New York Nortons

I started back in cooking classes at the French Culinary Institute yesterday this time taking the 22 week course: Culinary Technique.  I loved the 8 week Essentials of Fine cooking so much that I decided to commit 22 Saturdays to really learn how to cook.  I thought about the 5 week Breakfast Breads class but lets face it - I don’t have the counter space to make croissants.  Our first class almost didn’t happen because of the storm of the century.  A part of me almost wanted to get snowed in and have class canceled like I was 10 years old.  My neighbor reminded me that even if we got a foot of snow Jubilee market would be open and I could walk to Bway & Grand.

My class of 24 students is very diverse this time and not shy.  Our locker rooms are on the 3rd floor with the library, the classroom is on the 4th floor next to the Italian kitchen and I get a photo badge!!!  After changing into our uniform (complete with neckerchief) we walked back to the waiting area and Chef Xavier Mayonove is standing there!!!  I had 4 different teachers during my Essentials class.  I really liked having different instructors because they had very different teaching styles.  The last 2 weeks we had Chef X - born in Corsica, he is a passionate teacher with a very thick French accent.  If he doesn’t remember the English word, he just inserts the French one with an American accent.  He doesn’t put up with any student’s hair being outside their hat, he won’t let you snack on the food you make until after plating and don’t even think about leaving the classroom without his permission.  He walked over to me and said , “Ashley, I know you, which class were you in?”  He had coached me through dismembering a live lobster last December.  Naturally, I was memorable.  Because he didn’t have any student assistants, I was his go to errand girl.  “Ashley, take this group to the 2nd floor for water.”  “Ashley, what is this pot called?”  “Ashley, please put up the fine chinois.”  He expects a lot from his students and when I couldn’t figure out how to calibrate my thermometer (which he pronounces it like ‘terminator’) he shook his head and said “oh Ashley.” How deflating!!!!!

We spent the entire class on taillage - a method of cutting vegetables.  In my first Essentials class we “learned” the same cuts and cooked 2 vegetable dishes in the same amount of time.  I would have been lost with my lack of knife skills if I hadn’t taken the Essentials class.  This time I could really focus on cutting the onion confidently and precisely.  Thankfully Daniel had sharpened my knives the night before.  I learned another method of cutting a finer ciseler (dice) which I need to practice.  Everyone made a half sheet pan of:

1. Onion: emicer and ciseler
2. Carrots: jardiniere, macedoine, julienne and brunoise
3. Turnip: jardiniere and macedoine
4. Leek: emicer, julienne and brunoise
5. Cabbage: chiffonade

If we accomplished that with time left, then we attempted to cut 4 5 centimeter long cocottes from a single potato.  After peeling and quartering a potato, with a pairing knife cut seven sides then smooth out the edges. This sounds easy but it very hard.  First, you have to know how to use your pairing knife correctly which makes my hand cramp.  Then you have to have the control to turn the vegetable - like following the shape of an egg laterally.  Our homework is to bring in 4 potatoes tourner for Chef X to critique.

I actually made it through class without cutting any fingers.  Every time someone sliced a finger Chef X would yell out the number then quickly bandage the wound and send he student back to their station to continue.  When I sliced my thumb in Essentials I took the time to bandage it, cover with a finger condom and avoided my pairing knife the rest of the class.  I better not cut my finger in this class.  Finally Chef X came to inspect my tray and pointed to each cut quickly and I had to name the cut - macedoine, ciseler, brunoise, ciseler, jardiniere, emicer, etc etc.  I’m ok at pronouncing each cut but need to learn how to spell them for my written test!!!!

We don’t have class next week because the school is closed for President’s Day.  I will spend the weekend watching the Winter Olympics and making chicken stock.

Ashley Ash cooking, nyc

Daniel has Daily Mile, Twitter, Facebook and Run Talk Radio to blog about his life so I’m using this site as my cooking journal. I hope you enjoy.

PS: I reserve the right at any time to give up on this blog like I have done with every other journal I’m not a writer like Tay.

Ashley Ash cooking

Despite what the activity on our blog suggests, Ashley and I are very much alive and well. We’ve been really busy with work and play over the last few months, and the blog has quietly sunk in priority. We aren’t making this a resolution or anything, but we will use this site a little more.

