
Today we started petit fours – the subject of our last two weeks in class. We made four types of dough: sweet dough, almond sable, extra fine sable, and chocolate sweet dough. We also made pate a choux, and baked cream puffs and éclairs. It was a pretty easy day.
It took almost six months, but I think I’m finally getting burnt out with blogging about school. I think you guys can tell. I do love it… but sometimes, at the end of the night, I’m just too tired to put a lot of effort into it. But there’s only two weeks left of school, and by golly, I’m not quitting now.
So I don’t know… today I don’t feel like talking about school. Or even desserts.
Well, I do have to mention one thing about petit fours. This is so stupid but when I think of petit fours I think of those American Girl books. Did you read them? I was obsessed. My favorite character was Samantha, and in one of the books it was her birthday and she had petit four cakes for her dessert. I thought that sounded soooo cool and fancy when I was little, since I’d never heard of them before. I always wanted an American Girl doll, but never got one. Kirsten was my second favorite, then Molly, then Addy, then Felicity. I just couldn’t relate to the colonial days. Addy ranked pretty high because her family made sweet potato pudding for the holidays. Now they have all kinds of new characters. It wasn’t like that in the mid-nineties.
Since I haven’t embarrassed myself enough already, I’d like to confess something to you: I’ve been watching Toddlers and Tiaras on YouTube. Nobody knows about this. I’ve been keeping it a secret. I know the show has been around for a while, but I just started watching it one night a week ago when I was looking for the episode with Honey Boo Boo. Every single show is the same. Seriously. Once you see one of the episodes, you’ve seen them all. So why can’t I stop watching? I know what a flipper is for Pete's sake!
Next subject: farro. Does anyone like this grain? I’ve made it several times and I… don’t like it. It’s just so chewy and ugh. I want to like it, I really do. But I’ll probably never buy it again.
I’ve been eating a lot of savory food lately, not a lot of sweets. It’s weird because that’s the opposite of how it usually is. I’ve been craving pickles and macaroni and cheese, but mostly Portillo’s.

The most amazing burger and onion rings ever. The burger drips down your arm it’s so messy.
Tell me you’ve had the joy of going to a Portillo’s before. It’s life-changing. I had my first experience a month ago.
I’m eating like a man lately. Okay, that is all.
If it makes you feel any better I am totally living vicariously through you with all your pastry school posts!! Those breads all look amazing!!
ReplyDeleteWell I'm glad you read the posts, Sarah! I feel like I'm boring everyone.
DeleteOh man, I LOVE Portillo's! My husband and I are seriously bummed out that there are none here in Texas. We always make sure to go to the one across from the Rock n Roll McDonald's when we're up in Chicago! That chocolate cake shake is just too delicious. I don't think I've ever had their burgers before, I'll have to try that next time! Now I want to go back to Chicago!
ReplyDeleteThat's the one we've been going to! If you're ever in the area, let's go get a burger together. Or maybe I should try their hot dogs.
DeleteThat would be awesome to get a burger together! To be honest I don't think I've had their hot dogs either haha. I am all about their beef, so good!
DeleteOMG Samantha was always my fave too!!! And I always think about her when I think of petit fours :P
ReplyDeleteDo you really?! I'm not the only one??
DeleteYou're probably craving savory food because you're around so many sweets at school. I've never heard of Portillo's, but that burger and onion rings look out of this world!
ReplyDeleteThat's true. None of the pastries even sound good to me this week! Hmmph.
DeleteCraving pickles?!? Are you also feeling nauseous in the morning?? Not making any suggestions here - just a casual comment!!
ReplyDeleteSamantha was my favourite too.
Haha oh no. Let's hope not.
DeleteP.S. You do know there's an American Girl Store in Chicago, I hope.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.americangirl.com/stores/location_chi.php
You need to go there some time when you have half a day and can wander through it. I don't think I'd take Eric along unless you really want to test your relationship!!
I want to go! I think I'd be the only adult in there.
DeleteYou wouldn't be the only adult there, I promise! My sister and I each got an American Girl doll the first year they came out, I had Samantha and she got Molly. Well we were in Chicago on a family trip a few years ago and my sister and I and our mom all went to the store. It was fantastic... you really should go!! Mom bought us each miniature versions of our dolls (which still live at our parents' house). It was a fun day.
DeleteJust to let you know, I'm really terrible at popping over from my Reader to comment but I'm always reading every single post and I love hearing about all your adventures in pastry school. :)
ReplyDeletexoxo
No worries! You really don't have to comment! Thank you for reading! I've been terrible with my blog reading/commenting lately.
DeleteToddlers and Tiaras? A secret vice... [shhhh... don't tell a soul!]
ReplyDeleteShhh it's a wig. (Honey boo boo :-))
DeleteJust wanted to cheer you on with your pastry school posts! Good luck with the next two weeks!
ReplyDeleteWhoo hoo! Thanks, Jillian!
DeleteI'm impressed, there's no way I could blog every night after being on your feet at school all day!
ReplyDeleteAnd now I need to go to Portillo's asap.
We should go. When is book club?
DeleteThe next one is on Sunday Dec 16th at noon, it's the cookie exchange!
DeleteEvery time I read your Chicago food reviews I get such a pang of envy. You make me want to try all of these places, but it's hard when I'm with my family. My BIL is an extremely picky eater (if Kevin is Sir Pickypants, his nephew is Prince Pickypants and his brother is KING PICKYPANTS) and he never wants to go anywhere but steakhouses with Italian restaurants interspersed and once in a great while, Chinese.
ReplyDeleteI can understand you getting a bit weary of blogging about school, but it's all very interesting. You amaze me with how well and how quickly you pick this stuff up!
I'm a little past the age for being into AG dolls. I used to find them fascinating, but I hate the fact that they discontinue certain models. I think the history behind those dolls is important (The American Revolution and pioneer eras are an important part of US history and should be in circulation!) As an adult I'm mostly unimpressed with the current crop. I bought my niece a My Twinn doll 6 years ago. I didn't realize AG dolls were more desirable, and perhaps I should have bought her one of those, but she seems to be an outlier among girls her age and has never expressed a wish for an AG doll - at least not around me. She used to go to special occasions all the time carrying her My Twinn and wearing the matching outfits I bought them.
I just looked online and they have a Portillo's 10 mins from my office! How have i never heard of it?? Going ASAP! can't wait.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to let you know that I love, love reading your blog. Your posts about pastry school are fascinating to me because baking is one of my favorite things to do. I like seeing what you make because it inspires me. Keep up the great work! I look forward to what happens next!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a burger in a while - I could definitely use one!
ReplyDelete