Baking and Pastry: The Final Week

Baking and Pastry is now OVER!! During the last week we did a bunch of different stuff and to be honesty I didn't think we were going to get everything done. We had so much to do. On Monday we finished up our cheesecakes.

On Tuesday we received a lesson on churning Ice Cream and Sorbets, both were Raspberry flavored. I loved the Raspberry ice cream but I honestly could have done with out the sorbet. Once we finished up that lesson then we plated our Creme Brulees and our Creme Caramels (Flan). Once all of that was done we got started on our practical by getting everything measured and our genoise cakes baked off.

On Wednesday we came and it went strait to cooking cause we all needed to finish our practical. For our practical we had to make a decorated vanilla cake, and 2 creme brulees. Overall the practical went well. I received an 88% on the practical and was informed that I was going into the written final with a 95%.

Thursday was our last day in class and it was super short. We walked in expecting to clean and was informed that AM had done it so all we had to do was wipe down a couple of things and take our written. The few of us that were there early did the last of the cleaning and by the time class started we were able to take our written final. When it was all said and done I spent 30 minutes in class total. Normally after the block we have a party. This block we decided it would be fun to go bowling. As we all finished our test we changed into our street clothes and headed over to Red Rock Station. When we got there we found out there was an hour wait for a lane so we went and got some pizza in the food court. Once we finished eating we headed back to the bowling alley to get our lane. I bowled a couple of rounds before my wrist completely went out on me. I tried to get some pictures, but everyone was being stubborn. After a couple of rounds some other friends from school showed up and we all hung out until I had to leave at 11:00 PM.

Yesterday I checked my grade and I was able to pull out an A for the class overall! Next up is Nutrition and Psychology. I can't wait for Nutrition so that I can learn a bunch about cooking for Diabetics. Till then I am going to get to enjoying my spring break.

Baking and Pastry: Week 5

I can't believe class is almost over, and I must say I am kinda looking forward to it. Mainly because after this class we have spring break, a full week away from school. Well this last week has been a fun week with cakes. On Monday we worked on our vanilla butter cream cake. Overall this cake is not a favorite, other than the butter cream, because it is a SUPER dry cake. While I was putting this cake together though my butter cream decided to get a little on the melty side so half of my rosettes look awesome and the other half look droopy. I actually remembered to take a picture before leaving class, but it was after I wrapped the cake.

While I was taking pictures of my cake, Raul decided to get in on the fun as well.

On Tuesday we started our chocolate sponge cake and made pizza. That day was an absolute blast because it was the first time in almost 14 weeks that we have had the opportunity to do something on the savory side. It was actually really nice to throw stuff in a pot and taste it until we had the right flavor profile. According to my husband Jon the sauce was really good and unlike any other sauce he had ever had. 

On Wednesday we finished our chocolate sponge cake by rimming it with hazelnuts and topping it with glazed, cut strawberries. After that we started our tiramisu and did a review for our final next Thursday. After the review I discovered I have a LOT of studying I need to be doing over the next week. Thankfully we actually have a text book to read through other wise I think I might have the lovely dear in the headlights looks.

 Thursday was a really busy day that seemed to drag on forever, mainly because no one wanted to be there thanks to it be our Friday and St. Patrick's Day. Once class got started we were off and running. First we started our cheesecake, then creme brulee and creme caramel (flan). Once we finished all of that we made Tuile dough and then we made financier's (petit four cake). Once all of that was done I got started cleaning only to find out that we still needed to finish our tiramisu and then we got to go over to F3 and have some of the sea food buffet. Overall I thought our buffet was better but they seemed to do pretty well. Now as for the tiramisu picture I forgot to take a picture before I cut it in half and wrapped it up, so I grabbed a picture of Raul's even though it was already wrapped and a picture of half of my cake.

Well that's all for now. Next week is going to be our last week of baking and pasty and then we go on a one week break. After that we will be returning to Nutrition and Psychology. Till then, happy cooking everyone.

My First Catering Event

Ok I know what you are asking, "What happened to week 4?". Well  week 4 was actually pretty boring. On Monday we finished up our eclairs then Tuesday and Wednesday was spent working on our practical that I received an 89% on. Then on Thursday we got started on our next section, cakes. I also found out that as of right now I still hold my "A" in the class. Despite the practical though I was pretty worried about the up coming catering job I had Sunday night.

On Friday I went out and did all of my shopping for the event and then the second I finished shopping I got started on doing the prep work. I had a large menu so I needed to get my butt moving. So lets start at the top.

