The grades are in....

I finished out my term in Introduction to Patisserie and Baking Techniques with a "B" which makes my cumulative GPA a 3.57!!!  Not too bad I was hoping to keep my 4.0 but this class was really hard for me.  I will still get a star for my collar.  It should be a silver.  I look damn good in silver so I am alright with that!!! 
In all honesty I am extremely happy I finished out with a "B", I was worried I was dropping to a "C" and that would not have been kosher with me.  So yay GO ME!!!!! 

A night of firsts....

There are no pictures to along with this post due to the nature of events.  Yesterday evening I woke up at 7 PM and was feeling really bad so I went back to sleep until roughly 8:45 PM.  When I got up to start getting ready for work, I was feeling really shitty, my glands in my throat were really swollen, I thought I was running a fever, and just over all bad and sore.  I could not call out from work due to the fact I work night audit at a hotel, not an easy shift to replace if someone calls out.  So I went and let them know when I got there I was feeling shitty.  I went on with my work and tried to get most of it done just in case I needed to leave early.  The staff at the hotel is really amazing and caring.  One front desk agent offered to make me coffee before she left.  One of the guys from room service made me some hot tea with honey.  Very nice people there, one of the many reasons why I love my job (well mostly my shift, I get to see the awesome people getting off work and they are great).  Around 12:45 AM I had to run to the restroom and I cough up a little tiny bit of dark blood and had a decent case of vertigo.  So I stumbled to the desk and told my supervisor I think I need to go to the hospital (and those of you who know me, know I do not got see a doc when I am sick).  My supervisor called a paramedic to come check me out and my blood pressure spike really high for me, 185/95 mine usually runs around 110/68 ish.  After they checked me out they said they were going to have an ambulance come get me.  My first, first was having a paramedic check me out, followed by being put on a stretcher and riding in an ambulance.  Once I got to the hospital they did all the typical checks and what not.  The staff there was really amazing.  I would like to bake them something (after I am feeling better of course).  Are they allowed to receive baked goods from a previous patient I wonder.  I will have to find out.  The doctor wanted to get a few X-rays, which is another first for me.  Then my doc and my nurse got really busy with another patient that they had to use heroic measures is all I was told.  When he was finally able to come back in he said I do have strep throat.  He wrote me out of work for 2 days and luckily I am on spring break so I don't have to miss school.  YAY!!!  While I was at the hospital they gave a dose of steroids and ibuprofen.  I was prescribed amoxicillin and he gave me some hydrocodone for pain.  When I finally got to leave I realized I didn't have my wallet or any money on me or my trimet pass to catch a bus.  So I had to walk about about a mile to max line (farefree zone).  I took the max back to work to give them my no working paperwork and to get my wallet and to close out my money.  I left there and came home and went to sleep.  I got up about 2:30 PM and had to find a pharmacy that was open on Sundays and that wasn't going to charge an arm and a leg for meds without insurance.  I should be getting my insurance at work next month, convenient eh?  The pharmacy in target was open til 6 PM and the amoxicillin was only going to cost me $4.  I got online and found a route via public transport.  Took a bus and asked the driver about a stop and she was clueless I ended up way way way out of the way and then hoped another bus back and then had to transfer to another bus and I finally made it to target at 5:15 PM (this is when public transport SUCKS, I was only 5.6 miles out originally.  I had to wait around target for 30 mins, which was no biggie but I was starting to feel bad so I did purchase my ibuprofen and took a few bc I could feel a fever coming on and my throat swelling.  Then I got back on line to check public transport back home hopefully with less issues, but that was not the case.  I hoped a max and got off at the wrong stop, had to wait for next one and then my directions said take bus 17 and when I got off the max bus 14 was there and so I didn't rush down.  I saw the sign bus 17 doesn't even stop on that side of town so I re-routed and dammit I was suppose to be on 14.  The next one wasn't for 45 mins and it was cold I was feeling shitty and just wanted to go home so I broke down and called a cab.  Which cost me a pretty penny bc somehow I was 6.3 miles away.  I finally got home from the crazy ass day at 7:30 PM.  Almost 5 hours to go and fill a damn prescription and get home.  This is one of the only times I have wished I had a car here. 

Pet love....

Ryan, the roomie I pay rent too has a cat.  A very cute affectionate cat named Mee Mee!!!  When she first sees you she runs away and one day she was meowing so loud.  So I chased her and picked her up and loved on her, now every time I go upstairs she comes to me and wants me to pet her.  The other day Mee Mee and I had some quality time together.

Buffet Project....

Thursday we had one hour to finish up our stuff and have our buffet set up.  Trying to cut fruit small enough to fit on a mini tart is so not cool with an over kill bandage on.  All in all my tarts turned out awesome:

I didn't order enough kiwi so I had to improvise by making some just pineapple and some just strawberry.  I did decent on this part I think it was in the B range.  On the packet we had to turn in which had: time lines: group and individual, a drawing of what the buffet should look like, our individual item drawn and colored, a menu, and the recipes and procedures we were going to use.  We had to turn in on Tuesday.  We got them back Thursday and yes your girl April here got a 100!!!!  Whoop whoop!!!!  My written final I think I made a C.  I should hopefully find out my final grade Monday of Tuesday!!!    

