Monday, April 18, 2011

Cuisine Project Day 2










So.....today's menu in Gracie's Kitchen are:

Entree: Poached Egg with Hollandaise Sauce & Mushroom Sautee
Main: Grilled Salmon with Pesto and Green Bean with Caramelized Garlic
Dessert: Cheese & Fruit Scones

The kitchen today is much more busier than yesterday, it's because my sister suddenly changed all the dinner plan and make it lunch or nah brunch. I haven't prepared anything at all and he just came to my house and sitting nicely. Luckily, I made it on time and deliciosooooooo ....

The worst part is the dessert, I have totally no idea it taste really weird. Mr.D said it taste tangy and keep repeating it, like tangy tangy tangy all the time. We had fun tho ^_____^
Nice brunch baby

Luv
Gracie

Cuisine Project Day 1









Finally the project begin, I made the 3 courses menu to my beloved sister. First, a bit hectic, yes I admit LOL. I made all the preparation the night before and in the morning. I was planing to make him lunch but then we decided to make it a nice and sweet dinner.
So, the menu today in Gracie's Kitchen are:


Entree - Smoked Salmon with Avocado Timbales
Main - Mint Lamb Chop & Spinach Puree
Dessert - Chocolate Hot Cross Bun French Toast with Fruit and Homemade Custard

I'm so glad that he actually likes it and I cant wait for the second battle tomorrow.
PS: I made it with all my heart babe, just so you know
with luv Gracie


Thursday, April 14, 2011

Poach Eggs




I made my first attempt of making poach eggs with the right consistency this morning, and to be honest I just post it here as soon as I finished. LOL. It was fun poaching the eggs, it's actually the first time I made it and it was a bit frustrating at the beginning because the water should be shimmering hot and I was making it over the heat. The second egg, it has a better shape however I think I both eggs taste great; well there's no one here to judge and my roommate just woke up and I haven't let her try. I hope she likes it since she's just an innocent little girl (finger crossed). I know it just eggs but what would be better than a perfect breakfast in the morning. A great cook should know how to make a simple dish to a perfection. Good day everyone ^ o ^

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Grandma and Memories of March


My grandma is a superhero to me, so when I heard the news that she's sick and get hospitalized, I was so shocked and kind of worried about her. Anyway, it happened about a month ago, my mom called me and told me that she's sick, my brother post it on twitter, my aunts and uncles send me messages through the blackberry messenger and all are happened at once.

Okay, tell me if you're not panicking, I was trying to calm myself by keep saying that she'll be fine, she's strong but it's not working. I just want to see her, and apparently talking to her on the phone is not really helping but making me feel worse since she sounds really weak and there is nothing that I could actually do. So, I decided to get on a plane back to Indonesia as soon as I can.

This happened on early March and I about to have my practical exam in two weeks time. I bought flight ticket to Indonesia for the next day, I asked for an absence leave for only a week and I was planning to go back after seeing her. At that time, all I think was my grandma will be okay and I can continue my study as I planned.

The weirdest thing is about the week before that I suddenly really want to go back home and have a short visit on my easter holiday. My grandma and I already planning on buying tickets for a little family trip.
But then my grandma was seriously sick and not in her good condition. The doctor keep saying all different things and all my family members were there to gather and accompany her. We're all kept monitoring her improvements every day and discussed what we're planning to do for her best results. And, we decided to bring her to Singapore to get better facilities and see her regular doctors there. My grandma asked me to accompany her and of course I said yes, since I know she really needs me even if it means I missed my exam and need to repeat the term. I don't care and I just want to be with her.

At that time, I realized that family is priority in my life despite all things that I ever said. I do care about my family and I do love them whatsoever. I spend some quality time with my mom, dad, grandma and talked about everything that happened to my life lately. It was such a great moment and it really hit me that they are the reason I live for till today. The dilemmas of failing school and being there to support is such a delicate moment for me. However, I finally made my decision and it was the hardest time in my life. When you have options, opportunities and all considerations; I tell you guys it really is not easy.

I was working and doing all my grandma jobs at the factory. This time is different, my grandma put higher expectations and hopes on me. I try to do my best and fortunately she's quite happy with my work. Importantly, I actually glad and willing for being responsible working there and I can show to everyone that I actually ready of doing this. I promise my family that I will make them proud of me and I hope I can make it true.

Now, I'm here back in Sydney ready for my new term, will be back to Indonesia in few months to finally working with my new assistant since we won't let my grandma work too hard as before. I know everyone are expecting me to go back as soon as I finished and I won't let them down. I am glad that they still give me a chance in achieving my culinary dream. Thank God that everything went well so far, my grandma is getting better and better everyday and I hope that everything will goes smoothly as it should be.

PS: I'm sorry if I ever let someone down, as I always said I would never ever hurt you in any ways. I was busy and confuse, I would never be able to explain how I felt. This experience really is the hardest time of my life. You are still and always be my dearest and sweetest friend of mine.

