Chef Brad in Home Event, Irvine California

It is great when best friends unit and share time together.  Sunny, Suzy, and Hillary at the Chef Brad Event

I think Hillary's kitchen has seen better moments.

Hillary and Sunny,  Hillary was the hostess for this Chef Brad Event. 

I think Hillary's Kitchen has ever been this Crazy.

    What a great week this was.  I spent three amazing days in the home of Hillary Pate doing what I do best, teaching and cooking.  It was one long class that started on Tuesday night and ended on Saturday morning.

     Tuesday night I started by teaching three short mini classes for a woman's group.  It was fun and just enough time to teach them all about fiber and how it works.   It was great.

     The fun really started on Thursday morning.  The first of the classes that started at about 9:30 Thursday morning and ended on Saturday at about 12:30

    We covered everything from pressure cooking to baking bread and all kinds of great things in between.

My newest creation.  Red quinoa mandarin orange salad.

     If you are wondering what a Chef Brad Event is I will explain.  A Chef Brad Event is a series of classes held in a private residence.  In this case it was the home of the Pate Family.  

     The hostess, home owner called and scheduled a time that worked for both of us.  The hostess invites anyone who is interested in learning and thus the fun begins.  We schedule anywhere from 2 to 3 classes each day and go for 2 to 4 days.
There is a charge for the classes.

     We eat and learn for days and cover so much.  My slogan for a Chef Brad Event is that "It will change your life forever".  It does happen.  So much to learn and such a fun way to learn. Eating and spending time with friends.  If you don't start out being friends you soon become best friends.




 






       Nothing like a happy face eating food.  This class was the salad class.  Grains make the best salads ever.


     












     Oh so tasty. Everyone loves salads made with whole grains.  The secret to success is making dressings that are full of flavor.  Salad dressings should excite the taste buds.














     On more mouthful of perfection.  Yum, it is great.

    It seems like they always take the picture at the wrong moment.   It did capture the "yum" in her expression.

Sunny kept waiting for something that was not fabulous.  

Who could resist this darling baby.   

     When you are spend a few days in someones home you get to know them really well.  I really enjoyed this family.  The children were wonderful.  I had a great time.  Babies are amazing and I love them.

Grandpa practice.

     Years ago when I was a missionary I held the babies in church so the parents could listen.  I love babies.  This was a big bonus for me to be able to hold him and feed him.  It just does not get better.

A visual of some of the things we baked.  The pizza class was great and the sandwich class was a huge hit.  The spinach sandwich bread was amazing.

 

Avery loved it.  Even with the spinach on top. 

 

 

 

 



   Chef Brad Events really can change your life.  Not that I am that great, it is just when we learn great principle, our lives are changed.  Chef Brad Events are all about teaching truths that change lives.  Chef Brad Events are designed to inspire those that attend to get back into the kitchen and really enjoy cooking food that not only taste great, but is good for you.
Maybe I will have the privilege of doing a Chef Brad Event in your home.  That would be great.  Chef Brad~America's Grain Guy.

Fruits of our labor...

Fresh Apricot Pear Jam

     I love jam making and even though my fruit trees are young I still collect the fruit and make jam.  I hate to waste the fruits of my labor.  Sometimes I will even freeze the fruit until I have enough to make jam.  If birds are a problem it is really a good idea to pick the fruit as soon as it is ripe, not wait until all of it is done.  Sometimes waiting will make you miss out on making jam.

     One reason I make jam is to cut back on the sugar, store bought jam tends to have a lot of sugar. The other reason is, I love the feeling of accomplishment I feel when I make jam.  I love looking at stacked jars of jam on the shelves.  It really makes me happy.  And the cost of making good quality jam is very low compared to what you spend for store bought.  You can spend up to five dollars a jar for good quality jam.  And making it at home can be under one dollar a jar.

Fresh fig from my tree. Fig jam is the best ever.  Figs also act as a filler for other fruit jams. 

