Today I am feeling very sweet.. ha ! I really shouldn't and should be thinking about dieting. But, it is cold and it is hard to be so disciplined all the time. So I thought I would be very naughty and make my favourite candy - nougat - from the original French recipe... such a unique thing and so beautiful with the delicacy of almond essence. Only 3 more days till skiing... yay... the snow is still looking amazing and waiting for me.. it was bad yesterday only one person on the mountain ..

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Today I am feeling a bit better - it has been a funny few days. I am also most annoyed that I can't get up to my holiday house just yet - it is a ski chalet at Lake Ohau, New Zealand where I am totally addicted to skiing now and just want to be there all the time (when not in the kitchen). I have to wait another 3 days, I can only get up there on weekends at present and there has just been another big dump of snow and everyone on their webcam keeps saying how fabulous it is... great.

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I am going home soon to play some music. I need to relax but finding it hard to do lately. I am going to practice Claude Debussey's Claire de Lune and Reverie on my piano. I want to be able to play them well in four weeks time. I am also practising Beethoven's "In the Country". Trouble is, the beautiful sound makes me sad... too sad and I will need to go back to the kitchen to recover... baking is a true soul soother... tomorrow I will bake... new recipe for you all.

Home made bread is the best... the smell in the kitchen when its cooking is as close to heaven on earth as you can get. Also, when you make it, you get a real feeling of achievement and you can take out your frustrations on the dough when kneading, you are getting a good workout for your upper body - I also use a big dough so that's probably why my arms are bit muscly now... and apart from the carbs, it is amazing comfort food... I just wish I could be making some now.

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I am feeling lonely today even though there are many people around me - it is hard to be creative when being stifled by those in power - who know nothing of food - I am told to serve food to my customers that I did not cook myself and I find this impossible to do - I take responsibility for my own cooking - anyway - my outlet here gives me the oportunity to satisfy my lust for serving others beautiful and satisfying food. Enjoy !

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This is my first day on my blog and I really don't know how this works but I am giving it a try. I am a frusttrated chef/writer/cook who started life as a musician (and still am in my heart). My aim is to help others achieve perfect results, every time, first time. - I have a book - or really it is a manuscript - and tried all over the world - to find an agent but apparently I don't have a "platform" from which to launch my book so in the bin it went.. It is "Never Fail in the Kitchen Again"...

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