Team Gianduja v. Team Gingersnap

Wouldn't you know it, the team quiz ended in a tie. And there were really no prizes, just a good overview of the material for next week's final, and the opportunity to use a (full-size) blowtorch later in the day, to practice browning meringue.

We got right to work this morning, first thing, but not before preparing our cakes for evaluation by the Chef. We took them out of the walk-in refrigerator, unwrapped them, and then cut out one piece, using a warm knife (heated in hot water, then dried off). While Chef went around the room, peering and tasting, we got started on two of today's projects: baked tarts, with frangipane and brandied apricots, and unbaked tarts (or, rather, pre-baked tarts filled with uncooked filling), which were filled with pastry cream and topped with fresh fruit.

We also had a third assignment before the end of the class: a cookie or candy recipe. Several people never got that far, and those of us who did felt rushed. I made rugelach (a short dough made with cream cheese) with two savory fillings (sun dried tomato, kalamata olive) and I think Chef took them out of the oven a bit too soon, in an a effort to get us finished (and out of the classroom so she could start her weekend, if she's in any way like the rest of us.)

The tart crust was really easy to work with and crisp, like a cookie. We rolled it to about an 1/8 of an inch thick, so the tarts won't get soggy and fall apart. I had a great time making my fruit tarts: Chef suggested that I fill each of the six with a single kind of fruit, though everyone else got instructions to use several kinds of fruit, and to make six identical tarts. We also had to cover up every possible bit of the pastry cream, and then glaze them with thinned apricot jam. So I had strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, grape (red, with the cut sides showing), raspberry, and kiwi tarts, and they looked smashing. I swear. I put them on the "student dining" tray and Tashana said, "Wait! Aren't you taking those home to show your husband how beautiful they are?"

No. Because then we'd just have to eat them. And we already have a cake.