Disclaimer: May cause heavy drooling. Proceed with Caution.

Wow. I am so embarrassed. You know it has been way too long since you've posted when you have to re-read your last post to see what you even talked about! Long story short, I've been busy with a new job, family things, and .........

Well, okay. I will also shamelessly blame my lack of blogging on....

...my new furball! I can't believe I was talking about wanting a cat in my last post, it feels like I've had her forever already! Nell is a 13 year old professional lap cat and she often sits on my arms while I'm on the computer, literally preventing me from blogging.

Seriously, this is me leaning forward to use my computer so I could use my arms and she climbs up on my back!

Oh well, I love her.

Since I've last posted I've been at my new job for about a month and I've finished up some classes!

JOB: I really love my new job. The atmosphere of the market is awesome and I love being in a bakery setting. My work experience throughout my life so far has taught me that I enjoy and prefer working for small businesses. There are dramatically less employees, it is usually more chill, and I feel more respected/ I'm usually happier with my job. The first couple of weeks they started me off in the back helping with the breads but have gradually moved me up to the front working on the baked goods (cinnamon rolls, scones, muffins, etc.) which I prefer over the breads so that has worked out really well!

SCHOOL: Since my last post I have started and finished a class called Bakery Basics. This was a fun-filled class where we made something different every day! I promised tons of pictures, so pictures you shall have!

 You don't even want to know! ;)

 Puff Pastry! Swans and Eclairs

 Just a day of cake deco for fun!

 Custard Desserts - Creme Brulee, Bread Pudding, and Creme de Caramel (Flan)

 Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake

 Gluten Free Biscuits! Wonderful! I would consider using these all the time.

 Cookie day!

 Gluten Free Brownies! Pretty good!

 Muffins & Biscuits

 Cinnamon Rolls, Croissants, Danishes & Braids

 Caramel sauce (Mmm..) and Creme Anglaise

 Caramel Apple Crisp

 Pumpkin and Blueberry Pie

 Boston Creme Pie & Angel Food Cake

Fruit Tarts

Our final. We were scored on Pan Bread (Method, Proofing, Baking) and Boston Creme Pie (Cake, Pastry Cream, Dark Chocolate Ganache).

It was a busy class and it gave us a taste of many different methods of baking. I also passed my ServSafe exam with flying colors! The cool part is I'm totally done with 4 classes already since we are on a block schedule! So far, I have straight A's. Yesterday was the start of a new set of classes which is Science of Baking and International Breads. I'm at school from 7:30-4. It makes me sad to think that is longer than I was ever in school in high school..at least it's only temporary! Science of Baking is a lecture/lab that we will do daily experiments to see what works, what doesn't, and why stuff happens the way it does. International Breads is a much closer look at breads from around the world! I'm excited for the cultural experience!

COOL STUFF: A couple weeks ago I was asked by a fellow Interior Design student, Beth, to make her and her hubby a cake for a family gender reveal party for their new little monkey. I met her right after her appointment last week and she handed me "the envelope." Looking back, we probably looked pretty suspicious in downtown CR. ;) I can honestly say this was probably my most favorite project of all time. Can you imagine being trusted with the gender of someone else's little child before they know?! I was so nervous opening that envelope myself, I can't imagine if it was my own child!

She wanted white rosettes on the outside and layered cake inside with blue or pink for the gender....

I stole that last one from Beth's Facebook page. ;) Congrats!

I promise to update in a more timely manner next time, but for now you are caught up! Just like clockwork, there is now a cat sitting on my arm so I must go...

-BB