New member from Michigan

[paddy]

Hello to all.

I'm a MRI Technologist and a chef want-a-be.

Love to cook when I have time.

I always do things the hard way. Cook from scratch.
Bread, pasta, beer, wine. (don't make my own beer and wine anymore though)

Hate pre-packaged mixes.
Love to collect cookbooks but I never use the recipes. I use them for reference and inspiration. I like to experiment and create as I go along.
I also like to copy great food that I have had in a restaurant.
Have a food processor and a real nice mandoline but I never use them as I like to play with sharp knives. Had a fun experience in Chicago with sharp knives. My current wife (so far 28 years) bought me a knife skills class at the Calphalon school. The chef told me that I should not waste my time with their classes and should go to cooking school. She told the class that my knife skills were much better than hers.

I like Alton Brown's show "Good Eats". I'm old enough to have seen Julia Child's show the first time. Liked Jacques Pépin's shows but missed most of them. Used to enjoy Jeff Smith's shows also.

Like to eat everything but innards.

Have been baking a lot of bread lately. Cold weather is great for home made soup and bread. Made cheese stuffed Crêpes for breakfast. Thinking of Chinese for dinner tonight (made sweet and sour sauce last night. Getting ready to corn some beef for St Patrick's day next month even though it really isn't Irish.

Waiting for spring so I can get my Miata ready to autocross and be able to grill without standing in the snow.

paddy
Westland, MI

[Mezzaluna]

Hello Paddy and welcome to Chef Talk! You're the type of person who will find plenty to delight you here. We have other members (both pros and home cooks) who make their own sausage and bacon; plenty of accomplished bakers; lots of knife-lovers; and tons of us who read cookbooks as if they were adventure guides.

Take a look around and enjoy the site. We hope you dive in and participate as often as you're able.

Welcome!
Mezzaluna

(By the way, thanks to a sharp MRI technologist, a cancerous tumor was discovered during an MRI of my back in October. The tech was kind enough to let me look at the image while they set up the CT to confirm the diagnosis. It was removed before I had any symptoms. I have immense respect for your profession!)

[paddy]

Thanks for the welcome.

I can see that I will learn much from the people here. I have already spent way too much time today looking at old posts. One was very interesting discussing the modest pay scale for the amount of education and experience. I think I will keep my current job and cook as a hobby.

Very glad things worked out well for you. I am always happy to show patients their images when they show an interest.

Dinner was great though the wife was not able to taste it (beginning of a cold has dampened her sense of smell.

Sweet and sour chicken and peanut butter noodles to honor Chinese new year.

paddy

Originally Posted by Mezzaluna

(By the way, thanks to a sharp MRI technologist, a cancerous tumor was discovered during an MRI of my back in October. The tech was kind enough to let me look at the image while they set up the CT to confirm the diagnosis. It was removed before I had any symptoms. I have immense respect for your profession!)