Fearless

There's a Christian pop song I've had stuck in my head all week called "Fearless" by Jasmine Murray. It says "everything I've been fighting against/ I'm gonna lift it up/ I wanna be fearless". It reminds me to lift up all the things that have been getting in my way, all the struggles, all the doubts, all the people, all the things that happen in life. Lift them up to God and take them off of my shoulders so I can let go and be FEARLESS - it makes for a much lighter and nicer walk with God.

Today I wanted to take that fearlessness and apply it to my baking. I made a banana bread, but I didn't want to make the same one I always make by Chef In Training (which is by far one of the best recipes). I wanted to do something a bit different by substituting ingredients; some because it was fun, some because I didn't have an ingredient on hand. I ended up making Blueberry Almond Protein Wheat Banana Bread. The name is very long, but I like people to know what's in it. Thankfully I have patient friends.. and I also just tell everyone "Banana Bread" haha. The ingredients below are from the original recipe and in parenthesis are the substitutions I made.

-2 eggs
-1/3 cup buttermilk (whole milk)
-1/2 cup vegetable oil (organic extra virgin olive oil)
-1 cup mashed bananas
-1 cup white sugar (white sugar flavored with a vanilla bean I had sitting in with the sugar)
-1/2 cup brown sugar
-1 tsp vanilla
-1 3/4 cup flour (1 cup local whole wheat flour, 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder)
-1 tsp baking soda
-1/2 tsp salt

(I also added 1/2 cup or so of thawed frozen blueberries and 1/4 cup or so of sliced almonds, and baked the bread in a 9x9 ceramic dish)

Yes, all plates float above the table when they are photographed outside with delicious food on top

Not too many substitutions, just using what I had on hand and adding my own flair to it. My main goal for this bread was to test out protein powder in place of regular flour. It turned out well, albeit a bit crispy on top. The protein powder was subbed for the same ratio of flour although I think I should be able to use a little more protein powder next time like a 1.5:1 ratio perhaps. I didn't think it would mess up, I just mixed it up as the directions said, poured it in the pan and chose a cooking time to start with (25 minutes first, then another 20... should have been another 15-17). I wasn't nervous, probably because I had made the original recipe a few times. I was able to let go and just test the recipe. I was able to be fearless. This is what I need to do when trying completely new recipes so that I can be ok if something doesn't turn out quite how I wanted it to/or thought it would. Perfectionist here!

Unfortunately, the éclairs I made two weeks ago did not come out exactly as planned. After researching multiple recipes, going to bakeries, and watching endless YouTube videos... ok, one video a bunch of times in a row... the custard filling was a bit stiff and the actual dough was too small/flat to fit the filling all the way through. But I just went for it. I did it. I took all my fears and lifted them up to God so that I could just work and make the éclairs. Next time I'll make the dough larger and let it cool in the oven with the heat off. I'll also not cook the custard so long. At least all of the parts (dough, custard, and topping) tasted great!

This week I am working with yeast for the first time (second if you count my attempt at brioche dough-not even gonna go there). I am making a classic German dish called Bienenstich for a very wonderful German couple, Herman and Elke, that are Millstone regulars. They make it fun to work there as they are very appreciative and very honest with their feedback. Hopefully I will be FEARLESS and it will go well.

Stay tuned and Happy Baking!

Stepping into Your Destiny

Although I originally started this blog to share travel and baking, I feel as if it can also be used to share things for you soul.. hopefully! I've been impacted a lot recently with the leadership around me and I can't hold in all this fun info. So for you all I shall make a shift into adding another element as the inspiration comes to me. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts.

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Thinking about your destiny for your life on Earth can be both hopeful and completely terrifying. How do you get there? Where do you start? What do you even want? The scene from the movie The Notebook immediately comes to mind as Noah shouts "WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

At Freedom House Church this past weekend, Pastor Joel Johnson spoke about the steps to take to get to your destiny and it really stuck out to me. They were so easy, but the world distracts us and can ultimately keep us stuck in one of those steps. Never moving. Never climbing. Just trying to hold on.

In my room growing up, there was a quote that I can still recite, but until today had forgotten existed. It's simple, yet so powerful and I'm sure pushed my subconscious to help me succeed after memorizing  the words that hung on my wall everyday. Dad, do you remember??