Cutting time...

Last Monday (3/21/11) we made some really interesting meringue.  We whipped it silly, piped it into little cups and little super cute mushrooms, then baked it on 200 degrees over night.  Then Tuesday (3/22/11) we made this extremely delicious chocolate mousse to fill these "cups" and then we tempered chocolate to connect the top of the mushroom with the bottom.  Take a look at these and there is no way you won't think they are adorable:

I rubbed cocoa powder on top so they look more like wild shrooms.  This was the first "check off" project that I had all positive feed back.  Mushrooms: very nice shape and even: base to top, Cups: surprisingly done really well.  Chefs words lol!!!  Mousse: very tasty!!!  HELL YEAH!!!!!  GO ME!!!!  After all this excitement it was time to cut the pound cake we made in week 3!!  I was concentrating really hard bc I really wanted a straight cut.  Well, I cut through the cake followed by my finger.  I was using a serrated knife and when it made contact with my finger I knew I had to of cut it pretty deep.  After trying to get it to stop bleeding one of the girls in my class, who use to be a marine said put pepper in it and that will help.  So, don't ever do that because that shit burns!!!!  When the said marine saw the cut she decided to go tell Chef and when Chef came over she said I think you need stitches.  At school if you need to go to the hospital they call you a cab there and one back plus they cover you visit.  I was there about 3 hours.  Mostly waiting.  I did get my blood pressure checked and it was good, 110/68.  The doc decided not to give me stitches he just butterflied it then wrapped in this complete over kill of a bandage

Which therefore made the next day for baking for my exam difficult. 

Practice Time....

We have a buffet project due on Thursday.  Last day of class, whoop whoop!!!!  We are in groups of 5, there are 5 different categories and we have to make 16 servings per item.  I am make 16 mini fruit tarts.  Today I decided to make them here at home to practice.  We have a written final Wed. morning and then the rest of Wed. we can bake everything and prep everything we need.  On Thursday we have 1 hour to finish up any last minute touches and set up our display.  Now I have been out looking for little tartlet pans and damn they are pricey!!!  So I got a cupcake pan, I thought I could at least get the idea of flow and the time it will take to do this.  I cut up some strawberries and kiwi.  On Thursday I will have pineapple too.  I just didn't want to buy a whole pineapple and I only need maybe a quarter of it.  I took some pictures throughout the process.

Creaming of butter, sugar and lemon zest for Pate Sucree

Whisking of eggs, cornstarch and sugar for Pastry cream

Milk and sugar to a boil for pastry cream

Pate sucree rolled out and placed in cupcake pan

Baked pate Sucree

What I ended up with

Not too bad considering I didn't have the correct equipment

I think they are cute

The ones on Thursday will look better, I will have access to tartlet pans

Exploring....

Yesterday I was off work and it was actually sunny out for a little while.  I got home from work about 7AM and did some stuff then went to sleep.  When I got up I dyed my hair, took a shower and heading out in town to take pictures.  I walked about 6.5 miles yesterday for pleasure!!  It was Awesome!!  I walked to China Town, Downtown, and the Pearl District.   I had my camera with me so I did get some more pictures.  Not as many as I would have liked because of course the rain had to start and I didn't want my camera to get wet.  My next big purchase is going to be a kickin' camera!!  I am going to start saving.  The sights around here are just amazing and I haven't even been all over town yet just small parts.  The buildings here are breath taking.  My pictures just won't do them justice. 


Heading out!!



The entrance to China Town



Yes that is a Chinese man riding a bike selling art work!! 



mmmmm doughnuts......




This line was wrapped around the building, this is usually what is like! 



 Jakes!  I think they have a problem!!! 




Random art sculptures around downtown, VERY AWESOME!!





Just another view

The Pearl District

The Max

Food Carts: they line a lot of the streets downtown, and the food is yummy

After walking around town 

I love walking around Portland, there is so much I haven't even seen yet.  My spring break starts this Thursday after 11AM.  I am hoping for some nice sunny days so I can walk to some places I haven't been yet and get some pictures. 

CHEEEEEESECAKE!!!!!!!

I finished my cheesecake yesterday and let me just tell you, that shit is good.  I have never been a fan of cheesecake but this one has changed my mind.  Which is not a good thing seeing how I am trying to lose some weight haha!!  The photos below are of this wondrous citrus cheesecake garnished with some wonderful strawberries and sweetened whip cream. 

Let me just say when I took this cake to Chef to get checked off, she had all positive to say!!!  Slices are even, consistency is good, sweetened cream was delicious and whipped perfectly.  The only thing was that my rosettes were not even.  Not to bad for being my first time making cheesecake ay?  I was very excited. 
Yesterday we also had our practical, we had to make eclairs and cream puffs with out instruction.  I did really well on that as well.  My pastry cream tasted really good, my puffs puffed up very nicely.  I had points off because I didn't have time to melt the white chocolate and drizzle it and because one of my eclairs were a little shorter than the others.  I finished out with a 83 B!!!  All in all a good day yesterday!!!  Then at work last night I took my cheesecake and cream puffs so they will eat them and not me.  Well we have some semi famous people in the hotel this weekend and I was asking the bellman if he liked cheesecake and this guest answered yes I love cheesecake.  Well after chatting a second I ended up giving him some cheesecake and he said it was da bomb.com hahahaha!!!  That is awesome!!!  Go ME!!!!

