Day 17 (OMG) Cookies!

  I just realized I haven't posted a blog in forever, which I should have done. I'm listening to Frank Sinatra right now, and of course, "The Way You Look Tonight". I'm buying ingredients to make cookies tomorrow! A double chocolate peanut butter cookie dipped in chocolate ganache. It's a twist on the ordinary double chocolate I've always been doing. I thought about making it or my favorite teacher ever, my 7th grade social studies teacher, Mr. Benoche. I actually ended up calling him Mr. Ganache without knowing it, which caused many, "what the heck is Ganache???" I don't use an electric mizer, first of all there is no need when the butter is room temperature, and second of all it tastes way better than using one, I honestly don't know how, it just does. Oh, and because we were too lazy to buy one.

  By the way, did anyone watch the Next Food Network Star? I was very disappointed, another show I won't be tuning into. I might watch the first episode just to see how she turns out, but none after that, Aarti lacked something, something Brad had, yes she had more camera skills, but something, propelling, was missing. Something that would lead her to do better and better every episode, during the show, anyways to me, Aarti was like Aria, not improving at all. She wasn't doing worse, just not better. I joined many groups on Facebook to get him back on Food Network, I think many people should be on his side, Aarti already won, just give Brad his own six-episode series! It's too late for that now, but FN should notice after Brad got eliminated, his fans still voted for him, he even got MORE votes.

  So yes, it's raining now, I think I'll go to bed, g'night. :)

Cooking Camp

  Day 11, my godmother just sent me an email about the Kids Culinary Academy of Vermont! I really think I should sign up for it, so someday my dreams could actually come true. The last challenge is to cook a 30-dish buffet for our parents. This camp is actually located in Canada! I was so excited until my mom said, a big, plain, "NO." I was crushed, and I asked why, and because: it. Was. Too. Expensive. Ok, so it's pricey, and I do respect that, but I think many people would agree with me that I should go ahead and chase my dream, no matter how much money it was. It's not like we can't afford it, and it's not like I'm just having some fun there, no, I'm learning to make bechamel sauce, going on CHOPPED! I'm there to learn, that's what the most important thing is to me.

  Well, she just came in the room with a different idea, a similar camp, but just 2,000 cheaper. I thought it was a fantastic idea! I hope someday I could join the spotlight with Bobby Flay and all the Food Network or Cooking Channel stars.

Staring the First Day of School With Scambled Eggs and Parmigiano Reggiano

  Day 7, I'm almost about to go to sleep but decided to write a quick blog. Today was the first day of school, and as we all know, it's been tough. Not really for me, I know who my friends are, all my classes I have at least 5 friends in. I DID get dress- coded though, and my friends texted me 3 times in my class! Which resulted in a teacher almost taking my phone away and the entire class staring at me for the rest of class time.

  By the way, I started this day by waking up at 5:30 in the morning. I spent about an hour and a half working on hair and everything! Which I would NEVER do on regular school days. I sprang downstairs, almost flew, knowing I'd have some time to make... scambled eggs. Yes even something that simple can get me throwing myself downstairs and nearly tripping on my own two feet. I just added a bit of a twist. Now I heard that in one episode of Barefoot Contessa, she cooked scrambled eggs with some goat's milk cheese I think? I tried Parmigiano Reggiano, since there was just some left in the fridge... It ruined it, like sabatoge. I think it was genius to add on top of risotto or maybe have the rind end up in chicken stock, or any other way except with eggs. Maybe because it was a bit aged, but I will never make that mistake again. It's still better than a boring bowl of cereal though...

  Next time, if I'm going to eat breakfast, I'll just ask myself again, what would Brad do?

Last Night's Victory

  Day 6, I saw the Next Food Network Star last night! The only reason I watched was because I heard that Brad was going to be the sous chef for Aarti, and plopped on the couch finishing watching Challenge, anxiously waiting for TNFNS to appear! The biggest thing, Aarti won, and Brad was her sous chef... coincidence? I think not. He had followed all her directions quickly and precisely, and in food, Aarti's was the definite winner. I was very happy to see Aria go home, but it was a week too late. If they eliminated her earlier, then there would be a big chance that Brad would still be on the show.

