Back on the Planet!!

I'll bet that some of you have felt that I left the planet ... In some ways that is true! I'm into the science fiction thing and love time-travel, but if there was a way to speed up my moving process, I would be all over that!!!

Last weekend we (my wife and I) along with another couple did the food for a special Mormon Prom Dance. We had 175 kids show up with about 50 adults there to chaperon and provide the staff for the themed event. It was called a "Caribbean Cruise". We provided three courses during the evening ... all with finger type foods. First hour included a fruit tower, veggie trays, roasted veggies with feta cheese and chips and dips ... along with pickles and olives.

The second hour we brought out the hot foods of teryaki meatballs, sweet chili chicken wings and grilled sausages with onions and vidalia onion sauce. We traded the hot foods out with Stuffed Jalapeño poppers and chicken taquitos.

When the third hour came around, we replaced it all with a chocolate fountain with dipping items and a frozen chocolate chip cookie dough mountain. It all went over very well ... the adults were fed separately on pulled pork sandwiches and a pasta salad ... and all the left overs as we pulled them from the kids line.

They had valet parking, photos for each of the kids (5x7) with the option for more ... Fruit Slushies and the decorations were specular.  They even had it set up for the kids to select their own songs from their iphones or ipods ... or from a computer that had the list prepared for them.

Unfortunately, we forgot our camera and the video camera battery was dead! Major bummer ... so we're waiting for those who did have cameras to post some pictures.  I'll get them up as soon as I get them.

Warmest Regards!

Chef Tom

Bananas Foster - Easy Dessert with Flare!

When I was the Sous Chef at the Evergreen State College in Olympia Washington, we often did promo demonstrations for the incoming Freshman and their parents. One of the demos we did was Bananas Foster ... using basically 4 ingredients ... Butter, Bananas, Brown Sugar, and Rum.

We served it over Waffle points ... taking square toaster waffles and cutting them diagonally to create triangles. We baked them off in the oven before hand to warm them, kept them warm in a chafer, and did the Bananas Foster to order.

This is also great over Vanilla ice cream (more traditional) ... but we used waffles because it was easier to serve 200-300 people and not have to worry about melting ice cream.

It is always best to do this over a gas flame, but can be done on and electric stove if you are willing to ignite the Rum with a match or lighter. The reason the gas flame is preferable is due to the fact that simply tipping the saute pan will allow the flame from the burner to ignite the Rum that is so spectacular with this dish.

There are a couple of things to do before starting the dish ... mainly slicing your bananas and prepping your ingredients for easy application. I prefer to either slice the bananas on a diagonal or down the middle lengthwise and then divide into 2-3 inch sections on a diagonal ... this gets rid of the boxy look. Some people like to just cut them in rounds which also works ... too thin and they turn to mush, but thin enough that they get caramelized and still have some firmness to them.

Start with your pan medium hot and add your butter, let it melt ... add your brown sugar. When it is all melted and bubbly, add your bananas in a single layer. When they have softened and are turning a little brown, carefully away from the heat, add your rum ... then put back on the heat. When it has heated, tip the pan toward the flame and it will ... WHOOSH ... cook until flame dies and it's ready! Spoon or slide contents over the desired item ... be it ice cream or waffles.

Here are approx amounts for ingredients for four people:

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) Butter
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 4 Bananas
• 1/4 cup Dark Rum
• Ice Cream or Waffles - 1 for each person.

If you are doing ice cream, scoop the ice cream before making the dish and put in freezer so it won't melt while you're making the Bananas Foster. The Topping will be hot so you want hard ice cream to start with.

Alternatives that can be added to this basic recipe are:

• a dash of cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon)
• banana liqueur (1/4 cup)
• walnuts (1/4 cup)

Warmest Regards,

Chef Tom Heintz

New Surroundings - We're moving!

Well, it seems that every 5 years or so we end up moving ... the kids are pretty much gone and we have too much house for too little needs. This means the hassle of moving and since we are going from 3500 square feet with out buildings to 1100 square feet with one out building (800 square feet), this means a lot of downsizing.

We're moving to a different kind of house ... it's round. Looks kind of like a Yurt ... only permanent. Lots of room inside ... yet overall it is smaller.

The interesting part is that we find it isn't just our stuff that we have to worry about ... a lot of it is kids stuff that they don't have already or we are just storing for them. Not that we don't have a lot on our own.

We do have some time to move ... at least we aren't doing it all in 1 week or even 2 weeks, we have the month to sort, throwout or giveaway/sell.

I am surprised at all the stuff you acquire through the years. Even the empty boxes that catering equipment came in just in case you needed to return it ... they pile up and take up space. Just the sorting process is a time stealer ... yet we know that in the long run, we'll be fine and happy to have less stuff and less overhead.


Fortunately, the house is only 7 miles away and we pass by it on every trip to town ... so we load up the vans (we have 2) and dump a load to try to take advantage of the trip.

We have really enjoyed living up here on the mountain and I love having deer in my backyard almost everyday ... just look out and see the same animals ... a doe and her two babies that have been here the last two years. They are all about the same size now.

We're also downsizing the pets ... all going to new homes so we can feel more comfortable about doing some traveling and less maintenance.

