Saturday 19 March 2011

Cookery Course Completed......



Well I did it......

And here's the proof......


 I got a certificate!!!.....

It was MUCH harder than I thought it was going to be, being on your feet in a kitchen from 9.30am until 5/6pm  for a week is a different kind of hard work from digging,planting,potting on etc....though the staff were there from 8 most mornings doing all the prep,so I shouldn't comment!

I cannot praise ASHBURTON COOKERY SCHOOL enough and I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of one of their courses- ( it was funded by a government initiative)- I have learned so much.....
If you or anyone you know ever needs to know anything about cooking this is definitely the place to go.....

Wonderful premises,exceptional chefs,tutors and staff and the most incredible ingredients...

These people really follow through on delivering the BEST quality products made with the BEST and LOCAL  top quality ingredients....

As you know if you read my blog,I am a real foodie and I love to cook and bake but I learned SO much from these WONDERFUL chefs this week.....

Here are a few of the things we made......


Bread Rolls......



Risotto.....


Then we took these ingredients to make....


Pesto!!!.....delicious and an all time favourite here...


Of course we had to make our own pasta to go with the pesto.....


 Tortellini too,which was a bit fiddly but I soon got the hang of it and brought some home for supper......


And puddings too of course!...........Creme Brulee- my all time favourite....



Chocolate Pots.....

As well as, lamb cutlets- .chicken and pork- (all cut by us in the kitchen) the most wonderful steak, sauces, stocks, dauphinoise potatoes, vegetable prep and cooking, poached eggs,- we learned SO much- I was happy to go to work today and be potting on plants and be peaceful!!

The only thing that I struggled with was the fish dishes,I grew up in France and remember well the smell of bouillabaisse (fish stew) bubbling away on the stove for hours - that I think it has put me off the smell of fish for life! So I did struggle,I couldn't handle gutting a mackerel  as it smells quite strong but I managed a plaice and some scallops- but completely fell at the smoked haddock hurdle- eeugh!!

So Thank you to everyone that I met this week - It was a WONDERFUL experience.....

They do a one day Patisserie course....brownies, pastries, etc.......mmmmm....


Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Week ,







3 comments:

Sophie - Chez Sophie said...

Wow sounds amazing, All that food sounds delish and all in one day.
Well done you.
Luv Sophie xxx

Callies Cottage said...

Hi Sophie,
No I was there all week,I found it hard absorbing all that in a week I could never have done it in a day....
Happy Spring to you and yours!
Callie x

Blueberry Heart said...

Oh. My. Word. How GORGEOUS does all that food look??? Well done you! I fully intend to (try) and make my own pasta - when I am feeling brave!!

BH x

(PS - thank you so much for your really lovely comments too x)