Btw, I forgot to mention that during these time (the ups and downs moments) there is a little dirty little secret of mine. LOL I couldn't even believe I did it in the very first place but I did it anyway. Yes, I have a little fun and will keep it discreet since some people keep reminds me not to do it again. LOL I will called this month a "March Memory" and yes everything happened for a reason. As my sister always told me, every cloud has a silver lining , oooo yes it's so so trueeee plenty of silver lining there. Love you all and lotsaaa lotsaaa kissesss from me for all the support during these moments, couldn't survive without you all.


Bon Appétit


2011 already, start my journey with gourmet experience, which I'm sure it will be really awesome. This time I will do my blog differently, I'll write both stories,what's happening at the moment and also few memories in the past.

Okay, I begin with my full week project of cooking next week, this is actually dedicated to my sister (Mr. D) who just recently literally shaved his head (don't bother why i called him sister and use the word he, it's another thing) and I'm planning to bring him a nice, sweet lunch hopefully 3 courses menu everyday. The menus will be a surprise for him, of course because just in case I couldn't make the whole courses and if I wrote here, it will be a big wall of shame for me. Therefore, I'll update the menus, once I really did the project.

I hope by doing this project, it will boost my system, get a deeper passion of cooking, improve my skills, and there is nothing wrong to make others happy by cooking and prepare such a beautiful meal particularly with love.

My new term in Le Cordon Bleu start next month, I am really excited, i hope this time everything will be good. I am a new basic cuisine student now ^ o ^

Bon Appetite



Sunday, November 8, 2009

Simple as it should be


Starting with a big sigh would've sound uncomfortable but well .................
after several travels here and there, with an extra statement of quitting my family, my life would never been better than now.

I've been staying in Sydney for about a month by now, and I would call this a real holiday for myself. Finally, i met all my beloved friends again, happy to see them ^__________^ and spend time with them for sure.

Once I told myself that this day will come. It started with a simple plan, just us having lunch and it was great. It's not just a kiss and make up but its enough for me to say "finally". Thanks for being honest, loyal and lovable for me and i knew that it will always like that. Everything would never be the same but that one thing will remain as it is.

With all the good things that happened, there are certain matters that stay the same.I'm not gonna whining about it but I promise that this is the last time I bring it up. I feel sorry for myself and it would never happen again.I hate feeling like this but there's nothing I can do because this is just too much and I had enough.

I won't count my days left in here, simply because it pointless and creates another precaution. But I hope, I spend the rest of the days with enough quality time with the people I love and ... ( i leave it blank).

Good Day everyone.......



Friday, August 14, 2009

A Half New Me



Lately, I’ve been through lots of thinking after so many things that happened into my life. I am so glad that I can finally feel this way and share it with you guys. Kemarin ini, sempet gua merasa down banget and also feel so lost, gua ga tau what I really want and who I want to be. Gua merasa kecewa, marah, sedih, putus asa and ga tau mesti ngapain rasanya buntu aja. Belum lagi dengan masalah pribadi gua yang cukup complicated and menyesakkan dada.

Di saat gua down kemaren, gua berusaha bertahan dengan sabar and jalanin aja, I’m trying to accept things the way they are, and gua membawa diri gua ke satu titik di mana gua bener-bener intropeksi diri gua. Di situ gua sadar, kalo selama ini gua terlalu banyak whining and complaining dan gua belum benar benar berusaha. Gua ini cukup beruntung dibandingin orang laen, kenapa gua masi aja ngeluh ini itu and ga berusaha lebih keras lagi untuk mendapatkan apa yang gua mau.

Selama ini dalam hal karir, gua yang sehari2 nya cuma bantuin perusahaan keluarga, gua merasa kok gini2 aja, tapi one of my friend yang baru aja visit gua di Malang kasi tau gua. Sebenernya kita bisa belajar banyak dari hal yang simple and mencari cara untuk mengembangkannya lagi. Dan kalau selama ini gua merasa pendapat gua kurang diperhatikan itu karena ga da bukti yang nyata. Kita mesti menunjukkan kalau ide kita itu bisa terwujud dengan cara kita sendiri yakni dengan membuktikannya. And it turns out true, thanks to my friend who told me that, and bener sekarang pendapat gua didengerin and diperhitungkan.

Aside from that, gua juga belajar dimana kita mesti lebih focus and serious menghadapi hidup without ignoring our happiness. The point is, kita hidup ini kan to feel happy, but not all is about happiness. Ada saatnya dimana kita fun and dimana kita mesti serius, segala sesuatunya mesti balanced. Selama ini mungkin yang gua anggep dengan happy adalah hidup males, nyantai, tanpa beban and itu bukannya salah tapi malah merugikan diri sendiri. Hidup itu penuh tantangan, banyak liku liku nya dan dari tiap kegagalan itu kita belajar and meraih kesukesan and saat itulah feeling happy bakalan kita dapetin. Dan untuk ngedapetin semua itu memang ga mudah, susah dan berat sekali, tapi dengan kesabaran, kegigihan, and usaha keras semua pasti bisa kita dapetin.