  I just emailed Brad on Facebook, knowing he probably won't respond since he gets those emails all the time, I just wish him luck in his cooking career, to me that's all that mattered. He didn't need to have his own show, I hope that he is successful though with his restaurant! He is technically my idol and has inspired me to whip up food I NEVER thought I could cook before, full of colors and textures. I hope everyone can keep voting for him on Food Netwok and support Brad in the future and I wish him good luck!

Risotto ai Funghi, Piselli e Salsiccia

  Amazing things happen with chicken stock, Aborio rice, mushroom, peas, onions, and Italian sausage! Mix them all together and viola! You get delicious risotto. That dish was a definite success! Day 5 and I tried a new recipe, risotto ai funghi, piselli e salsiccia, which is just risotto with mushroom, peas, and sausage. As soon as the aroma of butter and onions mixed together, I couldn't help but start-wait for it- DANCING. Not exactly dancing, it was more like a jump for joy, knowing this dish could not possibly turn out wrong. It was beautiful, later piled in warm soup plates topped with a sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano, it was a work of art.

 

 

Whole Foods- Where All Your Cooking Dreams Come True, and a Sad Good-bye

  Day 4, today I will not talk about the wrongings of FN to Brad Sorenson, this is merely just a regular blog post. I finished eating dinner, a delicious Korean barbeque and a tofu hot pot, and had to say a sad farewell to my tennis coach (which was not exactly a farewell since he was leaving for only 4 months, but he MIGHT not come back) today. I think I learned alot from him, about tennis and about life, and to be honest after leaving PGA I got a little teary-eyed. It was sad to know that, but his sister had cancer and he went to help her out while her husband was in Afghanistan. So yes, he will be leaving the day I start school. I hope he can come back and help me with tennis!

  Well, I just went shopping at Whole Foods! Wonderful place there was EVERYTHING! I got some ingredients to make risotto(dedication to Brad Sorenson) with mushroom, peas, and Italian sausage. I can't wait to cook it, and the Parmigiano Reggiano had the wonderful print on it. There were about 400 selections of cheese! From France, Holand, Deutsch, Swiss, America, Italy, and goats' and sheeps' milk cheese! Next time I'll try cooking with Gruyere or French Brie. As I rushed aroung the store looking for food, many store clerks just turned to stare at me. Well, I didn't understand, any 13-year old can run around an entire store 3 times just to find the right cheese right? I saw so many different chocolates, so many ingredients and I though it was food heaven!

  I'm making my risotto tomorrow, I'll post how it turns out even though there won't be anyone really reading it. It doesn't matter, I'm just a random blogger... that loves food.

  Day 3 of random blogging, I actually just woke up at 11:53 in the morning, sitting in a chair going on Food Network to vote. I am also listening to Frank Sinatra again "The Way You Look Tonight", it's my favorite song! I recently added Brad on Facebook, and that little red notification made my day. Yes, some of you may it pathetic, shouldn't somelone like me be watching Jersey Shore(which I do, and The Buried Life, but FN seems to be on about 80-90% of the time)? Well, yes I guess so, but I have loved food from a very young age, and I discovered FN when I was 11, seeing Giada de Laurentis cooking pasta, and I immediately fell in love with it.

  Well, now as seeing that there is no chance of getting Brad back to The Next Food Network Star, I think that people should try to get him his own show, maybe even on Cooking Channel (which I do not know what channel that is). Seeing those red words "Eliminated Week 8", I would get torn to pieces. How could let someone, who has influenced so many people in America but hasn't even won, be eliminated? His love for food and ability to cook anything out of the simplest ingredients, makes me want to go to the grocery store, to buy those "simple ingredients"(and actually, I am planning to make his crispy bacon-wrapped chicken with the three cheese risotto).

  Bobby, Bob, and Susie made a big mistake, and I know they will lose a lot of viewers after episode 8. I want to know who wins, but I definitely will not be tuning in to their shows or the last few episodes. I wish Brad good luck on his Culinary Quest and that he can make the most out of his cooking career. He is such an inspriration to me, and he made me have a passion for food that I've never felt before. I hope FN will realize in a few weeks, months, years that viewers will want to tune into Culinary Quest, to go on that journey with him. :)

Bring Brad Back!

