you may be wondering what's going on...or you probably already know what's about to happen.
To recap, about a year ago, I started culinary school...or pastry school to be more exact. After 5 quarters of studying and *trying* to master the art of pastry; it's time for me to graduate. March 5 is my "C.O.D." (chef of the day). C.O.D. is the required final project and is composed of the skills and techniques learned, and personal creativity and taste. Within 4 days I am required to make: a type of bread that requires at least 2 days to make (aka a 2 day bread), a viennoiserie, a decorated mousse cake, a chocolate/candy or petit four, a tart, and a plated dessert. All of which have to be made from seasonal and somewhat local ingredients (from the NW or at least west of the U.S.). Oh boy....
I've actually been looking forward to this for a while and I'm getting more excited as the day comes near. Passion is the name of my C.O.D. because baking is my passion. Combining east and west is my theme. On the menu...we have...
Bread: Pain au Levain with Bacon Roasted Garlic
Viennoiserie: Bouchees with Rendang and Acar
Tart: Roasted Pineapple with Lime Mascarpone, Pistachio, and Oranges marinated in Spiced Red Wine
Mousse Cake: Black Sesame Spongecake base with Soursop coulis, and Coconut and Mango Mousse
Plated Dessert: Pear and Kumquat Mousse with Chocolate Sauce, Coconut Loveletters, Cirrus Cheese and Kumquat Rice Wine Cocktail
Chocolate: Tea Ganache with Passionfruit and Pomelo Flower
Everything must be displayed by 11am on "the day", and will be judged by the chefs that I have been studying under. Afterwards, it will be open to the public for viewing at around 12:15p.m. Viewing is free but samples cost $5 (school's policy) and must be ordered in advanced....anyone want a taste ;p...
Here I go...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Buche de Noel 2008
Here we go again, what's new this time? I figured I won't have much time to decorate...so I made the mushrooms ahead of time. When it was time to serve I just stuck the mushrooms on and voila!
Recipe for cake is here.
For the mushrooms:
You're going to need:
-2 egg whites
-100g granulated sugar
-2 tbs powdered sugar
-cocoa powder
*Whip the egg whites until soft peaks, gradually add the granulated sugar and whip to stiff peaks, fold in the powdered sugar. Pipe the mushrooms onto a baking sheet. The stems and caps are piped separately, of course. Dust the tops with some cocoa powder and bake at 200'f for about 45 mins to an hour.
To assemble the mushrooms; "glue" the stems to the caps with frosting, melted chocolate, glucose, melted sugar...pretty whatever you have on hand and is sticky.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Drum-roll Please....
Introducing my newest project/blog:
Stop by when you have the chance and tell me what you think ;).
Cheers!
Stop by when you have the chance and tell me what you think ;).
Cheers!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
I'm still alive....
Yes, I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything...
If anyone cares or was wondering...I'm not dead, just busy.
Doing What?
The Maitreya Project brought sacred relics to Chùa Việt Nam (the temple where I volunteer), so we were busy busy busy.
Then it was the Trung Thu aka the Moon Festival. So, it was moon cake making day and night to get orders out.
Boxes Ready to Be Filled
Traditional Mixed Nuts Mooncake
Vietnamese Ping Pei Mooncakes
Print Cakes
Theochew Pia Pastries
If anyone cares or was wondering...I'm not dead, just busy.
Doing What?
The Maitreya Project brought sacred relics to Chùa Việt Nam (the temple where I volunteer), so we were busy busy busy.
Then it was the Trung Thu aka the Moon Festival. So, it was moon cake making day and night to get orders out.
Handmade Piggies
Boxes Ready to Be Filled
Traditional Mixed Nuts Mooncake
Print Cakes
Theochew Pia Pastries
With the moon festival behind me it was time to enter the Puyallup Fair's Professional Fresh Floral Design Competition. I entered 8 designs and won ribbons for 7 of them, and one best in show. Here they are....
1st place, Class 1860 Design of Chrysanthemums & best in show:
1st place, class 1862 Design of Gladiolus:
1st place, class 1864 Design of mixed flowers, wholesale value over $30:
1st place, class 1865 Basket Design:
2nd place, Class 1863 Design of mixed flowers, wholesale value under $30:
2nd place, Class 1868 Novelty design using a container other than a vase or basket:
3rd place, Class 1871 Fresh wedding bouquet:
1st place, class 1862 Design of Gladiolus:
1st place, class 1864 Design of mixed flowers, wholesale value over $30:
1st place, class 1865 Basket Design:
2nd place, Class 1863 Design of mixed flowers, wholesale value under $30:
2nd place, Class 1868 Novelty design using a container other than a vase or basket:
3rd place, Class 1871 Fresh wedding bouquet:
What's next? ...a few days off then it's back to school for 2 more quarters and I'll be done! and a new chapter opens in my life. Time flies eh? ;)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Let the Boy Eat Cake!
