Long weekend, short week!

This three day weekend was exactly what I needed after a busy week.  I enjoyed time at the gym, a pedicure, family time and a fantastic happy hour night with the amazing love doves.  Hey, a gals gotta cut loose and have a little fun here and there.  If you don't, you just might go crazy.  Knowing that this week is a short one makes me smile a little more.

We had our first written test yesterday.  Because of my lack of being able to remember some of the terminology, I received an 82%.  After our test we were taught to make French onion soup.  I was pretty disappointed because I am truly not a fan.  I love onions and I love soup, I just don't like them together as a soup.  Chef informed us that it was considered the French's "poor man soup" and that is exactly what it tastes like to me.  Over cooked onions cooked in broth.  Chef and a couple of my fellow students said it was good.  Eh, I thought it was blah and that is why I didn't even bother to take a picture.

Although we were all dying from the abnormal heat today, we were all so happy and excited to finally make...Gumbo!  You would think with all those ingredients slowly simmered to perfection, you wouldn't be able to differentiate what is what.  Absolutely wrong! Every piece of spicy sausage, chicken and shrimp sustains itself against that beautiful, brown, thick sauce.  We served it proper like with a perfect scoop of white steamed rice.  Don't forget that all you need to make a flavorful steamed rice is, a little salt and butter.  I walked around the class and just watched everyone smile and nod as they enjoyed every spoonful of perfect spice in their mouth.