For the fourth installment of the #BakingWithBeth series, we’re sticking with the classic, old-fashion cake theme one more time and making a pineapple upside down cake. There will still be more cake throughout the series. And likely Definitely more cakes from old southern and church cookbook recipes. As I’ve let nostalgia guide the beginning of the series, week four is […]
Sour Cream Pound Cake
There are some cakes I’ve eaten all my life but never actually baked myself. Mainly because those have tended to be ones baked my mom, or grandmother, or great aunt, or cousin. Sour cream pound cake is one of those cakes. Another cake on regular rotation at the homes of G-mama, Aunt Merle & Annie […]
#BakingWithBeth
When I moved back to Los Angeles, I had the specific goal of finding a job as a pastry chef at a restaurant. I felt that it was the best place to continue to build on my technical skills and I could improve in a faster period of time. At the end of November, my […]
Churros and Chocolate Recipe
After eating some of the most delicious churros and chocolate in Spain, I couldn’t wait to get in the kitchen and make them myself! Churros are a fried pastry dough made from Choux paste, which can also be used to make other delicious pastries like eclairs and profiteroles (cream puffs). Those Spanish shepherds were really on to […]
Pastry School Diary: Week 38
We started week 38 of pastry school at the kitchens of Billingsgate Fish Market again to complete our event using the menu we created and developed during week 37. I really enjoyed working in the Billingsgate kitchens. They’re nicely spaced out, every area has good counter space, a sink, oven and stovetop. Plus a lovely […]
Pastry School Diary: Week 37
For week 37 of pastry school we were back in the kitchen for part two of our menu planning assignment. However, due to construction at WKC, we had to use the kitchens at Billingsgate Fish Market over in Canary Wharf. The commute wasn’t as fun (smushed in the tube with a million folks in suits), but […]
Baking without Butter
I love to bake. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Actually, one of my goals in life is to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie. I’ve come somewhat close, but it’s still a work in progress. With most baking, you tend to use quite a bit of butter. Back when I had an […]
Working on an Organic Farm (our WWOOF experience)
One of our goals while in South America was to volunteer working on an organic farm, or WWOOF – World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. It’s a way to volunteer and learn about sustainable living and organic farming. When you are a Wwoofer, you are working on the farm anywhere from 6-8 hours per day […]
Cooking In Laos
I got back on the cooking train and took a cooking class on Lao food. It was extremely fun and, not to toot my own horn, but insanely delicious! There were two of us in the class and it began with Chef Somroj taking us on a trip to the local morning market in Luang […]
Cooking in Bali…or Not
One of my main goals for this trip was to take a cooking class in every country. I thought I’d fail in New Zealand and it turned out so well. I thought I’d fail in Australia and it ended up working out at the end. And then, the country where they advertise cooking classes ALL […]