Now it is strating to get HOT!

As I had started to mention before, I am loving my new found/re-learned skill of Saute. For years it was bad pans, wrong oils, rough technique and overall lackluster quality.

NO MORE MY FRIENDS!

I know what my first couple of purchases at Manhattan Panhandler and the supply store across the street will be. Two new saute pans with good, usable sloping sides. The one I HAVE, I have had for years and it is DONE. It might get to ride into retirement as an egg fryer, but for now I have to move on. It is all so much easier than I have ever made it before. Using a higher smoke point fat really made all of the difference. I think I always kind of had it right, but I have gotten it all together now.

This weekend, we followed up the saute-a-thon with 2 of the GREATEST TECHNIQUES OF ALL TIME . . . . DEEP-FRY & GRILLING! How can you not like either style? The art of the deep -fry is a dangerous one and I am sad I don't get to do it more at home. From the Fish and Chips to the Broccoli Tempura we made . . . YUM! The grilling came easily I think. Years of being the "grill guy"(minus the wedding debacle) around my friends has taught me well. A few more skills and a more advanced knowledge of the hows and whys really have taken everything taht much farther in my mind. I really believe that the extra confidence in the kitchen is helping my cooking just as much as the book learning. Who knew?

The prelude to my weekend at ICE was a day(Friday) spent baking cupcakes for Amanda's birthday and of course I had to do it from scratch. NO boxes, bottles or cans here! For my lovely lady I made 2 types. A plain vanilla with a banana sugar frosting with a candied banana on top and a blackout chocolate one with a sour cherry frosting. They seemed to be a hit. I had one of each at home and was not blown away totally, but they were damn tasty. My blondie is killer, still working on my cupcake. Really wish I had snapped a picture or 2 to show them off. Maybe I will stop being so lazy!

Lot's of reading ahead for me this week with another quiz this coming weekend! UGH! MY headache is just starting to go away as it is.

OH OH, I almost forgot to tell you all. I got a 97 on my Module 1 practical! KILLER!