I spent the first 2 days on weaving this damn basket. You should be able to weave the entire thing with one continuous strip. The first 5 tries I was really thinking about that. Then, I thought hey it would be cool to have to colors switch; so my neighbor and I shared our main colors. Trying this way I had a lot of "practice". Class ended and I didn't have a basket :(
Day 2 came and I went in with a very positive attitude. Today I will have a basket before class is over! Lets just say after 3 hours of non stop weaving, melting, satinizing, pulling and heating again I finally had a basket that didn't look too bad. Dark red/brown with a few strips of gold/brown.
Day 3 we were shown how to blow fruit. WOW, so much harder. Can I please go back to pulling?
Now, to get 5 fruits to fit in this basket that is maybe 6 inches wide at the top, the fruits should be fairly on the small side. apparently I only wanted to blow fruit that is actual human size. All my fruits were large! I got 5 done though. I knew just by looking at them that they were not going to fit in my basket. I can't even tell you how many times I broke fruit, cut myself, burnt myself and cussed at the sugar in the process. For sure a huge learning curve was needed.
Day 4 we were shown how to make ribbon sugar. 2 or more colors are needed, you have to get them to the same temp, length and consistency. Its hard enough with one color now I have to somehow make multiple colors even? Oh geez!
Today I had to finish fruit and make a handle and a rim first before I could start on the bow. I made the rim and ran out of class time.
Day 5: Project DUE! I went in knowing I had 2 hours to finish. So first thing I made my bow; more important than the other stuff I did not finish. I grabbed yellow and a dark red. Bing bang boom I knocked that bow out first try heck yeah! Then I went to get my rim and it was broken. I got that back under the heat to melt it back down and I was making a handle which was a nightmare! I swear it broke about 5 times as did the rim during the 2 hours I had today. While I was waiting I decided to try to blow some more fruit (smaller) so they would fit. I made the best apple. It looked amazing! Time was getting closer so I had to start loading my basket. Starting to be rushed to turn it in on time I put one extra fruit in the basket and when I went to attach the handle....well can you guess what happened? yes that is right the handle, rim and the awesome apple broke. No time to fix it, time was called and I had to transport my almost finished basket for grading.
I have to admit I was really pissed off at myself because it wasn't until after time was called did I realize I had an extra fruit in my basket. Had I not put the extremely large peach in in the basket, my stuff may not have broken.
After waiting what felt like forever to be graded, it was finally my turn. I walked my basket to the grading station and got some helpful pointers and positive feed back! I was super excited to have gotten an 86 B. Even with all the trouble I was still able to pull out a B! This project was to prep us for our large 2 foot pure sugar sculpture that we are starting tomorrow! I am for sure shooting for an A on that one. I am also trying to stay in the mind set to try really hard to get it done the day before its due. Ok maybe only have a few minor details to get it done on the last day, which we will have only 1 hour. We will see how that goes!....
This week we are learning all about pulling, blowing and pouring sugar! When sugar is used in this manner we are actually talking about Isomalt. Isomalt is a modified sugar containing extra hydrogen molecules making it more stable that granulated sugar. It lasts longer, but cost 10 times as much. So this sugar gets heated up too 330 degrees for pulling and blowing; 360 degrees for pouring. Talk about HOT! Lets hope I don't burn myself the next few weeks!
Today we are starting our Fruit Baskets.
Th requirements:
5 fruits
Basket
Handle
Bow
Rim
Pulled and Blown sugar
Doesn't sound like a lot but we are weaving the basket out of sugar. We get about 5 days to complete this basket. I hope I do better on this project.
This is what the sugar looks like after it is cook and cooled and before you start to play with it, I have it under a 250 watt light to start to heat it up so I can "play" with it
Like everything else, this was way harder than I thought! Pulling sugar is not so bad. I kind of liked that part, but the blowing sugar was, lets just say it tested my patience A LOT! For pulling sugar you literally pull it to the shape you want. Not too bad. For the blowing of sugar you have to get it in the shape of a "ball" and use what looks like the pump part from a blood pressure cuff and pump it up. Sound easy enough, but if the "ball" is not of even consistency when you pump it you will get a thin side and then if it gets too thin....POP! Sharp little sugar pieces everywhere. Did I mention how fragile sugar work is? Yeah, you breath wrong and it will shatter!
This past week at school we started our new project: Gingerbread! We are free to do what we want. Which is great because I have to best idea EVER!
The requirements:
10 mediums, gingerbread, 2 windows, 2 people or animals, all edible, shingles, 2 candies that we make (one crystalline and one noncrystalline) and must fit on a 1/2 sheet pan.
