Week 5: Fireworks turned Alien

This overall has been a super fun week. It has been the week before finals, so we have been getting the last minute information about all of our tests....by the way.. our tests are

1. 1. A Mayo Practical
2. A Gazpacho Practical
3. A Knife Skills Practical
4. A Written exam over nutrition
5. A Written exam over all the information in the class

In case you cannot read, that is 5 exams.. not 1 exam over everything...5... that is a lot over a 6 week class! I even got tired of thinking about all of those. Like, I may need to go take a nap while writing this. Ok, maybe that is over bored by taking a nap... but who does not love a good GREAT nap? If napping was a hobby, I would be the President. If napping was an Olympic sport, I would win. Hands down, they would not even need to get a judge. Ok, maybe my love of napping is a little insane, and you most likely stopped reading after my weird fascination with them. But trust me, when you take a super awesome nap, your world is forever changed. Just try it, right now..well after you read my post... :) 

Anyways, this week was a super fun week! We had 2 buffets (super yummy food) and we had a fruit plate showdown! We got into groups of 3 and had to make a fruit plate. Talk about an exhilarating rush!!! My group and I decided that we wanted to make our plate look like fireworks!! So, that is what we did, we made some super good looking fireworks. Expect to the rest of America, it looked like a really funky alien on a plate. So, in the end. We did good, but with some technical details we could of made it look even better. Chef also made some random fruit plate for us to look at as well. And you can tell a difference between a Chef plate, and an alien plate. 

Chef Plate...

Alien plate....

At work, we have started something called Sunday Funday. I do not really understand why we have dome this. I think people wanted a excuse to eat other peoples food that they did not have to cook. Well, it was cookie week. And if anyone knows me, I do not really follow rules. I like to break them, then show you how I can make it better. Only with cooking, I do not speed or deal heroine... that is only on Mondays. So, I made cinnamon rolls with a cinnamon cream cheese filling and icing on top. That is right, your mouth is going to start watering when you see the picture...

I can not wait to see what next week brings! :)

Week 4: Its all mayo....

I have always been very close to my family and Grandaddy always said, "Find your passion and the money will come." I am really starting to see that shine through everyday. I am getting to that point and seeing that this is where God wants me to be. There has been proof everyday that this is a place for me to be.  

 {My great grandparents, The main sources of passion and drive in our family}

{Granddaddy was an ex miltary and has 3 bachelors, 2 masters and 1 P.h.d, talk about drive!!}

We also had a knife cut practical (like fo real...gonna get that grade...better be an "A+++") and last week on the pre practical like you read in last weeks post, I basically had a breakdown. And after talking to lots of other people they said to basically not think about it. Just cut. And when we got settled and ready to begin the exam, it was exactly what I did.

I did not think.

 I cut. 

I started thinking about all of my family, and how we cook in the kitchen. I thought about how Grandmother would do this and I did it as though I was back in the kitchen helping mom out with making french fries.

 

 {Grandmother as a young one...yeah she cute! she could be a model.. don't hate!!}

Now, granted I did not do as best as some others, but I felt as though I am doing a lot better. When I think about how much passion my family has for their hobbies it fuels me to do the best at mine. More than I was aware, my family has really prepped me for this school. There have been so many things that I have known about that I thought my family was crazy to do. But then I saw that craziness happen in school and I was like.I got this.. I aint got no worries!




[My aunt and uncle, I have become the adopted child with them. We usually cook every week together]









{Ze Sissters of the family. Left to Right: Carol, Kathy and Sandra (my grandmother}

They can throw down some good southern home cookin! 






We were told at the beginning of the school that our final will be over mayo. Like us making our own to test.

If anyone has not been aware, mayonnaise is pretty nasty. like... ultimate gross. I feel like June from honey boo boo with mayo.

 -Alana with Mayo, wanting to attack her mom...-

I hate mayo, I hate smelling it, eating it, seeing it.. everything with mayo. And we made some in class, and thank goodness we have a girl who LOVES mayo and was willing to try everyone's. I was like, you can have mine: 

You can do whatever you want with it.

