Some Things on My Christmas List

I can't believe the holidays are upon us already. It feels like they just ended, and now they are back again!!

For those who celebrated, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!!

I have my Christmas wishlist already written up, and there are quite a few baking related items on it.

Here are the baking things I would like to get for Christmas this year:

• Wilton 8-Piece 3D Figure Modeling Fondant Cake Decorating Tool Set
• Macarons: Chic and Delicious French Treats by Annie Rigg
• 2-Pack SIlicone Macaron Baking Mats
• Wilton 6-Cavity Cake Decorating Icing Bag Stand
• Wilton 9-Piece Color Swirl 3-Color Piping Bag Coupler
• Baking All Year Round: Holidays & Special Occasions by Rosanna Pansino
• The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook: Sweet Treats for the Geek in All of Us by Rosanna Pansino
• Wilton 40-Piece Letter and Number Fondant Cutters Set

There are several other things on my list, that are not baking-related, but I really hope I get at least one of these baking-related ones.

To those who celebrate, Merry Christmas!!!
To those who celebrate Hannukah, Happy Hannukah!!

Happy holidays to those who celebrate any other holiday!!

A Long Awaited Update

Man, I seriously need to stop waiting so long betwIeen posts. I feel bad for neglecting this blog for so long!!
So, here is an update from me.

I am doing an internship through my school's baking and pastry program, at a local pie shop. I have been here since April 11th, and I absolutely love it!!

The owners/employees are very nice, and I get to do lots of baking, which is awesome!!

For this internship, I need to complete 240 hours, and once the hours are done, I will be graded on how I did. To do that, my internship advisor (one of the teachers at the school) will come in and talk to the owner about my work, and how they think I did.

I was told on several occasions that I am doing very well, so I am not worried about how this will go.

I am really going to miss this place when I am done, though. I have gotten so used to it, that it is going to be weird not working there anymore.

Once this internship is done (mid October at the latest; I have around 65 hours or so to go, until I finish), I will take the rest of the fall semester off (it has already begun at my school), and then take the last class in the spring.

The last class!! I can't believe I am so close to finishing, and graduating!!! It took sooo long to get to this point, which I didn't think would come so soon, but it is here, and is becoming very real.

I am thinking about taking a trip to New York, next July, once I am done with school, as a treat to myself for doing so well, and for finishing something I have wanted for so long.

I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do while there, and even where I want to stay (hotel/hostel/etc.-wise).

I just have to finish this certificate first, and then I can have some fun. This trip will definitely be worth it, and I really hope I can go on it!!

Monster Cupcakes

Wow!! I keep letting this blog go, don't I? I will try and do better!!!

I recently got my first box from the subscription company Foodstirs (you can find out more at their website HERE), and I finally got around to trying it out.

Included in the box were the ingredients and instructions, the cupcake mix, frosting mix, three different coloring packets (pink, blue, and green), a packet of purple sprinkles, a packet of chocolate chips, a pastry bag, and ten cupcake/muffin liners.

It was very easy to follow the steps to make the cupcakes, as well as decorating them.

My decorating skills aren't the best right now, but they turned out pretty well, and tasted great!!!

I am so glad I found out about Foodstirs, and I have already ordered a galaxy donut box, which will be arriving soon!!

Here are some pictures I took, of the process:

The finished product.

The outside of the final product.

Just before I put them in the oven to bake.

The finished product.

 

Like I said, I'm not the best decorator right now, but I hope to be able to perfect my skills in time. Thank you so much to Foodstirs for the opportunity to try your products out, and look forward to making more yummy treats in the future!!!

Holiday Chocolate Ganache

I saw another recipe I liked, from the local newspaper, and decided to share it on here.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces quality chocolate
• 3 tablespoons butter at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons vanilla or favorite liqueur

Instructions

1. Break chocolate into chunks and place in a food processor. Pulse several times to break chocolate into smaller pieces. Add butter to processor. Set aside.
2. Place heavy cream and corn syrup in sauce pan and heat until just boiling. Pour hot cream mixture through a sieve over chocolate and butter in food processor. Process mixture till the mixture is smooth and "satiny" with no lumps. Scrape down sides of processor.
3. Add vanilla or liqueur. Process till blended. Use ganache in several ways:

• Chocolate Dipped Strawberries: Let ganache cool to 86 degrees. Dip clean, dry strawberries into ganache, and place on parchment sheet. Can be rolled in crushed cookies or nuts if desired.
• Ganache Sandwich Cookies: Make or purchase your favorite firm holiday cookies. Sandwich two cookies together with ganache.
• Panettone with Ganache: Slice panettone into thirds, pipe ganache on each layer. Drizzle top lightly with ganache.
• Chocolate tarts: Pour or pipe ganache into tart shells. Let stand at room Temperature to set for two hours or refrigerate for 1 hour. Garnish as desired.
• Truffles: Refrigerate mixture until firm. Roll pieces into balls and coat with cocoa, nuts or toppings.