Cake? Where's the Cake?
Today was another sunny day in Seattle. As usual, I was around 2 something p.m. I was sitting in Psychology and the class was discussing human behavior and cultural influences. One of the scenarios was "You have asked your mother-in-law not to give little Elliot a piece of chocolate cake because it will spoil his dinner. She says that she make the cake especially for Elliot and gives him a piece." The question was what would do next/how would you react?
OMG! 2 of my classmates basically replied they would tell her the cake will spoil his dinner, take it away and save if for after dinner. Another said she would tell Elliot how thoughtful it was of his grandma to bake him the cake and ask him save it for after dinner (nice!).
My question is, what's wrong with just letting him eat the cake? Think about it, IT'S JUST CAKE. So what !?!? if it spoils his dinner. Little Eliot isn't going to fall over and die just because his missed dinner that day. The world isn't going to blow up just because he ate a slice of cake. Right? Furthermore, being 'Assertive', taking the cake away, insisting to save if for later causes more bad then good. Bad? Yes, your mother-in-law probably won't like you very much (you might not care but...why would you want someone to hate you?). You're sending the grandma the message that you and Elliot are rejecting her love and affection. She is your mother-in-law, and you're bound to run into one another more then a few times in your life time (i.e. during holidays). So if there's a grudge between the both of you, don't you think the grudge will kill the everyone's holiday mood? Not to mention, you're also putting your husband between you and his mom. Elliot will lose respect for his grandma, since you showed him that you overrule her. Elliot also be in a bad mood since he wants cake and can't have it. You probably won't be in good mood after the ordeal. So why would you react that what? There's nothing to gain. Is it really worth it? Over a slice of Cake? nah.
How would I handle the situation? I would just let Elliot eat the cake. What not, right? Instead of thinking the cake will spoil Elliot's dinner, why not take it as a gesture of love. Realize, appreciate, and be happy with the fact that your son is loved. It's just cake! If this happens regularly, I would tell the grandma in private. Even then I would find a nice way to tell her, maybe...somewhere along the lines of "Mom, I feel really guilty knowing that you're spending your time in a hot kitchen baking him these cakes just for Elliot. Why don't you take a break and relax. Elliot has had so much cake in the past few weeks, that I don't think a break from your cakes will upset him too much."
Is my solution too 'Asian', and my classmates too 'American' (whatever that means!)? I don't think so. I was once told that 'no one on this earth is nice, everyone has a bit of mean inside of them, the only difference is there are people who are dumb and people who are smart'. LOLZ But if you think about it, it's kind of true. There's a time and place for everything, you have to be smart and pick your battles.
For god's sake, let the boy eat cake!
Today was another sunny day in Seattle. As usual, I was around 2 something p.m. I was sitting in Psychology and the class was discussing human behavior and cultural influences. One of the scenarios was "You have asked your mother-in-law not to give little Elliot a piece of chocolate cake because it will spoil his dinner. She says that she make the cake especially for Elliot and gives him a piece." The question was what would do next/how would you react?
OMG! 2 of my classmates basically replied they would tell her the cake will spoil his dinner, take it away and save if for after dinner. Another said she would tell Elliot how thoughtful it was of his grandma to bake him the cake and ask him save it for after dinner (nice!).
My question is, what's wrong with just letting him eat the cake? Think about it, IT'S JUST CAKE. So what !?!? if it spoils his dinner. Little Eliot isn't going to fall over and die just because his missed dinner that day. The world isn't going to blow up just because he ate a slice of cake. Right? Furthermore, being 'Assertive', taking the cake away, insisting to save if for later causes more bad then good. Bad? Yes, your mother-in-law probably won't like you very much (you might not care but...why would you want someone to hate you?). You're sending the grandma the message that you and Elliot are rejecting her love and affection. She is your mother-in-law, and you're bound to run into one another more then a few times in your life time (i.e. during holidays). So if there's a grudge between the both of you, don't you think the grudge will kill the everyone's holiday mood? Not to mention, you're also putting your husband between you and his mom. Elliot will lose respect for his grandma, since you showed him that you overrule her. Elliot also be in a bad mood since he wants cake and can't have it. You probably won't be in good mood after the ordeal. So why would you react that what? There's nothing to gain. Is it really worth it? Over a slice of Cake? nah.
