jennielynn1970
12-24-2007, 09:44 PM
So, I love baking and cooking, and have been a baker since I was about 5 years old. 4H started me off and got me involved with county fairs and things like that.
Well, this year, my mom and dad (and my brother's family) decided that they were exchanging any gifts, except for my 19 yr old nephew. I'm kinda bummed, because I loved to shop for things for them and had such a good time finding things I thought they'd enjoy. I did home made things as well, but usually there were warm sweaters for mom and dad, some kind of jacket or coat for dad to wear outside, and usually something my mother couldn't give to me and tell me to use for myself (I'm also about 4 sizes bigger than her, lol, so I can't wear her size M sweaters).
So, I had to try to think of something to do for them... I can't just NOT do something. I've done homemade fudge for dad, cookies for mom, photo collages and whatever else I can come up with that mom won't have a fit over that I spent money on it. I decided to go with food again, lol, and wanted to try something decadent... Julia Child was my idol, and I love her cookbooks. So, I tried to make one of the pastries that is in the Baking with Julia cookbook (I've done a bunch of the breads and things... I just don't have a lot of patience for pastries). My goal was a danish pastry braid. I made home made dried apricot filling for my mom, and also a cream cheese one for my dad.
I'm not totally pleased with the outcome... the ends could look a lot better, but they still turned out really nicely. They are approximately 17" long just to give you an idea (my tray was 11x17).
Here they are before baking...
Cheese danish
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0880.jpg
Apricot in oven
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0879.jpg
The finished products...
Cheese Danish
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0885.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0884.jpg
Apricot Danish
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0882.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0881.jpg
I'm hoping they like them and don't start in on "Oh, my cholesterol is so high!" otherwise I'll flip on them, lol! The dough for these suckers was a 2 day process, and multiple foldings and rolling outs and foldings and rolling outs.... my arms are tired!! Wish me luck that they like them!
Well, this year, my mom and dad (and my brother's family) decided that they were exchanging any gifts, except for my 19 yr old nephew. I'm kinda bummed, because I loved to shop for things for them and had such a good time finding things I thought they'd enjoy. I did home made things as well, but usually there were warm sweaters for mom and dad, some kind of jacket or coat for dad to wear outside, and usually something my mother couldn't give to me and tell me to use for myself (I'm also about 4 sizes bigger than her, lol, so I can't wear her size M sweaters).
So, I had to try to think of something to do for them... I can't just NOT do something. I've done homemade fudge for dad, cookies for mom, photo collages and whatever else I can come up with that mom won't have a fit over that I spent money on it. I decided to go with food again, lol, and wanted to try something decadent... Julia Child was my idol, and I love her cookbooks. So, I tried to make one of the pastries that is in the Baking with Julia cookbook (I've done a bunch of the breads and things... I just don't have a lot of patience for pastries). My goal was a danish pastry braid. I made home made dried apricot filling for my mom, and also a cream cheese one for my dad.
I'm not totally pleased with the outcome... the ends could look a lot better, but they still turned out really nicely. They are approximately 17" long just to give you an idea (my tray was 11x17).
Here they are before baking...
Cheese danish
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0880.jpg
Apricot in oven
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0879.jpg
The finished products...
Cheese Danish
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0885.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0884.jpg
Apricot Danish
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0882.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0881.jpg
I'm hoping they like them and don't start in on "Oh, my cholesterol is so high!" otherwise I'll flip on them, lol! The dough for these suckers was a 2 day process, and multiple foldings and rolling outs and foldings and rolling outs.... my arms are tired!! Wish me luck that they like them!