so we can all giggle at this photo:

{i guess dad just has a thing for miniatures…hahaha. if you’re lost, i’ll fill you in at a later date, promise!}

- and sometimes alcohol. they are quaint and charming, and tend to contain lovely, homey-feeling furnishings and lovely, homey-feeling people. bonus: most are open from morning until evening, unlike many of the restaurants in ba that close from 4 to 8ish in the late afternoon/evening. people in argentina eat dinner very late, and this can sometimes be a problem for certain american tourists who are unaware and whose stomachs begin growling furiously at 5pm because they ate a small lunch much too early in the day. lucky for us, these cafes were everywhere!

the first cafe we went to in ba was a few blocks from our loft, and although i never did find out its name, its bright, happy colors drew us in right away.

the inside was just as adorable. it was an old building, white on the inside with painted teal and red trim, plus lots of other bright-colored miscellaneous decorations [sounds a bit like my own home!]

the lady who served us was friendly and sweet, the cutest patterned and ruffled apron that matched the colors of the little place. she didn’t speak english, but her warm smile and welcoming demeanor made us feel right at home.

the croissants we had were delicious and flaky and slightly sweet, and the tea was muy bueno on a cool, cloudy morning.

and so, on that first morning at that little cafe with no name, buenos aires stole my heart.

a glimpse of argentina

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Jessica

after a fabulous vacation in argentina, we arrived back in the states this morning, all of us a little reluctant to face the reality check of our jobs that will greet us bright and early monday morning [or tomorrow morning, in the case of my dad]. it was like waking up from a dream – one filled with picturesque views, sweet and flaky pastries, and the best shopping you can imagine! almost too good to be true.

we arrived in south america on saturday morning, and we spent that first weekend visiting iguazu falls, which turned out to be the most beautiful place i’ve ever seen in my life. the rest of the week, we explored the lively and enchanting city of buenos aires.

i took almost 1,000 pictures (!), so it’s going to be a process for me to go through those, but here’s a glimpse of our trip through the “eyes” of my iphone:

{1. the fam with our suitcases, wrapped in plastic and ready to go, before our flight to iguazu. 2. the pool at our hotel, with a view of both brazil and paraguay. 3. a caipirinha, the national cocktail of brazil. 4. the room that mike and i stayed in.}

{1. argentinian steak and papas. 2. the spectacular iguazu falls. 3. a misty rainbow veils the falls. 4. mango mousse for dessert.}

{1, 3, & 4. drinks by the pool at our hotel. 2. we all became fans of quilmes stout, a dark argentinian beer.}

{1. it was cloudy and/or rainy most of the time we were in buenos aires, but that didn’t stop us from having a grand time! 2. the terrace of our loft, which overlooked a little park. 3. the shopping in ba was divine. 4. empanadas!}

{1. dad making coffee in the loft. 2. another beautiful dessert! 3. el ataneo, an old theater-turned-bookstore. 4. evening view from our terrace.}

{1 & 2. the lovely cafe and bar called bar 6. 3. mike and dad both ordered this delicious chicken dish at the evita museum restaurant – definitely not your typical museum food. 4. dad and me waiting on the light to change.}

{we had pastries every day that we were in argentina. it’s one of the things they do best – especially croissants! every single one that we ate was so fresh and delicious.}

{1. i took this picture of the obelisk of buenos aires, which looks a lot like the washington monument, during a cab ride one night. 2. new boots from ba! 3. our peruvian lunch – ceviche, potatoes, and roasted corn kernels. 4. shopping!}

{1. buenos aires has some excellent pizza. 2. mangos and kiwi for breakfast. 3. cloudy day. 4. one of my favorite stores, casa chic, had lots of cute home decor items, and gorgeous clothing too!}

{1 & 2. everyone in argentina drinks mate, a type of tea with a special cup and straw, which they pass around. it’s very much of a social thing. 3. european-looking architecture of ba. 4. sunset on the terrace.}

as soon as i have time, i’ll post some from my nikon! right now though, it’s time for me to get back to real life, unfortunately…

xoxo

a girls’ day.

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Jessica

last friday night, my adorable cousin ashlin flew in from florida for a little visit. we had a little sleepover at my apartment with lots of late-night giggles and secrets and stories about cute boys, and then on saturday we had a girls’ day – always one of our favorite things to do!

{ashlin is all ready to shop ’til she drops!}

mimi and my mom met us at the quaint little corner market on greenville avenue for breakfast. ashlin and i both had a lox sandwich.

{lox is one of my favorite breakfast treats. this open-faced sandwich was piled high with sprouts, red onions, and capers.}

next we ambled next door to my beloved buffalo exchange. i found a funky and fabulous little black strapless dress covered in strips of tulle that look almost like feathers [i'll have to take a picture in it one of these days]. it will be the perfect thing to wear to a wedding that i’ll be attending in december.

{speaking of weddings, i also had a blast trying on this denim and tulle dress. texas wedding anyone? not what i plan to wear at my wedding, but oh so fun!}

next we headed to northpark mall, where we were able to hit nordstrom, anthropologie, papyrus, and urban outfitters in one swoop. you can’t go wrong with that kind of lineup, i’ve decided.

{ashlin striking a pose in a chic hat at urban!}

of course, we had to stick to tradition and make our stop at the nordstrom bistro for a late lunch. i did decide to venture beyond my usual cilantro lime shrimp salad [which happens to be mom's and mimi's usual as well! it's so delicious!] and ordered the crab stack. i wasn’t disappointed! it was so fresh and light and perfect for summer.

{how could you go wrong with avocado, tomatoes, onions, mango, and fresh lump crab meat stacked on top of each other to make a beautiful and elegant tower?! you can’t.}

and finally, we stopped at nordstrom rack and home goods to round out the trip.

after our big day of shopping, ashlin headed back to mansfield with mimi and mom. unfortunately, i wasn’t able to join them and the rest of my family for dinner at mimi and papa’s, because i had to get ready to move into my new apartment the next day!

so here i am on thursday, finally moved in. well, i should say that all my stuff is in my apartment. “moved in” does not accurately describe the current predicament that my place is in; right now it falls somewhere between a chaotic jumble of boxes and complete mayhem. but it’s slowly getting there. AND tomorrow my family leaves for argentina!! i’m very excited. and when i get back next saturday i will be sure to post lots of pictures!

ashlin, i’m so happy you came to visit me in the big d! i had such a wonderful time and am lucky to have a cousin who’s as fun to be around as you are and who has so much in common with me! love you!

xoxo

A Bit of Sweet and Color

photography, food, art, and life

Tag Archives: instagram

basic food prep, part 2

the last ones standing.

let’s play a game…

winter trip to germany, part 1

lately.

santos sabores

cafe tortoni

the cafe with no name

a glimpse of argentina

a girls’ day.