Pumpkin Biscotti

I'm Currently:

Watching Big Bang Theory and eating a piece of bread from Terranova Bakery in the Bronx. (Thanks Vicky!)

Some Thoughts:

Today after work I got a flu shot, went to the bank, and then baked at the Tea Shop in New York. We made Pumpkin Biscotti and Chocolate Chip Scones. We didn't have time to bake the scones tonight, but we got to bake (twice) the Biscotti. They smelled great-- and since we actually finished making them, I got to take some home, too!

Warm pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, candied ginger... mmmm!

Can't go wrong with that! Tomorrow is another long day (7am-8pm). So I'm going to shut down now, watch some more comedy tv, and then hit the sheets.

Until Soon, Bake Big! -Christine

Cupcake Queen

I'm currently:
Eating a whole-wheat English muffin with peanut butter (thanks Adam!)

Rooting on the METS (in HD)!!! Whoooooo

Some thoughts:
What day is it?! Haha! It's already been a long week, but a very good one. Yesterday I helped my boss with a few of the 'dummy' cakes for the window display. One was a fondant cake with a tree and a multitude of fall leaves. I got to paint all of the leaves for the cake and even had some input as to where they show go on the cake. I also painted another one of the dummy cakes with an edible copper paint. Then painted a few of the hydrangeas for that cake.

Today I spent time working on layer cakes on the turntable. This is so much harder than it looks! The guy I've been working with has been doing it for 20+ years, so it's easy to feel mediocre next to him. But as they say, practice makes perfect, and I'm sure over time, I'll get it down!

We also made a bunch fo character cupcakes today. (The 'yellow bird', 'little red monster', 'little blue monster with a cookie in his mouth', etc. haha!) I also decorated another tray of the pumpkin cupcakes. One of the guys has started calling me the "Cupcake Queen". Not a bad nickname... especially when I think of all the other things they could be calling me....

Anyways, time for bed! Anther day tomorrow. Until soon, Bake Big! Christine

3rd Day of Work (A.K.A. My Feet Hurt)

I'm currently:
Chugging a tall glass of iced tea.

Watching CNN.

Some thoughts:
Today was day 3 at the bakery. I already feel like I'm starting to fit in --meaning they've started to harass and make fun of me. hah! The guys are really too much and too funny. I thank goodness that I'm a girl because if I were a guy I'd be getting it a lot worse. I also thank goodness that I'm Italian and a Mets fan (two things that give me mega brownie points with the guys!)

I've been assigned to decorating the cakes in the morning (with assistance, of course). Today I did a few cheesecakes, some chocolate mouse cakes, white chocolate mouse cakes, and at least a half dozen different large trays of cupcakes. We made a chocolate cupcake with hazelnut butter cream icing and a drizzle of ganache. I tried one of these that smushed. MMMM It was actually the first thing I've tried at the bakery, and it was delicious.

My favorite task today was the new pumkin cupcakes. We decorated these with cream cheese icing, and then topped them with cute little marzipan pumpkins. They're seriously adorable, and I had fun rolling the pumpkins.

Anyways, now I'm home sitting down-- since I stood for almost all of the morning. My feet are a bit sore, but I'm excited for work again tomorrow. I'm anticipating a looong day tomorrow-- I'll go into work by 7am, and around 2pm I'm going to stop baking/decorating and go downstairs to the front of the bakery (where the customers come in!). Then I'll be training/working (and getting paid!) until about 8pm. Whew!

I'll keep you posted.

Until next time, Bake Big! Christine