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The 2011 Summer Patisserie Program ended last Friday. I'm already missing it a lot!


First of all, I’m missing the amazing people and wonderful friends that I made there. Our group got strong, we laugh, “suffered” a little bit, and had a lot of fun together!

I miss the classes, waking up at 5:15h in the morning (really???), but, for sure, I miss spending 7 hours inside a kitchen, doing pastry! :D

I miss the awesome trips with my friends! I miss living in a Castle (hahahaha I’m joking!), the sheep noise, the neighbors’ dog and cat, the berries, and viewing the beautiful landscape during my walks!

For sure it was a great experience and I learned a lot here. I’m not the same person that left Brasil full of expectations. I made a dream come true here and now I realize that is only the beginning. And I'm very happy for that!

News from France!

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In the last few weeks the time really flew! I travelled a lot, had a lot of fun and learned so much! But I didn’t have time to post the news here! Sorry!


Today I’m posting the pictures of the last trips!

 

Two weeks ago me and my friends travelled to Switzerland. We stayed at Fere’s house. Fere is an amazing person!!! I thank so much for having her as a friend and being part of my story! :D

I loved the Switzerland, the lake is gorgeous and the cities are amazing! The chocolate is wonderful!!! We stayed at Lausanne and visited Geneva and Gruyere.

Last weekend we went to Marseille! We stayed at Joe’s house, our French friend, very sweet, fun and beautifull girl! I have to thank a lot for having her as a part of my life too!

Well, speaking about amazing people, that I really have to thank for being a part of my story, are Ruth and Tais, my Brazilian friends! Unforgettable!

Back to Marseille, it was an awesome trip, we had a lot of fun together, knew beautiful places and had really nice food!

Talking about fun, we had a lot here in Yssingeaux too! Last Thursday we went to a fancy restaurant with the classmates and the chef! Delicious food! :D

And on Friday we went to the last official party, at the Bowling, a hippie party!!!

We learned how to tie die our t-shirts, and me and Tais went as hippie twins! We had a great time! Unforgettable night! :D

Yesterday we traveled to saint Ethiene, our last trip togheter… I’ll miss my friends so much!

Chocolate Eclair - France - Chamonix and Annecy

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Last week we went to Chamonix and Annecy! It was an amazing trip!

Chamonix is the Mont Blanc City.
Mont Blanc (French) or Monte Bianco (Italian) (meaning "White Mountain") is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union.[1] It rises 4,810.45 m (15,782 ft)[2] above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence. It is also sometimes known as "La Dame Blanche" (French for "The White Lady") or "Il Bianco" (Italian for "The White"). (Font: Wikipedia)

Even if we are on Summer, there the snow never melts! Awesome! You feel weird, because downhill you have almost 20ºC degrees and when you goes up, the temperature goes down for -2ºC! Was a great experience!
The landscape is breathtaking!

Annecy is a great city too! Known as the "French Venice", because of the beautiful canals, the city also has a lake, the most clean in Europe (Font: My friend Fere hehehe), that is gourgeous!

I enjoyed a lot the trip and have to thank Fere for being such a nice friend and riding us for these beautifull places!

 
Today I'm posting an eclair recipe!
I made this eclair in June, before I came here. It's so french! I've already eatten one at Fauchon, and it was amazing! I want their secret!!!
 
I used this recipe to the pâte a choux, the base of the recipe and the Vanilla Crème Patissiere, that I used to fill the eclairs.
To make the eclairs you have to put your choux inside the pipe bag with a nº10 tip, and pipe long fingers in a tray assembled with parchment paper.
Bake the eclair at 220ºC, for 15 minutes or untill they are golden brown in the edges.
Let them cool and fill with the pastry cream, using a piping bag and a tip (nº6), pierce the bottom of each eclair. Fill the eclair with pastry cream and place on a paper-lined sheet.
To assemble your eclairs, melt 350g of compound chocolate. Drop the top of each ecclair on the melted chocolate and let them cool. 

Lime Meringue Pie Cupcake - A Weekend in Yssingeaux

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After 3 weekends just traveling, the last one we spent in Yssingeaux!
 

On Friday night we went Bowling! We celebrated Karin B-day and enjoyed a lot the night! On Sunday we went to a market and in the afternoon Brandee prepared an american barbecue! It was awesome! I made a chickpea burguer!



But one weekend here is enough, and we are already packing our trip for this weekend! We’re going to Chamonix, the city of the Mont Blanc, and Annecy, French Little Venice.

Next week I'll tell you more about the trip!

This cupcake I made especially for my b-day party at my job.

It’s very tasty, and it’s the perfect size, so you can’t get sick of the sweetness of a lemon meringue pie!

