Pumpkin and Spice

Wanna guess what I did at work today?...

If you guessed "rolled pie crusts", then you'd be right!

I arrived at work, and after filling my travel mug with water and a packet of Emergen-C, I scoped out the day's task list. Since "roll brisee", "roll cheddar crust" and "roll ginger crust" were all on the list, I decided to get goin' on that. I started with the pate brisee (fancy pastry chef talk for plain ol' pie dough) and started rolling. And once I used all the brisee, I rolled the cheddar crust (for apple pie with Vermont cheddar.) And once I rolled the cheddar crust, I rolled the gingersnap crust (for pumpkin pie with gingersnap crust.) And by the time I finished the gingersnap, there was more pate brisee to roll. I lost track of how manyexactly, but I know I rolled at least 50 crusts.

Not that I really minded. Honestly, once I started rolling crusts,  I got into a groove... It was almost meditative, and a little soothing. Sprinkle flour, shape dough, roll, roll, roll, press into pan, trim, fold over edges, pinch, pinch, pinch. Repeat. My chef (Debbie) offered to take over for me if I got tired, but I was in pie crust mode and just kept at it. Meanwhile, Debbie and the other girl (Shelly) in the bakery made all of the fillings for our pies.

Tomorrow, Sissy, Debbie, another baker and I will be dishing filling into my pie crusts, and baking the pies so they are fresh out of the oven for people to pick up tomorrow. We're making pumpkin (with brisee or gingersnap crust), pecan, sweet potato pecan, white chocolate banana cream, French silk and apple with cheddar. I know, yum, right? People have pick up times starting at 10am, so we have an early morning!

I also found out that we get an corporate discount at a local gym, so I think I'm going to join up. I need a more regimented approach to my fitness routine if I want to really get into shape and lose this pastry weight. To make things even easier, if I take the right bus, the gym's on the route home!

Now, I've got to get to bed! I've gotta wake up early to make pies!