Honey Cake

This recipe was in this past week's edition of one of my local papers. It sounded really good, so I figured I would share it on here.

 

 

 

Honey Cake

 

Cake

3/4 cup butter

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon orange juice

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup sour cream

 

Tres Leches Soak

3 ounces evaporated milk

3 1/2 ounces sweetened condensed milk

3 ounces whole milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

 

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, orange juice and honey. Scrape sides of bowl while mixing.

 

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix dry ingredients into main mixture in parts, alternating with sour cream. Line a 9x13-inch pan with parchment paper. Pour batter into pan.

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool. Carefully turn cake out of the pan. Peel of parchment paper and return cake to the pan. Poke holes in the cake. Mix together the three milks and vanilla. Pour about one-third of the mixture over the cake. Allow to soak into the cake. Repeat until all the liquid is used.

Update: Garde Manger Class

Wow, it's been a long time since I last posted. I will try and do better at posting regularly from now on.

Anyway, I am currently taking a Garde Manger class in school, which is a cold food prep class. The first day of class was August 22, so we've been going for a while now. I know this isn't bakery related, but it's still food, and I figured, why not blog about it here?

Class is on Mondays from 4 to 9:15 pm, and I am enjoying it so far. This last class, we made Monte Cristo sandwiches, Croquette Madame sandwiches, and chicken tamales, and let me tell you, they were SOOOOO GOOD!!!!!

I may just have to make them at home. Although, the Monte Cristo sandwiches is a long process, but I think it is worth it.

So far this semester, we have also made spanakopita, pasta, salads, grilled chicken, pot stickers, samosas, bourek, guacamole, chicken satay, shrimp spring rolls, and bacon wrapped dates. All were very good.

I am looking forward to the rest of the semester, and what all we're going to make.

Professional Menu Final

Well, my last day of Menu Writing for the spring semester was yesterday. It was an interesting class, and I liked it (and the teacher), but to be honest, I'm glad the semester is over. I need a break from school.

For my Menu Writing final, we had to make a professional menu, and let me tell you, it was a LOT of work!!

Figuring out what I wanted on my menu, how much to price them for, the design (color, how many pages, the type of cover, etc.).....

It was frustrating, to say the least.

It took me forever to figure out the design, and that frustrated me even more, when I printed the menu out.

I had a background on each of the pages, and it didn't print for some reason. It was just the menu items, the name, the picture I put on the back page, and the border. The only thing that was in color was the back page picture.

And I was NOT happy :(

I was finally able to get it properly printed out, the next day at the library. I decided to use colored cardstock, instead of white.

THEN....

While in class last week, while my teacher was talking with each person in the class about their menus and hearing what they were doing for theirs (they weren't talking quietly, so it was kind of hard not to listen to them), I was having second thoughts about how my menu looked.

My original idea was to use paper grocery bags, and glue/tape the menu (printed on cardstock) onto each side, and bind it together with twine. It actually looks kind of cool, even if it doesn't have many pictures.

I went back on my computer class, and did some tweaking to what I already did.

Here's what I had done before editing it:

The back of the menu.

Inside

Inside

Inside

The front

 

 

Pretty simple, plain. Only a couple pictures. Not great, but not bad, either.

 

My teacher suggested I put pictures along with the menu items, to make it more appealing.

 

So, that's what I did.

 

I ran out of paper bags the size I needed, so I used all cardstock for my updated menu. I also used different colors for it as well.

 

My updated Menu:

 

The back

Inside

Inside

Inside



The front

 

Looks a lot better, but still isn't the greatest. But, I am happy with it in general.

 

The only thing I didn't like was having to get up in front of the class, and present my menu to them. I am a shy person, so talking in front of a group of people is not exactly one of my favorite things to do. I'm just glad it's over.

 

My teacher had actually said that she liked my original idea of using the paper grocery bags, and asked why I changed it to cardstock, and I told her I ran out of the bags.

 

I don't know how well I did on it, and in the class overall, but I will find out within the next couple of weeks. Hopefully I passed!!

Menu Writing

Well, yet again, it's been a long time since I last posted here. I really need to stop doing that!!

I am taking a Menu Writing class this semester at school, and it's going pretty well.

I have been in class for a month now, and it's a pretty interesting class.