"The higher the goal, the harder the climb, but taken each day, one step at a time. The goal is accomplished, the dream is attained, and the prizes? The wisdom and strength that are gained."

I think the biggest thing from that quote is taking one day at a time, one step at a time. The following steps are that path you will take, knowingly or not, to your destiny.

1. Thoughts - here is where you answer the "what do you want?". Spend some time really thinking about this like your bucket list mentioned before. What is your new standard? What do you want to leave as your legacy in this world?

2. Actions - what steps are you taking to make your thoughts a reality? Are you taking one step at a time daily??

2.5 Hactions - that path in between Action and Habits.. you literally have to hack your way through your old habits to break them. This is the part where you can get stuck if you aren't truly committed to your destiny. It's not easy. You will fall down. But being CONSISTENT will help you rise up and push forward!

3. Habits - this is where you have made your actions not just a fluke thing, but a regular step in your daily life. People that know you intimately (or maybe not just intimately depending on your destiny) have seen the change, have watched you grow, and have been able to say "yes" when asked if you are keeping up with your beginning actions. Our habits ultimately determine our character, so what are you saying to others about yours?

4. Lifestyle - now phrased "about that life" or "#aboutthatlife" on social media, it means making your habits strong enough to combine different facets of your life (i.e., work, nutrition, friends, fun activities, etc.) so that they are all traveling towards your destiny. Have you been able to make the combo happen? What's holding you back?

5. Destiny - when you've made it. You've thought about what you want, you have taken the actions to get you started, you've formed the habits to stay consistent, and you've made it into your lifestyle everyday with what surrounds you.

It doesn't just end when "you've made it". A true destiny, grows, evolves, and changes into a bigger and bigger purpose over time. Are you using your time to push through the steps or are you just settling for one of them because you are tired?? Maybe get a little sleep, rest up, and then let's GO!

I have become pretty efficient and comfortable in my role as the head (and only) baker at Millstone. I know what needs to get done and I take care of it to make sure we have what our customers want. I have reached the space between settling and excelling. I choose now to excel by getting some new recipes and trying them out. I know that failure is in the future. Recipes won't come out right. I will burn things.. again. I will accidentally drop something.. again. But guess what? That's how you become great! And that's my goal this week towards my bakery destiny that I have chosen to pursue. We shall see what God says about that along the way, of course.

I will let you all ponder over this a while as I set out to read all my recipe books (where do I even start??).

Happy Baking!

Adventures with Baker Ashley

Experience. That's what I am currently in the midst of at work - where I get to BAKE FOR A LIVING! I don't tell people this to say "Look how cool I am". I tell people because I'm just so excited and I would love for them to come by and grab a baked good. Working for an established restaurant has definitely helped people know where I work and what I am capable of baking, and this is all before they have actually tasted what I've baked on my own.

Sometimes, I think we as people forget that we have the opportunity at work to be happy, to learn new things, to succeed when we try those new things, and most of all to control our attitude. I believe that attitude is the one thing that we can control when so many other things are out of our control. This strongly applies when we are working for someone else and in a kitchen that is split with the restaurant side (which is why we import croissants and pastry dough, not enough space!)

This past week, I have had to take my love for baking and use that to fuel my attitude and what I give to others. I can no longer be negatively affected by others. It's a daily choice to be happy, some days being easier than others.

Over the weekend, I went to a Wellness Expo at my gym, Kadi Fit, and the motivational speaker really touched on this topic. He used a tv remote control as an analogy for your life. I actually took notes and wanted to share the breakdown of how easy it is to just say yes to being happy and taking your life where you want it to go. There are a few buttons on the remote control that apply directly to our lives.

Power button - First thing to do is TURN IT ON! Have you turned your life on? Are you starting with the one thing that will take you where you want to go and putting both feet in?

Channel button - there will be different stations (seasons, times) in your life. What station are you on right now? Have you pressed the up or down button to get to that next station?

Guide button - this is the circle of influence in your life. Who have you surrounded yourself with? Do you need to let some of these people go? Or are you adding more and more people to your circle who inspire you to get better or do more?

Volume button - the intensity of what you are doing. How high is your intensity when you are working toward your goals? My Commit 30 planner uses this button well. You have to set your goals for the month and at the end of the month you have to rate your efforts towards achieving your goals.