My idea:
Large mountain (I am talking large as in the base takes up 3/4 of my 1/2 sheet) carving a curvy road, building a motorcycle and my dad and I riding up the mountain. A mini store at the base of the mountain made out of gingerbread, modeling a motorcycle out of marzipan and people out of modeling chocolate. The rest of the details to come.
The first day: Construction of the large mountain and make gingerbread and cut out templates. First 2 attempts of mountain = 2 ways NOT to construct it.
Day 2: Continue construction of mountain, make mediums in groups for class use. Full day spent on construction of mountain, lets just say I learned a few more ways NOT to make a mountain out of Rock Sugar and added bonus = second degree burn on my finger tips.
Day 3: 2 more attempts on this mountain. hmmm now to try a new plan. Poured my windows and sculpted "Joe and Bug" riders.
Day 4: sculpt motorcycle, work on "Joe and Bug" riders, and paint
Day 5: Prep half sheet board, "glue" house together with royal icing. Work on Mountain-realized have adjust original plan have to "make do" with what I got. Started cleaning up and I went to do my dishes and when my house was moved, it fell apart one window broke....pure sadness. Time to go can not fix it today and project due tomorrow.
Day 6: 2 hours to complete project and turn it in. Whipped up some fresh icing glued house together again (with broken window). assembled riders on bike, glued down all other pieces. Time to turn it in. Carried to grading table. While I was cleaning on the other side of the room my motorcycle broke in half. I noticed it before my turn and and grab a thin dry noodle and "fixed" it.
The grading: Did overall really well even with all the trouble I was having. Big mark down was for all the "glue" showing. I was rushed to get the motorcycle and remaining landscaping down. I finished out with a 86 B. I am happy with the grade. I sure did learn a lot for next time.
The finished product:
As part of my requirements for graduation I must complete 2 six-week or 1 twelve week "externship" (similar to an internship). So basically I will be working in the field under another Chef. You can find ones that: pay, include housing, are in exotic areas, resorts, anywhere. The sky is the limit! Literally the world is your oyster and you have your choice!
With all this "freedom" I am all over the place. I have been trying to decide where to go. I have looked into many options in hopes of finding one that fits just right. My ideal externship would be as follows: new location (prefer somewhere I haven't been), PAID, city, busy, public transport (Portland ruined me on this one, too good of public transport :) ), would be great if it included housing but it depends on the rest. So, after thinking long and hard I have decided I want to go to Australia.
There is a way to go on a work/student Visa that I am going to apply for.
I am pretty excited about this, I have a lot of steps to go through first before I qualify, but I believe it will be worth it.
First thing on my list is to get my passport. I must have my passport in hand before I can even apply for my Visa. I will be playing a little of the waiting game for sure. I am looking forward to updating every step of the way...
Wow! October huh? No wonder I have had the feelings of missing something. Well, a brief update: holidays-SUCKED! I did get to see Mom and Dad the week before Christmas but other than that, they kind of blew. I have been keeping busy with school, work and all the crazy "home" drama. So let me just share what IS happening now.
I am about to make my 4th, yes I said 4th move since being in Portland. My most current situation is with a very pregnant bitch whom decided to end her marriage over a damn text message and is taking it out on me. I am so over her! This last weekend I went out and found another place to live. I will be renting from some "older" lesbians (no drama there right?....HAHA) who seem to have their shit together. The best part, or least I think so, it is a purple house with a big pickup truck in the front. Clearly the house of gay! hahaha! I will be moving in either this weekend or next Wednesday. More on the that situation as it unfolds.
School update: Still maintaining Honors List, finished out my plated desserts class with an "A". Pretty proud of that bad boy! Just started Advance Showpiece aka big over priced chocolate or sugar sculptures. However I am super excited to be in this class. I can't wait to learn about pulled sugar and blowing sugar muahahaha! I have 2 terms left (after this one)before I venture on an externship. Still not sure where I am going for my externship just yet. I have been applying many places in the country and one out of the country. I am stressing out a bit about my externship. So many choices and decisions to make and the ones I am making right now will affect of my pastry future. I decided I need to get back to blogging at least once a week even if it is just for a release.
Work status: I am still at DoubleTree. Things here are going well. The night crew is still AMAZING! I officially hit my year mark last month and now I have a weeks worth of vacation time saved up, I am pretty stoked about that. I am waiting on my evaluation for a raise. They are kind of playing around with the "set" schedule due to some issues. It's all gravy as long as I still get close to 40 a week. I am still in the running for Employee of the Year which should be announced at our banquet in April. I am keeping my fingers crossed for that one ;)
I think that about covers the updates. I am looking forward to maintaining my blogs a little better from here in out. Watch out the best is yet to come...
