what is ganache?
Ganache-(ga-nosh) a rich blend of chocolate and heavy cream and optionally, flavorings, used as a pastry or candy filling or a frosting. This defination is from the ‘On Baking’ book we use in the culinary classes at ICUE, Institute for Culinary Education at College of the Canyons. This definition is very accurate except the definition fails to inform that there are 827 different ways to use a ganache. I would like to share just a few. Ganache is one of the top ten items to make in a pastry shop. When made correctly, it can be used to frost a cake, glaze a cake, make truffles, use as a filling for a cake, poured over ice cream, or add to a simple dessert as a sauce. I could go on and on but those are the basics. The key to a good ganache is to...
follow that recipe
Is there a perfect recipe that you love and is your go to favorite. You know, your invited to a party and asked to bring a dish and you take out that old faithful recipe, the one you have been making for years becuase you know it works. The paper it is written on is probably wrinkled and stained with various spills and splats from years of wear and tear. Keep that recipe! Really great recipes, no matter if it’s a chicken, beef, seafood, pasta, vegetable or a sweet dish, great recipes are hard to find. How many times have you tried a recipe from a magazine and /or the Internet and it just did not taste good or was a complete disaster. We have all been there. Now comes the hard part. How do you find a great recipe? I could make up a cute little formula,...
fresh vs. the rest
Does anyone buy Bisquick? Recently I had some leftover chicken and was in need of a quick dinner for the family. I dashed into the grocery store and went to the produce section. I picked up some carrots, onions, celery and some fresh herbs. The light bulb finally went on, chicken pot pie was what would be for dinner. Chicken Pot Pie, (Turkey Pot Pie is a great way to use up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving) is great with a biscuit topping. I decided to save myself some time and pick up a premade biscuit mix. I raced over to the baking isle, which I am very familiar with, and picked up a small box of Bisquick. I immediately had a guilty rush. I cannot make biscuits from a box. I need to make them from scratch. I put the box back on the shelf. Walk away, I...
really? apple pie?
I guess I will never learn. I thought the older you get, the wiser you get. Well I am not a believer anymore. I am a Baker. Baking does not come naturally to some people. I tend to take that news for granted every now and again. The simplest of baking is not really that simple for some people. I guess when you work at something for so long, you tend to believe everyone has been working at the same thing. I should know this by now after teaching for 4 years and not quite understanding how some students get a refrigerated cookie recipe quickly, and others it just takes a little longer. Everyday I practice patience and slow down just a bit so everyone can have a successful baking experience. I try and equate a similar circumstance I would find myself ...
baking challenge was on!
I recently attended a conference at College of the Canyons. Whenever I wear my Chef coat to a function, inevitably the discussion turns to food. It seems everyone has a food story. I love to listen to people share their stories about a special food memory. One of my colleagues was sharing memories of her childhood in Australia. She was fondly remembering the wonderful scones she used to enjoy. She was smiling as she remembered the warm soft scones with fresh strawberry jam and then spread with a thick, sweet double cream. “I love scones”, I stated. She then proceeded to share all the ingredients in her favorite scone recipe and exactly how to make them. She sifts all dry ingredients together, mixes all wet ingredients together, and then gently and gingerly...
summer sweet berries
Summer is Sweet. In the dessert world, which is where I tend to hang out, there are many choices when making a summer dessert for family, friends of coworkers. Grocery stores and Farmers Markets are overflowing with beautiful, fresh, sweet berries. The sweetest varieties available this summer season are cherries, black raspberries, red raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. Mangos are also decadent this time of summer. Fresh berries with whipped cream is a simple dessert and great for a backyard picnic. A wonderful berry cobbler is great to bring to a potluck . Berries serbved with a chocolate fudge sauce and a silky caramel sauce is a great dessert for friends. A fresh fruit tart is always a big hit at parties. My favorite thing to make this...
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