Day Sixty-Two

I was pleased with how this chocolate biscuit (pronounced bis-quee) cake turned out.  It rose nicely!  It was made from whole eggs, trimoline, sucrose, cococa powder, cocoa paste and butter.  Whipped egg whites were folded in at the end of mixing.  The French certainly love their meringues. 

We also made another meringue and cooked the whites by pouring in a hot honey syrup.  Whipped cream was folded into the meringue mixture to create a “nougat” mousse.  We’re layering this cake with chopped dried cherries, apricots, pecans, pistachios and mousse.  I’m guessing we’re going to bake a dacquoise for this tomorrow. 

I loved making this mousse, by the way.  So relaxing.  Folding relaxes me. 



We also baked off a hazelnut dacquoise made from hazelnut flour, confectioners’ sugar, whipped egg whites, and caramelized hazelnuts.  If you’re throwing a party in the near future you should consider making caramelized hazelnuts as one of the snacks.  They’re great!  They’re made by slowly toasting hazelnuts in hot syrup.


Sadly, we did not get to taste the macarons (from yesterday) today.  My classmates and I are trying to figure out where the macarons went.  Macarongate 2012.

Part two of the post…


 
Shoes for Crews kindly sent me a pair of shoes to try out.  This shoe is called the Women’s Air Clog, in black, and is perfect for staying safe and comfortable in the kitchen. 

I’ve been wearing Crocs in school/work, and they’ve been fine so far, but I don’t feel very professional wearing them.  I’m not sure that they’re that safe, either, since they’re so light.  Steel-toed shoes are preferred in this industry. 

I purchased Crocs because I didn’t want to pay hundreds of dollars on shoes.  I mean, not yet.  I feel like if you’re the head pastry chef at a restaurant or hotel then yes, you deserve those $200 shoes.  I’m just a lowly pastry student.  If I had known about Shoes for Crews shoes I’d definitely have purchased my shoes from them, because their prices are very reasonable. 


I’m really enjoying them so far; they’re very comfortable and sleek.  I’m also a few inches taller, which is a bonus.  I’m still getting used to the weight of them, though. 
Sooo, Shoes for Crews would like to give away a pair of new shoes to one reader!  Any shoe of your choice.  This giveaway isn’t limited to culinary professionals; Shoes for Crews also sells shoes for the healthcare industry and more!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment and tell me a dessert you don’t like.  I’m curious. 

I’ll randomly pick a winner on Saturday.