3-Course meal

Menu:

This meal was restaurant style with eight guests. They got to pick which food they wanted for each course so in theory, it was indeed a three-course meal, but I was cooking twice that. It certainly kept me hopping preparing a "double three-course meal." 

Dishes in order of appearance for the Chicken Dinner:

Quinoa Salad Cups

Basil and sundries tomato stuffed Chicken breast, angel hair pasta with light tomato concise sauce and tomato fresh mozzarella basil salad. 

Frozen Strawberry dessert

Order of dishes for the Beef Steak dinner:

Lasagna rolls 

Flank steak pinwheels with twice baked potatoes and steamed asparagus with candied bacon

Cheesecake with mumpled cherries on top

The entire meal went together amazingly after several days of hard focused work. It was a challenge to get everything ready at the right time when the meal was being served. Timing was so crucial and I learned SO much in the process. I am so glad I was able to serve that meal and I look forward to doing many more again soon. 

This was my first three-course dinner to ever make. 

I studied all the needed techniques (plus some) for every recipe and now have much more confidence in those areas. In order to be a good chef, one must be experienced. Through trial and error one learns their way through the tasks of life. I am so thankful The Lord has given me this time to learn from others around me!! Everyone has been such a blessing. 

Cupcakes...first attempt

I have decided that cupcakes should be my dessert specialty. They match my personality in every way. They are cheerful, fun, exciting and more versatile than ever imaginable! 

For my first attempt, I wanted to make carrot cupcakes. I know it isn't a typical batter, but that is my dad's favorite cake so I went with carrot. I actually didn't think they would turn out... but they did! I made a simple buttercream vanilla icing and they were done very quickly. They are light fluffy and very cute. 

I really like the silicon baking cups, it makes clean up so much easier and cost efficient. 

Unfortunately, with only a few people... I can't be making dozens and dozens of cupcakes, I can only do a few at a time because we have so many leftovers. I really wanted to make vanilla cupcakes just to see how they would turn out the first time. I found a recipe for two cupcakes only. I thought that would be a good compromise instead of having to many. Just for fun I filled them with a cherry jelly after coring the middle and then put the same buttercream icing from the carrot cupcakes on top.  The vanilla cupcakes turned out very satisfactory. 

Cupcakes are so much fun. I am so happy! 

I am looking forward to making more soon!