I survived my first week!

My first week of externship is over and I have lived to tell about it. This week was amazing! I am exhausted and ache all over, but it was so worth it!!! You not at a desk job anymore Dorothy......LOL

With my parking dilemma solved I was ready to get started. Oh, and to make it better there is a parking lot directly across the street from the one I was using that is the same price for an hour longer of parking. This may not seem like a big deal, but for me this is a Win! :)

Wednesday was my first real day. I left the house around 7:00am thinking this will be plenty of time to get there by 8:30........wrong, well almost. I parked in the lot at 8:25 and ran to the shop and made it just in time, so now I will be leaving at 6:45.  I met Eric the pastry chef and then it was off to the races. We didn’t use the commercial sized mixers much in school so I got a crash course in commercial mixer 101 (which really is pretty easy). We started with a big batch of buttercream icing which I felt pretty good about since I have made this TONS of times. Then he had me make a batch of chocolate cake batter for cakes later in the week. We had several cakes for this weekend so we made a few batches of different batters. Chocolate cake, red velvet cake, white cake.....etc.

My days for this week kind of run together, but I really got to make a lot of fun things. We made bagels, brioche dough, chocolate chip cookie dough, Oatmeal raisin chocolate chip cookie dough, Amaretti cookies, chocolate dipped strawberries, muffin batter, buttercream icing, cake, cake and more cake.

I have learned so many little things to keep in mind for when I come back to Tally and get ready to open my own place. Some of them seem like common sense, but I just haven't really thought about it before. We made huge batches of cookie dough and scooped them out, flatten them a little and then froze them for later. They only bake a few for the day so that we have fresh cookies for sale every day. With the cake batter we always bake whatever is left after measuring out the cakes into cupcakes. The cupcakes that aren’t needed for the case right away are tightly wrapped and frozen for the next day or two.  When they are thawed later they are just as moist and yum-o as when they were frozen.  Bagel dough is also made in a big batch, shaped and frozen before the dough starts to rise; then each evening we take out enough bagels and croissants for the next day to thaw in the cooler overnight and be baked fresh the next morning. Can you say YUMMY! Again most of this is common sense for shop/bakery/restaurant owners, but you and I really don't think about it.  In my mind it was everything made from scratch everyday........what a mess that would be, I would have to get in waaaaaay too early.

I also had fun making "cup"cakes for the Wednesday in the Square event where Cheryl has a booth set up.  The picture below is of the chocolate caramel "cup"cakes.  I piped a little caramel buttercream into the bottom of the cup, placed a chocolate cupcake in the cup, then piped a little ring of the buttercream around the top.  Some caramel was piped on the top and sprinkled with mini chocolate chips and then finished off with another drizzle of caramel.  I thought this was such a great idea both for transporting and for serving at events like this one. It's like a little cupcake parfait.  :)

 

 

Cheryl doesn't normally serve sandwiches, but she had an order for some box lunches that we prepared and delivered on Saturday.  The picture is of the veggie sandwich with sauteed portabella mushrooms, roasted red peppers, sprouts and a cream cheese spread.  We also make chicken salad sandwiches and roasted turkey sandwiches.  Let me tell you, I have had box lunches before and I only wish mine were as good as these.  Each box had a sandwich on a fresh brioche bun, a little bag of cheese straws, and a chocolate dipped strawberry.  Mmmmmm!

 

I do miss everyone back in Tally, but I am having a blast learning and spending time with my parents.  Well, what little time I am home.   LOL 

Until next time.........Keep it Sweet!


Have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone!!!!!