Maybe we can start visiting all those other Chef's I've made friends with ... love to taste some of their food and experience the different areas.

Warmest Regards,

Chef Tom Heintz

Semi Annual Conference - My Soap Box Sermon

Today and yesterday was the Semi-Annual Conference for our church, 181st I believe. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ... The "Mormons". They broadcast this world-wide on just about all medias for all the members and those that are interested in so many languages that it is almost impossible for someone to not understand. They even had the buzz going on twitter!!   Check out mormon.org


The messages come in the form of 5 - 2 hour sessions starting Saturday morning and spaced about 2 hours apart, 3 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. In the springtime and then in the fall we receive guidance from a Living Prophet and the 12 Apostles of the church. This combined with other General Authorities who are selected to speak for these conference sessions.

The amazing thing that I find is that no topics are assigned. It is a matter of prayer and inspiration/revelation as to the topics they speak on. Each takes the time to study out and find what the Lord wants us to learn. And in so doing ... we get a variety of talks on different subjects.

This past conference I found there was a general theme ... one of personal temporal welfare. The concern was for not just the spiritual well-being of the individual, but the physical welfare as well. This will mark the 75th year of the church's welfare program. Designed to assist the temporal needs of the people.

As I have journeyed through this life, there have been many times I didn't know where the next meal was going to come from for my family. Due to unemployment, unforeseen circumstances or poor choices financially. Yet, I knew that there was always a place of refuge that I could rely on if needed ... providing it didn't come from my immediate family and friends. That was the church.

No matter where in the country I found myself ... actually anywhere in the world ... I knew that there was a system in place that I could rely on to provide the extra that I was unable to provide for myself. We were never to be forgotten nor left on our own.This is because the church is the same anywhere in the world ... no matter where I am, no matter what language is spoken, I have a home that I am a member of ... my family of equal brothers and sisters. How is that for peace?

That information supplies a profound sense of comfort and reassurance.

Let me tell you what I know ... through personal study and prayer and application. I give you this because maybe ... just maybe, someone out there needs this info right now. For the rest of you ... it might be time to quit reading ... no food involved.

BUT for those that want to know what makes me tick ... what really is important to me ... my anchor in the world ... then read on.

The knowledge of my purpose here on earth lets me know things from a different perspective ... I know where I came from, why I'm here and where I'm going after this life. I have a choice as to the outcome. It is my decision and this knowledge comes through revelation ... mine and from my leaders.

I now realize that truth dispels fear, hope replaces despair, light conquers darkness. That anything is possible through faith and understanding principles that we are not alone.

As a member of this church ... the Church of Jesus Christ, I believe in modern revelation. This means that we have the ability to receive direction and help from God. That He can and does communicate with us if we seek Him. We have that right as His literal spiritual children. We can know His plan for us if we ask and diligently seek through prayer and study.

I believe that Jesus lives, that He really was resurrected and that He has a prophet here on earth that directs His will concerning His children ... of which I am one. Just as He did in the old Testament starting with Adam and after the mortal death of His Son Jesus Christ ... Peter being the first Prophet post Christ, with 12 apostles to support him. The prophet today is Thomas Monson, he is supported by 2 counselors and the quorum of the 12 apostles. All are prophets, seers, and revelators ... They speak with God and receive revelation just as prophets of old.

I believe that we are as important as the first children on the earth in the times of Adam ... they needed revelation to help them ... through Enoch, Moses and others until the time of the Messiah, Jesus Christ ... and after. The old testament and the new testament ... a series of books combined and roughly translated, tell us of these revelations and communications.

That revelation and His church were lost for a period of time when the priesthood power was taken with the death of the apostles at the time of Christ and that it was restored with the calling and ordination of Joseph Smith in the 1800's. The only way it could have happened ... a restoration, not a new religion or cult ... restoration of something that had existed before. Done through the power and majesty of God and His Son Jesus Christ ... the way it was done in the time of Adam. A direct visit and following specific guidelines.

A prophet, a seer given the power of the priesthood to receive guidance as in the days of old was once more on the earth. The dark ages were over and revelation was once more flowing ... just look at the advances on the earth in the form of technology ... pretty much from 1830 forward ... from horse and buggy to space travel.

Since that day ... we were promised that the church that Jesus Christ formed while on the earth and priesthood power ... with prophets, apostles, and others would never be taken again from the earth ... and that revelation would flow to those that sought it for those things they had stewardship over.

Through that power and reorganization of His church, the prophets of our day have established His kingdom ... not for earthly rewards or compensation ... this is a church of volunteers who work because they have received revelation of their own of the validity of the gospel and it's purpose ... the salvation of mankind.

This includes both temporal and spiritual needs. Revelation is the "Rock" that Christ spoke of and that Peter knew of ... the direct link to the divine guidance of God.

This is what I know to be true and I testify of it in the name of Jesus Christ. 

May you all someday come to the realization that you do have a choice and an agency to choose through revelation the things that will help you fight despair, fear and darkness and find hope, light and truth.

It's available to all that seek it ... simply by asking and having faith that you will receive an answer. Then be willing to follow that prompting you will receive ... what do you have to lose but your doubt and confusion.

Warmest Regards,

Chef Tom Heintz