• First, I changed the theme again. I really didn’t like the colors or the layout of the last one. This one has a much better design.
• Second, I’ve upgraded the back-end to WordPress 2.7 (non-nerd probably don’t care about this, but it’s much easier to use now.)
• Third, I want to try out video blogging this year. This is the right place to do that.

We hope that you all had a relaxing holidays and are enjoying 2009 so far.

Daniel nyc

I wrote this article after my Grandfather passed away. I intended to send it to the editor of the Newnan Times Herald, but it ended up going way past the original 300 word limit.

On Tuesday, November 25, my grandfather, Thomas Edward Norton, finally arrived at the destination where his heart has been for the last 60 years. His loss has left a tremendous void in the lives of those who knew and loved him, especially for his wife of 59 years, my grandmother. We know that his life in the Kingdom of God continues today in part because he raised us in our common faith and lived a life devoted to that Kingdom. Our bittersweet sadness is not without hope. We believe that we will be with him again, but we hurt nonetheless because we have lost such a passionate teacher, mentor and role model.

Over the last months of his life, I have thought a great deal about how much my grandfather has shaped who I am and what lessons he has imparted to those of us who were fortunate enough to know him.  I want to share a few that have had a meaningful impact in my life and serve to illustrate what a unique, amazing man he is.

First, my grandfather taught me to take pleasure in the happiness of others. From his example, I began to understand that having a servant’s heart is simple and blessed if you can take joy in the serving. He showed unfailing devotion to my grandmother and delighted in meeting her needs.  He cherished her and filled her life with song and laughter simply because he delighted in her happiness.  His love for the happiness of others extended into the lives of all those around him.  No matter the circumstances, I always felt uplifted and glad after talking to him because he paid such close attention to the details of my life, and I took comfort in the knowledge that he would be praying for me about even those small things every day.

My grandfather demonstrated the meaning of Colossians 3:12 - “therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  Of all his lessons, the most difficult seem to be living a life of humility and patience as he did.  My life is a rush of constant deadlines, frustrations and the almost constant desire to take the most convenient path; yet when I stop to reflect on his life, I appreciate and envy that he never bowed to those pressures or failed to slow down to take care of what was truly important to him.  No matter the situation, he always stood by his convictions never wavering in his faith, humility or honesty. 

With a tenth grade education, my grandfather, who valued knowledge and constantly strove to learn and grow, became a self-taught engineer.  He applied that same intellectual vigor to studying and understanding the Bible so that according to 1 Peter 3:15, he would “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope you have.”  He instilled in me a passion for the pursuit of wisdom especially the pursuit of the knowledge of God.  Over the years, we had many long and challenging discussions about our faith - all of which left me with a better understanding of what I believed.  One of our last conversations was about our ultimate destination as citizens of the Kingdom of God.  Although we rarely agreed on every theological point, we both rejoiced in the hope of the glory of God; and we will be united again someday in our service of the resurrected King.

Until that day, I resolve to live a life that honors and emulates my grandfather’s lessons.

Daniel Norton

Daniel family

More Pictures
We just returned from a very relaxing week on Sanibel Island. Here’s a quick break down of the wildlife we saw:

alligator - and there’s a good story involved. Taylor, comment?
iguana
racoon
gopher tortise
alligator snapping turtle
sting ray
hermit crabs
sea urchins
ospreys
school of fish
lizards
frog

Daniel activities, travel

Again, I apologize for not writing on this blog more.

Daniel activities

Jerry’s trip to New York culminated with the Five Boro Bike Tour. Ashley took the shortcut back across the Brooklyn Bridge at mile 30, but the two of us soldiered on to the end - Staten Island Baby (in the words of David Harris.)

Daniel activities

We had a really pretty but short-lived snow this week. I went to Central Park at lunch on Thursday to grab a couple pictures. Maybe next year we’ll get snow that sticks around for a couple days and allows us to go out and play.

Daniel activities

I’ll add a better Christmas post later. In the mean time, here is a shot of my favorite Sak’s window this year.

Daniel activities

Ashley and I have certainly enjoyed blogging for the past couple years to keep everyone updated on what’s going on with us in New York. We also enjoy reading about other friends and family, but the only person in the family who had a blog until today was Taylor. However, my mom just started a new site to write about her journey to start a business as an art agent in Atlanta. Check out http://emergingartscene.blogspot.com when you have a chance. Good luck, Mom!

Daniel atlanta, family