Last Wednesday I catered an event--a little dessert buffet at a Stake YW night. It was a first, really, and it wasn't much to anyone else, I am sure, but for me it was enormously satisfying. I couldn't believe that Jamie would actually let me do the whole thing without any sort of credentials beyond a passionate (and often delusional) desire to play chef.
But, nevertheless, I found my thoughts churning obsessively, and almost instantly, over various textures and colors and flavors that might make a charming presentation. [Side: I know when I have really found a project to love when I wake up in the middle of the night to possible recipe formulations, interesting garnishes, or the timing logistics of carrying it all off. One time, when I was orchestrating a major freezer dinner enrichment activity, I woke in the night to nurse the baby and fumbling to remember which "side" the baby needed to nurse on, I found myself thinking "no he had the stuffed chicken already, he needs to have the beef!"]
There is something so thrilling about participating in the process of culinary imagination to creation--and doing it en masse. Plus having a real reason to shop at Costco is, well, glorious! Who doesn't get a little rise out of purchasing 11 pounds of butter and 7 quarts of heavy cream? I ask you!
In the end, I learned so much--about vanilla beans, about the importance of creaming in cake making, about time management, and (most importantly) about letting people help me in the process. My friend, Ashley, spent a lot of her Monday afternoon and most of her Tuesday morning cheerfully glazing chocolate cupcakes and pressing out tartlet dough. (I believe I pressed two tartlets to her 137.) And Aaron, one night, bless that man's heart, single-handedly whipped up a gorgeous vat of Coconut Italian meringue and helped me lop it onto beautiful tiny cupcakes. Finally, when it came time to actually plate the food, Ashley and Mindee spent more time in the kitchen than I did. Who knew that giving up some of the control and letting people participate with you could be so rewarding!
(Maybe that is a sign of maturing, Mom. You think so?)
Though it wasn't perfect, (next time I will not glaze with a modified ganache, but, instead make a sturdier chocolate "shell"), I was proud of how it turned out.
The final menu was:
Lemon tartlets with citrus sugar
Chocolate bombes (little chocolate cakes filled with ganache and glazed)
Mint and almond truffles [because I had a lot of extra ganache]
Strawberry shortcakes
Vanilla creme mini cupcakes with coconut meringue
Lime shortbread with almonds and white chocolate
and
Almond sparkly sugar cookies
10 comments:
amazing!! great job!
You are an artist! It looks fabulous. I am proud of you!
Amazing, amazing! ALso, the YW Cinnamon project-amazing! They were delicious.
WOW!
What was the YW cinnamon project?
See you soon.
Heidi
Here's something you can mull over in the middle of the night - how to get some of those little tarlets, mint truffles and coconut meringue to Louisiana!!!!! : )
U R A MAZ ING
Oh my goodness all of that looks so delicious! If you need any help what so ever don't hesitate to call me! I would love to help. I can't believe you did all that and the cinnamon rolls you are one amazing woman!
that is stinking AMAZING, FABULOUS, INCREDIBLE, etc, etc
It was all absolutely fabulous! Thank you again a million times over. But now I'm wondering - how did I miss the truffles?? They must have been so yummy that they were gone by the time I got there! :) I did put the pictures that I took on my blog, so you can save them off of there if you want them, but yours turned out great too!
Thank you, everyone!
It is like childbirth. It seemed like a lot of work at the time, but now I am wishing I was doing it again today. Maybe one day we will open a genuine business and then I can really have fun.
Jamie - You are such a great friend. Thanks for letting me experience some dream-come-true by actually catering something. Your confidence is infectious.
The pictures are some that Mindee sent me. I definitely don't have the photographic skills like you gals (nor do I have a camera, actually). I'll run over to your blog right now to see the ones you took.
You are so talented and far too generous for even mentioning that I helped. You did a beautiful job and I would hire you in a second. Thanks for sharing the fun!
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