 Wear it was a dress...

make it a hair gel.....

eat it.....

carry it in your pocket...

As long as I did not have to try it. 

We had to do a power point presentation over a food bourne illness and my partner and I totally rocked it! Like a boss we did awesome.. mainly because I was there.. but you know...

I started to carpool with a friend from class, Katherine** (names have been changed) and that has been an ultimate God thing.  I have been struggling with making ends meet and here I find an awesome girl who lives not even 5 minutes away from me who is willing to car pool. I have become good friends with her and I can tell that she is someone who God wanted me to befriend super quickly. It is so nice having a friend who has the same beliefs as you and has the same motivation to go to school. Did I notice that we also like the same music?! Jam out sessions are more awesome now!!


We took our NEHA test and I PASSED!! Woo Hoo!!! I was excited that the weight was lifted off my shoulders! We are all certified now! Watch out 'Merica, we comin!

Cant wait to see what this next week brings!!!! 

Week 3: Lions and Tigers and Bears....OH MY!

I guess the old saying is, 1st is the worst, 2nd is the best and 3rd is....wait. I think it ends. Anyways, oh 3rd week of school. You may be in fact the worst so far.

What can I say to describe week 3? 

Maybe: I just realized that a TON of work is due next week?

Or: It was is super stressful

Possibly: This is a lot of work

Best Option: the beginning stages of a really really bad date.

Oh, week 3. You train wreck of a week. I possibly may dislike you. We did not click. If week 3 and I went on a first date this would be the conversation!

Me: So, what do you do for fun

Date: Oh, you know, stuff

Me: Well, stuff is usually pretty fun. I mean my schedule is jam packed full of stuff that I can not fit my other stuff in my stuff of a stuff life.

Date: Yeah

Me: Well, what else about you? What do you like to do? What are some goals in life?

Date: Yeah, I have goals. Goals of maybe switching to a real room instead of moms basement. And taking my all hamster band to the real life music scene. I think living in my mothers basement is pretty nice. She does everything for me. Cooks, cleans, laundry. In fact, she did my laundry for our date. Oh, and she is sitting right behind you. So do not say anything weird.

Me:.....Ummm....ok...

Date: Yeah, I usually do not have very good 1st dates, actually your my first since I was in high school. And my mother was really scared for me. So she gave me these cards to help. And she said if I messed up, I could ask her.  Oh, and she drove me here. And she wants kids. Do you like kids? She actually told me that she really likes you and that I should ask you out again.

 

[Woah...ok]

Me: (all the crickets in the world circle my table as I stare in wonderment). We have not even ordered dinner. I actually need to go to the bathroom.....

Now, that is a pretty bad date. But that best described how my week went. Every time we walked into class, I felt like I was getting something from left field. That everything was coming to me at once. Next week I have major assignments due every day. And if that is not stressful enough, I still have to worry about working and making bills meet. I guess I am starting to see how intense this school is.

On Tuesday we have a knife cut practical and we did a pre practical on Friday to help us out. And that was rough. I wanted all my knife cuts so perfect and they were not coming out right. Between the anxiety attack and everyone around me doing a great job, I was feeling super discouraged. Like, mega bad. And I am not the kind of person who wants everything perfect but I was really freaking out over some chopping of a potato that was not even for a grade! I guess one can say that the pressure is finally hitting me.  Eventually I finally gave up and showed chef. He said I did a pretty good job but chef could tell that in my cuts that I was thinking about it too hard. I mean, I wasn't that obvious... my brain cells basically jumped outta my head twice!

So, pretty jam packed week. I ended up getting a super cute notebook to keep all the recipes I learn in culinary school on! It is cute :)

And of course, my dog is the cutest and he got 6 teeth taken out with stitches and I got to snuggle with him since he doesn't feel good :)

[You can not say that my dog is not adorable...because he is]

And finally some encouraging words to lift your spirits in case you had a rough week like I did!

Week 2: Make me a fish fumet?!

So, Maci Kay has officially done 2 FULL weeks of culinary school! :) That is fun to say! There were some highs and lows of this week. Starting off the week with Math. As I said in an earlier post how math and I really have not had that perfect relationship.