Best Pectin in the World

     This is Pomona's Universal Pectin.  It is the best because it allows you to adjust the sugar, or even use honey.  I use Xagave in a lot of my jams.  Other pectins are not as versatile as Pomona's in that you have to be precise in making the jams.  If you are not precise, the jams will not turn out.  Also with Pomona's you can do more then one batch at a time.  I often do as  many as 4 to 6 batches at a time.  I have used Pomona's for years and have had great success with it.  It's a wonderful product and it allows you to be healthier in your jam making.  Another great thing about Pomona's is that you can mix the fruits and create your own recipes.  Just follow the formula in the box and let the fun begin.

Chef Brad~America's Grain Guy

June Third Sunday Dinner Report

Extra Hot Waffles

          June Third Sunday Dinner was actually on the second Sunday.  My family insisted because of Fathers Day we do it early.  It was a crazy day, no a crazy week.  I spent the week before teaching a total of 14 classes in California (new blog coming).  I arrived home late on Saturday night.  I sent my dear wife to the store before I got home to pick up butter milk and eggs for the waffles.  I chose waffles because it is easy and minimal preparation is required.  Just grind the flour fresh and mix the dough.

     The trick with serving waffles for a group is to start before they arrive by turning the oven on to 200 degrees and placing the cooked waffles in the oven to keep warm.  It works great.  I just need to start sooner next time. We kept up really well until the end, a few waited for a minute or two for a waffle.  Not bad considering how many we made.  I had three waffle irons going,  the problem with my old house is that  if I have to much going on it flips the breaker.  So I have to be careful.  I have six waffle irons, but only could use three.  You can never own to many waffle irons.  

     Each one is different,  from a lacy heart waffle to Mickey Mouse waffles I enjoy each one for different reasons and sometimes I am in the mood for thin and other times for thick.  That is why I have six.  Part of the reason.  I just love waffles.   

My grandaughter 

   


             My family loves Third Sunday Dinner.  I love having them come.  My son-in-law loves waffles and my daughter hates them.  So he is thrilled to come and eat waffles.  She won't make them at home.  And I am thrilled to feed him.  He is wonderful and I am so grateful for him and how perfectly he fits into our family.  Just another son to me.  

Do I see a can of whipped cream on that counter?

   

   Sunshine, don't you just love that name, was thrilled to get a Mickey Mouse Waffle.  By the way, her name suits her perfectly.  She is a ray of sunshine.  I adore her.  

Whole Grain Waffles made with WonderFlour

Who needs a plate.

        Rainy is a wonderful friend.  She love coming to Third Sunday Dinner.  She is also a great cook.  She alway surprises us with some great creation.  This month she prepared a wonderful baked feta eggs dish.  I wanted to take the credit, everyone was raving about it and asking who prepared the wonderful egg dish.  Rainy is a master candy maker.  I am so excited,  she promised me some for Fathers day.  I hope she does not forget.

     Do I look happy.? I am.  NOTHING is better in life than having a house full of people you love eating great food and making life long memories.

Justin is my junior Chef assistant.  He is great.  

Everyone is happy. 

Intent on filling the plates. 

       It was over 100 degrees out side, but that did not stop them from eating out.  I guess by the fence it was shaded and cooler.  So out came the tables and chairs and everyone was happy.

Still not to hot to eat outside.  

It gets busy around the food counter. 

Egg shells are not in the recipe.  

I just keep mixing.

And Mixing. 

Happy day.  

     One more Third Sunday Dinner successfully accomplished.  Life is at it's fullest when we are with others sharing the things we love.  I have to admit I was a little fried and it would have been easy to just skip it, but after all is done I am filled with peace and joy knowing the great things that just happened in our home.  I have a feeling that I have no idea how many great things happen that I may never even know,  but the feeling I get in my heart as I collapse  into my bed at the end of a week like this is worth every effort and all the time spent.   Chef Brad~America's Grain Guy