Cold Pressed Oils

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7NEJdJTUcY&feature=related

The Milling of Sugar Cane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIgavNuBRRA&feature=related

The Milling of Flour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gITBy-N6X0&feature=related

Nicholas Lodge on Massa (Albert Uster's Rolled Fondant)

Nicholas Lodge, now spokesperson for Albert Uster's Massa line just ended a roadshow using the Americana line of Massa.  Chicago was the last stop for his demonstrations showcasing the amethyst Americana Massa. Nicholas Lodge is an expert demonstrator...his work is clean, precise,detailed, and he does not hold back on useful tips for the professional or the student. There were several useful tips tonight including gathering inspiration from current trends in fashion, home decor, paint colors, magazines, flavor profiling of cakes, frostings and coverings. He also talked about the different ph of fondants and other pastes that affect colors, the use of mold putty for making quick fondant or50-50 molds ...Interesting was his explanation of non-toxic and inedible...There were several key points that I totally agree with, like heavy use of vanilla and other flavors that make profiles confusing, the advantage of using both water and fat soluble food colors, but, at the same time extremely proud that we cover most of these things in our cake decorating classes.
Also, part of the Albert Uster collection is the newer Orchid line of chocolates, it is 1/2 the price of what we use at school (Felchlin), and there is reason for it......Sorry, for the lack of good pictures, and although I admire Nicholas Lodge, it is not one of his best ...

L'Atelier de Patissier: Cupcakes

Hands-On Workshop for October was cupcakes.  17 Baking & Patisserie students,1 Cuisine student, and 2 alumni attended the free monthly workshop.  I demonstrated the different media used in covering cupcakes, fondant, pate a glace, modeling chocolate, buttercream.  I showed the different texture mats and rollers that are quite popular, also showed some of the preprinted fondant sheets that can be "glued" to rolled out fondant for a custom look. Different finishing techniques were employed, in addition to different decors or garnishes.  We piped, shaped, colored, and hada ball....

Jim Henson's Fantastic World At the Museum of Science and Industry

After last year's work on the White House, we've been asked again by the Museum to create some cupcakes(600) to celebrate and commemorate Jijm Henson's 74th birthday in conjunction with the opening of the  Smithsonian exhibit of his work at the Museum of Science and Industry.  I, with the help of several students created 13 muppet characters out of marzipan, rum balls (without the rum), royal icing, buttercream,  and pastillage .  Kermit, Miss Piggy, Elmo, Oscar, Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster, Beaker, Rawlf, Big Bird, Dr Honeydew, Grover, the Swedish Chef all shared equal billing at the event.  Mrs Jane Henson, Bonnie Erickson, ArthurNevelle (?), some directors from the Smithsonian, the president of the MSI and Chef Santicola, ChefCorrado, Karine Slyman, John Montanile and Tom Beckman were also present.  Many studentds came to repesent the school and hand out free cupcakes to the children present.

Pumpkin Harvest

I have never grown a pumpkin ever,and one day, while inspecting the garden, I was surprised by one almost ripe pumpkin..We harvested a few days ago...there is another one though, but it is on the other side of the fence...we will have to get 2 ladders to climb to the other side of  fenced but otherwise vacant lot.  What a waste...this lot sits empty and overgrown and it is so easy to plant vegetables that can be donated to the food pantry