We are like that first date that crashes and burns before you actually get into the restaurant. 

We have all had those dates. The dates where the man (yes I said man, when do women make a mistake?) has already done or said something to make you think, Yup, this is going to be one interesting night..... that is me and math.. (correction, I have never been the issue, I have been a pretty princess doing nothing, math on the other hand was the one who walked in and was a complete fool). But, even will all the fails of math tests, 

I actually passed. I passed. I made an "A".

Wait, what?! Maci Kay passed a math test?! and she did not even cheat? or copy her neighbor. You mean to say that I got this grade on my own with out help? Dang, I felt like a million bucks.

Stop traffic, make me a billboard, tag me on the twitter life, make a t shirt.

So, that was pretty awesome. Other then that this week we have a breakfast buffet (super yummy, my picture does not do it justice). We learned how to make a fish fumet and bechamel sauce (soo good) Labor day where I made an apple pie. I got a picture before I cooked it but then it got eaten before I could get another picture. And spent today with my ultimate best friend, Erica** (names have been changed). So all in all, this week has been pretty awesome. Passing that math test has given me even more strength to move on and do my best at this school. Maybe doing so good was a sign that I am in the right place...hmmmm.....

I cannot wait to start this next week to see what I can learn more! :)

 My super cool glasses, you know you want some.

 Labor Day Pie (uncooked apple pie)

 Breakfast Buffet at school, candied bacon, tomato/mushroom omelet, potato pancake

See, here is the thing.....

I am cute. I am adorable. I also protect the house when you leave. You must give me attention when I want it. And I want it now, when you are doing homework. I want you to play fetch with me and my carrot. I want you to put down the computer and rub my belly...

Now go, or I will make sure to poop in your room later.

Homework Time!

I am in still shock and awe of how much homework I have on a daily basis. I am so excited to do it mainly because I know that what I am learning here, I am actually doing in the real world.

Week 2: Its the start of something new!

Thats right folks, I had to go High School Musical on you. And I bet now your singing it in your head and possibly doing the dance motions. No judgement!

So, it has began. The first day I slide in the door with 1 minute before line up. Speeding through traffic (i mean, driving at the normal rate of speed...just a tad bit faster...), getting ready while driving, looking like a total loon when driving to school all because the high way had a huge wreck that I was not about to sit in with my less then 1/4 tank of gas. I am pretty sure everyone laughed at me when I was driving. But, I did make it on time. 

After line up and sitting down for class, Chef instanely begins a math spread sheet of so many words and numbers that I was lost. Hey, its Monday, I am still not mentally ready for today, and math is never my strong suit. So math equation time:

          { Maci+being late+math+not enough sleep+no caffeine+Monday+Monday=no comprendo.}

That is about as much math as I was ready for.  And this is even too much. So then after he says ok do not forget about the exam today....what....exam....today....after you fried my brain twice and threw hot grits on....ok chef...I see your game....wait no I do not...I am still trying to understand the bananas and salsa combination.....

Everyone was not in the least bit prepared for the exam, so I did not feel so out of place. I for sure did not get the grade I wanted, mainly because paper tests and maci dont work out. 

                                                    {Maci+paper+test=Mental spaz attack}

So, when 1 is not prepared for a exam, you typically do not think anything when taking the exam. For me, my brain goes to Candy Land. I start thinking of the random events in my life that have no business being in my brain at this given time. Conversation between my brain and I during the exam

Brain: Hey! Rememeber that time when you had a sandwich?!

Me: Yeah! Wait, why am I thinking about a sandwhich?

Brain: That one time at band camp...

Me: If you just shut up for one minute and actually pull the information I need to ace this test, then maybe I will give you water to drink!

Brain: Yeah I will, but wait wait wait. That one time you had to go to church....

Me: Oh, nuggets... I am never going to finish this...

Sometimes its like talking to a 2 year old.

Well, after re concurring all the pointless events in my life I finally finish my test and go to my counselor to talk about a new job. That was pretty exciting!

That is about it for today. If this is how the rest of the week goes.... then Lord help me!