How would I handle the situation? I would just let Elliot eat the cake. What not, right? Instead of thinking the cake will spoil Elliot's dinner, why not take it as a gesture of love. Realize, appreciate, and be happy with the fact that your son is loved. It's just cake! If this happens regularly, I would tell the grandma in private. Even then I would find a nice way to tell her, maybe...somewhere along the lines of "Mom, I feel really guilty knowing that you're spending your time in a hot kitchen baking him these cakes just for Elliot. Why don't you take a break and relax. Elliot has had so much cake in the past few weeks, that I don't think a break from your cakes will upset him too much."
Is my solution too 'Asian', and my classmates too 'American' (whatever that means!)? I don't think so. I was once told that 'no one on this earth is nice, everyone has a bit of mean inside of them, the only difference is there are people who are dumb and people who are smart'. LOLZ But if you think about it, it's kind of true. There's a time and place for everything, you have to be smart and pick your battles.
For god's sake, let the boy eat cake!
Missed Comments
If you posted a question within the last 2 weeks and don't see it published/answered...it's because I accidentally deleted it. Sorry...anyways here are the answers to the questions. If I missed any please repost. Thanks.
Re: Where to buy traditional molds for loveletters.
-Try looking online.
Re: Beating the eggs for Banh Bo Nuong
-the main point is to mix everything evenly without adding too much air into the batter.
Re: Where to buy traditional molds for loveletters.
-Try looking online.
Re: Beating the eggs for Banh Bo Nuong
-the main point is to mix everything evenly without adding too much air into the batter.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
It's all about Me...who wants Me?
Any takers?
A quick lesson in Vietnamese. Me: a tree fruit also know as Tamarind. Me can either be sweet, or sour. The sweet kind makes a great snack as is. The sour kind is used in cooking to make anything from canh chua to soda Me (Tamarind soda). You can find sour tamarind at most Asian grocery stores in the spice section. It comes compressed in block, dark brown in color.
All Purpose Tamarind Paste/Syrup:
-200g sour tamarind
-300g water
-400-500g sugar
-1 tsp salt
-chili peppers (optional)
What to Do:
Boil together tamarind and water, let mixture sit for at least 1 hour (better if overnight). Strain tamarind in a sieve (press with a rubber spatula or a spoon to extract the pulp, throw away the outer seed coverings). Mix together tamarind pulp, sugar and salt, bring mixture to a boil and simmer for 15 mins, stirring occasionally.
Uses:
Me Ngào Đường (Sugared Tamarind): A sugary sour and spicy snack. Favored by young students in Vietnam. Heck! I live in America and I like it too. *Mouth watering* Serve as is with toasted sesame seeds sprinkled on top and a tooth pick to eat with.
Soda Me (Tamarind Soda): 2 tsp tamarind paste + 1 cup club soda mixed together, top with crushed peanuts.
Canh Chua: Omit tamarind soup base and replace it with tamarind paste. As with savory dishes, you can eyeball the amount and give the dish a taste taste and adjust before serving.
Nước Mắm Me: Omit lime juice and sugar, replace with tamarind paste.
Stepping off the Traditional Road.....
Tamarind Cosmo: Use your favorite Cosmo recipe and replace cranberry juice and lime with 1 tsp tamarind paste.
A quick lesson in Vietnamese. Me: a tree fruit also know as Tamarind. Me can either be sweet, or sour. The sweet kind makes a great snack as is. The sour kind is used in cooking to make anything from canh chua to soda Me (Tamarind soda). You can find sour tamarind at most Asian grocery stores in the spice section. It comes compressed in block, dark brown in color.
All Purpose Tamarind Paste/Syrup:
-200g sour tamarind
-300g water
-400-500g sugar
-1 tsp salt
-chili peppers (optional)
What to Do:
Boil together tamarind and water, let mixture sit for at least 1 hour (better if overnight). Strain tamarind in a sieve (press with a rubber spatula or a spoon to extract the pulp, throw away the outer seed coverings). Mix together tamarind pulp, sugar and salt, bring mixture to a boil and simmer for 15 mins, stirring occasionally.
Uses:
Me Ngào Đường (Sugared Tamarind): A sugary sour and spicy snack. Favored by young students in Vietnam. Heck! I live in America and I like it too. *Mouth watering* Serve as is with toasted sesame seeds sprinkled on top and a tooth pick to eat with.
Soda Me (Tamarind Soda): 2 tsp tamarind paste + 1 cup club soda mixed together, top with crushed peanuts.
Canh Chua: Omit tamarind soup base and replace it with tamarind paste. As with savory dishes, you can eyeball the amount and give the dish a taste taste and adjust before serving.
Nước Mắm Me: Omit lime juice and sugar, replace with tamarind paste.
Stepping off the Traditional Road.....
Tamarind Cosmo: Use your favorite Cosmo recipe and replace cranberry juice and lime with 1 tsp tamarind paste.
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