Its like Shrek, lots and lots of layers!

did you get that. In the first Shrek (cause i couldn't stand the second and thought the third was a joke so i never even saw it), shrek tells donkey about how ogres are like onions, maily because they have "layers". I guess Shrek must be like coissants and danished as well because as i learned this week, the flaky layers require much elbow grease and time. It makes me look at those ones you roll out of the tube in a completely different way. I sorta wanted to cheat and go out and buy a dough-boy tube and present it. anyhow, first we had to make whats called a beurrage or "butter block" which is basically whipped butter with a little bit of flour and lemon juice. Its formed into a "block" and chilled. Then you make a wet dough which might look like any old dough. You fold in the butter block with the wet dough, pound it, flatten it, and chill it for at least 30 min. then you take out the dough, fold it like a letter (3 time) and again pound and flatten and agian, chill for at least 30 min. You do this 3 times (not including the intial fold). wait, thats not all. We made danishes which was a bit fun because we got to cut them into all those cool shapes (and we get tested on them) like pinwheels, turnovers, "windows" (i cant explain how it looks but its pretty neat, pockets, bearclaws, spirals, etc. we were able to fill them with whatever we wanted which was nice (gave me some room for a creativity outlet). then once shaped, they needed to proof which took about another 30 min, then filled, baked, and then they were brushed with an apricot glaze and drizzled with white icing (its like a double sugar infused garnish, healthy aint it?). I was actaully very proud of mine, most turned decent. Other people i saw complete burned them, I never thought of this but burned danishes are very sad looking. On Friday we made croissants and pain au chocolat which is just as time consuming and labor intensive. They turned out fine, but again, i snicker every time i pass buy the tubes in the market. I've been speaking with some of the other students and most generally really like this baking course. I on the other hand miss those days of simply cooking. Sure, its fun to brag and say you actually made your own loaf of bread (but its old buy now, I could seriously operate a litte bakery from my house i've got so much baked goods). I also made some nice friends passing them out. I give them to the people at the fro yo shop to get a discount on healthier desserts, i even gave them to my mail man. hey, its good to be on good terms with people who serve you and what better way than with freshly baked danishes!