Ratatouille

 


A few years ago, Pixar made an ambitious movie about rats---cooking rats. While some were too disgusted to even walk into the theater, I was in love with the French-themed film. So in love, in fact, that I was determined to cook this lovely, visually delicious "peasant dish" that so enticed Ego that he had flashbacks of his childhood.

Thankfully, I did not have to make it up on my own. Rachel Ray actually created a replica of the dish in honor of the movie. I have copied the link here for you to watch her make it. It looks complicated, but it is actually quite simple. If you're in a hurry, I recommend using an automatic vegetable slicer for the squash and zucchini. It cuts them nice and thin. Also, I typically double the recipe for my family of six and serve it with fresh salad and French bread.

It is a great meal to make with the family. It is a little time-consuming to cut up all of the vegetables, make the sauce, and  arrange the vegetables in a nice little spiral.

Ratatouille is now my favorite food. It is mild enough that it is homey and comforting, but it also has the flavor and texture of a creative, gourmet dish. The sauce is excellent, the secret being whole roasted red peppers. Rachel Ray covers it with parchment paper, which I highly recommend after trying some other things. But if you like your vegetables less brown and more tender, you could use foil. Just make sure you take it off half way through so that the moisture can evaporate. It's almost like boiling it when you do this.

Here is the link to Rachel Ray's recipe. I hope you try it and love it as much as my family and I do.

 http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/ratatouille/

Happy cooking,

Emily

                                                                              



http://pixartimes.com/2013/04/02/the-pixar-perspective-on-the-pixar-moment-and-ratatouille/

 

Tunnel Vision

I don't know about you, but when I'm working on a project, I get what is called "tunnel vision." My surroundings go dim, my eyes are wide, and my mind is turning. I can only focus on one thing: my project. I love to have a new obsession, something to get excited about, but it can also become extremely draining and distracting.

I recently got caught up in a new obsession. I have a passion for trying new things, and this time it is crochet shoes (like slippers only with durable soles). I have made five right-foot shoes so far, all discarded as I attempt to master the pattern I am making. I finally created a pattern I really like the other day. As you can see, it still needs a few adjustments, but I hope to make more to sell on my Etsy shop soon.

But here's the problem. This tunnel vision, while it seems exciting at first, distracts me from everything else if I'm not careful. I work all day without talking to other people or getting out of the house. I get sleepy, and eventually my brain fries and I am useless creatively. Because of this, I have to work in moderation. I'll work in the garden for an hour, eat with my family, go to church, have coffee with a friend, etc. Anything to get my mind out of creative-mode. No matter how valuable something is, no matter how much you love your work, moderation is key to success. Trying too much will waste your creative juices away. Take the time to fuel your tank and remember what truly matters.

Even more importantly, devote yourself to people, not projects. I learned a tough lesson today as I met a new group of friends. We talked about what we devote ourselves to and if any of it matters. In the end, people are what matter.

Where are you going? What is it for? How can you turn a hobby into a service to others? Because tunnel vision is really another word for narrow-minded--focusing on self. Broaden your scope. There's a whole world out there, waiting to be seen and known.

Enjoy your crafting--but don't let it consume you.

-Emily