The view changes

Well as you know I'm now second cook since the other chef came on. It was a great blessing for Vincent to come aboard.
He is a talented chef and a great teacher, he had showed me many new things that when I am chief chef again will greatly help. It looks like ill be heading home on the 13th, for two weeks then back out on this ship or another fleet mate. But that should be till December if I heard right, maybe even till layup at the end of the year.
The company has said they want me back and will try to keep me working next year to. So if you want go sail the lakes and get paid real good. Drop me a txt or email and ill give your
Name to the office
Remember you Must have your TWIC card and MMC card Before you apply
To the company

Till next we meet
May your milk never curdle and you eggs always be fresh

Cinnamon rolls?

Well I tried my hand at backing some this week, I was very successful at the cinnamon rolls, why you ask? Because they were bought premade 😄
I also tried some chocolate drop cookies from the on-baking book from school, that was a total disaster
Spread to much dident bake even, just a bad day. But today I redeemed myself with chocolate butterscotch bars
I'm more rusty than I thought at baking than I thought. But that leaves lots of room for improvement. Till next time
May your flour never have worms and your yeast always bloom

Change happens

Well I was moved to the second cook position today, why you ask. Simple my second cook was done and the new chief cook has more company seniority than I do, thats ok. I can learn from him and when I get to be the top dog again I can use what I learned. He is very kind and well known. In fact when the crew found out he was coming they were very excited. The only drawback is I now have to do dishes and clean more, but he has even offered to help with that.
I will be able to use my baking skills more and that's a plus too, all in all it's just fine, oh and the pay difference is minimal also.
So it goes on a ship, never boring and always a new challenge , maybe I can get to posting those menus now 😄
Till next time
May you sauce never break and your butter never burn.

What's for dinner?

Well as promised I'm posting my menus for the first few days.
Sept 4
Breakfast
Eggs, omelets,pancakes,oatmeal, grits
Lunch
Burritos, hamburgers,clam chowder,salad, buttered carrots
Dinner
Orange sented beef short ribs, lemon pepper chicken,carrots and peas, rice
Apple pie

Sept 5
Breakfast
Eggs, omelets,pancakes,oatmeal, grits
Lunch
Blu cheese burgers, (I was allowed burgers 2 days in a row) grilled ham and cheese, cauliflower, fries
Dinner
Pork chops with apple sauce, parmesan walleye, cauliflower
Apple pie

That was the first two days pretty simple just getting used to galley and crew, that's not to easy, they eat at different times so you can't get a read on there likes or dislikes right away
But I'm getting there. More menus and thoughts and some pics to come

The trails and tribulations

Well I've been on board for over a week and it's been one of those weeks, in the first couple of days I forgot to make soup and my meals dident really go great. I had some good comments and some others. Just got in my shopping order, took 2 persons over a hour to put it away. Now figuring out the menu for the next few days, I want to do it for a week at a time but have been getting a brain block after 3 days. I know I'll get it sooner or later.
I have all my menus and when I have time I'll post them, speaking of time my schedule is like this, 5 am in the galley, 7 to 8 lunch, 8-10:30 prep for lunch and dinner. 11 lunch till 12. 12 to 1 clean up eat and off till 2 or 3 then back in galley for diner at 4 to 5.
Clean up shower fall in bed.
12 hour days with, hour or two off during the day.
It hard work but worth it in the long run.

Well Ive been on board for 6 days and cooking for 4. its not a easy job but it is worth the time. The only major problems I had are you must have a soup every day for lunch, well without fresh veggies to make it, thats not so easy. the previous cook, didn't make a full order before we left so Ive been scrambling to make soups. I havr to admit I will probably have to fall back on some canned soups now and then. Most of the meals have gone ok. A few glitches ere and there. I will post my menu's later this week. For any of you in menu planning class. PAY ATTENTION! Cost isent a big factor but planning and writing menus at least a week ahead is. you have to purchase or order your food only once per week, that means if you run out, your out of luck. Think you know how much butter to order, think again. Its a learning experience thats for sure. he crew is great and the most I have fed at one meal I think was 12. but that dosent mean you can slack of and under cook the full amounts. I havent run out of a item yet but i have been down to my last portion a couple of times.
Lunch and dinner must have 2 entrees and salad  plus the afore motioned soup. Also with this company the second cook cleans but isent required to cook, so Ive been doing deserts too. Thats also a requirement. Plus this crew loves cookies, not a written in stone rule, but you dont want to run out.
Im not allowed to repeat a item more than once every two weeks. Bring you cookbooks and recipes you will need them. BTW I start at 5 am, work till about 9 have a hour off then back till 2 or so, then back a 3 till 5 or 6. lots of hours but it can be done.

Well its 7:30 and Im bushed from today, Im going to turn in and wait till the am to do it all again.

Til next time, May your soup never be to salty and your captain be friendly.