Le Cordon Bleu Week #3

We are still discussing commonly used doughs; a savory dough (for a quiche) and a sweet dough (for a tart).

Quiches and fruit tarts are two things that I have had my fair share of back home so I really enjoyed learning the recipes. Just like the pissaladiere dough, these are extremely easy!

Lesson #5: Commonly Used Doughs Part 2

Preparation de la pate feuilletee

(Puff Pastry Preparation)

Pate brisse salee: Quiches 

(savory short dough: Quiches)

Quiche Lorraine

(Quiche Lorraine)

 Quiche aux Champignons Sauvages

(Wild Mushroom Quiche)

For our practical we made Quiche Lorraine and started the puff pastry. While it was neat to know exactly how puff pastry is made (with dry butter) I don't think I will ever take the time to make it. It is too convenient to pick some up at the grocery store.

My Quiche Lorraine!

The food that we make in practical everyone takes home....except for me. 

I do not feel like I am wasting my food because I am always giving it to Anajulia (a Brazilian girl who weighs 300lbs. No lie). However, this practical she  wasn't there so I asked the dish washer if he would like my quiche but it was the middle of the Ramadan. 

I heard someone say "Oh, Mary! Can I have it??" I turned around and it was the Chef.

(yes, they call me Mary. Explaining the nickname of Mollie was too confusing)

I was said "Oh! Oui!!!" 

I couldn't believe that the Chef wanted my quiche. Well actually I could, but I still left class  tres bon!

Lesson #6: Commonly Used Doughs Part 3

Feuillete de poireaux et oeufs poches, sauce Albufera + oeufs mollet

(Puff pastry with leeks, poached eggs with Albufera sauce + soft-coddled eggs)

Pate brisee sucree: Tarte aux fruits de saison

(Sweet short pastry: Seasonal fruit tart) 

Here is Chef Vaca..he just makes me smile : )

A big sigh of relief was had for this practical because my puff pastry rose! 
Nothing would have been more telling that I had done something wrong if it had not risen.

I don't have a picture because the Chef tasted it before I could snap one.

Oh my. These fruit tarts we AMAZING! Chef Vaca made an apricot and then an apricot/peach one. I can not wait to get back home and make these for my friends, get ready!

I have to mention real time here, July 29th! It's Cole's birthday and I wish I was home celebrating with him, making one of these fruit tarts. Even though I do not get to spend the day with him, I had fun shopping for a present and doing my own celebrating here!

When Laurie and Kate were in town we wondered into this store over in the Marais area where I saw some book ends. Something Cole has been talking about wanting for his office for a while. Last saturday, I managed to find the store and the book ends, I felt very accomplished. 

So, we skyped and I showed him this:
Bookends, Cafe Cotton swim trunks and of course cupcakes 

While I was out shopping I came across a store called Chatelles PARIS

Too bad Mom and I do not wear the same size...

You pick the shoe, color, material of the shoe and *tassel* color.

I settled on these fun purple ones with a hot pink tassel. I couldn't make a decision on the tassel but the girls told me I could come back any time and have my tassel color switched, ah!