Friday, May 11, 2012
A Girl's Survival Guide to Finals
It's that time of the semester: the library stays open 24/7 (and people literally move in, sleeping bags, coffee makers and all), pajamas become indistinguishable from day clothes, and its impossible to find flashcards in any store in a five mile radius. Given the amount of stress that's running rampant, I thought I'd share some of my favorite survival tactics:
1) Dress it up.
As tempting (and comfortable) it is to live in yoga pants and sweatshirts for a week, I've found that dressing up a bit for the actual exam can help reduce stress, raise confidence and increase focus. Why? Part of it is the association factor: pantyhose and pencil skirts are generally reserved for interviews and presentations--moments when I want the world to assume I'm the kind of person who's reliable and in control. Not a fan of tights? Plan ahead for some comfortable but polished outfits that make you feel good. Sweats might be comfortable, but might make you more inclined to curl back up in bed.
2) Cleaning
Whenever I have trouble focusing on a particular project (especially if it needs to be done Now), I find cleaning the immediate space I'm in can be a huge help. Maybe there isn't time to give my entire room a thorough going-over, but even something as simple as clearing accumulated papers off my workspace and putting them away can do the trick. There's a sense of having wiped the slate clean (not to mention having done something productive) and prepared to give the project my full attention.
3) Get up, walk away, and move
I know--when the essays have piled up and the study guides are knee-deep, it's tempting to hole up in the library and plow through. Time spent on Other Things is time wasted, especially as it gets closer to exam time. But getting up and getting outside--especially if it's nice out! --can keep Library Fever at bay. Go for a run, take a stroll around campus, sit on a bench outside and stare at the trees--whatever it is, give your brain a break for a moment.
4) Sleep. No really-- Sleep
As perhaps one of the worst night-owls on campus, I realize this sounds a bit hypocritical, but it's definitely a "do as I say, not as I do" moment. While a considerable body of research has shown that pulling all-nighters impairs performance and memory, it's important to remember that even cutting back on your regular number of hours (be it eight or four--whatever leaves you feeling refreshed) isn't doing you any favors. Ask a friend to watch your stuff, and take a 20-minute power nap (the ideal length of a nap); if you have more time to spare, try sleeping for multiples of 90 minutes, the length of a given sleep cycle. Your body and mind will have a moment to reboot, and when your alarm goes off, you'll be more likely to be naturally coming out of deep sleep, and less prone to grogginess. An added benefit? Your brain is active when you sleep, especially your hypothalamus, responsible for memory. So run those flash cards one last time before you go to bed; your brain will keep practicing while you sleep.
5) Something silly
Your inner five-year-old probably knows how to burn off some of that stress; so go get some bubble mix and try to catch them before they pop; paint your toenails ridiculous colors; make a playlist of your favorite peppy music, and have a silent dance party in the stairwell (or between the stacks; people will probably laugh, therapy for everyone); make your favorite snack from when you were little (ants-on-a-log, anyone?); code your notes with stickers (remember the fuzzy rainbow unicorn ones? I certainly do); make silent but ridiculous faces at your friend across the table. It's impossible to frown and laugh at the same time.
1) Dress it up.
As tempting (and comfortable) it is to live in yoga pants and sweatshirts for a week, I've found that dressing up a bit for the actual exam can help reduce stress, raise confidence and increase focus. Why? Part of it is the association factor: pantyhose and pencil skirts are generally reserved for interviews and presentations--moments when I want the world to assume I'm the kind of person who's reliable and in control. Not a fan of tights? Plan ahead for some comfortable but polished outfits that make you feel good. Sweats might be comfortable, but might make you more inclined to curl back up in bed.
2) Cleaning
 |
| Bright colors encouraged |
Whenever I have trouble focusing on a particular project (especially if it needs to be done Now), I find cleaning the immediate space I'm in can be a huge help. Maybe there isn't time to give my entire room a thorough going-over, but even something as simple as clearing accumulated papers off my workspace and putting them away can do the trick. There's a sense of having wiped the slate clean (not to mention having done something productive) and prepared to give the project my full attention.
3) Get up, walk away, and move
I know--when the essays have piled up and the study guides are knee-deep, it's tempting to hole up in the library and plow through. Time spent on Other Things is time wasted, especially as it gets closer to exam time. But getting up and getting outside--especially if it's nice out! --can keep Library Fever at bay. Go for a run, take a stroll around campus, sit on a bench outside and stare at the trees--whatever it is, give your brain a break for a moment.
