Dessert Recipes

Commercially, the cream is separated from the milk by centrifugal force. Often cream sold commercial has been pasteurised.

Pasteurization is the process of heating the cream to kill harmful organisms like viruses, molds, yeasts, protozoa and or course bacteria. Invented by the French scientist Louis Pasteur in 1862, pasteurization does on kill all micro-organisms but reduces their number to a level unlikely to cause disease.

The many varieties of cream available on the market today can leave one feeling bewildered and lost. But with a little understanding you won’t be left in the cold isle feeling glazed-eyed any longer.

Cream is categorized by the amount of milk fat it contains. This percentage should be clearly stated on the label.

Depending on what country you live in the cream will be call different things, but it is the fat content that is important.

Half and half cream is a mixture of half cream and half milk with a fat content of between 10.5 and 18%. It is great as a lighter alternative in coffee.

Light cream has a fat content of between 18 and 30%. This can be used in cooking and is fantastic in soups and curries. However please be aware that it will not whip.

Whipping or pouring  cream has a fat content of  between 30 and 36% fat. In order for the cream to whip well it needs to contain 30 to 36% fat. So this type of cream is ideal for whipping. It has many cooking uses and is great used in gratins, quiches, pasta sauces or cocktails.

Double Cream has 48% plus fat. This cream holds its shape when spooned out of the container. It best not whipped as it tends to separates easily.

Thickened cream contains 35% milk fat and also contains thickening agents, such as gelatine or vegetable gum. These are added to stabilise the cream, making it easier to whip and less likely to curdle or separate. Use it whipped in ice-creams, mousses and cheesecakes or as a filling for sponges.

Sour cream contains 35% to 38% milk fat. It is cream that has been subjected to a bacterial culture that produces lactic acid. This produces thicker cream with a slightly sour-tasting product.

Light sour cream is produced the same way, but it contains only 10% to 18% milk fat and has a thinner consistency. It is more likely to curdle when heated. Use in dressings, casseroles, soups and sauces or on potatoes. Dips are best made with the full-fat variety.

Creme fraiche contains 35% to 48% milk fat. It’s thicker and less tart than sour cream, with a slightly nutty flavour. Lactic acid has been added to fresh cream and allowed to mature under controlled conditions, making it more stable (it won’t curdle) than sour cream when heated.

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Are you a professional baker who wants to master the latest pastry recipes or baking trends, a home baker who wants to improve your baking skills, or are you looking for a new career?  Whatever situation or stage of life you are in attending one of the many accredited culinary arts baking educations would advance your career and increase your knowledge of baking techniques and equipment.

When applying for the job of baker most institutions require a minimum of a high school diploma.  With so many competing for the same job the more training certification and experience one has the better.

Specialty bakers and pastry chefs have become more of a necessity today to keep restaurants and bakeries a cut above their neighbor.  It seems there is a new bread or pastry shop opening in local neighborhoods each day.  It has also become more common for local markets and cafes to have a baker on site to offer fresh baked items each day.

Many bakers have begun their careers as apprentices under the guidance of an experienced baker.  They learn the baking craft with on the job training which can take several years.  If you want more jobs to open up for you, it would be much better to enroll in a formal training program that is offered at a nearby two year community college, a culinary arts institution  or professional-tech school or baking schools..

Through these creative cooking centers you will gain a wide range of information and learn the basics of menu planning and food prep as well as specialty gourmet bread and pastry techniques.  Other technical knowledge in nutrition, ingredients, icing and decorating trends will also be taught.  Each of these schools also have the latest mixing and baking machines, tools and other equipment that you will become proficient at operating and maintaining.  There are many health and sanitation laws and requirements that you will need to be familiar with as well.  Applied chemistry will demonstrate how baking ingredients are changed through heat and mixing methods.

Working in a restaurant or bakery may seem like an exciting profession, which it truly can be, but it also is a lot of work.  Through your culinary education at one of the many accredited Baking Schools you will soon discover what a typical day in the life of a baker would include.

Each day a baker must check the baking schedule; Weigh, measure and mix ingredients to make dough, batter, fillings and icings; Work with huge and possibly complicated mixing and blending machines;  Knead, roll twist, and form dough into a variety of shapes for cookies, tarts, pies and more; Pare and cut fruits for pies and pastries; Have knowledge of the correct tools, pans and cooking sheets for each job; Setting proper oven temps and closely watching the goods as they bake; and most importantly, checking the baking equipment each day to be sure that they are up to local safety and health regulations and standards.

There are a myriad of Baking Schools listed on the internet so you will want to check on their qualifications.  You may want to travel to a location that is known for their specialty breads and pastries such as Seattle, Washington or San Francisco or even Paris or Italy.  In each of these areas you can learn about the regional trends and techniques which you can also add to your resume of baking knowledge.