Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Pick Me, Pick ME!


From top left; lemon curd tartlets; 4 different tartlets including a traditional frangipan, and blueberry white chocolate cheese pie; my large lemon tart up close!

About 2 weeks ago, I finally fulfilled a long standing aspiration and started some pastry classes at a culinary school here in Boston. I won't be getting a degree or anything at this point, but it's been a great opportunity to take classes from a professional pastry chef and delve into some kinds of baking I've not tried before!


The first week of class was so thrilling to me--I was in a professional kitchen and had anything I could imagine at my fingertips when it came to baking supplies. As we started learning the basics of pate a choux (the dough used to make eclairs and cream puffs) I grew more and more excited to get started. Once the chef let us loose on the kitchen, I charged around with unbridled gusto: I was done prepping my dough before everyone. Done piping. Done making the filling. I asked a bajillion questions, chatted up a storm to my quieter classmates and generally made a scene. At some point, though, mid way through the class, I had a moment. A moment in which I realized I was becoming that annoying person in classes who everyone hates because they're an overachieving, chatty, questioner who spends way to much time joking around with the prof. 

Definitely, not the vibe I wanted to be vibing. 

 I remember those people from college. The kind who caused a collective sigh every time there hand shot up in the air before the professor even finished their sentence. Shudder.

Eclairs and cream puffs from week 1

Last week, I think I reigned myself far enough in as to not be completely annoying. And I even dawdled a little so I wasn't too far ahead of the pack (let's all say overachiever together, now). 

I keep reminding myself that I don't have to be the best at everything. In fact, there doesn't even have to be a scale to measure. I can just have fun, and enjoy all the new and exciting goodies I can now make on the cooking show I pretend I'm on when I'm home alone (let's keep that little tidbit between us, shall we?)

1 comment:

  1. Sounds amazing! So glad you are writing, and sharing. I'll expect tasty samples at the next family function.

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