Thanksgiving this year was full of friends and cooking at home. I’m going to NYC this weekend so I stayed home for Thanksgiving this year and invited friends to spend their Thanksgiving with me. Or at least stop by my house after they celebrated with their family. Angela and I cooked a bit on Wednesday night and then a little bit more on Thursday morning before she went to her family’s gathering and I took a nap before the big dinner.

I discovered a new-to-me cooking blog, The Pioneer Woman, and used a few of her recipes, including the turkey brine, turkey roast, and the butternut squash puree. I have to say, the turkey this year was one of my best turnouts. Here’s the proof:

The butternut squash puree was absolutely delicious and I think I’ll make it again at Christmas time for my family.

Of course we had dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy (Angela gets all the props on that one), salad, bread, desserts…and more! About 8 people actually ate dinner with me, and then a few others stopped by after their family gatherings. Overall it was a great dinner!

My last post was about going white water rafting and, boy, was that fun! I took the front seat along with Kristin and we steered that raft like pros. I even “rode the bull” over two of the rapids, which means I straddled the front of the raft and held on for dear life as the rest of the crew maneuvered us down the river. The water was cold, the guide was a hoot, and the overall trip resulted in two new friends from Atlanta. Here’s a good shot:

And we get to see those friends this weekend cause Kristin, Tom, Angela and I are heading to Atlanta for my audition for FOX’s MasterChef Season 3. I’ve been hosting tasting dinners over the past few weeks and think I have my audition dish ready to whip up for the casting team. You can see pictures on my Kamikaze Chef site: http://www.thekamikazechef.com.  I’m extremely excited about this opportunity (I even have a “Jump the the front of the line” pass) and I can’t wait to get in there. This could be a life changing weekend for me. I’ve been so fortunate to have a great job for 8 years, but I can’t help but think I’ve missed out on a real passion of mine. If this could help turn that passion into a lifestyle, I would just be beside myself. Wish me luck!

It’s been a long time since I’ve auditioned for anything, and now I find myself faced with one of the most important auditions in my life! I am attending an open casting call in Atlanta in a few weekends and I’m preparing like I would for any audition. Except instead of practicing monologues, I’m practicing plating food dishes. It’s the audition for FOX’s MasterChef competition, where amateur chefs compete for $250,000 and the title of MasterChef.

A lot of it will be based on luck, I know. The casting call will be crazy…probably an open floor with tons of tables where contestants line up and wait for the judges to come around and taste their food. Much like an 8th grade science fair. The judges will be looking at presentation of the dish, taste and personality of the chef. I really think I have a good chance, but it all depends on what they are looking for. Like any audition, the “director” has something specific in mind and even if I think I’m a good fit, I may not be what they have in mind.

But fingers crossed! I’m hosting tasting nights for the next few weeks to prepare and try out different dishes that could withstand a long wait. Keep your eye on www.thekamikazechef.com for pictures and updates!

But I’ve now swam a mile 2 days in a row. And my time decreased by a few minutes the second day, without cramping. Man is it a good workout! It can get a little boring, but I noticed that if I think about something other than my strokes and breathing, it goes by a lot faster.

Last night, around lap 17 I started thinking about what I would make if I decide to audition for Masterchef and before I knew it I was on lap 22. Yes, I am actually considering auditioning for Masterchef. If I make it past the first audition, you can bet I’ll be ramping up my dinner parties and you are all invited. :) I know there are many techniques I need to practice and still some basics I need to master. It’s an exciting thought!