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Matthew Kirshner

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Posts posted by Matthew Kirshner

  1. If you are prohibited from using gelatin derived from beef bones, are you allowed to use a fish based gelatin?  Years ago I was researching gelatin for marshmallows for Passover and I found a place in Florida that sold fish based gelatin (in powder form) that was approved for use during Passover. 

    I think my boss wants me to stay away from all animal base, including fish.  I can ask him on Wednesday when I see him.  do you remember the name of the product by any chance?

  2. Hi everyone,

     

      So hear is my dilemma, I was talking to my boss at work yesterday and I mention I wanted to get some gelatin in so I could make some fruit mousses.  He informed me that I was not allowed to use any gelatin made from an animal base(Long story, don't ask Y?). after doing a little research, the closet thing to a vegetable base gelatin is Agar-Agar. 

     

      Has anyone use this substitution before and if so is it equal amounts.  Or if anyone has any other suggestions for replacing the animal base gelatin.

     

    Thanks!!

  3. Another update of things I've been baking since before Christmas. I'm going to try to post these more often – I had no idea it'd been so long!

    So, as part of my Christmas baking, I made these walnut shortbread. They're a really nice cookie, but look nothing like the photo in the book.

    attachicon.gifwalnut-shortbread-eG-6727.jpg

    Also part of my Christmas baking were these jam thumbprints from the Gourmet Cookie book.

    attachicon.gifjam-thumbprint-cookies-eG-6765.jpg

    I took a break from baking after this and didn't make anything until mid-January when I made these chocolate cranberry spice cookies. My coworkers all liked them, but I think I was expecting more of a punch of flavour from these cookies. I think they'd be better with dark chocolate instead of the white.

    attachicon.gifchocolate-cranberry-spice-cookies-eG-6868.jpg

    Next up were these brown sugar pecan cookies. Now THIS is a good cookie. And dead simple to make. I gave the recipe to one of my coworkers and she made some with chocolate chips added. Even better!

    attachicon.gifbrown-sugar-pecan-cookies-eG-6847.jpg

    Then I made these chewy chocolate gingerbread cookies from Martha Stewart. These are usually part of my Christmas baking every year, but because I'm trying to make new recipes, these got bumped. I was getting so many requests that I had to make them, though. This is one of my all-time favourite cookie recipes.

    attachicon.gifchocolate-ginger-cookies-eG-6910.jpg

    Then I made some milk chocolate orange cookies, which is a variation on a recipe I've made a couple times before, always with good results.

    attachicon.gifmilk-chocolate-orange-cookies-eG-6995.jpg

    Then, because we were into February, I had to make some heart cookies. I tried a new sugar cookie recipe for these and was really happy with the way they turned out. They held their shape beautifully and had a nice soft, tender texture.

    attachicon.gifsoft-sugar-cookies-eG-7026.jpg

    Still in the heart theme, I had to try out my new linzer cookie cutters (I get way too excited about new cookie cutters). You can see I went a little overboard with the jam (oops).

    attachicon.giflinzer-cookies-eG-7111.jpg

    Emmalish, those are some beautiful pictures, not to mention the treats look amazing!!

  4. I was wondering if anyone stills measure out their batter for cake panning? I am in need for adjusting my formulas so there is no waste, nor shortage. I usually have a little too much so I normally take the rest and make cupcakes, but with no oven space those usually come out "weird" when they do come out of the oven.

    I usually make chiffon cakes. Knowing its a foam style cake, I was told for at least a 8" cake round, use 10oz batter. is that right?

  5. After speaking with the client recently, she inform me of no liners. Now I have to figure out a way to present the cheesecakes on a tower, I was thinking of gold boards but I don't think they make small enough ones. Does anyone know where I could find any?

  6. Hi everyone,

    I have been asked to make cheesecake cupcakes for a wedding in 6 months. I have made large cheesecakes in the past for jobs but not cupcakes. I have a few questions if anyone could answer:

    1. The client wants liners, I know not to use foil liners, but would regular paper liners work without sticking to the cheesecake?

    2. normally I would waterbath, should I waterbath for cupcake size? I have notice some articles and recipes they don't.

    3. What would be a typical temperature and time? again I have only done big ones in large deck ovens.

    4. this is more of I client preference, but any ideas for topping ex.. whipped cream, buttercream, ect.. something that can be presented on a tower.

    any thoughts would be helpful.