Mute button - shutting out the negativity. Are you listening to people's doubts about you and what you're capable of? Or are you reversing what people say and turning it into something positive? You don't need to prove anything to them. It's for you. It's to prove to yourself that "yes you can do that!"

You are in control of what you want out of your life. So what is it that you want? The speaker ended with us saying out loud "I will grind till it's mine". He needs to brand that immediately.

I want to open my own bakery. That's the only thing on my bucket list. That's it. Travel is amazing, but if I open my bakery and never see Australia or Seattle, I will still be loving life! I will still be loving my Kadi Life (Kadi Fit's new brand that is bringing more to the table than just working out, it's a lifestyle of health, wellness, and community collaboration).

Hopefully this is useful for your life goals as well. Hopefully this will get you off your couch or out of your bed wanting to do and be more. It doesn't even take a lot. The beautiful NC weather, albeit a bit chilly today, is really helping me to get up and move on my days off.

Now that you just can't wait for this to be over because you want to get up and go, I'll show you some baked goods. Maybe you can go bake.. or eat something now.

Croissants

Breakfast biscuits made from scratch

Almond, Cinnamon, and Pecan Rolls

Sara Hord (chef and owner of Millstone) and I baking away and sipping on some Cremant

Ginger Apple Cranberry Tarts produced by drinking Cremant.. or by pure talent?

I have been using my Instagram account (@ashlauren225) to post stories daily about baking and Kadi Fit on the go. It's been an interesting process, but I believe social media is a great resource to promoting your business and brand

Now you can go and do😊 Happy Baking!

No Broken Hearts

Valentines Day weekend has every couple in love roaring for a new something to give, receive, or go do. It doesn't have to be that complicated though if you love the other person every day. Or if you eat baked goods 😉Here are some of the things I baked up for the day of love

Valentine's Heart Sugar Cookies

Apple Heart Tarts

 Blood Orange Black and White Cake

 Apple Butterscotch Heart Hand Pie

 Almond Meringue Cookies*

*These actually did not come out looking like this, but you live and you learn

Happy Baking!

Countdown to 30

Today is the official start to my "Countdown to 30" I turn 30 in exactly 8 weeks. I know that it's not just a "coincidence" that I picked up my Commit30 planner and decided to see how many days I have left in my 20's. It was the ONE choice I made today to push through and succeed at achieving my goals this month.

Each day is a learning experience; for faith, emotions, relationships, trust, and creativity. I have committed this month to 10 posts on my blog and to take pictures of all the new things I bake (which leads me to my next update). I have received one of the best opportunities where my passion and career can be combined - I am officially the head baker at Millstone Bake House in Davidson, NC.

Unbelievable in the most exciting way! I fell to my knees when my manager told me about my next steps with Millstone. I had 3 days of training and now I run the bakery. God is GOOD! There is one verse that has stuck with me for a few years now after a friend gave it to me in a small frame, which now sits on my bedside table. Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." This is it. This is the beginning of my future as a baker. No one person knew how this opportunity would come about, but God did and I am so THANKFUL! I was baptized as an adult on November 6, 2016 and have been trying to live out God's plan for me each day. I am not perfect and will never claim to be. I have made mistakes and am still trying to break habits instilled in me for the last 29 years. This is why it has been a learning experience EVERYDAY! I am in an entirely different environment of people, workspace, and expectations, but I know I will succeed.

Now back to the baked goods... The photo above features my very happy face as this was the very first sale of any of my baked goods. It was a slice of coffee cake that I originally made as a simple taste test, but it turned out to be a hit. Below are a few things that I have made over the past 6 months and at Millstone. Most of the photos are simple snapshots. As my baked goods progress, so shall my photography skills. You are always welcome to visit Millstone for a live view and taste of our many pastries.

HAPPY BAKING!

Blueberry Wheat Banana Bread

 Cranberry Vanilla Bean Scones

 Red Velvet Cake with Chocolate Ganache Buttercream

 

Cherry Tarts just going into the oven

 Breakfast Biscuits

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

 Meyer Lemon Blueberry Scones

 Almond Rolls

 Meyer Lemon Curd with housemade Whipped Cream and Meyer Lemon Meltaway Cookies

 Coconut Cake

Blood Orange Curd Cake with a  Meyer Lemon Curd drizzle

 Cranberry Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

 Banana Bread

 Chocolate-Seasame Tarte Soleil