Outside US & Canada?
Culinary Program
Find culinary inspiration and helpful career information on topics such as cooking with chocolate, French and Greek cuisine, the life of a Chef, and what to expect in culinary school.
Does your sweet tooth lead you straight to your oven? Read how to avoid the pitfalls of cheese cake, bake creative cookies, use fresh fruits in baking, and more.
If you've ever prepared a Thanksgiving dinner, you know that cooking for a group takes planning and skill. Learn more about the art of catering and restaurant management, including specialized catering such as chocolates or high tea and how to prepare for a restaurant career.
With culinary schools in all 50 states and additional culinary education available online, you don't need to relocate unless you want to. Each state has its own special mixture of culture, cuisine, and locally grown agriculture that inspires the chefs and students who work and live there. If you're passionate about Maine lobster dishes, California cuisine, or any dish or state in between, you'll find a culinary school that is where you are or where you'd like to be.
Home | Culinary | Baking and Pastry | Your Baking Career: Instant Patisserie
Marianne Salina is a freelance writer in Spokane, Washington. She writes about pursuits in education and degree opportunities.
Your Baking Career: Instant Patisserie
By Marianne SalinaFlaky layers, creamy fillings, and golden crusts are treasured secrets of professional bakers. But you, too, can bake the perfect pastry and turn an ordinary kitchen into a patisserie for family and friends. Just follow these simple pastry baking tips, and you'll be on your way.
Pastry Baking 101
- Pro bakers keep their cool. Before you bake, make sure your hands are cold, and that you are using a cold baking workspace, roller, and water. Put dough in the refrigerator when you're not baking or working with it--this keeps it firm.
- The baker never skimps. Don't opt for low-fat or reduced fat ingredients in your at-home bakery. These products contain too much water, and won't bake up the best pastry.
- Bakery shortcut: If you choose to bake cake from a mix, or use store-bought frosting, add one teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mix or frosting, to upgrade the flavor to "homemade" status.
- Preheat! In a bakery, the ovens are always hot. At home, make sure to preheat your oven at least 10-15 minutes before you begin baking--pastry bakes best in a hot oven. Otherwise, it could turn out tough and deflated.
- For a bakery perfect pie, bake the pie on the lower rack of your oven. This will get the bottom crisp and prevent the top from burning.
These tips are a good beginning, but to become an off-the-charts-amazing baker you'll probably want to check out culinary school. And who knows? You may find yourself a mouth-watering new career.
About the AuthorMarianne Salina is a freelance writer in Spokane, Washington. She writes about pursuits in education and degree opportunities.
