One day,
not quite a year ago,
Flynn and I were having a conversation
about my future.
About my lack of ed-joo-kay-shun.
See,
I went to Jr. College
and I had a GREAT time.
I chased boys ….
had water fights….
chased boys….
went dancing…..
and
CHASED BOYS
I didn’t do so good in the classroom learning part.
(But I had fun chasing boys!)
I caught Flynn and my chasing days ended.
He awarded me my MRS. degree
– which is somewhat different from a college degree –
and I quit school and went to work to support him as
he got his accounting degree and CPA.
Over the years I thought intermittently about going back and getting that piece of paper.
One time I actually signed up and was accepted at the local university.
I was going to attend as a “non-traditional” student.
That meant taking only one or two classes a semester, or something.
But I didn’t go.
Why didn’t I?
Hmmm…. I don’t remember.
Fear.
Probably.
I’m a wimp.
Scared of everything.
Anyway,
the years have gone by and I still don’t have a degree, associates or otherwise.
I still don’t have an “official” career.
This is concerning.
What if something happens to Flynn?
Sure, he’s got a GREAT life insurance plan, but I still need some way
to support myself and my children.
That money will only go so far.
This was our discussion that day.
I remember he said,
“If you could pick anything in the world that you would want a career in,
– regardless of income –
what would it be?”
”Regardless of income.”
Hmmm…..
That made me think.
That made me realize, that my dream career didn’t have to be practical.
It could actually be something I loved!
I took his question very seriously.
I pondered. Thought. Probably even prayed about it.
And like a bolt of lightning out of the sky,
like the angels descending from on high singing choruses of
Hallelujah
I knew my answer.
♥ CULINARY/PASTRY SCHOOL ♥
I want to cook.
I want to create beautiful masterpieces of food art.
I want to fill people’s bellies.
I want to make them happy.
I want to make their taste buds happy.
That’s what I want to do.
Ok.
But where?
No culinary schools around here.
The local university has no pastry program.
There’s one in Portland.
There’s one in Denver.
But nothing close enough for me to attend.
And then I thought,
”online?”
Bahahahahahaha!
An online pastry school?
Seriously?
*insert eye roll here*
But I looked anyway.
{cue more singing angels}
I found one!
I actually found a school that has figured out a way to teach how to cook
via online webinars, texts and tutorial videos.
It’s amazing!
It’s Escoffier Online
Escoffier is a name that is very well known in the culinary arts world.
Auguste Escoffier is the “father of modern French cuisine.”
His methods have transcended time and are still in use today in all modern kitchens.
Well, this school is based on his methods.
His grandson is the head of it.
And from what I can tell, it’s a great school.
I signed up.
It’s been slow going for me.
I work at my own pace as long as I finish within a year.
I’m slightly behind.
Ok,
a LOT behind.
But I’m working hard to catch up.
I believe I’ll be finished in time.
I have learned oodles and gobs.
I’ve learned exactly what “gluten” is.
I’ve learned what it does in pastry products.
I’ve learned about fats, eggs, pastries, breads and yeast.
I know what the term “lamination” means
when it refers to Puff Pastry.
Believe it or not,
this girl
– the girl who refused to bake with yeast –
has learned how to bake bread
SUCCESSFULLY!!!
It has been fantastic.
I love it!
No regrets!!
Thank you to my handsome husband,
Flynn
for pushing me to do this.
For supporting me.
For paying for the program ☺
Most importantly
for BELIEVING in me. ♥
Some of the things I’ve made:
Apple Pecan Muffins
Brioche
Vienesse Butter Cookies
Chelsea Buns
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Choux Paste (Cream Puffs)
Next on the list, however, is homemade
Puff Pastry.
I keep telling myself,
if I can conquer yeast breads, I can make puff pastry.
But I’m scared out of my mind.
Don’t call/text/write/
or whistle at me that day.
I’ll be having a mental breakdown.
(This is a great program available to anyone! If you have any questions let me know and I’ll try to answer them, or I can give you a phone number to my school counselor who can also help you!)
