My dogs ate my homework, you guys.
Ok, they actually did NOT, because my homework involves chocolate, and I am over the top uptight about making sure nary a shaving is within their reach at any given time.
But you get my drift.
Yes, I have been in the kitchen, and yes, I have been baking. I’ve managed to get multiple desserts out the door for multiple restaurants, yes, but this week, I just couldn’t do anything more
As I get older I seem to put less importance on being universally liked (I’m annoying, as we all are in our own hopefully charming ways), but more on respect for my work and output, putting my best foot forward, and professional integrity. I changed career paths in my early thirties, and I often feel behind—I wonder where I could or would have been had I started my pastry journey as a twenty-something rather than a thirty-something. A catch up coffee with a friend this weekend quickly turned into a two-sided pep talk on overcoming “imposter syndrome”.
(We didn’t figure it out, so if you have the answer(s), hit us up.)
This week (not just this week), things in the kitchen didn’t go as planned.
My carrot cake cake layers were too thin. I had to re-bake them, but first I had to go get more carrots because I didn’t think ahead (and I eat a lot of carrots) (so do the dogs).
I burnt not one, but two caramels. Probably preoccupied wondering where I could or would have been had I started my pastry journey as a twenty-something rather than a thirty-something.
I made a white chocolate and cream cheese ganache that set way too loose. Thankfully, I managed to save it by making a second, very thick ganache and combining the two.
Black Sesame Basque Cheesecake looked really cool! Tried it! Interesting! Don’t trust recipes you find on Instagram!!*.
All that being said, I don’t have a recipe for you this week. Writing this newsletter is a true soul-filling project and I love doing it. But it is a lot of work, especially when you care as I do—I don’t want to publish anything without full confidence that it’s worth your time, money, or taste buds.
Instead, some unsolicited advice, maybe more for myself than for you:
Mistakes happen, just don’t let your dogs eat chocolate.
*except mine, of course.
thanks for being here <3
ksenia