    Thanks in advance.

    • Like 1
  7. Try this next time around if you can make an extra dough to laminate:

    Laminate to 10-9mm for the folds(one double, one single. or 3 single)

    Make up: 3 1/2 -3

    reduce butter to 25%(if you are adding flour to the butter pats, only add 4oz per dough)

    I think another problem is the butter when you laminate is getting too thin into the dough causing it to crack. Remember the butter is also a steam leavening for laminating dough's.

    Thank you for the comment on the kids, I need to update the photo, I have a daughter in the mix.

    • Like 1
  8. Normally I tend to stay with 25% butter into lamination. 3# butter into 8# dough seems to be a little too much, that's is closer to 38%?? Are you rolling these croissants out by hand or sheeter?, if you are using a sheeting what are the thickness you are sheeting to, both folds and make-up.

    In the past I have notice the thicker the sheeting the problems you have describe has happen.

  9. Hi All,

    I have been going through my recipe notebooks and came across a morning pastry I have not done in a long time. It was taught to me from my Swedish Pastry Chef years ago, but the problem is someone(aka my kids) decided to draw in the book now I can not read out the name.

    This is the best way to describe it: It is a pate-a-choux piped in a round then a small round of sweet dough placed on top prior to baking. After the bake, we use to fill the inside with rasp. jam/pastry cream/vanilla whipped cream.

    If anyone has made or seen this type of pastry, please let me know what the name is. Have a Merry XMAS and Happy New Year!!

  10. IMO, the more fancy you get with decorations such as transfer sheets or garnishes for mini tartlets, most people do not normally go for those items. Even thou you and your guess know it looks amazing and tastes amazing. The bottom line is if it is already paid for, does it really matter at the end. You went out of your way to make these treats, its there fault they did not have any.

    There has been times where I have random bonbons left over because people have mention to me "It looks to pretty to eat." That's why for wedding cakes I don't go over the top with décor. I want people to eat them, otherwise my wife eats them and yells at me for bringing them home. So please don't get discourage if this happens you again, take it as a complement.

    BTW, I understand the fish plate why most would send it back, foam is not appetizing to look at. Just my two cents. Happy Holidays Everyone!!

  11. I have made ice cream with butter added in the past, I feel it can go one of two ways. The first (which usually happen to me) the added fat from the butter made it separate during the spinning process so it never churn properly. The Second outcome is you made Paula Deans day by adding butter to something that doesn't need it. This is base for a plain vanilla recipe. Just my two cents. I hope it works for you.

  12. After a little over 8 years, my levain is still holding up great!! I was bored yesterday and my kids wanted to make something with me. So we decided cranberry/walnut sourdough. Although as a common mistake what I do at home, I forgot to lower the oven temperature midway through. The kids love it regardless.

    IMG_1052.JPG

    IMG_1053.JPG

    • Like 3
  13. Hadn't even thought about the flexibility making it harder to scrape. Excellent point. Maybe I really should just stick with pouring it out on wax paper in a pan and then busting it up into pieces after it sets. I was thinking the molds would make it quicker/easier for consistent weight and appearance which is why I'm doing molded truffles over hand dipping. But now I'm thinking this isn't the case. Pour my dark layer, let it set, then pour my peppermint layer, let that set, bust up and bag it. But then I have the issue of each bag being a different weight and I may end up with a lot of small pieces. Always something I guess.

    I understand about wanting to have consistent appearance and size when you break the bark, I have the same issues when I make lavash for bagging, it can't always work out. For me I care more about the consistent taste then appearance for items such as bark, it's meant to be broken. Just my two cents.

  14. the funny thing is I am a type one diabetic, I should hold all the answers, but I don't substitute anything for me... I just adjust with more insulin. As far as the client is concern, she requested agave syrup as replacement, as well as pecans instead of traditional walnuts.

    Panaderia, if you would not mind sharing your formula for the icing that would help, if you don't mind.

    I was also thinking of using raisin puree instead of the agave syrup?

    The client was pretty straight forward of what was needed, nothing else is to be replaced, just the sugar and nuts

  15. Hi everyone,

    I am planning to make a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting for a client of mine, and she inform me that the guess of honor is a type one diabetic. has anyone ever taken out the 10x sugar from the frosting and used any other ingredients as replacement sugar. I am using agrave syrup to replace the sugar in the cake itself.

    Any suggestions??

    matt

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