4) Sleep. No really-- Sleep
 |
| A common library phenomenon |
As perhaps one of the worst night-owls on campus, I realize this sounds a bit hypocritical, but it's definitely a "do as I say, not as I do" moment. While a considerable body of research has shown that pulling all-nighters impairs performance and memory, it's important to remember that even cutting back on your regular number of hours (be it eight or four--whatever leaves you feeling refreshed) isn't doing you any favors. Ask a friend to watch your stuff, and take a 20-minute power nap (the ideal length of a nap); if you have more time to spare, try sleeping for multiples of 90 minutes, the length of a given sleep cycle. Your body and mind will have a moment to reboot, and when your alarm goes off, you'll be more likely to be naturally coming out of deep sleep, and less prone to grogginess. An added benefit? Your brain is active when you sleep, especially your hypothalamus, responsible for memory. So run those flash cards one last time before you go to bed; your brain will keep practicing while you sleep.
5) Something silly
Your inner five-year-old probably knows how to burn off some of that stress; so go get some bubble mix and try to catch them before they pop; paint your toenails ridiculous colors; make a playlist of your favorite peppy music, and have a silent dance party in the stairwell (or between the stacks; people will probably laugh, therapy for everyone); make your favorite snack from when you were little (ants-on-a-log, anyone?); code your notes with stickers (remember the fuzzy rainbow unicorn ones? I certainly do); make silent but ridiculous faces at your friend across the table. It's impossible to frown and laugh at the same time.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Cake Opera Co.
I'm always falling in love with cake artists. I first ran into Cake Opera Co at a New York cake convention, and oh, it was one of those dizzy-love-at-first-sight moments. Run by the fabulous Alexandra Pellegrino (cake artist)
and Jessica Smith (pastry chef),
the Toronto-located shop offers a chic, elegant array of cakes and pastries. What caught my eye about the cake design was the painting technique Alexandra uses, often drawing on textiles for inspiration. At the convention, she sat with a swatch of fabric, hand-painting the pattern onto the side of the cake. It's a beautiful effect.
I'm particularly enamored of the figurine opera cakes:
(And some of that hand-painted detailing with the ship on the side of the cake--absolutely gorgeous.)
Then there are the "Operettas," lovely sweet tables:
The colors! The display! It just all looks so good. Other delights:
It makes me want to move to Canada.
Want more? Check out their website.
and Jessica Smith (pastry chef),
the Toronto-located shop offers a chic, elegant array of cakes and pastries. What caught my eye about the cake design was the painting technique Alexandra uses, often drawing on textiles for inspiration. At the convention, she sat with a swatch of fabric, hand-painting the pattern onto the side of the cake. It's a beautiful effect.
I'm particularly enamored of the figurine opera cakes:
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| Source |
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| The Piratess Cake |
Then there are the "Operettas," lovely sweet tables:
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| Bohemian Chic |
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| Black and White |
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| Pomegranate |
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| Chinoiserie |
Want more? Check out their website.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Ron Ben-Israel
This man:
This man is my god.
This man is Ron Ben-Israel, and world, just so you know, I would like to be him.
I've been decorating cakes for as long as I can remember--although realistically, it's probably only been for ten or eleven years. I've primarily done birthday cakes, since that's usually the only occasion that my family, ever focused on healthy eating, really needs a multi-evening dessert. Occasionally there'll be a just-for-fun cake for a friend or teacher; only very recently have I actually had any commissions.
That said, mine are usually somewhat constrained by time, cost, and people--it's simply not realistic to do a three-tier cake for a family of four. Especially when you consider the sorry lack of space in the average kitchen's refrigerator.
Recently, however, my dad sent me an email linking to Ron Ben-Israel's site, and while he certainly isn't my first Cake Decorator Crush, he's certainly now one of my favorites. (Also--how have I not heard of him before? Goodness.)
Ron Ben-Israel, you see, does these cakes. Beautiful, beautiful cakes, and I just can't get enough.
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| All photos from Ron Ben-Israel Cakes
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Even better though: he teaches. AND takes interns. Yes, Ron Ben-Israel teaches at the French Culinary Institute in New York. He also has room for twelve interns a year in his atelier in Soho. Anyways, you should go to his site and explore--particularly the cake collections and the videos of his work.
Sweet and sugared thoughts to you all!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
A Bad Case of Cake Envy
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| Cakeaholic |
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| Sucre Coeur |
Unrelated--black, white, and spring green, or, like the one below, with a bit of gray: perfect palette. Makes my heart go pitter-pat.
