so very much so

in need of a vision.

recipe testing!!

Chef Dominique asked me to work on some cookie recipes for the new bakery that's going to open up this summer/fall near Lincoln Center, and I mixed three doughs today. He had already left by the time I finished mixing the doughs, so he's going to save baking them until tomorrow...but, since I won't be at work tomorrow, I wanted to bake some and make sure they tasted okay.

I made a chocolate caramelia cookie (of similar consistency and makeup to the famed levain cookie), and a peanut butter cookie (one of my all-time faves), and I had some coworkers try it. Their response made me sooooooo happpyyyy -- they all LOVED them!! One of my French coworkers, who is pretty critical about how food looks and tastes, was blown away by the peanut butter cookie and gave me a HUGE high five, followed by a request for the recipe! I only wish I could see chef's reaction to my cookies tomorrow.... I'm really crossing my fingers he'll end up using some of this stuff for the bakery! Better yet, I hope chef keeps asking me to work on these fun little projects for him! It would feel so nice being able to contribute something of Nancy-origin to the world of Daniel Boulud-related establishments :) :) :)

choose

Pastor JR Vassar of Apostles NYC has been preaching on a sermon series titled "Choose" for the beginning of 2011, in which he asks us to choose the things that please God as we start this new year. I must say, this series has been excellent so far, and I would highlyyy encourage everyone to listen to it. The one that spoke to me the most was the "covenant vs. consumerism" one. Actually, "community vs. radical individualism" was really powerful too.

http://www.apostlesnyc.com/media/sermons/

:)

PS - Apostles NYC has a free podcast! Great for those long commutes! *nudge nudge*

working with fobs

I just realized... 3/4 people that I spend 12 hours with every day for 5-6 days a week speak English as a second language to their native tongue of French or Korean. Since communication is HUGE in our line of business, it's no wonder why I feel like my brain has to work 2x as hard in order to 1) communicate in a way that my coworkers can understand and 2) to comprehend what they're saying.

I've been training my Korean friend and a new French girl this past week, trying to explain all the nuances of the stations they're now taking over... Additionally, I spent 3 hours having coffee with my Croatian coworker this past week, and I also just spent 4 hours chatting with my Korean friend in ktown. Man oh man, my brain is exhaaauustteeeedd from deciphering their Engrish. I need a break!!

sometimes I wonder...

pants

As I was growing up, people would call me by some nicknames, such as "nance," but none of them ever really replaced "nancy". Some of the weirder ones I've had were "G-ma" (from Shanghai friends), "fancy nancy"....or "wildchild" (from Manatee and Atown). More recently, LOTS of people have been calling me "Nancy pants". I don't know why, but people from all different places (church, school, work) all get the idea to call me "nancy pants". My coworkers have even shortened it to just calling me "pants", so when they say hi to me or need to get my attention, they just call out "pants"!

Sherry has also gotten into this weird habit of calling me "ponce" or sometimes even "poncy ponce", which I guess sounds like "pants" or "nancy pants". It's so strange. Who woulda thought that 'pants' could ever become someone's nickname...

stumptown

checklist

Hello February! Wowzers. 1/12 of the way through 2011 already!

Anyway, here's what I hope to accomplish on my day off (today):

- venture out to jersey to have "lunch" with catherin

- get stumptown coffee with my coworker

- bake bread pudding, honeycomb peanut brittle, chocolate spice bread, and maybe even a tangerine meringue pie if I have the energy... as well as test out a taro mooncake recipe for Chef

- read while mallory does work

- leaders mtg!

- clean/organize my room, kitchen, and pantry...

- call my seester

accomplish-able? maybe if I don't wake up at 11AM tmrw like I usually do... hahaha

[no NJ, no mal, failed my peanut brittle, and definitely woke up at 11....hahahaha]