Trying Something New

This morning we got a complaint about our bagels being too tough; so our teacher decided to switch the recipe.



     I started off with whipping up some "White Pan Bread." After mixing the dough, a started following my bagel recipe.

     As you can see, the bigger bagel is almost the same size as the plate its on sooooo... I think the portioning part could use a bit of tweaking. 

 

 

Vol-au-Vents

Alright, the laminated dough was a bit hard to make though the makeup part of these pastries was very fun because it looked nice and was pretty simple. Unfortunately the lemon pie filling vol-au-vents were so good I forgot to take a picture as I already have eaten them but I got to admit that was the recipe I was most proud of prior to now.

If you don't know what vol-au-vents are...
they're pastries where you roll out the laminated dough [with the butter already in, after the 3rd turn] and cut out 3 1/2 inch bt 3 1/2 inch squares; then you fold the squares, cut like this < slightly so the mini squares don't fall out and take the two flaps of dough and overlap them over each other creating a border-like design with little twists at each end. Afterwards you egg wash them, put filling in the center, and egg wash them once again then they're ready to be baked at 300 F for about 10 minutes.

By the way vol-au-vents means 'windblown' and they name these pastries like that because they refer to the lightness.

Summary: Loved it. :)
~K

Yeast

For nine days in the bakeshop I was at the yeast station. This, I'm guessing is going to be my least favorite station because I prefer making cakes, cookies, or other desserts. Though this may not be my favorite station I believe making good breads and learning the different techniques behind doing so is a necessary part of being a good baker. During these nine days I have tried so many things I've never tried before such as focaccia, a baguette and a cheese bagel. Although I believe my favorite was definitely the glazed doughnuts that  I made. :):)

Yeast Raised Doughnuts
 

A Call-out from the Sickbed

So for the past two weeks or so I've been sick.  It caused me to be distracted, and sometimes confused in class. I missed days sporadically. Over the weekend I decided to visit a doctor. I was told that this virus had been making its way around town. So I decided to take a break for two consecutive days, not wanting to pass the virus I have onto others in my class. 

Cream Cheese Brownie

However I did not while the time away. My mother and me spent the time baking also! We baked Bienestich (well she did, I watched and listened to instructions).

Then right as we put it in the oven for its second go, we had a power outage, my mom pretty much freaked out. All was well though, and it turned out in the end.

Bienestich 

Then we baked the brownie for the Cream Cheese Brownie, and let it cool overnight.   Later that evening we made a Cheesecake with Bakers cheese, or Quark as some know it. It continues to be a great challenge to me :)  

This morning we made the cream cheese filling for the brownie and put it together. It was quite the endeavour, but my moms patience was a great help. 

I'll be back in the bakeshop soon!