Monday, October 13, 2008

A little about me!

Hi there!

My name is Amanda and I am a flight attendant for a Major airline in the good old USA. I have baked my whole life and have found true enjoyment from making something from scratch. About a year ago I decided that I wanted to go to Culinary school to become a Pastry Chef, so I looked into the programs and found one I liked at Santa Rosa Junior College and signed up. I am now on my way!

The program started with Safety and Sanitation, The history of culinary arts, and knife skills. Though the classes were interesting in their own rights...The Chef's who taught them really were the ones who pulled it together. Chef Kathy was a wealth of knowledge who scared me everyday with tales of food borne illnesses and what clean was. I have been known to eat a piece of pizza that has been left on the counter for 2 days. I was sure I was dying of some dreaded illness every time my tummy hurt. Up next came Chef Evelyn. With her witty sense of humor and her passion for getting us to open up she kept me laughing though the one class I really didn't enjoy. Though I do believe it is VERY important to have correct knife skills, I never really looked at the shape my vegetables were cut, until now.

Next up was the Intro to Baking Class which was 3 day a week 5 hours a day. The class started off with Pies and Tarts and finished with Breads. We touched everything in between. Chef Shelly, who taught the class, was a sweet, talented chef who had an eye for perfection. A food stylist in her "real life" she looked for the perfection in each delectable item you brought to her. I was amazed how much she was able to put away and still keep her girlish figure!!! I spent the whole summer wondering if she ate dinner at home.

So tomorrow I start my first of 5 two week courses. Ice cream, custards and soft desserts. I'm looking forward to getting back in the schools kitchen and out of my own for a bit!!! I am a cupcake girl and have been concentrating cupcakes for the last few weeks, so it will be nice to move on to something else for some inspiration!!!

So I hope you follow me finish up school, come up with great ideas for some cupcakes, and see where this whole journey takes me.

Cupcake and kisses!
Amanda