- Mussels: as a technique, I wanted to learn how to open mussels. It's the easiest thing to do- put them in a pan with a lid, then cook until they open. Easy peasy!
- Butter: I've done this at home before, but not here. It's the same technique as anywhere - just over whip cream until it separates. They weigh the butter once it's separated from the liquid and add 2% of the weight in salt. Yum! It's lovely and bright yellow!!
- Gratin of potato and mushroom: I under seasoned this :(. Ugh! It's been something I've struggled with lately because I'm not huge on salt. It was a nice combination of flavor at least, and I topped it with parmesan cheese. Yum!
- Puff pastry: this was for a dish my partner will make tomorrow. It turned out really well somehow, even though it felt like I was doing a million things at once today. It's nice to have more practice making it, though I can't really see myself needing the skill at least at home if I want to do gluten free baking hah.
- Roast rack of lamb with gravy and membrillo aioli: this is quite an undertaking, but you do get a lovely result. I had to trim a bit of meat from the end of the rack and scrape off all the meat to get clean bones. As an accompaniment, I made a mayonnaise with garlic, rosemary, and membrillo, which is roasted quince paste. It is one of the most delicious and complex sauces I think I've ever tasted! I am definitely going to make this again! :)
Sadly I was so ready to leave at the end that I didn't put together a good enough presentation, so when Debbie walked up she said that it didn't look appealing at all. Ouch! At that point I was so done that I almost broke down, but I managed to hold it together and keep a smile on my face as I walked in to have lunch with Dad and Lucy. When I sat down at least, all of the morning's stress faded away.
Then we got to go to demo together and learn about ice creams and various other goodies! Here's one of my favorite presentations of a chocolate ice cream. What a great idea to serve it in an edible bowl!!! :D:D I can't wait to experiment when I get home!
We also cooked up Thanksgiving dinner together - Dad, Lucy, Nan and me. Funny enough we cooked in Bren's cottage because our kitchen is such a wreck. That's definitely something I will NOT miss after I go home hah. We made pan grilled Pollock (which I had received from school earlier!), tomato/onion/pepper/mushroom stewy sauce thing, sautéed leeks with indian spices, and a green salad. I guess it wasn't the most traditional of Thanksgivings, but what was most important was the company. I am thankful for so many things in my life - my family and friends at home, all of the wonderful people that I have had the pleasure of getting to know these past 11 weeks, being able to attend this course in the first place, being able to live in such a wonderful world!! These are just a few of many! I hope everyone at home had a lovely Thanksgiving!!
Sending my love home!
Love,
Livvy