oh we are making this in two weeks. ps.

CROISSANT RECIPE

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Oh working. 33 hours in 3 days is quite a feat. Especially when you are not used to working at 17 hours at a time. Which is what I did on Saturday. My feet killed me at the end of the night while I was standing in a barn's "kitchen" helping with catering for a wedding. All of the guests were wasted off of beer and mixed drinks and the bride kept complaining that she wouldn't eat until she got her pad thai. Which was the thing we couldn't give her because the kitchen didn't send the noodles. So 2 hours late the bride finally got it, although both Colleen and K made a lot of calls to local restaurants to get the substitute. In addition, K was not in the best of moods (probably because of the marathon of a day that lay ahead) and I didn't get yelled at, more like "alex, do you know what you are doing" tone. It was nice to have Colleen and Amanda AA there at the event though. The two of them were familiar faces that would tell me what to do. I felt out of my element not in a kitchen and dealing with people.

Working for K does give me a lot to think about when I am working though. Mostly about what is good to do with catering, what I like about catering, what I don't like and menus. I love her food, but I guess I have dealt with organics and healthy foodies for so long Aunt Mary's cookies and making everything with mayo and sour cream doesn't quite fit into my plan of ways for my future. I want to make food healthy, good for you, and delicious. In addition, I want to create a good environment. It's really good that I am working for her, I appreciate her more than she probably knows. It's a tough business, especially since my mother likes to point out all the negative aspects of this profession, like no summer, no nights free, feast or famine, etc. In addition to all of this I still want to do photography, wedding, commerical, etc. Seriously, if Food and Wine offered me a position to take phtoos or cook for them I would leave everything, even Pittsburgh behind and left to go where they wanted me.

Now, with the photos.



In explanation, I got burned twice in two days by the industrial oven. Only the thumb blistered slightly, but I sucked it up like a big girl. I am also driving my once gramma, then dad's lincoln contintial. Its a boat. Then there is the picture of you. I loved it, thus on here. Also, I did a photoshoot with Katelyn and Amber on Amber's roof.

I have to edit the photos, but not here in my coffee shop.

Here's a close up of the pasta, not that you needed one. For whatever reason, today completely wiped me. Perhaps it was because 4 people called me and the telephone exhausts me. Or maybe I am breaking down a little bit just from being in Cleveland alone.

Wednesday morning, however, I will be on a plane to DC, I'll get to see Laura, her boyfriend, and Julia, and I will probably be lots of hugs involved. You know, I never realized it until now how much human contact really matters. I haven't gotten a solid hug in almost two and a half weeks. A hug is just the best.

You know, it could just be this song, which I'm pretty sure is a Dylan cover:

Whatever it is, I'll be over it tomorrow.

I'm about to finish reading "The Abstinence Teacher"--my third book since I've been here. I hope the end is good!

So. Momma's birthday was on Sunday. We decided to go to the Hotel Bethlehem for her dinner. The dinner itself was less than par. My food, except for my starter and soup, everything had a weird taste. Luckily I didn't hold HB accountable, plainly because the fam and I went to Moravian bookstore to use a 15% discount my mom had for her birthday. I am always pleasantly surprised by the set up. This is the kitchen setup. But the design segment (beyond the bookstore) is just as amazing. I always get inspired. Lately, all I have been doing is reading design blogs. Really, I should be cooking. But I am getting distracted. I plan to make a quiche tonight with left over zucchini slices Karen gave me. I am making the dough tonight. Tomorrow morning for the quiche part.

Oh also I got a new book. It's pretty good. Though it does make me wish that you were here so we could make our own Friday Night knitting club. But alas, you are in Cleveland.
Oh and to explain last post, I was at Amber's. We did a photoshoot, I will show the photos later. I just have been too lazy to edit them. Also, I am trying to find a photographer to follow for wedding photography. I have been getting calls for future weddings to photograph, and I am scared I don't have enough experience to actually photograph it. So we will see. Anyway, AG danced with Becca, because she was a little down. It was awesome. Thus photo.

i got a 6am call tomorrow. so i will explain tomorrow.

Tonight I made cauliflower.

From 101 cookbooks. And then I blogged about it.

I also left work early to get a haircut. I went to the Barber College about 2 blocks away. The thing about the Barber College is that it's only $4. And you can't beat that. But they're still in training. The intent of the photograph above was to show you how...uh...my hair looks. Not that's much different than normal, just not as good as when Cathy cuts it. It's also messed up in this picture.

Instead you get to see one o my my favorite paintings in the house and my giant basket, which is full of pillows and blankets. More than I could ever need or want.

After getting my haircut, I went to West Side Market and fell in love with the fresh pasta place. I've been searching recipes for squid ink pasta all night.

