Week 3: Tart, tart, ouch that smarts!

Week 3, and I did not survive in tact. One little trip to A&E later and I have the world’s smallest scar on my right wrist. The fact that I’m right handed and managed to stab myself in the right wrist did not escape the notice of the extremely baffled nurse. I was a little baffled too, but more over how I managed to not faint. It’s pretty much all better now!

And don’t worry.

The tarts I made were A ok.

We started last week with a three hour evening lecture on cheese. Cheese. I did not know that anyone could talk about cheese for three hours, but then again, having been brought up in a very cheese averse house and being lactose intolerant, my knowledge of cheese mostly stops after Lactofree Mature Cheddar (which some people say doesn’t even taste like cheese…). However, I found myself enjoying the lecture in spite of this, although I passed on most of the samples. I ate a lot of bread. The man giving the lecture, Tom Badcock (His Pinterest board Many Udder Things will be a delight for cheese lovers) was immensely passionate about the subject and kept up the same level of enthusiasm from start to finish. If you ever get a chance to talk to him about the history of cheese do. Just maybe not if you’re in a rush to get somewhere.

The chef’s, not mine. Didn’t get a picture of mine whole.

We then spent the rest of the week focussed on tarts. An apple tart first, although frankly, I prefer my recipe (18. Cinnamon Apple Pie) than the one we did in class. The one we made at school included an apple compote. I do not like apple compote. But it was definitely pretty at least.

Friday was lemon tart day. Everyone was a little nervous and excited as the lemon tart is one of three recipes that could come up in our final practical exam. It is a recipe that we have to be able to recreate by heart if necessary.

I won’t lie, my lemon tart was banging. My italian meringue needs a bit of work (I don’t know why it came out not very stiff, it’s not a problem I have ever had before), but that’s ok. I still have plenty of time to master it before the final exam. I got through the practical unscathed, presented my tart to the chef, got a good mark and then went to go pack away. At least I’d finished for the day before I slipped while putting my knife away. Oooooopssss.

My lemon tart, a little worse for wear after transport home.

Me, a little worse for wear on transport home.

Nevermind, lessons have been learned and mistakes, hopefully, won’t be made again! Hope you guys had a good week too! Did you know that I went through all my recipes and edited the ingredients to be in both grams and ounces so you don’t have to convert them? Well, you know now! Why not give one a go this week? I have a couple of good autumnal recipes up, I’d love to see your results! Give me a shout on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter if you make any!