I am about to start the third and final week of bread, so I figured I ought to catch people up on this past week.

Last week we were making ‘enriched’ doughs, a lot sweeter and richer than the ‘artisan’ breads of the first week. My exam on Friday went well, I got full marks for my Challah and Brioche, not sure how I did on the theory, not feeling as confident about it this week. It was a fun week though, this week we move onto sourdoughs with a starter we’ve made ourselves.

Lots of rich tasty breads!

Saturday we were up abnormally early to meet some classmates of mine at the farmers market. It wasn’t very big but it was nice to wander about. I had a coffee, a cinnamon bun and a lamb empanada which was delicious for breakfast. Another classmate of ours works on one of the stalls so we went over and said hi.

We left there and headed for shopping, along the way heading to a nice quiet parking lot for me to have a go at drving again. I gave myself a while to get used to being on the other side of the road, but wanted to start sooner rather than later. It’s been over 2 years since I last drove so I was more than a little nervous!

It went alright, I was very tense so I was aching after not long, and it’s a big car to get used to but I think it went fairly well. We even tried some parking. I decided that for our next outing I want to try in a not quite so empty lot.. not a full busy one with cars and traffic everywhere but one with maybe a few cars about the place so I can judge the space round the car easier than just with lines on the road.

We finished off shopping and had crepe’s for lunch. Went to see Tropic Thunder in the evening which was amusing, laughed lots at it, and was stunned at Tom Cruise’s performance, much better than I was expecting!

Have started putting together my portfolio for class, we have to show it at the end of every unit with at least ten recipes and 10 photos, we will then be able to use it as our professional portfolio when job hunting.

I’m also getting to experiment with bread, for my exam next week I have to produce an original bread that I have designed myself, and the recipe with bakers percentages so it could be produced in any quantity. I started yesterday and have how I want it presented, now I just have to tweak the recipe to get it to taste right.. But first I’m going to take to class what I have so far and get my chef instructor to give me her opinion and maybe some pointers in the right direction.

And now it’s Monday again, and time is flying by. My watch battery has died, and as silly as it sounds that’s going to be bugging me until it’s fixed.. I always wear a watch, always, so to be not wearing one (aside from the oh so attractive white band I have now where the skin’s never seen the sun) feels wrong!