Day Twenty

on
Saturday, August 11, 2012
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Hello everyone!  I hope you’re having a great weekend.  I woke up “early” and made Eric some Saturday morning/afternoon brunch.  Honey-wheat waffles, applewood smoked bacon, hash browns, and sliced oranges.  I wasn’t kidding when I said I was going to practice my citrus segmenting this weekend. 

I feel like I’m annoying/bugging everyone about this contest, but it’s only for a few more days, so bear with me.  You can vote every day for my peanut butter & jelly macaroons until August 17th.  I would really, really appreciate your vote!  The winner takes home $5,000!  You just have to “like” the California Grapes page and then you can vote.  You have to scroll down a bit to see my recipe.  My name is Emily Hobbs… pretty sure you already knew that. 

We plated FIVE desserts yesterday in class.  Here we go, folks.  Buckle up.

The first dessert (above) is segmented oranges and grapefruit, topped with candied orange zest, grapefruit jellee, honey ice cream, and a grapefruit almond tuile.  I thought the citrus mixed with the honey ice cream worked really well. 

Next is my favorite dessert I’ve made in class so far.  Chocolate lovers cake with coffee ice cream, crème anglaise, and cocoa nibs.  The molten chocolate filling was amazing.  You know how good this was, don’t you?

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This next dessert is crème caramel topped with a quenelle of whipped cream, a strawberry, and a caramel decoration.  This was good, as well.  Definitely not as good as chocolate lovers cake.  Making quenelles is tough.  I’m going to practice this weekend. 

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This is the filling of our papillote.  It’s parchment paper topped with pineapple, banana, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberrries, butter, lime zest and juice, vanilla, and brown sugar.  

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After baking, we garnish the papillote with fruit berries, strawberry sorbet, and a spiced tuile.
I wasn’t expecting to like this that much, but it was so very, very good. 
 
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The final dessert is a hazelnut financier cake, baked in a cast iron skillet, topped with poached pears, praline ice cream, a pear chip, and fresh herbs.  This was my second favorite dessert.  The cake and the pears were fantastic.  The ice cream was a little overpowering, though.  I think a vanilla or honey ice cream would have worked better. 

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Whew.  Yesterday was a busy day, and I was stuffed by the time class was over!  Sugar overload. 

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15 comments on "Day Twenty"
  1. Stunning--all of them--especially the waffles and the citrus!

    It just occurred to me: although I have a baking blog, I seldom make 'desserts.' I bake stuff like cookies and cupcakes, but seldom 'desserts' (which I define as something that has to be eaten immediately after it is prepared, like your caramel extravaganza).

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  2. Your hard work is paying off - your creations are PHENOMENAL!

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  3. Incredible desserts, Emily!! I'm going to the California Raisins page right now and voting for your recipe!! I sure hope you win!!!

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  4. I meant the California Grapes page.....(sorry about that!)

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  5. Weekend waffles are the best!

    I like how the ice cream is scooped in an oval instead of a circular shape.

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  6. I can't believe it's already day 20. You are moving along so fast and showing that you've really got a gift when it comes to being a pastry chef. I bet your teachers are thrilled to have you as a student. Can't wait to see what you make next.

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    1. Oh Lisa, you're so sweet! I know... a month has already gone by. I can't believe it.

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  7. My mom and I have been loving following your journey through pastry school so far! The desserts look FANTASTIC! Congratulations! :)

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    1. Have you really?! Wow, I'm flattered. Thank you for reading!

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  8. I love reading about everything you're making! So, I have a question about the papillote (that is probably a stupid question), but are you supposed to eat the parchment with the fruit once you bake it? That seems weird.

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  9. Mmmm...that fruit filling looks awesome. I could get down on that pear cake too. I'm not big on chocolate.

    I voted for you again and as far as I can tell, you are in the lead. I hope you win!! Keep reminding us girl, it's not annoying at all!

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Sup?