No Culinary Post From Friday

There is no culinary post from Friday. I did not attend class because Jason, Maddie and I were on our way down south for Maddie's first trip to Disneyland! (Post to follow...)

Originally, we were planning on going down Sat and coming back today, Tues. Those plans got changed last minute when we found out that the Disney Marathon was being run on Sunday (the day we were planning on being at the park). We moved all Disneyland plans to Saturday (the only other available day as we needed to head back to my parents on Monday so Mom could be back at work today). We thought about leaving after school (11pm) but decided against it.

I really hate missing class and I wish I could have been there Friday, but I am so glad we decided to hit the road early. We were already tired at Disneyland, so I can't imagine what it would have been like on little to no sleep.

Cakes Day 1- Culinary School

Last night, we started cakes. It was a lot more difficult than I thought. I am going to need to practice a lot! Chef just smiled as everyone's first attempt at making a genoise failed (we all had to remake our cake) and also as we attempted to mask a cake with buttercream for the first time. He knew it would be difficult, but he said we all did well for our first try. I was somewhat frustrated last night at how everything went, but it left me wanting to go home a practice. I think that is a good sign. :-)

Here are pictures of what I made:

Pound Cake

Genoise

The genoise cake was yummy. I only had half of a small slice, so I wouldn't completely ruin my workout earlier that day. :-)

Shred Days 2 and 3

Oh. My. Goodness.

I have just completed day 3 of my 30 Day Shred Challenge. I am so sore! It really is a good kind of sore though. It is a sore that comes with knowing I am doing something good for my health. A kind of sore that let's me know this will all be worth it.

I have tried to workout before. I have tried to diet before. I have failed so many times. I have not gained a substantial amount of weight in the past few years, but I have gained enough to notice a change in my energy, mood and appearance. My goal, when all of this is said and done (even though I never intend to be done- I plan to continue working out) is to lose 23 pounds. Losing 23 pounds still keeps me well in the healthy body weight range for a person of my height. I have always been somewhat petite. Who knows? Maybe I will be able to fit in my wedding dress again...

I am so thankful for this group of ladies who are doing this challenge with me and keeping me accountable. Before, I would have given up thinking, "who cares?" Now I know I have three ladies who care. It keeps me going. The awesome thing?? I am starting to care myself. :-)

3 days down, 27 to go!

PS: I've already lost 1 pound! Yay me! :-)

Breakfast Breads Day 5- Culinary School

Last night we were informed that it was the last night of breakfast breads. We will be starting cakes on Wednesday! We were scheduled to make 3 different things last night. Actually, I ended up bringing home 5 different goodies. We made a pannetone, pain de mie (white bread), and a brioche fruit tart. We all made more brioche rolls with our extra brioche dough and I baked my left-over danishes that had been in the freezer since last week. My carrier was packed and I still had more to carry! I'm sure it was a funny sight to see me juggle everything on the way to the car last night. :-)

Here are pictures of what I made:

Pannetone

Pain de mie

Danishes

Brioche Apricot Tart

On a side note: Yesterday I completed the first day in my 30 Day Shred Challenge. I am doing this challenge with two of my girlfriends from when I lived in OK, Jessica and Liesl. Jessica's friend Erin has also joined this challenge. All four of us were successful in completing day one. Yay for us! I am REALLY sore this morning. I still plan on doing my workout today during Maddie's nap-time. I am glad I don't have class tonight. Hopefully, I won't be as sore tomorrow. We will see. The last time I tried this DVD it took about 4-5 days for the soreness to lessen. I have to admit I am a little worried that my culinary adventures are going to get in the way of me actually losing weight. I may rethink trying everything I make... My goal is to lose 20 pounds. Wish me luck!

Breakfast Breads Day 4- Culinary School

Last night was pretty laid back. We actually didn't have enough to do, so we ended up making an extra puff pastry dough again. Soon I will have several batches of puff pastry in my freezer... You would never know we didn't have a lot to do last night by the looks of what I brought home. My carrier was packed! It was filled with probably some of the most delicious breakfast breads we have made so far: croissants, chocolate croissants, scones, and a German bread called a Stollen that is traditionally served at Christmas. Everything tastes delicious! I am so glad we were able to share some of what I brought home with friends. Otherwise, I think both Jason and I will have gained a few pounds this weekend...

Here are pictures of what I made:

Croissants

Chocolate Croissants

Scones

Stollen

Speaking of gaining weight... Monday I embark on a challenge with two of my girlfriends from OK (one of which has since moved to Kansas). We are all starting a 30 day challenge to improve our health. How are we going to do that?? 30 days of the "30 Day Shred". I read a blog post from one of my friends about doing this challenge with the other and I decided that I would see if I could join them. I need to do something with all the sweets that are in my house... They enthusiastically said, "yes!" I am excited to start this journey with them. I knew I needed others besides my husband to keep me accountable to working out. It will be hard, but I am hopeful that I can stick with it. Wish me luck!

Breakfast Breads Day 3- Culinary School

Last night my carrier was completely packed! We continued with breakfast breads and made danishes, brioche, kugelhopf and blueberry muffins. We also made croissant dough which we will be using on Friday. While I like this section, I have to admit that it is not my favorite so far. I guess bread-making is not really my thing. I enjoy creating pastries more. I wasn't sure which I would like better, but I am not really that surprised. I wasn't sure if I would want to work in a bakery and now I know. I am still thinking cake shop. We start cakes next so we will see how I like it. :-)

Here are pictures of what we made last night:

Danishes. Some have pastry cream and some have cream cheese. Fruit can be added to the ones with pastry cream- we just didn't have any in our classroom last night.

Brioche

Kugelhopf. It is a "cake" with raisins and lemon zest.

Blueberry Muffins

Breakfast Breads Day 2- Culinary School

Last night we made 3 batches of dough (classic puff pastry, brioche and danish), fruitcake, and did a repeat of an upside down apple tart that was part of the puff pastry unit. We were definitely busy last night. We did a lot and yet we brought home very little. We didn't have time to bake our danishes. We will be baking them tomorrow night and Friday night. Chef baked his so we could see and taste how they will come out. (I have included a picture of his danishes below.) We only brought home a fruitcake and the upside down apple tart. Honestly, these are about the least appetizing things I have baked.

The fruitcake is so saturated in rum that I couldn't even try it. We all made jokes last night about how we are going to go home and get drunk off of our fruitcakes... No kidding. The rum is so strong. I'm not even sure Jason's co-workers will eat it but I sent it up there with him anyway. No point in keeping it around.

The apple tart tastes good, but is pretty mushy. The apples were very soft, but apparently it turned out better than the last time it was made. This tart was made the day I missed class and my classmates told me that everyone threw it out because the apples turned into applesauce and it was a huge mess. Chef wanted everyone to try again, so that is what we did last night.

After last night I am really excited for Wednesday. The danishes were delicious and I am excited to make my own. We are also making blueberry muffins, which I have heard are awesome. Blueberry muffins happen to be one of Jason's favorites, so he is very happy with the menu for tomorrow night. :-)

And now... here are the pictures from last night:

Fruitcake

Apple Tart

Chef's danishes