Finished Product Week 1

My pastry class is coming to a close, and with that comes finished product weeks. What this means is that for 3 weeks each student plans what they will be completing and presenting each week. We have certain requirements we need to fill, but besides that we can do whatever we want.

For week one I baked a mushroom brie encroute with fried beet chips.


The dish was okay, although there were some definite technique errors on my part, like rolling out the dough too thick and not sealing it well enough.

But, my second dish turned out much better. It's a strawberry pistachio ice-cream napoleon



I didn't really have enough time to let the ice-cream freeze enough so it was slightly runny, but the flavor was amazing. I highly recommend adding salted pistachios to any strawberry ice-cream.

The class was a ton of fun. Up next, bread pudding and cake!

Trip to Austin

Steve and I spent July 4th weekend in Austin, TX. We figured we had no idea what his rotation schedule would look like, so if we wanted a vacation we needed to take it before he started. It was definitely nice to get away.
I don't have a lot of pictures because we spent a large time hanging out in the hotel watching movies and swimming. Oh, and don't forget sleeping in. That was fabulous.
Here are some high lights
This is me in front of Walton's Fancy and Staple. I wanted to go to this bakery and cafe particularly because one of my favorite pastry chefs, Gesine Bulluck-Prado, worked with the pastry chef to get things started. Seeing that I can't afford to actually order her stuff, I figured this was the closest I'll get.


Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in the United States. Each night up to 750,000 bats emerge from the Congress Ave bridge to hunt for bugs. Because a hurricane came in not that many came out, but was still cool to see the ones that did. This is us with the bridge in the background


I also really wanted to see the state capitol. This is a picture of the door hinges.



This Steve from the back of the capitol


And, this is the rotunda.


We had a splendid time.

Changes

It's amazing how many things can change in just a couple of weeks. Let me tell you about them.

1. Steve completed his board exams and started his third year of medical school. We haven't received his scores yet, but anticipate them any day. His 3rd and 4th years will be rotations in hospitals. He's starting with pediatrics. So far he loves it.

2. We moved. This was quite the adventure because Steve was in the middle of studying and then scout camp. We literally moved less them 12 hours after he arrived home from scout camp. I'm grateful to have moved while only 24 weeks pregnant. I was at least capable of packing the boxes. But, being busy myself, I stayed up until 1:30 packing the night before. Waiting for Steve was good motivation though. Luckily, we have an amazing ward and the move took less than 3 hours.

Here are some pictures of our new apartment. As you can tell we still have some work to do to move in.
Some things we like about our new apartment: central air conditioning, carpet, dishwasher, garbage disposal, pantry, exhaust fans in the bathroom, and no cracks in the walls.

3. We bought a car. Sorry, I don't have a picture, but the word people use to describe it is "cute." It's a 2009 Hyundai Accent in Maroon. We like it. I love it.

4. I now look pregnant. Not "oh yeah, you're kind of starting to show," but pregnant. I think this is the best picture I have. When we asked the guy to take it he made some comment about "the three of us." It took a minute to click, but then I smiled. Yes, the three of us.

The Stuff in our Lives

So I promise we've been busy, which is why I haven't posted in so long. But, nothing we've been doing is all that interesting. But, here is goes

1. Steve finished his second year of medical school.
2. He worked in the Betty Ford Center in California for a week
3. Since he's been home he's studied 12-16 hours a day for his board examinations. He takes his first one tomorrow! and the second on the 16th.
4. I started my second class at the Culinary School of Fort Worth, Pastry Pro 1
5. We decided and found an apartment to move into. We are in the middle of packing and preparing to move.
6. I have been building a baby inside of me
7. I surprised my mom by driving down to San Antonio for Mother's Day
8. I'm still working full time and getting prematurely excited for my last day, Oct 1st.
9. My family came and spent Memorial Day weekend in Fort Worth
10. Nothing else really of note

Introducing

Introducing baby girl Ellsworth

Due October 8th, 2010


So far things seem to be going well. She's about 14 oz. No names as of yet, although my family has come up with their fair share.

This Post is Brought to you Today by the Letters W, I, and I

So when I was thinking about this post I kept singing in my head, "I love technology, but not as much as you you see, but I still love technology."

Until recently, my internet access has been limited to the library, work and begging Steve's computer from him. This seems like quite a lot until you realize if I wanted to print, use email or use the internet while Steve is studying (which is a lot), I would have to go to Steve's campus library. This is quite a pain.


Thus the reason why I love technology. Now, thanks to my lovely inlaws I have the internet in my living room, on my TV, using the Wii.

It's definitely a kind of fabulous.

The Musings of a Bar Marquee

So every day I pass several bars on my way to and from work. On one corner there happens to be three, but one stands out from the others, 7th Haven. Really there is nothing is special about this bar (not that I would really know). What I do know is that last year it was voted best bar bar in Fort Worth. They also do pet adoptions the first Sunday of every month. How do I know this: their marquee. It's quite a way to make a statement about themselves, which they do on a regular basis.

Someone working there must have a sense of humor because sometimes I'm so excited to pass it just to see what quote they have up. This week I looked up while waiting at the stop light and smiled inside. This is what it said, "Silence it golden, but duct tape is silver."

Hilarious...yes
True...definitely
Applied...I'm sure on more than one occasion