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| Sweet Disposition Cakes |
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| Gateaux Inc |
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| Blissfully Sweet |
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| Sweet & Saucy Shop |
I'm also especially jealous of the coordinated cake stands--man, I need to get me some of those. For some reason, my family has never felt the need to invest in some (partially, I guess, because we keep our cakes in the fridge when not eating them, and flat plates make that process easier). The lifted cake stands just make the presentation so much more beautiful, though. Once I have my own place, my lovelies, I will be acquiring at least one. If not five.
Again, all kudos to CakeWrecks--go check out their blog, which is fantastically funny for the week of Disasters, although I admit Sundays, and all the beautiful featured cakes, are my favorite posts.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The Trouble with Tea
Over spring break, I had to complete the small back order of cakes, and as receipes and pan sizes worked themselves out, I found I had enough leftover batter from a 8" chocolate cake to fill one of my 4" pans. My first, immediate thought was to do a tea-cake.
In the chocolate sampler featured below in the Loco for Coco post, there's an Earl Gray Tea-flavored chocolate that I particularly love, and ever since I've been curious to experiment with tea in cakes. Since the Earl Gray chocolate piece tasted so good, and there happened to be some in the cabinet, I immediately stirred two teabags' worth into the batter, and popped it in the oven.
The baking process was interesting, and a bit nail-biting--the cake puffed up into a highdome, cracked in the center, and oozed in a fascinating replication of a lava flow, which I can only attribute to a chemical reaction to the tea leaves in the baking process; the undoctored batter for the main cakes did lovely, smooth-and-gently-curved baking things. However, after the quick addition of a foil-covered baking sheet under the pan to catch drips, the tea-cake ended up coming out well--and, as it turned out, I was able to use the cut-off dome as a taste-testing piece.
Personally, I loved the flavor--mostly chocolate, with a hint of Earl Gray. Unfortunately other, more experienced members of my immediate family pointed out that Earl Gray, in baked goods, bears a certain resemblance to less legal substances.
So, the moral of the story? Tastes great, but perhaps not the best choice to serve at parties. I'm hoping to try some other teas--especially chai, chai and chocolate sound nice, don't they?
In the chocolate sampler featured below in the Loco for Coco post, there's an Earl Gray Tea-flavored chocolate that I particularly love, and ever since I've been curious to experiment with tea in cakes. Since the Earl Gray chocolate piece tasted so good, and there happened to be some in the cabinet, I immediately stirred two teabags' worth into the batter, and popped it in the oven.
The baking process was interesting, and a bit nail-biting--the cake puffed up into a highdome, cracked in the center, and oozed in a fascinating replication of a lava flow, which I can only attribute to a chemical reaction to the tea leaves in the baking process; the undoctored batter for the main cakes did lovely, smooth-and-gently-curved baking things. However, after the quick addition of a foil-covered baking sheet under the pan to catch drips, the tea-cake ended up coming out well--and, as it turned out, I was able to use the cut-off dome as a taste-testing piece.
Personally, I loved the flavor--mostly chocolate, with a hint of Earl Gray. Unfortunately other, more experienced members of my immediate family pointed out that Earl Gray, in baked goods, bears a certain resemblance to less legal substances.
So, the moral of the story? Tastes great, but perhaps not the best choice to serve at parties. I'm hoping to try some other teas--especially chai, chai and chocolate sound nice, don't they?
Friday, March 2, 2012
Thinking of Spring
Just as it felt like Spring might finally arrive after such a mild winter, the cold and snow reached Connecticut! The weather for the past few months has been such a tease--cold and rain one day, sunny skies and 50 degrees the next. Not to be daunted by yesterday's snow flurries, I decided to try my hand at the fun Ice Cream Flower Pot dessert.
I can't claim any credit for this one; I first heard about it from a friend, and have seen some versions around the web (such as this excellent tutorial by Ree, http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/03/a-blast-from-the-past/ ). Still, I can say it's a great deal of fun, and works marvelously well as a surprise for dinner guests.
I can't claim any credit for this one; I first heard about it from a friend, and have seen some versions around the web (such as this excellent tutorial by Ree, http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/03/a-blast-from-the-past/ ). Still, I can say it's a great deal of fun, and works marvelously well as a surprise for dinner guests.
I ended up mixing and matching actual flower pots and handle-less teacups; until I started the project, I didn't realize just how many flowerpots of mine had drainage holes in the bottom, which did not seem particularly ice cream friendly. On the other hand, I discovered that this is an excellent way to get rid of extra cake scrids: jigsaw them together at the bottom of the pot. If it's chocolate cake, crumble it over the top for crumbs, too!
Thinking happy spring thoughts to everyone!
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