Lisa's Culinary Atrocities

     Well today’s the big day: my first professional cooking event and Robert’s first cooking event with a sous chef!  We are catering for the Gift of Jazz, “a Colorado Non-Profit organization formed in 1995 to support the past, present, and the future of Jazz in the Rocky Mountain Region.”

Had you told me earlier this year after starting my silly little blog that I would be living a dramatically different life, in a different state, and spending endless hours joyfully cooking for fun and profit, I would have laughed and suggested medication.  Proof here that dreams do happen.  Big big BIG dreams. I am so incredibly humbled that I have been afforded the extraordinary opportunity to not only live my dreams, but walk into this new life as green as green can be…with someone who has spent his life getting where he is today. Sheesh!  It both brings me to tears and makes me jump madly about.  I am honored.

Yesterday was eventful: Robert surprised me with a beautiful black piped chef’s coat;  what an absolute sweetheart.  It was incredibly surreal trying it on and looking at myself in the mirror—sort of felt like a mix between wearing my college graduation cap and gown for a whole week (yup, I really did that) and trying on wedding dresses (nope, haven’t done that.)  I love it, but I don’t feel worthy!

We then went to Dazzle to pick up our food, came home for a quick nap and got to it! Food covered the table and filled the refrigerators, wine was consumed, and Tapenade Provençal, Creamy Parmesan Dressing, Marinara, Lemon & Thyme Chèvre, and Minestroni were created.   After a long, glorious night of cooking we teased our weary little heads with far too little sleep and popped (ok, shuffled) our way into the kitchen again this morning.  The pink pre-sunrise sky and warm beaker of coffee is welcoming me to one of the greatest days of my life thus far…

Today will be even busier: Manicotti Florentine, roasted garlic butter, crostini, Tiramisu and Raspberry Coulis, then off to feed our wonderful guests food full of loooove.  YeeHaw! Time to get to it!

Happy 4th of July everyone!  In honor of the holiday I present a mighty tasty star shaped, panko breaded polenta with asparagus and marinara (everything tastes better when in the shape of a star!):

Polenta:

Ingredients:

• 1 cups organic soymilk
• 1 cup organic vegetable stock
• 1 1/2 cups polenta
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 cup melted Earth Balance butter or olive oil

Directions:

In a saucepan bring the soymilk and stock to a boil. While stirring, slowly pour in the polenta.  Add the salt and turn down the heat a bit making sure not to burn the mixture. Continue stirring a few minutes until the polenta thickens.  Remove from stove and pour into a baking dish so the polenta is about 1/2-3/4 inch thick and smooth with spatula. Let cool and place in refrigerator to set, preferably overnight, but for at lease an hour.

When set, use cookie cutter to cut polenta.  Slather (yeah, slather) with butter or olive oil, coat with panko and bake in 400 degree F oven until golden and crispy, flipping the polenta over after ten minutes.

Place lovingly on a swish (swish?) of marinara and cuddle up to a side of steamed asparagus..and love your neighbor.