Today was, unfortunately, the last day of this interim class. We again tried the three mystery chocolates to see if our preferences had changed. Boy had mine changed! At the beginning of the class, I chose the chocolate #1 as my favorite. This time around it was my least favorite. It was way too sweet and kind of bland. It didn't have any sort of chocolate finish and was just mediocre. I learned this was Dove chocolate. The second chocolate was Godiva dark chocolate and was my favorite this time around. I liked the darker, bitter, and smooth taste. The third chocolate was my second favorite this time and was Schaffen berger chocolate. It was sweet, creamy, and fruity and had a strong finish and aftertaste. This goes to show that having tried some very fine chocolate has changed my preferences. I feel less tempted to eat more common chocolates such as Hershey's and Dove now. At the beginning of the class, I did not know all the wonderful brands of chocolate that were out there.
Next, we listened to a presentation on liquid smoke and the effect it has on cooking. I chose not to taste them, mostly since it was 9:30 AM and BBQ type flavors did not appeal to me. I did smell them and compare the different types:
Mesquite - smokey, spicy, strong smell, comes from a tree that grows in Texas
Pecan - nutty, less intense, milder
Apple - sweet, subtle
Hickory - strong smell, woody, foresty
The last thing we tasted today was Jack Torres' chocolate chip cookies recipe. He claims he can achieve a good balance between soft and crispy by making big cookies. These cookies had a great combination of textures. I took some home to my family and they felt the same way. It is definitely a recipe worth repeating, because I would love to try them fresh out of the oven.
This interim class has been educational, interesting, and fun! I have enjoyed learning how to describe foods and flavors and distinguish between flavors. I feel more confident in the kitchen and feel comfortable trying new recipes. I am excited to try out some of these recipes again and expand my cooking experience! Thank you for a great month!
