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