So the dice are cast.

Today I was asked and cast my dice. I like to think that I listen to people very well. I know sometime it may not seem like I hear them but I do. I have a few people in my life that have the funniest way of saying exactly what I need to hear at the exact moment that I need to hear it. Not when I am looking for advice or input, just general conversation, but they say something that clicks.

Last year I had a letter of recommendation written for me, at the interview, I was asked if I knew what the letter said. As the letter was sealed when I received and turned it in I said I did not (which was true). And I was told that the letter spoke very highly of my integrity. I figured this traced back to a competition that I won, where I could of taken credit for the win on my own, and the person that had worked with me would of been 100% fine with it. I shared credit for this with her, as she was an equal member of the team, and was just a part of the win as I was. Thank you Chef.

I bring this up because of who wrote this I have felt like since then I have to live up to it even more. Honestly works best. If you lie, you have to remember the lie. That in itself is harder than just accepting the consequences of your actions.

I don't take credit for work I did not do, and give credit where it is due.

Rewards are best when they are actually earned, and I won’t push my friends out of the way for my needs. It is not I don’t consider it "selfless" just honest.

Enough with the endless babble, onto the culinary side.

So chefs get a flavor profile stuck in their heads. When they do, they will sometime explore it till they never want to taste it again. I am in one of those modes right now. The victim is.......

Cherry Anise.
This may sound like a weird one, but one night it came to me and has been stuck with me. Jam, Sauce and even a cupcake. It is nice, the jam itself will can be used as a base of the sauce or as a cake filling when done right.

But for the dish with the sauce I see it going along these lines:

Placed on a bed of wild rice which carries a very nutty flavor would be placed medallions of roasted pork tenderloin. This would be topped with the Cherry Anise sauce, that has a touch of soy sauce added to it.

Be Safe.

Gambling

I have been told many times that I am a gambler. Not with money, but with decisions. I take chances. When I make my decision I go with it.


I am a big fan of playing the cards that I am dealt. Anyone who has played poker can tell you that very few hands are winning hands. That is if you play the cards put in front of you. You have to also play the people at the table as well.

Dice are a little different. You make your bet then throw the dice. Where they land is your outcome. Win or lose you made your play.

What does this have to do with anything? Well it is life.

Sometimes you are dealt cards and you have to play them. When the hand is over you have to be able to look back and be able to say to yourself that you played the hand the best you could of. This may mean that you did not let everyone know the cards you hold. Standing fast hoping that the other person does not realize you are sitting on a weak hand, or on that you have all the cards and no matter how they play it, you are walking with the pot. Either way, you will learn something from the hand. Not only how that hand should be played, but also about your opponents.

As with dice, you have your choice, make your decision and throw the dice. Sometimes you come out ahead and other times you lose big. But without great risk you cannot reap great rewards. You stick with the decision till the game has ended. Then you can cash out and get ready for the next roll.

Where this is coming from is actually many fold. Many things are currently going on that make this analogy surface here. One is very recent that makes me very happy that I played my cards the way I did. The other makes me happy I threw my dice the direction I did.

I know this whole thing sounds cryptic and scattered but the meaning is there.

I remember most things of note that are said to me. I learn from them, directly and sometimes indirectly. Today I had someone say something to me that will most assuredly stay with me for a while, and made me realize that I did play a couple hands the correct way.

To paraphrase: Valentines may last for a day, but best friends are forever.

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