good things

good things and good times

I made risotto last night for dinner and dear *Jules keeps popping into my head throughout the process. Now-a-days, I tend to associate Italian cooking to the friend I know who does it best. =) So, when making Italian risotto with Japanese short grain rice (hey, it's a huge bag of rice that seems ages to finish and the Arborio rice looks the same like Japanese short grain...) *Jules' voice kept saying: how could you...

Yes... I am guilty of culinary murder! And I received due punishment as my risotto tasted rather Chinese/Japanese than Italian. The Japanese grain factor and that I used shitake mushrooms in the dish. I might as well have done a fried rice version rather than slave for more than an hour just cooking. Risotto preparations calls for home made chicken broth and tedious pouring in of 1/3 cups of broth every time after the grains absorb the broth.

Looking on the brighter side of things, I could say that it was then a personalized dish by yours truly (and my *Chinese boyfriend who is anti-Japanese and anti-Italian food could be thankful).

The bay-leaf chicken broth and white wine did seep marvelously into the starchy pearl rice grains (carbohydrates make the best comfort food), and the taste of fresh portobello and pink plump fresh prawns both infused in garlic are my favourite tastebud temptations. Gently steaming hot covered with a sprinkle of cheese... gosh, I look forward having it again for lunch with a big bowl of garden salad.

.::.

I am pleased to share with you that the *damsel has a new status. I am currently:

EMPLOYED

The lucky company is called IQPC and I will be a Conference Producer! (click on the link to see the details of the position)

But its me who is the lucky one. I believe it fits into many things I am looking for in a starting job - use of brains, desk and field work, travel, training, creativity, responsibility, great working environment... oh, and a fairly generous pay. =)

Believe me, I'm trying my best to stay calm as I am very excited about starting (this June 19). The conferences are all large scale and regional/international. Just to give you an idea, see one of their conferences, Network Centric Warfare with speaker none other than General Tommy Franks!

So when they made an offer for the job, I was so stunned! I knew it was something I really wanted to do and believe I could the task but I was up against so many applicants and most are from mid career. In my state of pinch-me-I'm-dreaming, I could only answer: "uh-huh" que *nod head* and goofy smile.

Granted, there will be many working hours this near future and a taste of real life dog-eat-dog corporate living. Nonetheless, I don't think I'll hardly ever get bored doing this job and I'll definitely learn so much from this.

I'm going to take a good one week break now before work begins. I hope that I am able to meet the demands and challenges of the job and that the company fulfills all the wonderful expectations I have of them.