There is a Baker Amongst Us....

I seem to tilt my head to the left and then look over my right shoulder.  "Where?" I ponder.  "Where is that baker? Clearly not here.

I am not one to go down without a fight

Yes, I have declared the position of baking in the year 2012.  Picture me, the hostess mom with a plate full of *something* when the kids come home.  In honesty, there is an almost emptied bag of chip crumbs.  A box of crackers that have been left open and on the verge of stale.  Juice that fills 1/4 a cup (drip, drip, drip). And most days, I great them with a beer in hand.  Well, no, that last sentence isn't true.  I have already had the beer...the bottle is in the recycling :)

What have I learned in my last 3 baking episodes?
1. I have much to learn.
2. Following directions is a must (at least for me and my outcomes)
3. "Katie Improvisings" will yield unpleasant results
4. Tools are everything
5. While cooking with a toddler certainly has it's benefits; the expectation of greatness needs to be out buried deep down into the ground.
6. Presentation doesn't do a thing but make the food look pretty.  No flavor enhancement whatsoever
7.
8.
9.
10.

oh, so much more to learn.

Last night, I made a delicious Machaca (mexican dish). No directions - just creative flow.  I went to bed with the tantalizing sense that I was going to get to eat more of it for lunch today.  10:30 rolled around this morning and i was already digging into it.

2:00 came today, the buzzer dinged, I pulled out my lovely looking Pumpkin Tarts, took a bite and shook my head in dismay.  Am I discouraged by this --- not necessarily.  I have resolved that i need to be a bit more precise.

Present Baking History

1. Banana Bead:  This simple bread took most of the morning as i scrutinized over the given text








2. (no picture yet) Whole Wheat Rolls:  Why whole wheat? because it was the only flour i had that said it was good for bread.  The plain white flour didn't say anything; so that scared me.  I didn't even have a roll recipe - but made the rolls from the 'bread loaf' recipe instead and found some youtube video on how to bake the rolls.

3. Pumpkin Tarts: I knew that i needed the crust and I knew that i needed something with pumpkin.  I bought better flour and checked ingredients for a pastry dough.  I did not, however, follow the directions on how to make it. Well, i *did*, but i improvised when it was not the 'ball like' consistency that was needed.  The filling was a complete creation.  I looked at three separate recipes and took bits and pieces out of all three that suited my fancy.  Assumptions were made and the fractional elements of success were impeded upon someone with little patience.  Also - Youtube assisted me again; there are quite a few bakers out there who love to teach how to make tart shells.

So, I need to find something a little bit more my style.  But, i refuse to go back to cutting out the cookies of the refrigerated rolled pillsbury guy and fake those off as a home made addition.  I admit, there have been times that I have gone to the store, bought something that looked like i could make (mainly overpriced brownies), cut them up, put them on a plate and pass them off as mine.  It hasn't been many times, but it has happened.  Although, one time, it was a bit difficult as someone brought the same exact dessert and was smart enough to leave it in the store bought pan.  I made sure to move mine farther down the table - as to not bring upon suspicion (laugh).

Time is up.