Start!

After many people asking questions about my food creations I have decided to start a blog. Scott thinks that this will be good for me, how I don't know.

Some background, I am 26, I have a culinary arts degree. I supervise a kitchen at a local hospital where I don't always get to display my talent. Luckily I am engaged to a bottomless pit who absolutely loves everything I have ever cooked him. Either he is a good liar or I do some pretty cool things. I love to cook, feeding people puts a smile on my face. This is not some knock off Julie Julia thing this is just want I love to do, cook and invent. I will share with you some crazy things that go through my head in the kitchen. Not everything works but at least you will know what not to do.

Where to start, where to start.

Monday May 10 2010

My version of Duck Con fit!

So I broke down and bought a duck at the local grocery store for $20.00. I quartered the duck with some kitchen shears and laid it skin side up in a casserole pan. I cut slits in the skin not the meat so the fat could seep out as it cooked. I totally covered it in salt and pepper. Then I covered it in vegetable oil. I put it in a cold oven covered with tin foil. The oven was turned to the lowest setting, warm. This was at eight in the morning, I then went to Madison and spent my day off thrifting! Came home at about four o'clock not knowing if the house was going to be on fire or if I would have a raw duck. I was very shocked to find a well cooked almost falling apart duck. I then turned the oven to 350 to let it crisp up. In the meantime I rendered the fat out of some pork belly in a pan, then added two diced up onions, some garlic, salt and pepper. I let the onions caramelize then added some arborio rice. I let this heat through and de-glazed with some crappy white zinfindel that was in the fridge. I then slowly added chicken stock and let it cook in then added more stock, etc etc. Risotto! I also diced some butternut squash and sautéed it in butter in my new cast iron skillet from grandma Monroe.(thank you again) Once it was tender I added walnuts, craisins and brown sugar. By this time the duck skin was crispy and dinner was ready. Mom and Dad pulled in the driveway just in time and we enjoyed a delicious dinner!

If any of you have been to Sushi Murimotos in Hilldale mall you may find this whole meal as an appetizer. I got inspired there and decided to try it myself at home. It was very close! Theirs has a chili chocolate sauce that I did not attempt but it was just as good without it!

If you are wondering about amounts and times I can't give you any. I just do what looks and tastes good. That is the only way to know, taste your food.