My teacher is very nice, and really knows what she is talking about.

We basically learn about all that goes into making menus, the types of restaurants that work well in what kind of neighborhood, how to price/cost out food, menu terminology, and more of what goes into menu writing.

My class is on Friday afternoons, and I am enjoying it.

For homework this week, we have to rate 3 dishes from restuarants in town, and fill in a sheet for each dish, to hand in to the teacher. I am going to a local sandwich shop tomorrow with a friend, and I am really looking forward to it (partly because I have never been to this place before, even though it's only a few blocks away, and partly because I haven't seen my friend in a while).

For this class's final, we have to create a menu for a type of restaurant of our choosing. I am an avid baker, so I'm planning on creating a bakery-style menu. I can't wait to see how it turns out!!

So, hopefully I can do well in this class, and learn a lot about menu making!!

Ganache Cake

For class this week, we assembled, frosted, and decorated a ganache cake. I've never worked with ganache before, so this was a new experience for me.

One of the things we make to decorate the cake were fondant roses. I had trouble making them, but they came out ok. What's nice is that we got to take our cakes home with us :D

Here are some pictures of my cake.

 

I made purple roses because purple is my favorite color!!

 

The finished product.

 

 

It is all completely edible. I haven't had any yet, but I can't wait to try it!

Advanced Cake Decorating Class

Well, the fall semester has started. I am taking an Advanced Cake Decorating class this semester, on Thursday evenings.

My teacher is really nice, and I think I'm going to really enjoy this class.

The first week, we just went over what we will be doing during the semester. We get to make gumpast flowers, make 3-D/sculpted cakes, and work on more piping skills.

This past week, we did some practice with covering a cake (in this instance we used cake dummies, so we didn't have to waste anything) in fondant, and practicing piping skills.

Including me, there are four students in this class, which is the smallest class I have ever been in. But it's actually kind of nice, because there's more space for us to work at.

Here is what I came up with, when we practiced with piping:

It came out alright. I like it.

I am really looking forward to the rest of the semester!!

Wedding Cake Class Final

Well, yesterday was the final for my class: to make a wedding cake.

It went pretty well. My cake wasn't perfect, but it came out pretty good. My teacher said she really liked it, so I'll take that as a good sign.

Here are a couple pictures I took (the ONLY ones I took).

The fondant roses I made for my cake.

The finished product. There are a few imperfections, but it's pretty good for me; for my skill level.

 

Next week, we have to go to class, to clean up the kitchen, and we're also having a potluck. Then, the semester is OVER.

 

I can't believe class is (almost) over already. It feels like it just started, and now it's ending. I really enjoyed the class, and learning how to do all the different types of decorations for cakes. I can't wait to put those to good use!!!

Midterm Cake

Wow, it's been quite a while since my last post!!

I started my cake decorating class back in February, and it is going well so far.

My midterm was this past Tuesday, it it went as well as can be expected.

We had to make a birthday/party cake, and I chose to do a Baymax cake (from the movie Big Hero Six). It took me about 3 1/2 to 4 hours to finish it, and it came out pretty good.

It wasn't great, but it was good. My teacher said that I did well, though, so I'll take it!!

Here is a picture of my completed midterm cake (which I was allowed to take home):

 

 

 

I enjoyed making it, but am so glad the midterm is over.

 

The next big project for class is the final, where we have to make a wedding cake. I hope that goes as well as the midterm went, as I am not quite that confident right now.

 

I can't believe there's a month left of school to go (four classes over four weeks for me). How has that happened? It feels like class just started, and now we're almost done!! I guess that's what happens when you're having fun!

Spring Semester Classes

Well, I am officially a spring semester student. I will be taking a Cake and Pastry Decoration class, which starts on February 10th.

That is at least a couple weeks AFTER most other classes start. And I need that extra time off, after the semester I had.

My math class, for me, was hard. And I am so glad it is over. It was a culinary math class, that is required for my degree. My final was on the 15th, and I passed the class with a "C."

I am SO glad I passed, and that I don't have to take it over again. Math is my worst subject, and the less math I have to do, the better.

But, I am really looking forward to this decoration class. It sounds interesting. One of the things we will be doing is making and decorating wedding cakes, which is something I would love to do!!

Hopefully, I can pass this class as well, like I have with the other classes I took. I have gotten mostly A's towards my degree, with a couple Bs, and a C. I am so glad I found something that I am really good at, and that I can get a degree for, mostly without help (I have a learning disability, so any written tests and homework, will be difficult for me).

As much as I am loving break (I don't want it to be over yet, of course), I can't wait for class to start, and to enjoy making things again. I really enjoy hands-on classes, and am so glad my school offers these types of classes.

