An edible birthday present for a friend

Recently, for a friend’s birthday, we opted to celebrate by staying in. I volunteered to provide dinner.
Camomile roasted heirloom carrots, whipped goat cheese ring, seed brittle and herb garnishes

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Halloween Bake Sale

Last week, my students have been super busy creating treats for the school and a group of elementary students that are staying with us for a short period of time. Here is some of their work:

 

 Spiderweb sugar cookies 
More decorated sugar cookies

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Sugar Cookies

A few weeks ago, an old student of mine came to Jean Augustine Secondary School as a guest baker to show our students how to make decorated sugar cookies. This student is now the proud owner of MistryCo Cakes where she creates stunning, one-of-a-kind designer cakes for any occasion. My students were super excited to have the opportunity to talk to a former student about their pathway in pastry arts — of course, it didn’t hurt they would get to hear someone besides me talk for a few days, either.
The cookie decorating was split up into 3 days. On the first day, the students rolled the dough out to a specific thickness. The dough was then baked at 375F for approximately 10-12 minutes or until it became slightly golden brown around the edges. The cookies were cooled on a rack, ready to be dipped on the following day. The next day, students dipped the cookies in royal icing in the follow colours: Yellow for Pikachu, Green for Bulbasaur, and so on. During the last day, students added the finishing touches with either icing or edible markers.
Pokemon sugar cookies from MistryCo Cakes.

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Window Pane Test

The window pane test is a baker’s technique to determine whether or not the gluten in the dough is developed enough. If you can stretch the dough to the point where it’s almost see-through, then you’re good to go.

Yasu: Feb 2015

Blue fin tuna (Mexico) – Photo Cred: @NatChanners
Seabass (Greece) – Photo Cred: @Natchanners

Torched gold eyes snapper (New Zealand)
Scallop with Himalayan sea salt (Hokkaido)

Baby sardines (Japan) – Photo Cred: @NatChanners

 
Seabream (Greece) – Photo Cred: @Natchanners

Snow crab leg (East Coast, Canada) 
Mackeral (Norway) – Photo Cred: @NatChanners
Sea Urchin (Vancouver) 

Salmon roe with Yuzu zest (Alaska)

Striped jack (Japan)

Monkfish liver (Boston)
Ocean trout (Scotland) 

Blue fin tuna belly (Spain)
Smoked Bonito (Japan)
Tuna hand roll with shiso (Japan)
Anago (Peru) – Photo Cred: @NatChanners

Tamago 

Baby sea eel (Japan) – Photo Cred: @NatChanners

Fluke fin (Boston)
Spanish Mackerel (Florida)