Advanced Artisan Bread Class

This classes focus was sourdoughs. We worked in groups throughout the class, and we made our own sourdough from scratch.

Green Cuisine Judging

Today I was judged an amazing event. The Fairfield Garden's Green Cuisine Competition. The event pushed high school students to create transform their typical gross, and unhealthy school lunches into not only nutritious, good for you meals, but also vegetarian or vegan. They had a budget of four dollars a meal, and i had to include a drink, main item, and side. These kids came up with some amazing dishes. I loved the vegan peanut butter cookies, that was my favorite item of the entire day, but because it had "peanuts" in it, it could not place. These stay at home moms said it could get kids sick. I say, if you are allergic, then don't eat one. It was kind of weird to be looked at as an adult, but I guess I have to get used to it. It was nice being the youngest judge there, by a lot...I'm sure it made them think i was a bad@$$...or pain in the @$$

Flamenco Pastillage Sculpture

There were three challenges. Either redo one of two already designed pieces, or create an original Music themed showpiece. I based it off of this image.













I wanted to reach into my spanish origins and do a Flamenco themed piece. The woman is made out of pastillage, as well as her guitar. Her face is hand painted, and her dress was airbrushed. Her hairband, fan, dress, clackers and flowers are made out of Isomalt. I learned a very good lesson in the drying time of pastillage and proper structure, because she danced for just enough to be judged and then she was finished. She will always be remembered. :b

Sugar Showpiece

Was given the task of making an aquatic themed sugar showpiece. I had a make of 15 hours for everything. I finished in 13. I did an homage to the Tampa sea life that included a dolphin, sea turtles, devil ray, and horseshoe crabs. I mostly made the piece out of isomalt since the humidity of Miami would have killed all my delicate pieces. I only used sugar for the base since it would be thick enough to not be effected. I made the sand out of brown and sanding sugar, as well as white and black sesame seeds with a little bit of cinnamon and course nutmeg...it smelled so good.

The column represent the saltwater, with the blue curls to represent the waves. I added sea grasses and corals as fillers, and made rocky coral out of hot isomalt and royal icing. Then I added color using an airbrush.

Mother Swan Pastillage Showpiece

This piece was made out of pastillage, a powdered sugar dough similar to gumpaste, pulled and blown sugar. It is my abstract interpretation of even when the young stray, the mother always has her eyes on them.