  Day 2, I woke up at 5:30 this morning-every morning and now I'm wide awake at 8. Does anyone think that Brad Sorenson should at least be given another chance at the next season of The Next FN Star? I think so. And also seeing that he is in second place for the voting, it seemed like everyone is still supporting him, maybe FN will realize what they did wrong. My favorite challenge was definently the Frank Sinatra challenge. It's forever embedded in my head and the joy when Brad won!

  Brad Sorenson had so much charm and a personality that can make you fall in love at the sight, with him and food. As soon as I saw his at 9 on Sunday, I rushed to the kitchen just trying to find some ranch (something I hate too, yuck) to make risotto. He has given me a new perspective and I think many people out there are inspired by him. Many people do not posses the passion, the heart for cooking as much as he has. I know that he graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, but there's something greater than a "pro-chef" in him.

  After seeing Brad's elimination, I wonder what many of you did, did you turn the TV off and cry? Did you see Susie and know it was all over? Or were you in so much shock that you couldn't say anything, just stare at Brad's farewell? Or all of the above, like me? Maybe I shouldn't make a big deal out of all this, he's going to be back, right? Probably, but it's the fact that you. Really. Didn't. Think. Brad. Was. Going. Home. You thought it would be Aria or Aarti, who's countless flaws didn't seem to matter. There were less and less competitors, and even more difficult challenges ahead, I didn't think Aria could handle the pressure and be sent home. No, it was everyone's favorite. Food Network said they wanted someone that the viewers would love, who would love a show called "Aarti Paarti"? I think, even the "non-supporters" of Brad would love him, even with his tendency to get stiff in front of the camera.  After the elimination, there was no point in watching TNFNS for me, I lost all hope.

  I really wish I could write a letter to Food Network telling them my opinion, I'm just a random blogger, and a huge fan of Brad, but he's an inspriration to me, so I think everyone should help him get a place on FN, it's only fair, I am now listening to Frank Sinatra, "The Way You Look Tonight".

 

What Would Brad Do?

  I am just a 13-year-old girl that has loved cooking ever since I was little! At age 11 I started watching Food Network and I loved it, I would always want to cook for my parents or give them an excuse, like telling them they should have a break or it was a rough day for them. All I wanted was just wanted to be in the kitchen, even when my uncle was shooing me out of the kitchen in French. It was just a great place even though I would make such a mess.

  I think many people are watching this season of The Next Food Network Star, and so am I. I was a BIG fan of Brad and it made me sad to see him go, just recently I watched him get eliminated and I threw a remote at the TV. 3 actually. But he had such a passion for food and a great personality, and he had worked harder than any of the other finalists. If any of you remember Aarti's quote: "I feel like I kicked the monkey off my back sometime in this competition, and now it's back." or any of the finalists saying they had a hard time this week. Brad said that it was just something he loved to do, and he wanted to show everyone how much he loved food. Faulty judging sent the best contestant home on week 8, to me, none of the other contestants have the charm and the great personailty or the love of food. It seems like the judges have already decided that "Aarti Paarti" (if I hear those two words again I will scream) will win The Next Food Network Star.

  I think everyone should go online to the Food Network website and vote for Brad, I still am, and I try and find all the computers I can and even vote on my cell. It shows how much some people support him and what a big mistake Food Network has made. He finally found a point of view and it really inspired me, too. It's not about the final result, it's about the journey getting there. I would have watched each and every single episode if he was the chef/host. I think Culinary Quest was a great POV, but it seemed too late. He was robbed of his chances, but he said that this was not the last time Food Network was going to see him. I really hope that's true and I belive in him! He was such an inspiration, for everyone really. I did realize his camera skills were lacking, but that's how it always starts out! He stil had the most passion, and I hope one day the judges will realize that and call him back to Food Network.

  I know that he has worked way harder than any of the other contestants, hoping that it would pay off in the competition, and it kind of did. He said he learned so much and it was the best experience of his life, I think anyone would enjoy watching him and his journey to become a culinary master. It made me love food even more.

  Now to anyone that looks in there fridge or pantry with nothing but aborio or lamb, or even just a few simple ingredients, ask yourself: What Would Brad Do? It gave me some great ideas. :)