For the muffins I made this recipe.

For the lime custard:

350g heavy cream

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup lime juice

1 TS lime zest

Mix the juice with de condensed milk, wait few minutes, stir and add the heavy cream and the zest until incorporated. Set aside.

For the meringue:

5 egg whites

10 TS sugar

Beat the eggs until fluffy. Add the sugar gradually, until firm, but not dry.

Assemble:

Prepare the muffins and cut using the cone method. I made it like this, but a little bit deeper.

Fill with the lime curd and pipe meringue on top.

Put the cupcakes in the oven at 220ºC until is lightly brown. You can also use a torch.

Let it cool down and store at the fridge until serving. Serve it cold!



Let them eat BRIOCHES!

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Last week in France was celebrated the Bastille Day (14th of July). I and my friends decided to go to Paris, and it was awesome! We made a gastronomic tour, just amazing!

During the French Revolution, Marie-Antoinette reportedly said, talking about the impoverished and starving citizens of Paris who couldn’t afford bread: “qu’ils mangent de la brioche” (let them eat cake).

Coincidentally, the classes theme for this week was “Boulangerie”, and I learned a lot of kinds of breads, and one of them was the famous brioche!

I’ve already made the recipe at home, and I guess now is a great opportunity to post my first experience!

Recipe from this book.

Ingredients:

1kg all-purpose flour
50g yeast
150ml luke warm milk
150g sugar
250g butter
5 eggs
10g salt

How to make:

Mix the flour, sugar, milk, eggs, yeast and salt until well combined. Add the butter chopped in small pieces to the dough and knead until the dough is smooth. The dough is ready to rise when it is completely smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Cover the bowl, and allow the dough to rise for 2 hours, or until it is doubled in size.

Deflate the dough, cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.

Form dough into desired bread shape (loaves, traditional brioche rolls or braid) and place in greased pan(s) or muffin tin (for rolls). Let double in bulk again (1 hour), covered with warm damp towel in slightly warm place.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove dough from oven if that is where it has been rising. In a small bowl, beat together egg and 1 teaspoon water. Brush egg wash on top(s) of bread. Bake until golden brown, 45-50 minutes for 1 loaf, 30-40 minutes for 2 loaves or braids, 20-25 minutes for individual brioches.

Like I said that was my first experience with brioches at home. I’m glad to be here, learning the French techniques, and improving my pastry skills!


This was the result of 1 week “boulangerie” classes!

And the brioche that we made here!

Coconut Wrapped Cake!

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Every year, in the beggining of July, we celebrate an amazing party at my hometown. It's called Stammtisch in Plaz, and all the groups of the city come togheter at the main square, make food, drinks and share with everybody! I just love it!

This year I couldn’t enjoy it, but my group as allways was there! With new cups and t-shirts! The girls made baked potato with a huge sort of fillings, and for dessert, my sister made this cocconut wrapped cakes! Thank you Pri for the recipe!!! It’s moist, sweet... so good!!! Perfect for an outside party, a picnic, or just for a snack!

In Yssingeaux everything is all right! I’m enjoying the classes, the food is delicious, the people are amazing!

Last weekend we went to Lyon, beautiful city! And our next stop is PARIS!!! :D

Recipe (get the original here)

Ingredients:

4 eggs (separated)

2 TS butter

1 ½ cup sugar

2 ½ cup flour

1 cup milk

1 TS baking powder

600g sweetned condensed milk

400ml coconut milk

400g shredded coconut

How to make:
Pre-heat the oven at 180ºC. Butter and flour a 30 x 40 cake pan.

Beat the egg withs until firm. Reserve.

Beat the egg yolks with sugar and butter. Add the flour and the milk a beat at a time. Add the baking powder.

Add the egg whites and stir gently.

Bake for 25 minutes or until is lignt brown on the edges and try inside (use a toothpick to check)

Mix the condensed milk and the coconut milk. Spread 1/3 of this mixture on the top of the cake while is warm. Let it cool completly. Cut in squares, drop in the coconut and condensed milk mixture and roll over in te coconut flakes.

Wrap in the squares using foil paper. Put in the fridge and let it cool (it's better to let there overnight)

France!

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As you know, I'm in Yssingeaux, France, studying pastry! I've arrived here last week, and it's been a rush, since then. I'm already getting used to the gap time, the course time (from 6am to 1 pm) and to the sunset only at 10h pm. Everything is delicious! I'm eatting croissants every day! I'm loving it!

 The "chateau" were I'm living and having classes!

 Delicious almond ice cream, white salted caramel, chantilly and cinnamon biscuits!

My friends, from all over the world! Even from Brasil!

 My first french macarron!

My first pie at school - Saint Honoré!