Why I May Never Find A Job

    I had a job interview last Friday. I thought that it went well, and the owner of the establishment informed me at the conclusion of the interview that I was the front- runner for the position. I didn't ask for exorbitant amounts of money (Ten bucks an hour, plus a percentage of the monthly sales.) I was my normal well spoken, charming, insightful self. I even got a couple of laughs out of the owner. He told me he would be making his final decision by Saturday.

    Well, here it is, Tuesday, and I haven't heard from him. Yesterday I sent him an email, asking him if he, in fact, had made his decision and if so, why was I not considered for the position. I have received no response.

    I suppose I find this so annoying because, with a little feedback, I could alter the way I'm approaching my job search, be more effective, and maybe actually GET A JOB.

    I'm curious to find out if this is a standard practice in all businesses. When you are told that you are being considered for a position, and you don't get it, does the company have a responsibility to tell you why you did not "get the gig?" It seems only fair, especially after telling you that you are a strong contender for the position, to inform you as to why you were not hired.

    I know it makes me sound like a braggart, but there are very few cooks/ chefs out there that can match my depth and breadth of experience. If prospective employers took the time to check my references, they would find out that I'm a bulldog who's always looking for inspiration, is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, and will not settle for "good enough." Apparently, wanting to make a decent living, and not working ninety hours a week is too much to ask.

    It probably has a lot to do with my unstable work history. I have had SIX JOBS IN THE LAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS, and have left them all for a variety of crappy treatment, general disrespect to employees, and full blown sociopathic behavior. It's hard to have a stable work history when you work for generally unstable people, some of whom I have featured on this blog!

    That's all I got today!

Love,Peace, and Bacon grease!

Curried Butternut and Pear Soup

This is a delicious soup I made on Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

• 1 (2 pound) butternut squash (I used two smaller squashes)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (I use the pre-chopped.)
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups reduced sodium vegetable broth
• 2 firm ripe Bartlett pears, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2 inch dice
• 1/2 cup half and half
• You can substitute oil for the butter and soy milk for the half and half, and make this recipe vegan.

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

2.Poke the butternut all over with a fork.

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3. Roast the squash for half an hour, flip it, and roast for another half hour. While the squash is roasting, dice the onion, the pears, and the ginger. (The garlic, too, if you are using fresh.)

 4. Saute the pear, onion, garlic, ginger, and curry. I add the curry when some of the liquid has been released from the mirepoix.

5. Cover this mixture with the half the vegetable stock, and boil it until the pears are cooked through.

6. Peel the butternut while it is still warm. Doing it this way is very easy, and reduces waste. Remove the seeds. You can wash and toast the seeds, and use them as a garnish for the soup, if you wish. Add the cooked squash to the pot, add the rest of the stock, and bring it up to temperature.

7. When the mixture is hot, puree it in small batches in a food processor or blender, until it's smooth, and return it to the pot.  I hate to have to insult intelligence of a few for the safety of the populace, but REMEMBER TO VENT THE BLENDER OR FOOD PROCESSOR. For a blender, put the cover on, pop out the middle of the top, and hold a rag or paper towels loosely over the top. For a processor, take out the plunger, dummy?

8. Add the half and half, bring the soup up to temperature, and enjoy!

Love, Peace, and Bacon Grease!