Find your inner woman 8: the Chef

So I was craving chicken cordon bleu and had this bright idea of how to get it...like actually the way I wanted it (aka my mom's recipe). So instead of asking Jared to make it, I just asked if I could make it one Friday for work day and they totally said yes! So we got all the ingredients and the big day arrived!

I started at 3:15 and wow...it's a good thing. I have never even MADE it before...I mean, like maybe once but to make it for around 40 people!?!?!? It was crazy. We had 72 pieces of chicken in 3 hotel pans. Then I hate to slice most the cheese, which took awhile and then we had fresh sliced ham, which took another while, and then I had to find enough cream of chicken soup...we didn't really have enough but I just added a bit more milk to make it go farther. I didn't realize when I started this whole that I would be basically in charge of the whole meal, but I had a blast. I was directing people here and there who came up asking for a job, got people working on Greek salad, getting the pasta ready, and fetching rolls (that's right, I actually called them rolls the whole time!). So by this time, it is about 4:30 and the chicken really needs to get in the oven. We sprinkle some bread crumbs on, pour some butter over it and in they go. (I have no idea if they are really going to turn out but I'm hoping for the best.)

Now over to the Greek salad. Lish had mixed up the dressing and her and a few people were working on cutting veggies. I showed them how big I wanted them, and how much etc and then we realized we had no cucumbers...problem. So we call Jared, who is out with a group of guys at the shooting range and he says he'll bring some at 5:25...5 minutes before dinner...

Next we have to figure out a dessert and I totally hadn't thought of anything and so we are all just sitting there thinking and I have the bright idea of a trifle...not really thinking it would work but it just so happens that we have 2 sheet cakes and enough whipped topping to make two for dessert (they turned out SO awesome!).

Finally, we are down to pretty much being done: waiting for the chicken, waiting for the cucumbers, testing the pasta. Everything was ready 15 minutes before dinner time...just waiting for the cucumbers. We set out all the dishes, get the chicken out (and it looks amazing and I am so excited) and then in walks Jared with the cucumbers. Three of us on the job and 3 minutes later, the salad is done as well. I have to say, I was feeling pretty good. I had had a blast and now, was hoping people would like it.

As people went through the line, I explained what it all was (many had never even heard of Greek salad!) and suggested putting the sauce on the pasta as that was how I liked it. Some people were a little skeptical - especially of the salad but everyone LOVED it! I was so happy to serve all these people something that they really enjoyed. I kept getting compliments until I was worried I was going to become a little prideful!

It was a fabulous evening and I can't thank all my helpers enough. Makes me wanna be a chef! ...but...I highly doubt that's gonna happen...

Ended the day off with broom ball and a movie - doesn't get much better than that!