Smoked it!

The quarter has come to a close. Thank God. It really seemed like a long 10 weeks. It however, ended on a seriously good upnote. I smoked it!! Smoked it like a Cuban cigar, baby. It started with my proteins final. The practical went very well. We had to truss and clean a pork tenderloin. Then, fillet a fish, fabricate a chicken, and french out a rack of pork chops. I did well. I made all my yield percentages, kept a clean workstation, finished on time, and did a mighty fine job if I do say so myself. The very pierced TA was in charge of grading us. He was also in charge of grading us on our appearance. Ironic, coming from a man with giant rubber tires (minus the hubcaps) in his ears and several barbells in his face. His jacket looked like it had tea stains on it and there was a hole in his pants. A hole big enough to put a fist through. Really? You thought I should press a "T" into the back of my jacket? I think you should go back home, take a look in the mirror and start your day over. Now, if you gave me a good grade--more power to you. Pierce away. Oh, did I mention I got a 96% on my written test? Brag, brag, brag...

Breads was another matter completely. I usually consider a 65% a pretty good showing on her tests. I was nervous and studied pretty hard. I usually make up for my poor written grades by my practical exams and dazzling personality. Well, it was a backward week. I got a 100% on the written test. Yes, a 100%. It was a 5 page long essay test on the qualities and properties of breadmaking. I even remembered the names of the bacteria that give bread its flavor. I was astounded.

Our bread practical was a bit trickier. We submitted two bread recipes and then she messed with them. We were supposed to be able to predict what those changes would do to the breads and their flavor. I really thought I had a handle on it. In a way, I guess I did. I knew what went wrong when it did. And boy did it. The multigrain loaves were so sour and weird that they were inedible. She wrinkled her nose and started giggling. The brioche loaves were good though. They could have been better. I cut down the eggs when I should have added another. They weren't the worst loaves though. My friends came out grey--they looked like they were right out of a sooty fireplace. Grey is not an appetizing color for food. Ever. She said she's had it with this culinary business.

I did save myself with my bread dough plaques. They were mighty cute. I've included a photo--

Until next quarter--