The Journey Begins

"Culinary school is amazing & I am loving every minute of it."

I cannot believe how much I have learned in the first few weeks of school. 




We have made the following:

• Meringues
• Tea Cookies
• Cranberry, Orange & Almond Biscotti 
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Brownies
• Biscuits
• Apple Pie
• Blueberry Pie
• Scones
• Muffins
• Raspberry Crumble Cake
• Pate a Choux 
• Pastry Cream
• Eclairs
• Savory Gougeres 
•  Streusel 

My favorites so far have been gougeres filled with cheddar cheese, Italian spices and prosciutto SO YUMMY, the raspberry crumble cake and the almond tea cookies!

Recipes coming soon!

Next up: Creme Brulee, Marble Cheesecake, Flan, Lemon Tart, Pate Sucree, Tart Au Chocolate' I am so excited!!!

  

What Fruits & Veggies are in Season in Washington State?

I love cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables. Quality fresh ingredients produce amazing results! 

Below is a list of what is in season and available at many of our local Washington State Farmers Markets. Email me for ideas on how to use these ingredient. I would love to provide some menu ideas. 

January-February:
Apples, pears, Asian pears, winter greens and lettuces, winter squashes, potatoes, leeks, onions, garlic, parsnips, cabbages, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, beets, rutabagas, turnips, dried shelling beans, carrots, wild mushrooms. 

March:
Salad greens, wild greens, carrots, radishes, broccoli, turnips, potatoes, rutabagas, winter squashes, fresh herbs, garlic, apples, wild mushrooms, dried shelling beans. 

April:
Asparagus, radishes, sunchokes, spring greens, garlic shoots, cabbage greens, hothouse cherry tomatoes, cauliflower, wild mushrooms, wild foraged greens, fiddlehead ferns, baby vegetables & greens, nursery stock & vegetable starts, cut flowers, dried beans, rhubarb.

7up Lemon Pound Cake

7up Lemon Pound Cake 

I was introduced to 7up Pound Cake by Ms. Davis. She is an amazing woman that has inspired many of my sweet treats.

Her cake is so moist and yummy I just had to come up with my own rendition.

The 7up makes this cake light & airy & the glaze creates a more decedent dessert.  I love all things lemony and while the traditional recipe calls for a small amount of lemon juice I added a bit more to please my taste buds. Mmmmmm LEMON!

The Journey Begins

Chef LC in her Le Cordon Bleu school uniform 2012

I LOVE baking so much that I have decided to go to culinary school. When I am not at my 9-5 I find myself looking for any excuses to get in the kitchen and make a birthday cake, a pie or a special treat to share with someone I love.

The School: I decided on Le Cordon Bleu because I wanted to surround myself with traditions of excellence. Le Cordon Bleu has distinguished faculty and is one of the world's premier culinary arts institutes.


My Orientation: I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning, excited for my Le Cordon Bleu orientation. Don't I look excited?

For the past few weeks I have been trying to prepare myself for this major change in my life; I was not quite sure I was making the right decision but today sealed the deal and I am sooooooo EXCITED!

I walked into Le Cordon Bleu and was shocked to see that today's orientation was for 100 new students. Each one with a different story. I met a woman fighting cancer, another one that has been decorating cakes for years and a young man who works as a legal aid. Although we all came from different places we all share a love for food & instantly felt a bonded.

Meeting all the Chef's and hearing about their culinary journeys, and all the amazing places they have worked was inspiring. The team appears to be very dynamic & extremely knowledgeable about food & patisseries.

After meeting a few classmates and talking to many of the professors, I am now convinced that this is where I need to be.

NOW ABOUT THIS UNIFORM: Not sure how I feel about it! Definitely not the most faltering thing but it is an honor to wear a chef's uniform.

I am so excited to begin this journey.

Class starts Monday. Wish me luck :-)

“My passion is derived from the desire to be a part of the special memories in peoples lives!"

Chef LC

Happy Birthday Daiel

Chocolate Chip Cake w/ Cream Cheese Frosting 

Today my niece Daiel turns 14 years old! Although we will not be in the same state on this special day, I decided to make a birthday cake in her honor.