 About a week and half ago my roomies and I went out to the Marina to do some bar hopping.  I am still without ID so we had to make sure they would serve me.  2 of them did and the other asked me to leave.  You have to have ID and be at least 21 to even be in the bars around here.  We had a great time, these guys are hilarious!!!  What else made it sweet was we walked to them, so no DD needed!!  Even frickin' better.  Have I mentioned how much I love living downtown?  Well I frickin love it!!!!  While we were out we were wanting to get a pic of us 3 but that didn't happen so when we got home when we all were drunk we tried to get some pics. 



Jay, Me, Tim



Me and Tim

What a night!!!!

I think we will all be hanging out again soon, especially since my SPRING BREAK is coming up!!!!  HOLLA!!!!

Pastry Cream...

So I think I have got this pastry cream down.  I am not trying to brag but every time I have made is thus far I have been told by Chef that is was very good.  For those who don't know how pastry cream is made, well let me shed some light on this crazy fact.  Pastry cream is a custard, which I have never liked, until now haha!!   It is the filling in Eclairs, cream puffs, fruit tarts, ect....  Well this cream consist of milk, sugar, egg yolks, whole eggs, cornstarch, butter and vanilla.  So after you scale out your items you boil milk and half the sugar meanwhile, in a bowl mix cornstarch, the rest of the sugar, and both egg forms.  Then after milk and sugar comes to boil you put some of the boiled mixture with the cornstarch and whisk then reunite to pot and boil for 30 sec.  turn heat off and add vanilla and butter and whisk until this forms a solid.  Cool quickly.  After you chill mixture, whip it until its smooth again just don't over whip it because you could still break it at this point.  Then it is ready.  I did make this for the large fruit tart in previous post. 

This week we made Eclairs, cream puffs, creme carmel, creme brulee, cheesecake,choc. ganache, and pate a choux (which is the dough for cream puffs and eclairs). 

 Yesterday I finished my creme carmels and creme brulee but I forgot to take a picture of it before it was gone.  I gave it to some culinary students.  I will finish my cheesecake tomorrow so next post will have pics of that.  I do have some great photos of my eclairs and creme puffs.

Yesterday I was off work and thought it would be fun to walk around town for awhile.  I walked all the way down to ChinaTown and walked all around ChinaTown.  It was pretty awesome!!!  Here are a few of the pics I got before my phone died.  I want to go back and have my nice camera with me and really do these photos justice.  This will do do now:

  outside of the Chinese Garden

This is how the police roll in China Town!!  WHAT WHAT!! 

The famous VOODOO DOUGHNUTS!!!  There is ALWAYS a line, this is actually a Very SHORT line and they are open 24 hours!!  The Doughnuts are delicious though, worth the wait!!!   People usually wait at least an hour!!

Just and awesome building structure in ChinaTown

Its a fruit kind of thang....

I started today off with a written test!!!  I was trying to study pretty hard last night for it!!  I have been pretty sick the past few days and of course yesterday, being my day off, it got worse.  Now both my glands are swollen and my head is in a bubble.  Even with all that going on I still think I did pretty decent on the test.  I should find out my grade next week.  I had to triple think a few questions but overall I felt like I knew the answers.  Then following the test we had to make Apple Crisp and Peach Crisp.  I am not a huge fan of baked apples but I tried the crisp and damn it was GOOD!!!!!  I was very suprised!!  We had to work in teams of 2 so I brought home half of each.  I think my roomies will still be happy.  :) 

Today I checked my student portal and my classes for next term are already posted.  The good news is I will not have nearly as much to carry next term.  The bad news is I have English 7AM-850AM and Math 9AM- 1050AM!!  OH boy!!!!!

It's a Tart kind of day....

Today we finished up tarts!!!!  I am not a huge tart fan but I must say my tarts turned out amazingly!!!  I got all my checkoffs done on time today at school.  It is a beautiful day out, I got to hang out with one of my friends after school, and I got to talk to some awesome people on the phone this afternoon (don't worry mom they have AT&T)!!!!!  All around good day!!! I do have to work tonight, but hopefully it will be a good night at work!! 
I think that since my heart to heart with my chef she is critiquing me a little harder than she was before, which is good bc I think she can see the potential I have and wants to make me better!!!  SO I say BRING IT ON!!!! 
The following are some pictures of my tarts and tartlettes:


This is what my sheet pan looked like for my check off!!



Lemon Meringue Tartlets



I got to use a blow torch on these bad boys!!!  I am so buying one!!  Muhahaha!!



Chocolate Tart with Sweetened whip cream



Fruit Tart



Delicious custard on the bottom topped with strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, and oranges