Success

Saturday morning I woke up with a burning desire to make Beef Wellington and buttermilk pie.  Don't ask me where this desire came from, because I have no idea.  I have never even eaten beef wellington before and I have only had buttermilk pie once.  I am thinking that I have been watching too many episodes of Hell's Kitchen (where Chef Gordon Ramsey often serves beef wellington) and being from the south explains the buttermilk pie.  I anxiously googled recipes and determined that I could indeed pull this off.  I woke "A" up and informed him of the plan.  To say that he was less than enthused would be a gross understatement.  I believe his exact words were, "I don't think that's a good idea!" 

I would not be deterred!  So, at 10:30 am I was off to the grocery store for the ingredients for beef wellington, a new recipe for homemade macaroni and cheese and buttermilk pies.  (yes, I am aware that it is a very strange combination, but it is what it is!)

I found all the ingredients, called my little sister to enlist her to come to dinner and started on the pies.  They were super easy even though I had never really made a pie before.  I didn't take a picture.  Really, buttermilk pies aren't anything special to look at, but they tasted very yummy! 

They next step was the beef wellington.  I will not say it's hard, but it is a very labor intensive process.  I literally felt like I cooked ALL day.  I used this recipe and I followed the directions almost exactly!  I decided that instead of making one big one and slicing it I would make 4 individual ones.  So, I had to make some modifications to the recipe.  Let me just say...OMG!  It turned out so perfect!  The meat was cooked perfectly...tender, juicy, flavorful!  The pastry was perfect!  Even the mushroom pate (I think that's what it was?!!?) was very good!  I was so impressed with myself!  I don't brag all that often (at least I don't think I do!) but I really felt like I earned bragging rights with this one! 

I am not really sure what has gotten into me lately.  Normally I am not very "domestic-y" and I joke that all of my culinary "skills" involve ground beef seasoned different ways (i.e. spaghetti, hamburger helper, sloppy joes, you get the idea).  But lately I have just been really compelled to get out of the box and create in the kitchen.  Baking and cooking has been really empowering.  I keep trying to psycho-analyze it and decide why I am enjoying it so much, but I have decided to stop that and just enjoy it!  "A" sure is enjoying it and I am too! 

So, without further ado...a picture of the beautiful Beef Wellington!  (and please excuse the rather sad looking green beans!)

I will also say that the recipe I used for the mac & cheese was a total bust, but I was happy to try a new recipe and now I know.  For those of you who know me in real life, you know that this statement is pretty huge.  I am not obsessing about the fact that the mac & cheese was not perfect and that I failed at making it!  See, progress!   Yay for me!!!