Daiel is an aspiring singer & songwriter and I love her to death. She is an amazing daughter, sister, niece and friend. Its hard not living close, thank the Lord for Facebook & YouTube, Daiel is constantly posting photo's and video's that keep me updated & brighten up my days :-)

I made this birthday cake special just for her!!!

Moist Chocolate Chip Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Just like my niece this cake is beautiful inside and out! I decided on a blue shade for the frosting because Daiel is intelligent & loving. The sprinkles represent her creativity and vibrant personality!

Inside you will find a super moist chocolate cake with a special CHOCOLATE Chip surprise.

Happy Birthday Daiel I hope you have an amazing 14th Birthday Day!

Lemon Meringue Tart for Mom

Lemon Meringue Tart for Mom

Today we celebrated my mom's Birthday.

She is such an amazing daughter, sister, friend, wife and mother. I am very blessed to have the kind of mother that is a constant inspiration. She is such a strong woman and I am so thankful for her!!!

Because my mom is not like any other mom. I didn't think a tradditional birthday cake was the right choice, so I decided to make her something sweet and bold just like her personality.

This Lemon Meringue tart starts with a sweet and spicy crust, the Lemon Curd has a tangy bold flavor and then its topped off with a lightly sweetened vanilla meringue. Sounds just like my mom to me.

 Chef LC eating a licorice rope in 1987 celebrating Mom's birthday

Happy Birthday Jackee

Raspberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

                 Chef LC and Sister Jackee Oct 2011

Individual Servings

of Philadelphia Styled 

Cheesecake Topped 

with Raspberry 

Sauce, Fresh Whipped Cream, & a Vanilla Wafer Cookie

My sister Jackee has an obsession with cheesecake. So on her birthday I surprised her with Raspberry Cheesecake inspired by her favorite restaurant.

This cheesecake is a lighter version of the famous New York style. It is nestled in a vanilla wafer & graham cracker crust, topped with a Raspberry sauce and garnished with fresh whipped cream and a vanilla wafer cookie.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKEE

Banana Bread

Banana Nut Squares/Bread

Ingredients:
2 1/2 Cup Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Salted Butter Softened
1 Cup Salted Butter Melted
1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar Packed
2 Eggs
3 Cups Ripe Bananas (About 7) Mashed
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts (Optional)

Dad's French Toast

Dad's French Toast

One of my favorite memories from childhood was spending time in the kitchen with my family. Every Saturday morning my sisters and I were up early making breakfast for the family. 

Nakia made the eggs, I made the bacon and my older sister Jackee would make my dad's famous French Toast. 

The bond my family created in the kitchen is irreplaceable. From experiencing great flavors, to Jackee accidentally burning something (French Toast maybe one of the only things my sister Jackee can cook) we have created so many memories.

I hold this recipe close to my heart and am so excited to share it with you. Now this is not your traditional American French Toast. We have add additional spices and added brown sugar to boost the flavors.



  
Chef LC and her Daddy 1985







                                                                                  

Mascarpone Sabayon Fruit Salad

Mascarpone Sabayon Fruit Salad

My mom always wants a light dessert and mixing fruit with mint and whipped cream creates just that. The mascarpone sabayon cream however turns this ordinary fruit into a decadent dessert.

I wanted to create something that my mom would enjoy while allowing my family to indulge and experience something amazing.

Mascarpone is one of the foods that makes food lover smile and stop dead in their tracks. I remember the first time I had Mascarpone; I was at Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria in Columbia City with my good friend Bev. She was introducing me to a new restaurant that a few of her close friends opened and insisted I had their Tiramisu. HEAVEN!!! From the first bite I was in love. After I ate the entire dessert, I ordered another one to take home.

"Hands down the best Tiramisu I have ever had, and the only Tiramisu I will eat to this day."

Sweet Potato Crumble

  LC’s Sweet Potato Crumble

Every Thanksgiving I look forward to indulging in Sweet Potato Pie. The smell of the spices in fresh baked pie makes me happy and warm all over, but this past Thanksgiving I missed out on my pie :-(

So this morning I decided I needed to get my sweet potato on and developed this amazing recipe.

This is the BEST Sweet Potato Crumble I have ever had. I may be biases, but then again maybe not! Try it out and let me know what you think!