Sorry I didn't post yesterday--I fell asleep at 10.

Its always the first day of going back to the kitchen that kicks my ass. So, last night I snuggled up and remembered that I should upload my day's adventures. Earlier in the day I headed off to Ikea to pick up dishes. I need plain white dishes for food photography. So here I am walking out of Ikea with 40 dollars of singles of a line of dishes. But I did get some good stuff. So what can a girl do? Also, because I have eaten terribly and put no protein in my body for the last few days. Tired, I decided to make lentils and onion. Oddly enough, I gained the lideas from a book I am reading called Crescent. The story just draws you in, and I have fallen completely for it.

The stained glass separates my kitchen and stairwell. It makes me wonder how the house was constructed and when.

Today I got home and my bed was made. The cleaning lady came, folded my dirty laundry that was on the floor and did the dishes in the sink. I was rolling around in the bed.

I was so busy at work today--5 meetings back to back. But it felt so good to be busy.

Oh, so paintings?

I've been carrying around this woman's business card for weeks, maybe even a month. She paints worlds I long to live in. Escape in.

www.annebuckwalter.com

Today I had dinner at a new friend's house, where we watched "Vicki Cristina Barcelona". There was curry (which was meh) and I made fondue (which, is melted chocolate, so you can't go wrong). I also ordered cupcakes for David from Vegan Treats as a suprise. We were using "cupcakes" as a euphamism for alcohol last week, so I figured maybe it was time for some real ones.

I don't think he reads this.

The pace has picked up at work (finally!). I have an 11, 1, and 2:30 with various people in the building, which is kind of exciting. I like being busy. It's like an addiction.

Speaking of addiction, I really need to stop drinking iced tea. I think it's making me ill.

Normally, I never want to buy paintings. But this. This makes me want to buy everything she paints. I feel like her paintings are from a magazine or more importantly my design dreams. Check her site out on etsy. Her user name is janethillstudio!

I successfully did nothing yesterday. Today, however I am off to Ikea to pick up white plates and such for photos for food photography.

The Coopersburg 5K was on Saturday. As I was driving to work that morning I thought to myself, "oh man, wish I could be doing that". Around 8am, it was a children's run, which was just adorable. Then, the real run. You can see Aunt Mary in the mirror watching with me.

The last two days drained me. I seriously came home every day and fell asleep.

Lastly, I found this picture. Thought you would like it.

My ceiling is falling apart.

There's apparently something wrong with my shower, which is causing the ceiling in the kitchen to crumble.

Today was just a long, boring, day where the only real thing I did was laundry.

Pad Thai.

Unfocused Pad Thai that wasn't very good, overpriced, and neon.

After my 3 hour lull in my fav coffee shop, I went to Amanda's and we had a bit of a "photoshoot and girl" time. As she put it "i'm not shower, gross and just came home from work - do you need me to shower". i, of course promptly said "no" and she first put on a onesy, the took it off to put on booty blue shorts and a white tank.

Then we photographed. I liked many, but too tired to post all now. i got to be at the kitchen at 7am. yea! work! tell you my photo ideas later.

Omlettes and belts.

Tonight for dinner I had an omelet. I love them with black beans, cheddar and salsa verde. I follow Julia Child's instructions in Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I'll probably blog about it later this weekend. But what I won't blog about is the fact I nearly set the smoke alarms off. My pan was too hot (it's a gas stove and I'm so not used to this) and the butter smoked like nobody's business. The problem is, none of my windows open! It's an old house. My door to the outside is a flight of steps down, so it didn't do me much good. I just threw the pan in the oven, tried to air out the kitchen by flailing my arms, and prayed.

Actually, I probably will tell that story.

The second photo is from my walk to work this morning (and every morning, really). A star of David belt...really? Is anyone that Jewish?

The start of

It's amazing what you can do when you get super bored. I went out and took photos. I will upload some of my photos I took when I tone them. But these are of me, figured I should be my own model. The last is of my double pointed needle holder I finally finished. It is by far not the prettiest thing I have ever created by it does hold my needles so it is good in purpose. Later today, Amanda and I are taking photos. I figured I need to start practicing with models, giving direction and really working with my camera to do what I want/know it can do.

Also, I am in my favorite coffee shop in Emmaus and on the radio the Fray's cover of "Heartless" is playing. And I am singing with the owner. God, I love this side of the state sometimes.

Pasta and chick peas.

This was the first meal I made in Cleveland--pasta and chick peas, with some black pepper, lemon juice, and butter. The kitchen is awesome but I miss having my own supplies--particularly the bamboo spoons and spatulas that have become well-weathered and seasoned over the past two years.

The first would be to Reading Terminal Market. Because we both wish to live inside the market.