Sheepie87

about me

I am a graduate student living, teaching, and studying in France for a year. I love cooking, especially baking, but I don't agree with all that jazz about how you need to be SOOOO careful with your ingredients and measuring and all that when baking. If I were making a millefeuille, yeah, I'd be freaked, but cookies and cakes and muffins are no biggie. Who cares if you don't beat it exactly two minutes? Argh, renegade cook!
I have a very beaten, battered copy of Jane Garmey's fab Great British Cooking, although I just cannot bring myself to do the lard recipes (like half the book!). It really rocks, though.
I love languages and I hate it when people think they are hot stuff in another language (I'm talking to YOU, Alex Trebeck!!!) but aren't. Actually I just dislike pretentious people altogether. That includes YOU, yes YOU, the American Tourist who bumps into me (American Incognita) on the streets of Paris (which is in FRANCE, remember) and says "Sorry." Sorry? Couldn't we just say Pardon with a French accent? geesh. Also, yelling in English at people does not comprehension make.
I also have a major celeb crush on Anthony Bourdain. I think it's that whole bad-boy good-girl thing. Plus he's half-French. And majorly witty. Am on the lookout for him, but he's probably reclining in a palm frond beach chair in Tahiti filming an episode. Sigh.

Favorite Foods:

Hmm, difficult. Most of my favorite foods involve some kind of shellfish. So throw me a pile o' shrimp and I'm happy. I also love icky French foods that most normal American collegiates squeal about. Roquefort is the ambrosia of the gods (they're just a bit stinkier than imagined) and snails are heaven. Love mussels, but they have to be the teeny fresh kind. Those honkers you see in the grocery store are sour and nasty. I know, I had them once at a "real French" bistro in Chicago. Yech. Love Orangina. Anything with a white sauce calls my name, but I must avoid it like the plague lest my tummy grows jigglier (this is not a joke--alfredos are a real threat to me.)
I haven't yet been to my old fave bistro, but have discovered a new one: It's called Brasserie 1 and it's on Rue de l'École de Médecine in Paris in St Germain-des-Près. The food is super well priced, service rocks, and well, the food is good. Seriously good. And fresh. You can tell they actually cook it instead of stick the plate under a hood for a couple minutes. About 75% of the people in there are inhaling their Steak Tartare, which I must go try once I get paid. I shiver with delight.
I don't think I'm famous for a dish, but I do like to cook sweets for my older friends (great idea, Sheepie, practically kick them into the grave with a heart attack). People love my Sweet Potato Cake recipe I got from Emeril, but I personally hate it!!! Tastes kinda like pumpkin pie, which always makes me feel sick.
I also make a mean coq au vin. Oh, and pasta sauce. My mom's mom even liked my lasagna, and she only eats Little Debbies.

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