SLC21W1 Basic concepts and utensils of the pastry.

Did you know that baking is love made edible? It enriches people and connect them with loved ones.

I enjoy baking, and taking this class is a great choice. I believe I will improve my skills with the guidance of our teachers. To save time, I'll start by showing my baking tools while I answer the questions.

Dock
To dock pastry means to poke holes in the surface with a fork or a special tool before baking. This helps steam escape and prevents the dough from bubbling or puffing up in the oven. This method is often used when blind baking a pie crust before adding filling, as well as for certain puff pastries, and other types of dough.

Sifting
Sifting helps to sort out larger pieces of ingredients and separate the grains. It removes lumps from loose particles to make a smooth dough or batter. To sift dry ingredients, you need baking tools like sifters or sieves with fine mesh.

Folding
Folding means putting one part of something over another. In baking, the cut-and-fold technique involves lifting ingredients from the bottom of the bowl and placing them on top using a tool like a silicone spatula. This gentle and repeated action mixes two mixtures, usually with one being lighter, while keeping the air trapped inside. The cut-and-fold method is used in baking to ensure the batter stays light and doesn’t become too dense.

I don't have any baking tools at home right now because I'm not at my usual place. When I moved, I couldn't bring most of my things, so I don't have any baking utensils.

When I want to bake, I use some substitutes. It takes a lot of time, but I still get the same results as if I had all the proper tools.

	For example, I use a wooden spatula

	I use a fork instead of a whisk

Instead of a mixer, I mix my batter by hand in a bowl.

	For baking, I use my stove and a pot instead of an oven

When I learned to bake, I was taught both manual and machine methods, so I can adapt to different situations.

I may not have all the tools, but I can still make a good pastry. It’s all about knowing the right techniques and applying them correctly.

A skilled pastry chef is a cooking professional who makes special and top-notch pastries, cakes, and baked items. They possess many different skills and traits.

Their creativity includes mixing flavors, creating new recipes, and presenting dishes in unique ways that attract customers. Pastry chefs need to focus on details to get measurements right, bake for the correct times, and make complex decorations.

Any random person can have utensils but a pastry chef is one of it's kind.

I invite @ruthjoe @eliany @mariami