Happy New Year! I don't know about you, but for me, each year seems to go by faster and faster. Once again, I have had a very eventful and enjoyable year and am looking forward to another one. I am thankful to be healthy, happy, and surrounded by loving family and friends. I am also thankful for each culinary opportunity that has presented itself, as well as each challenge I have undertaken in the kitchen this year. Here are some of the highlights of my year:
January: The year began with one of my favorite desserts of the year - a Chocolate Truffle Torte I made for the first. I also finished another successful food class this month.
February: I celebrated World Nutella Day again this year, and tried my hand at some fancy chocolate work making a box of chocolates - and the box out of chocolate too - for Valentine's Day.
March: Celebrated Pi Day again and successfully made deceptive cookie dough brownies without detection.
April: My culinary advances were brought to a bit of a halt following my dental surgery, as I focused mostly on making soft foods I would be able to eat during recovery.
May: I made a few successful cakes this month, along with conducting a science experiment in which I was able to draw conclusions about the specific heat capacity of chocolate.
June: I created several successful treats for my own graduation.
July: I traveled on another adventure - visiting many bakeries and restaurants in a few different countries and experiencing the foods of different cultures.
August: Once again I entered a cooking competition in the local exhibition and placed second overall, with 24 items earning prizes.
September: I departed on a brand new culinary journey, moving away and beginning culinary school. I also left my old job and began a new cooking job.
October: Created several successful Halloween treats.
November: Have met a couple of famous chefs and participated in several food demonstrations and events.
December: Returned home for the holidays and began cooking and baking holiday treats and many new items I have learned how to make at school thus far.
PHOTO CREDIT:"2015-food-safety.jpg" http://acceleratingscience.com/food/happy-holidays/. Examining Food, n.d. Wednesdayday, December 24, 2014.
Well it's 2012 already!!! It is hard to believe 2011 has come and gone! I guess you could say 2011 was quite a successful year for me with respect to my culinary career. In July, I began this blog, and have posted something every day since. This will be my 163rd post. Of those 163 posts, 101 of them have been recipes I have prepared, photographed, and commented on. The majority of these items I had never made before. The remainder of the posts are cooking articles, tips and tricks, master recipes, or "just for fun" posts. So I suppose I did quite a bit of cooking and baking in 2011, as I also made a lot of items before I began my blog, and I do not post every single thing I make. Looking back at the list on the sidebar, I would say the creations I am most proud of are: 40th Anniversary Cake (August 28th), Baked Alaska (September 4th), Spooky Shepherd's Pie (November 1st) and Figgy Pudding (December 22nd).
I like to think of the start of a New Year as a time to dwell on the happy occasions in the past, and hope for many more in the year to come. There is no point in worrying about the mishaps that occurred in the past, as they are only little bumps in the road meant to help you improve. With that being said, I will not get upset about the time my chocolate cake overflowed onto the oven floor, or when I completely forgot about a batch of muffins baking in the oven. These little mishaps happen to the best of us and teach important lessons: don't overfill cake pans, and use a timer!
At this time, many people make New Year's Resolutions. A great resolution to make is to eat healthier and be more active. Enjoy a healthy, balanced diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. And remember to indulge in your favorite treats once in a while. I know I plan to continue, and even improve upon, my culinary career in the new year. Best wishes for health and happiness in 2012!
PHOTO CREDIT:"Happy.New.Year.jpg" http://www.duy.im/2011/10/happy-new-year-2012.html.Daily Pics, n.d. Sunday, January 1, 2012.
