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| You all remember awhile back when I dragged the Boss to the French Cooking Class at the Viking School here in Atlanta.... Click on the Link and You can read about it HERE...... Well....being on a winning streak (Ted's Montana Grill $1,000.00 Gift Card winner for November!!) After reading my Blog Post The store manager....Analia.... offered me another class of my choice.... I felt bad picking the most expensive class But I really really really wanted to take a bread baking class.... A big Shout out to Analia because this class DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!!! |
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| Five hours of playing with Dough..... What could be better....?? Actually.....five hours spent with Tom Selleck.....but I won't go there :) You all know how I feel about Tom. |
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| I have been baking the No-Knead recipe for a few years now since kneading bread is not first on my list....but I have always wondered if traditional bread baking is as hard as it appears.... It is not.....We made so many different things in five hours...it was amazing.... |
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| Being a cook for 45 or so years I started my baking career back in High School when I won "Home Economics Student of the Year".... for my infamous Pineapple Upside Down Cake... Which the family cringes whenever I bring this up.... You can also read about that HERE..... I have to admit it is worth the read should you have the time..... Yes....I still have the Trophy in my Pantry!! But baking to me has always been messy.... Lot's of stuff to get dirty and flour everywhere.... |
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| Things have not changed....But get yourself a cold drink.....and prepare to satisfy your inner Ina Garten because Baking and the finished results is extremely satisfying..... You know your meant to be a baker when the feel of dough on your hands makes you Happy.... |
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| I walked in to class and knew immediately that I knew our Instructor/Chef......For years Sandra was the manager of our Local Williams Sonoma and a more enthusiastic person you would not want to meet... Her love of all things Food oozes from her.... Being Italian also helps because there is nothing Like cooking or baking side by side with an Italian women to make you feel like your Family.... It was like baking with Jersey BFF Nunze..... That handsome man next to her would be her Sidekick in both Baking and in Life..... Her Lovely Husband Jim.... |
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| Getting started....a little yeast....a little flour.....soon to be a lot of Bread... |
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| Dough Ball!! |
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The hands of a baking artist..... |
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| Handling the dough like a mound of Gold..... |
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| Jim gave us a demonstration on making A Danish Kringle (Kringle means pretzel in Danish) This had a homemade almond paste center Wait until you see the finished product.... |
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| On went the Almonds..... |
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The smell alone was intoxicating..... The Taste was even better!! |
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| Getting ready to form Cranberry Spice Dinner Rolls.... |
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| Perfect class size.....there were only five of us....very intimate....much fun.... |
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Classmate Nike wondering who gets the job of Cleaning up this mess.... I said baking is messy....of course this is Times Seven People and an industrial size island... |
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| Yup.....Time for a glass of wine.... I had a Coke to keep me going... At least my feet held out... I'll decline for all your sake Not to post the x-ray of my foot... |
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| They didn't tell us lunch would be included..... |
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| Fabulous Chicken Salad with grapes.....on a bed of Fresh Spinach.... with Italian Raisin Walnut: Pan co'Santi |
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| a Little sparkling San Pellegrino with a twist! |
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| Jim with his Danish Loaf..... I didn't realize....but he resembles Paul Newman! |
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| The hardest working girl in the Baking Business.... Assistant and cleaner-upper Moniqua... Thank you for taking such good care of Us!! |
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| Parmesan/Black Pepper No-Knead Bread Fabulous.... |
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| Miss Sandra.... Thank you for making this such a fun Class.... Your energy is contagious! |
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| Cranberry Spice Dinner rolls..... perfect for Fall or Winter |
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| waiting and watching.... perfectly done Ciabatta......... |
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| See I told you.....Perfect Ciabatta.. |
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| French Baguettes....hot out of the oven.... and cranberry rolls.... |
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| Our Bounty.... |
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| Where's the Brie? |
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| And the Butter?? |
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| I know what your thinking...... |
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| Yes...we got to wrap it all up and bring home a Big Shopping bag filled with bread... |
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| Our wonderful group..... Nike....Jim...Sandra....Me....Elizabeth....and Artie Here' a quick re-cap of what we did today.... we made... Classic French Baguettes Multi grain Health Bread Italian Ciabatta Cranberry Spice rolls Quick and Easy Brioche Demonstrations.... Jim Lahey's No Knead Breads Danish Kringle I can't thank Analia enough for the opportunity to experience this wonderful class... Viking by far has the Best Cooking and Baking classes that I have ever been to.. If you ever have the chance to attend one of their Classes....Run to sign up.... You will not be disappointed.... It Might make you feel like "A Food Network Star".... www.vikingtogo.com |
10 comments:
Sounds absolutely fabulous and looks like wo much fun!
It's just after breakfast and I'm still drinking coffee and your post has made me hungry already! I wish there were a Viking store near me so I could take those classes. All the breads looked beautiful and delicious! How way New York?
I am STARVING! I would eat one of everything in this post. What fun! And a $1000 gift certificate??? Girl, you are livin' right!
Happy New Year!
xoxox
Sheila
Sue this is so you! I know how much you love to cook and your food is always amazing. Now this bread baking class has given you a new avenue to explore. Looks like so much fun and a glass of wine is always fun when baking or anytime!
hugs, Linda
How fun and that bread looks so yummy!
Sounds like a fun class to take. For years I baked all of our breads, then somewhere along the way, I got lazy...only do it once in awhile, now. Those cranberry rolls look interesting.
Happy New Year, Sue!
Wow so much to say if I can remember. You do sneak pictures of us when we are not looking - but I think they come out better that way.
How is your foot and ankle?
Glad you had a friend to go with.
I tell you that pretzel with the almonds looked good no great. And you got lunch too. Man I could go for some of that right now!
I did not know you had won that beset homemaker award - but I am not surprised.
Sandie
Looks like a fantastic time! I'd love to do this. And to take all those delicious loaves home, is worth the price of admission. I enjoyed my classes at the Viking School in Nj when I won a Peroni beer contest.
Happy New Year Sue! xo
Sue you are so right - it was fun, fun, fun! By the end I was mentally finished and definitely "breaded out" with all the samples - but...as you said, nothing a good glass of wine couldn't fix!
Good time, good people - my family loved the breads we made.
I'll certainly do it again!
Thank you Sandra for sending this to me. Looking forward to being a part of the fun energy and expertize you give towards your passion. I have had the pleasure of accompanying Sandra and Jim in the kitchen (with a glass of wine) that I highly recommend it!!!
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