It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Tis the season.. the season of gingerbread. 

Work has been swamped with orders for sugar cookies and gingerbread men and women.  Tomorrow, is Christmas Eve! Does it feel like Christmas to anyone? It really does not feel like it to me and I am not sure why.  It's just one of those years that has gone by so fast that I am just now catching up, as it is coming to an end.  

Side-note: I think I have become addicted to grilled cheese.  Everyday, since I can remember that's all I eat on break.  They are so delicious.  You should stop in and order one! 

I got into a discussion with a co-worker today about adjectives for food and how they relate to the price.  We have these 'chocolate-enrobed espresso beans,' at work.  I think they are around $7.00 for a little container (it is a glass container, though).  They could have just as easily been called 'chocolate covered espresso beans,' and probably would have cost a dollar or two less.  It is all about the way you say it.  For example: I could charge you $3.00 for a 'Cream of Lobster,' soup .  However, if I called it 'Lobster Bisque," I could charge a couple dollars more because it sounds fancy.  That is where people will get you! Although, prices can be subject to change for  a lot  of other reasons as well.

For Christmas presents this year I thought the easiest thing to do would just be to bake people gifts.  One of the things I made was cinnamon and sugar toasted pecans.  They are the easiest thing in the world to make and you can use any kind of nut you would like.  I just sort of put things together for this recipe.  I typically do not measure things out for stuff like this.  All the measurements are rough estimates so, just eyeball it and have fun with it!  You can also substitute different sugars for the powdered sugar.  I have tried it with sugar substitutes and granulated sugar.  If you are feeling fancy you can throw in some sort of extract.  You can also add one egg white to the mixture to get things to adhere a little better while it cooks (it is not necessary though).  

You will need:

-1 lb. of pecans (walnuts, almonds, etc.)

-1/3 cup of powdered sugar (roughly)

-2-3 Tablespoons of butter: melted 

-1 Tablespoon of cinnamon

Pre-heat: 350 degrees (F)

Do this: 

Take the pecans and sprinkle in the powdered sugar and cinnamon. Toss with your hands until they are all evenly coated with this mixture.  Pour in the melted butter toss with your hands (or use a spoon & stir), until they are all evenly coated with everything.  Bake in the oven for about 5-8 minutes.  Enjoy!

Holidays!

Here are some pictures of my gingerbread showpiece from school, last month!

My partner for this project was Falisha: she did all those insane shingles and mini gingerbread men, candy canes, and little flowers!

We decided to go with a Christmas and Hanukkah theme. 

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Also, a couple months ago I did an interview for this great blog that I follow regularly called Cakespy. 

It's one of the best blogs out there! Go & love it. 

Check out the interview and more pictures of my work there. 

Thanks!

It's official...I blog: Soup Day

The blogging days are just beginning for me. Everyone does it. Why can’t I? Well, guess what…. I am.  I am in a new city and I have been living here for a little over a month.  This is me, documenting my life for whoever wants to listen. Or read, rather.  I am a student still working out the entirety of my ‘externship’ for my degree in Patisserie and Baking. I am currently working at a pastry production kitchen and insanely busy because of the holidays.  It’s a really cold day today. 

It’s a good soup and hot chocolate kind of day, today.

One of those days where you just want to curl up on the couch with a stack a movies, a warm blanket, and a huge mug of your favorite soup. I opted for Panera, instead. I have this secret love affair with broccoli and cheddar soup. Instead, of a couch I have a booth.  Although, I do not have a stack of movies I do have... wait for it…free wifi!  Which is now, timed in 30-minute increments. I am scraping every last spoonful of this rich, luscious soup with my spoon and bits of a whole grain baguette. I also got a side Caesar.  You just cannot go wrong with a good Caesar salad. Even on a 10-degree day, like today. Yes, it’s not too wintry of a salad unlike the lovely Waldorf (I think it's a wintry salad) but it is nonetheless delicious when it is done right. Parmesan, garlic, anchovies, lettuce, lemon! Fresh cracked black pepper is the best way to top it off. And, of course, croutons!  It is one those places where it is familiar and comfortable and sometimes you just cannot help but come here to get those things that make you feel home-y.  And in a new city where my possibilities for food are limitless I find myself slipping back into old habits and going to this old place. Now, don’t get me wrong it’s great! It’s reasonably priced but it is a chain. 

 I have been coming here a lot.  Mostly for the free wifi and also it’s a nice change from sitting at home. It’s good to be out and at least be around people, other than at work.  It’s my day off today.  Back to my original point (I’m very scattered): I was here a couple nights ago and I came in and ordered a hot chocolate.  As I slowly sipped that chocolately delight I heard my name.  You know when you tune out from everyone around you and then you just hear your name (or something that sounds like it) and it throws you off.  I looked up and this woman was telling a story She was really into it. I mean like way too into the story.  She was doing all kinds of voices.  She went on to keep saying this phrase about being “non-white.”  I remember that because I was talking to a friend and pointed that out.  But, back to that… “Non-white,” what is so wrong with that?  I, myself, am not truly just white… I mean just from my Mom I am German and a little Irish (I think) and probably loads of other European things.  People mix and match and in an ever integrating world these things are beautiful.  It’s like with food: take things that you wouldn’t normally picture together and put them together in a dish and suddenly it’s perfection.  It’s the best thing you have ever tasted… it’s delicious!  And that is most probably how what are now classic combinations first began. Which brings me back to this soup and salad combination, Haha!

Another place I cannot seem to get enough of regardless of what city I live in is Whole Foods. It’s amazing and every location is staffed with incredibly friendly people. It is consistently good and I love that.  It’s like my second home.  One of my favorite things to do is just go there (on any given day) walk around and find things and put them together in my head.  Ah, the burgers there are to die for! As is the pizza and all the soups. 

Seeing people eat alone is always such an invitation to me to want to go and sit with them and ask them about their life.  One of these days… that will happen.  

The best cup of hot chocolate that I have ever had was from Harrods and I would give anything for that again. Also, Whittard of Chelsea… AMAZING! ‘ White Christmas hot chocolate,’ I think that is what it is what called.  It is incredible! Order it, now.  You will thank me later.