Sarah’s Creative Journey

This past year I have started doing some experimental baking. I was passed a sourdough starter and made a few sourdough breads or pancakes. We got store bought phyllo dough and made spanakopita and baklava (and even inspired my mom to make baklava too). I made my first stromboli from scratch. I made a pumpkin roll . I made mocha meringue cookies. And I made a few different scones and muffins! (Only have picture links to 2 of these sadly). Plus, this Christmas I received a Harry Potter and Mary Berry cookbook, so the British inspiration has taken over some. Thinking of trying some tarts this summer, and maybe even homemade poptarts too. Yet another continuous and ongoing goal of living a creative life! :)

As I had mentioned in a previous post, I think I am at the peak of making latte art on a fully automatic machine. I still have a ways to go in general, but don't think it will be ending here. It has been so long and fairly consistent that I haven't even taken pictures or posted in a few months, and before that, almost a full year ago! But here are some of my best recorded ones.  So far, I have been about 90% self taught on milk foam consistency and how to move the milk pitcher to make latte art. There are youtube videos on almost everything. So between those, some Skillshare tips, and even a few books, that is where I have acquired most of my coffee knowledge!  The other 10% has been either through work or Crimson Cup.  While I feel pretty good about getting to where I am now with this goal, it is always an ongoing thing that can slowly fade if the technique is not continually practiced. I'm hoping that my coffee journey doesn't end soon so I can continue up-in

Since last year, I have "completed" a few more goals! When I say "completed," some of these are and will be ongoing. So for example, I feel that on the fully automatic espresso machine at work I have gotten as consistent as possible in making latte art (when I have the time to slow down for just a bit). I've also learned that the milk temperature and different brands of milk (between dairy or non dairy) will steam and froth a bit differently.  Check my instagram for latte art pictures! I have baked multiple "fancy" things (some of which will be in an upcoming post), such as stromboli, sourdough pancakes and friendship bread, spanakopita, baklava, mocha meringue cookies, and more! Plus, Tim and his family got me a Mary Berry and Harry Potter recipe book for Christmas. So bring on the British desserts (and other savory fare) as well! We have not gotten tickets to a music festival (some are just expensive, especially if you only know/want to see 1 o

This goal was fairly easy considering there are many wineries, distilleries, breweries, and even meaderies popping up everywhere.  Because of this we have already done quite a few tours. The first two we ended up going to were Camelot Cellars in Columbus, and Raleigh Rum Company in Raleigh. Camelot Cellars  was unique considering it wasn't actually that big. They have a small area to make a decent supply of wine, as well as a small working area for bottling and labeling. A cool tidbit to this winery is that they will let you go and make your own batch of wine and even make your own label for it! Raleigh Rum Company  was also a unique place to visit because they are located in a rented garage type space. Still a pretty small company, so they are mostly serving and distributing locally. As they grow, they are looking in to other state requirements to be able to ship their liquor. They are only making rum for now, but did hire out another person to incorporate a family amaretto