Here's hoping to another great semester!!

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

I found a recipe on Allrecipes.com, for cream cheese chocolate chip cookies, and decided to try it out a while ago.

They turned out well, and were REALLY GOOD!!!

I have made them a few times since then, and everyone who tried them have said that they really liked them.

Every so often, my dad would buy some cream cheese, so I can make the cookies for him. I don't usually ask him to buy it. He just gets it because he has a taste for the cookies. Like he did this past Friday.

Here are some photos of the process, from my past cookie making experiences.

 

Definitely make these cookies for yourself, as they are seriously good!!

 

 

 

 

I fou

Icing Smiles

While browsing around on Facebook yesterday, I found out about an organization called Icing Smiles, and I instantly knew that I was meant to find out about them!!!

This is PERFECT for me!!!

People can make cakes, cookies, etc. for children who are going through some kind of serious illness, and need/want something special in their life. It can be for their birthday, last day of treatments, whatever they want to celebrate.

I am a HUGE baker freak, so I will definitely do this sometime. Check it out and see what you think. I believe this is worth the time and effort involved.

Easter Bunny Cake

The day before Easter, I decided to try and make an Easter Bunny cake for the first time. It's not the greatest, but it came out better than expected.

I used a simple vanilla cake and frosting recipe I found on Pinterest, then cut and arranged the cakes on a sheet pan, frosted the cakes, and decorated it with chocolate chip cookies.

It is pretty good! Here are some pictures of the process:

The dry ingredients

The dry and the wet ingredients combined

All mixed together

Ready to be baked

Baked and cooling

 

 

The finished product

 

 

I do plan on making another bunny cake next Easter, as it was fun to make this one. Hope everyone who celebrated Easter, had a wonderful day!



Intro to Baking Midterm

Today was my Intro to Baking class midterm. We had to choose a simple dessert and bake it for the class.

When it was done, we had to put some samples on a baking sheet, and present it to the rest of the class, and tell them what it is, what method we used (creaming, muffin, modified sponge, etc.), and a little of the history of the dessert.

It went well, and I got an A on my midterm, which I am SO happy about!!

We were also allowed to try the other students' desserts, and they were all really good. Everyone commented on how good the brownies I made were, which made me feel really good.

Getting these kinds of comments/compliments make me feel like I am going into the perfect profession for me, as baking is one of my FAVORITE things to do.

So, all in all, it was a good day at school. I'm happy.

DC Cupcakes

For ages now, I have been a big fan of DC Cupcakes. It is a TV show about Georgetown Cupcakes, a bakery run by two sisters in the Washington, D.C. area, and they have/had their own TLC show that I love watching.

 

I am passionate about baking, so I was really happy when I found out about DC/Georgetown Cupcakes.

 

They ship nationally throughout the U.S., so if you have a taste for something sweet, you can go here, and check out what they have.

Enjoy!!

Desserts, Desserts, Desserts

In class yesterday, we made several desserts, including cherry pie, linzer torts, a cherry cheesecake, a flourless chocolate cake, mousse, and a few more desserts.

Each week, the teacher asks two students to serve the desserts in the school's restaurant (yes, my school has it's own restaurant, on-campus).

I hadn't done that yet, so I decided to go yesterday, along with another girl in my class. It was interesting, and neat.

The customers all said that they loved the desserts, which really felt good. Knowing that people love something that you made...that is awesome!!

I am really enjoying this class, and love that it is hands-on. The only down-side to it, is that we have to stand on our feet for five hours.

Although, I don't mind it that much, as I am doing something that I love. That more than makes up for being on my feet for that long.

To be honest, even though I love special education, and I still want to get into that profession someday, I am so glad I changed my major in school. I am doing much better in my classes, and the teachers actually enjoy what they are teaching, making the classes more enjoyable.

For the first time in many, many years, I actually like school. Baking is so much fun, at least to me, and I am actually learning something that truly interests me. Something that I actually want to learn. I can't wait to see what will happen with this in the future!!

I'm Back!!

Wow, it's been quite a while since I last updated this blog. Sorry about that!!

I started an Intro to Baking and Pastry class at school the end of January. It's going pretty well so far. I had a minor incident the first time we started baking, where I cut my thumb. But other than that, the class is going smoothly.

We've made cookies, brownies, tarts, petite fours, and a few other things so far.

I love hands on classes like this. It makes class more interesting and fun, and time goes by faster like this, instead of just sitting at a desk, hearing a teacher lecture for an hour or more.

I can't wait to see what else we'll be doing in class!!