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Read this icon as saying, "stupid cookbook!"
Two years ago I helped out at a conference that our mission offers every summer, kind of a training program in cultural studies; I was the chief cook for the last week of the conference, serving 50 people for two meals a day -- thankfully, breakfast was dealt with by someone else. Chief cook meant doing all the meal planning, coming up with shopping lists, participating in as well as supervising all the actual meal preparation, and dealing with the grocery buyer, who is a dear, lovely person on the inside, but very growly and ornery on the outside.
Well, I'm doing it again this year. I leave in about 10 days -- and I'm still working on my meal plans! The woman who was to help me might not be able to come, so while I will still have help, it might be not as much as I had expected. The pressure is on right now to come up with recipes where I can actually figure out how much of each of the ingredients I need so I can tell the buyer what I need ahead of time, so he can get going on it. I don't want him to be too growly to start with, bless him! I calculate that I have to come up with a plan for at least 15 meals, whew!
Did I mention that this is for 50 people?
In New Jersey in July? In the basement of a church that has very poor air conditioning?
Hubby is coming as well; he will be available for help with shopping and cooking, if I need him, as well as being the general dog's body around the place, until it's time to pack up all the stuff and take it back to storage. We are planning a day trip on the one day off we will have, hoping to get into New York City somehow and do some fun stuff -- that will be our early celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary, since on the actual day we'll be flying back to Wisconsin. We might be back in time to eat out somewhere at home as well -- I think I'll be on strike as far as coooking goes for a bit after getting back! :-D
Two years ago I helped out at a conference that our mission offers every summer, kind of a training program in cultural studies; I was the chief cook for the last week of the conference, serving 50 people for two meals a day -- thankfully, breakfast was dealt with by someone else. Chief cook meant doing all the meal planning, coming up with shopping lists, participating in as well as supervising all the actual meal preparation, and dealing with the grocery buyer, who is a dear, lovely person on the inside, but very growly and ornery on the outside.
Well, I'm doing it again this year. I leave in about 10 days -- and I'm still working on my meal plans! The woman who was to help me might not be able to come, so while I will still have help, it might be not as much as I had expected. The pressure is on right now to come up with recipes where I can actually figure out how much of each of the ingredients I need so I can tell the buyer what I need ahead of time, so he can get going on it. I don't want him to be too growly to start with, bless him! I calculate that I have to come up with a plan for at least 15 meals, whew!
Did I mention that this is for 50 people?
In New Jersey in July? In the basement of a church that has very poor air conditioning?
Hubby is coming as well; he will be available for help with shopping and cooking, if I need him, as well as being the general dog's body around the place, until it's time to pack up all the stuff and take it back to storage. We are planning a day trip on the one day off we will have, hoping to get into New York City somehow and do some fun stuff -- that will be our early celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary, since on the actual day we'll be flying back to Wisconsin. We might be back in time to eat out somewhere at home as well -- I think I'll be on strike as far as coooking goes for a bit after getting back! :-D
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no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 02:10 pm (UTC)From:I know you've been so busy lately. Here's hoping you can find the time and strength to get all that work done AND find some time for YOU to relax.
PS- I watched The Dark last night and thought of you the entire time. The movie is wonderful and I think you should watch it. A little scary, but wonderful just the same. And The Bean was glorious. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 02:23 pm (UTC)From:There is a chance I might get to reading on the 31st, but maybe only for a minute. I'll let you know! Otherwise, we are coming back out again midAugust, and I have already put in a plea for time with my buddies!
As for relaxing, I know I shall have to make time for it, because relaxing is good for me. ;-)
I got The Dark on DVD, I just had to see it! I loved it as well, though it was definitely scary -- but not so I had to leave the room or look away. Did you watch the alternate ending? I think I like that one better -- less freaky! The Bean is indeed glorious in this one, the perfect loving dad!
no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 03:03 pm (UTC)From:You will definitely deserve that strike when you get back. ;-)
And Happy Anniversary in advance, dear (((((Lin & Mr. Lin)))))!
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Date: 2006-07-12 04:04 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 03:56 pm (UTC)From:You'll be great at it, just don't take it too seriously. :-D We washed rubber dinosaurs and embedded them in the jello here.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-12 04:03 am (UTC)From:I'm planning on at least one Pakistani meal with rice, which for me somehow lends itself to LARGE quantities. And there will be fun aspects to all this, as I know all the people and have worked with them before.
Whew!
Date: 2006-07-11 04:21 pm (UTC)From:I've missed your posts while I was gone! And I missed you! I hope to catch up soon.
(((((Li ))))
Re: Whew!
Date: 2006-07-12 04:00 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 04:28 pm (UTC)From:(((((lin))))))
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Date: 2006-07-12 03:58 am (UTC)From::-D
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Date: 2006-07-11 07:37 pm (UTC)From:i dont envy you the poor air quality though not one bit! do chili - it always tastes better the next day and perhaps you can use leftovers for a new meal (remembering a ranch i went to for two days to teach first aid at...they reused the leftovers for three days)
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Date: 2006-07-12 03:57 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 09:10 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-07-12 03:57 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-07-13 03:34 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-07-14 08:03 am (UTC)From: