Top Chef Wanna Be

I religiously watch Top Chef every season. I know I said that reality TV is the spawn of the devil but I just can't wait to see what the Quick Fire Challenge will be each week. I am totally intimidated by all of the Chef's talents and techniques, at the same time I want to be competing right next to them. Alas, I am able to  do so in the privacy of my own home. If I were able to relocate my farmhouse back to Silver Lake, I would  invite all of my closest friends to my Quick Fire Challenge Dinner Party On The Farm. The day would start at the one of the 3 Hollywood Farmer's Market's which are flipping incredible. I am so absolutely amazed at the gorgeous produce that is showcased at these markets. 

Hollywood, http://www.hollywoodfarmersmarket.net/ 

Silver Lake, http://www.sunsetjunction.org/farmersmarket.htm  

Echo Park, http://www.sunsetjunction.org/farmersmarket.html 

Fingerling potatoes,sunflower produced chicken eggs, fertilized chicken eggs, duck eggs. Mushrooms of all different types. Fruits, and seafood to die for. FRESH FRESH FRESH!! EVERYTHING IS GORGEOUS!

I can't wait for my next visit! As I sit here chattering my teeth and look at my garden deteriorating from winter. Booo hooo! Wahhh!!

So now that I'm  shut in on the farm, I've been experimenting and cooking away.

Watching Tracie Norfleet  on Chef Academy has totally excited me and I try to prepare the meals they prepare every week on the show. 

SO here is my attempt at the bread. And I probably would have failed but I like to think perhaps not.

It was fun to watch the yeast rise, and I was concerned about the dough not having any elasticity. But then I remembered the spray bottle trick Chef Novelli showed his students. 

All I could find at the time was this spinach cheese ball that was slipped into my grocery basket by one of the kids. SO I plopped it onto of my rolled out dough, to bad the cheese spread was vile.

 

                                        I looked in the fridge for some, "quality filling" for my bread. 

I took my second lump of dough and put last night's pot roast inside. Delish! It was a little dry

 so I whipped up some Au-jus and MOUTHWATERING!!