Cream Potatoes & Peas

This recipe brings me back to a simpler time when the demands of life weren't so crazy. It was a time when you couldn't get on a computer or just pick up your smart phone and search for a recipe to make for dinner. This was a time when everything you consumed was produced from your own hard work. My grandmother used to pick all of the ingredients from her own garden and make this soup for my mom, and my mom made it for me.  Although we are unsure of the recipes origins, it is inexpensive and delicious. All you need are 3 main ingredients!

Cream Potatoes and Peas

 Ingredients:
4 cups Water
8-12 Medium Red Potatoes,cut into 4ths
small package of Peas
1 can of canned milk
1/4 c cornstarch
1/4c cold water
Seasoned salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Boil Potatoes in water until soft
• add peas and canned milk without draining the water. It should thicken up a little bit.
• Meanwhile, make a slurry by combining the cornstarch and cold water. Slowly add the slurry a little at a time letting it thicken. You may not need to add all of it.
• Salt and Pepper to taste. I like seasoned salt because it adds a little more flavor!

White Chocolate Trifle

This is such a great dessert! It's so rich and creamy, you just can't get enough. This was one of the desserts I did for our Graduation Party but I made  individual servings in water glasses. I'll have to make the individual one again to get a picture!  

 

White Chocolate Trifle

Source: Adapted from allrecipes.com

 Ingredients

• 1 (19.8 ounce) package brownie mix
• 1 Egg
• 1 3/4 cups cold milk
• 2 (3.3 ounce) packages Jello instant white chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups frozen cool whipped topping, thawed
• 3 (1.4 ounce) bars chocolate covered toffee bars, chopped

Directions

1. Prepare brownies according to package directions, except add 1 extra egg than it calls for. Bake and cool completely. Cut into 1 inch cubes.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and pudding mix until mixture begins to thicken.  Fold in whipped topping.
3. Fill a piping bag with pudding mixture
4. In a glass serving bowl, layer one-third of brownie cubes, one-third of pudding mixture and one-third of candy. Repeat layering until all ingredients are used. Chill 30 minutes in refrigerator before serving.

What is a Level 3 Chef?

In 2010, I graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in Culinary Arts! I had a Chef who would always tell us to strive to be a "Level 3 Chef" When we asked what that meant he brought us this definition.

If you are a Level 3 Chef you:

• Have hospitality soul
• Are in the "Happy Business"
• Oooooz Love
• Have a service personality and a want to "Do Good"
• Have the Buzz
• Give social enthusiasm
• Call people by name
• Generate "the Glow"
• Put others comfort before my own
• Please others and have the "attitude of service"
• Never complain, but are anxiously engaged

 Chef Todd Leonard

Now I know some of these probably don't make much sense but, if any of you know what it is like to work in a restaurant kitchen during the dinner rush....it is pretty hard to "Ooooz Love" or Generate any kind of "Glow", except for maybe the sweat on your face! One of my favorite Disney movies is Ratatouille. It's when Linguini begins working in the kitchen and is slowly cutting up vegetables...

Colette: What are you doing?
Linguini: [stammering] Uh, I'm cutting vegetables. I'm cutting the... vegetables?
Colette: No! You waste energy and time! You think cooking is a cute job, eh? Like Mommy in the kitchen? Well, Mommy never had to face the dinner rush when the orders come flooding in, and every dish is different and none are simple, and all of the different cooking times, but must arrive at the customer's table at exactly the same time, hot and perfect! Every second counts, and you CANNOT be MOMMY! 

Well, I am now Mommy and cooking in the kitchen is definitly a different atmosphere...one that I completely love and wouldn't change for anything! I believe these Level 3 Chef attribute are still great things to strive for in everyday life. I love cooking and want to inspire others to also. I hope you will enjoy these recipes and tips and come to love "The Level 3 Chef"