Gua yakin, tiap orang pasti punya impian nya sendiri sendiri and it completely different individually. Tapi ga semua impian itu terwujud exactly as what you want or it could be completely different. I found the easiest way by planning your goal with several alternatives, and also due dates. Dalam jangka waktu tertentu, target yang uda direncanakan harus bisa tercapai or at least mendekati. Dan kalau belum atau ga tercapai jangan putus asa tapi mencari jalan lain ato sekalipun take the risk to do something. Kalau selamanya takut and ragu, ga bakalan bisa kita do something yang significant. Dan jangan pernah sekalipun kecewa dan putus asa, tantangan itu sendirilah yang menjadi semangat hidup, pada saat kita berhasil saat itu lah kita merasakan keberhasilan dalam hidup and jangan pernah bilang ga bisa sebelum kamu gagal.
Kok jadi serius banget yahhh hehehe, yah itu salah satu hal that I learn lately.

Dan ada hal yang pengen gua sampein ke salah satu temen gua yang gua cintain and sayangin selalu, gua ngomong or ngoceh bukannya apa tapi because I do really care about you and lately gregetan liat lu begini terus. Hidup ini uda cukup susah and complicated I know, tapi aside from that lu mau begini terus, engga kan ? Gua tau kalo deep down you know exactly what you want, tapi in this case bener deep deep down, lu pasti punya bayangan hidup impian elu. Dan elu sendiri yang tau jawaban dari pertanyaan gua tadi dan elu sendiri tau jalan terbaik untuk diri lu. Meskipun, untuk mencari jawabannya itu harus menyangkal isi hati sendiri. Dan untuk mendapatkan apa yang lu mau itu sakitnya or sedihnya ga bisa diungkapin dengan kata kata, tapi gua yakin sebenernya kalau mau and niat itu pasti bisa, tinggal usahanya aja gimana. Gua tahu menutup suatu impian or jangan bilang menghapus impian, menunda impian itu ga gampang or maybe it’s the hardest thing to do in life, tapi mendapatkan harapan or impian baru itu ga kalah indah lhooo. Gua juga ga tahu apa yang gua omongin ini bener ato engga, but somehow I can feel it. Ternyata banyak lho hal baru and indah yang ada di dunia ini, selain yang kita mau. Gua pengen lu lebih membuka hati lagi, or lebih tepatnya lebih serius lagi dengan hidup lu, gua pengen lu bisa seperti yang elu harapin, yang terbaik dalam hidup lu and ngeliat lu bahagia. Ga begini terus, dan gua yakin kalo elu itu mau, nyadar, bisa dan memiliki kemampuan lebih dari yang elu bayangin.

Untuk semuanya aja, teman teman yang gua sayangi, gua juga ga tau apa yang terbaik dalam hidup ini, tapi gua yakin, kalau kita semua bisa mendapatkan yang kita mau and the thing is kita ga pernah sadar dengan apa yang kita mau sebenernya sebelum kita berusaha mendapatkannya. Tiap orang pasti punya masalahnya sendiri dan belum tentu tiap orang bisa menghadapinnya dengan cara yang sama, gua juga masi perlu banyak banyak banget belajar, ibaratnya masi kaya ranting, way too far to become a strong tree.

Selain itu, gua juga sadar kalau bicara soal hati, gua ini masi tetep sama bodoh or malah lebih bodoh yah. Sigh….talking about love yang gua dapet, kalau cinta itu datengnya bisa sewaktu waktu, unexpected, menyakitkan, beautiful, and funny. Cinta itu ga harus memiliki, and tergantung dari orangnya juga, karena kita ga pernah tahu rasa dari cinta itu sendiri. Dan gua bilang gua bodoh karena gua sadar kalau gua bodoh and keep hurting myself for an empty hope. Tapi as I said cinta itu indescribable, when you love someone you’ll become someone that you don’t even know yourself. And gua belajar untuk membuka hati lagi, meskipun ga gampang, tapi gua ga mau hold on to the past kalo emang hal itu bikin gua stuck to the same problems. Besides it hurts too much, I believe someday love will found you kok. And you’ll never know if love lives on yourself until you love someone.

Intinya, gua berasa feeling better coz I know myself better and gua uda mulai bisa menyusun hidup gua lebih baik dari sebelumnya meskipun masi jauh dari yang gua harapin tapi gua uda bersyukur dengan keadaan yang sekarang ini. Gua berharap hal yang sama buat orang orang yang gua sayangin. I miss you guys.


Love
me