Pastries Day One

Well, it was interesting--to put it mildly. When I walked in to my new pastry class I expected a class full of young skinny bakers. This was the only upper level first year baking class offered so I figured it would be populated by those in some of my other day classes. I was quite full of confidence that I would know many and again be the senior student. Wrong. Really wrong. With each new student that walked in, my mouth dropped a little more. I was smack dab in the middle age-wise. In fact, I was kinda on the young side. Where did these people come from??? My friend from my previous baking class was sitting next to me, which was comforting but that was as far as it went.

My teacher is brilliant. This is not just my opinion, mind you. She really is. She has her doctorate in chemistry and is a baker extrodinaire. She is smarter than I think I am on my best day. She did not think the class m

ake-up was odd. This must be typical in these night classes. The class runs from 4-11pm, you see. This is the time to take that baking class you've always wanted--maybe even with your husband. That nice couple was across from me in the bakery. There were several men th

at were over 55. They were darn good bakers, too. There were several women who sang to themselves throughout the whole class. One woman was covered head to toe in cocoa. I never used cocoa so I can't really explain that. But I mean head to toe.

The day was about pies and tarts. I have a very difficult relationship with pie. It hates me and I'm not so fond of it. However, I made one awesome pie. It was a blue cheese-apricot tart. It had a sour cream crust. Holy shit it was yummy. My partner made some nasty pie crust which made us both very giggly. We were finished by 9:30. Class, however does not end until 11. Off to do the dishes, I guess. At 20 minutes until 11, one man finally finished his pie and put it in the oven. I almost slit his throat. Really? Oh, but he was not alone. In went another pie. We still hadn't had the chat

about everyone else's pies. Chef is quite amazing when analyzing these baked goods so I really wanted to listen. But my bed was call

ing--loudly. All I could think about was going home and there were pies still baking!!! AAHHGGG! Luckily Chef let those of us who had finished aeons ago leave but it was still 11:20. Some girls still had homework to do for the next day.

I think it will be fine in the long run. We have to do a presentation of something we've made at home. These pictures are my kitchen in its' current state. Drywall dust does not make a pretty decor for a cake or pie. It might make a good thickener for my soup and sauce class however...