The Menu

Crab Salad in Crispy Wonton Bowls

Shrimp Cocktail

Salsa Bar: Pico De Gallo, Mild Salsa, and Mango Salsa

Ham and Swiss Cheese Wraps

Roast Beef and Provolone Wraps

Ham and Ranch Cream Cheese Pinwheels

Roast Beef and Horseradish Cream Cheese Pinwheels

Vegetable Platter: Tomatoes, Celery, Carrots, Broccoli, and Cauliflower

Fruit Platter: Honeydew Melon, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Grapes, and Strawberries

Lemon Bars

Chocolate Mousse Cups

Pound Cake Bar: Pound Cake, Glazed Strawberries, Sliced Strawberries, and Whip Cream

Overall I worked on prep for 3 days. The first day I cut up all of the fruit, and prepared all of the cream cheese. The second day I made the crab salad, the mango salsa, and cut up all of the vegetables. On the third day I made all the desserts, and rolled all of the wraps and pinwheels which did not go as well as the other days. While making the desserts I started having issues. I had decided to make the lemon bars out of a box to save money, but I quickly realized that wasn't the greatest idea when I tried to remove them from the pan. The bars went everywhere and resembled a trash heap. It was not pretty. So quickly I sprang into action to try and make the lemon bars from scratch. Thankfully I had all the ingredients in my house. While I was zooming around the kitchen I slipped and fell leaving a NASTY bruise.

Around 2:45PM it came to load up my car. At first I didn't think I was going to get it all in there, but thanks to my wonderful husband we were able to get it all in, including 3 coolers. Around 4:00PM I arrived at my Mother-in-Laws house and began setup. With everyone's help I was able to get everything looking pretty good. Once it was all set up the guests started arriving and my sister-in-law's bridal shower started. Now on to the pictures. 

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Baking and Pastry: Week 3

Once again I am posting one super long post based on the entire week. While I wasn't sick this week, I was pretty busy. This last week the Catersource convention was in town, and one of the guys in school let me know that a few extra people were needed to help out a couple of weeks ago. I went down to career services and signed up, well this was the week that I was actually needed to work. Monday morning bright and early I headed down to the newest casino on the strip, The Cosmopolitan, and searched all over the fourth floor looking for the banquets kitchen so I could help out. Once I found where I was supposed to be I discovered that we were needed an hour later and that The Cosmopolitan was also having its first health inspection since opening so the small group that was there with me all headed out into the banquet area and relaxed until our day was really supposed to start. Once the health department finished their inspection we headed back into the kitchen and we got started on our project, tying green onions onto plastic cups. You probably think I am kidding, but I am not, and I actually have photographic evidence of such.

Once we finished tying almost 900 of these little cups we were done for the day. I headed home and proceeded to relax until I had to go to school where I had my first practical. During the practical I had to make 2 french bread baguettes, 1 bâtard loaf, 6 jalapeno cheddar biscuits, and 12 peanut butter cookies. Overall I did horrible on my first practical scoring a 75%. Thankfully though this one didn't count towards much on my grade so I still have an A in the class. Now I just have to make sure I do better on the next practical.

On the next day I was working again at The Cosmopolitan and I didn't have to be there until 10:00 in the morning. I was thrilled I got to sleep in too because it was going to be a LONG day. Once we all arrived we found out that we were going to be at the Marquee Night Club and Day Club helping with setup for a huge party that was going on that night. From 10:00 AM till 3:00 PM we were setting up flowers, moving furniture, and just generally getting things ready for the party.

Once 3:00 PM hit our relief showed up and we boogied. I had to be at school in just a couple of short hours, and instead of heading home only to leave again I just headed straight to school. I still had a couple of hours before class so I decided that would be a good time to relax a bit. I am glad I did too because class was super busy that night. We made a bunch of different doughs and we made a key lime pie. My favorite.

The next night we baked off all the doughs we had made the night before. We made apple pie, quiche Lorraine, and a pear tart. I only got a picture of the apple pie though so the rest are pics I grabbed from the net.

 Apple Pie

Quiche Lorraine

Pear Tart

Tonight was another dough making night, however we did have some fun as well. Raul grabbed my cell phone and snapped a few pictures. First up is what will eventually be eclairs. 

Raul, Daniel, and another guy from class decided to have some fun with my eclairs later on. 

While all of this was going on I was actually rolling our some dough and Raul snapped a pic of the two of us. 

By the way it was really hot in class tonight, so I look incredibly pink and red. Anyways, that brings us back up to date again and next week is another fun filled week in baking and pastry.