Hello from San Diego!

[Trufflenaut]

Hello everyone!  I'm a hobbyist baker and candymaker currently living in San Diego.  I have lurked these forums numerous times to find information on ingredients and techniques that are not easy to find elsewhere, and I look forward to actually joining in the conversations!

[Smithy]

Welcome, Trufflenaut!  We have a few other members in the San Diego area, and we have a LOT of talented bakers and confectioners.  Since you've been lurking you probably know where to find things already, but if you have any questions about how to work the forums feel free to ask a host.  

 

I'm always impressed at the baked goods and confections that our members crank out, and look forward to your contributions.  Do you also cook? If so, what sorts of things do you like to cook? 

 

[Trufflenaut]

Thanks!  I do a decent bit of cooking - but generally just food to stuff in my face - nothing too exciting, but every year I do a multi-course feast for family and friends on New Year's Eve, where I try out a bunch of recipes that are usually too involved, difficult, or expensive for day to day cooking.   I'm generally most interested in learning how to do things I haven't done before, to get a little bit of knowledge about everything - such as how to smoke meats, how to make lollipops, how to make bread, how to infuse sugars, etc.  I want to know stuff like *why* this technique creates more flavor than that one, or changes the texture of this ingredient, or makes this neat trick possible - I find that the more I learn about new things, the better I understand the things I already know, and it leads to more interesting, creative, and fun foods.

[Kerry Beal]

Sounds like you will fit in here very nicely!

[Kim Shook]

Welcome!  Looking forward to your contributions!