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Post by johnw on Dec 3, 2018 15:17:17 GMT -5
A while ago I got an interest in collecting specimens that looked like pastry's. My main focus was on Laguna Lace Agate Rough since they offered some really spectacular imagery that really, at least to me, looked like pastry's I used to get as a kid. I have floated some examples in the "Welcome to my Zoo' thread and also in some of my "What do you see in a stone" posts, but now I will put them all in one place for our RTH members to see...and drool. I have taken the liberty to describe what I see as if I was a pastry chef in " The Big Crazy's Pastry Shop" and ask for you to respectfully, "suspend your belief system" for a short period of time and see pastry's, not rocks. Just a cautionary note, please do not try and eat these pastry's since they are over 65 million years old and will decidedly make a mess of your teeth. A friend of mine tried and this is what happened to him:  You have been warned... Now here are the pastry's from The Big Crazy's Pastry Shop. This is our specialty of the house, a Danish. It comes with a date and custard filling with streaks of raspberry sauce topped with a mixed fruit compote covered in honey glaze and icing sugar. Weight is 4.2# and measures 6"x5"x3" 
The next item is our signature deep dish pastry. Plum and mashed date base, topped with thin layers of custard and raspbery stripes, layered with marsh mellow balls, pears, peaches, apples and cherry's, covered with a honey glaze and a sprinkle of icing sugar
Weight is 4# and measures 5"x3"x4"
Next is a crushed nut and custard slice filled with berries, layers of cream and mango, topped with blackberry puree and icing sugar
Weight is 4#-4oz measures 7"x5"x1.5"
 Here is a sample of our baked Alaska offerings: Ice Cream infused with strawberry and topped with meringue, and oven glazed. Weight is 4#-5 oz measures 7"x 6"x 4.75"  We offer a variety of Apple Flans and Cream Cakes that will be discussed in our next segment...............  Cheers, johnw |
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Post by fernwood on Dec 4, 2018 7:17:30 GMT -5
Great looking pastry's. Do you have any offerings with raspberries, black raspberries (aka black caps), black berries or blueberries? Those are my favorite berries.
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Post by MsAli on Dec 4, 2018 10:36:55 GMT -5
I love the baked Alaska!
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Post by miket on Dec 4, 2018 10:53:13 GMT -5
All look delicious!
You picked a great specimen to collect, those lace agates are nuts
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Post by johnw on Dec 4, 2018 12:05:42 GMT -5
Great looking pastry's. Do you have any offerings with raspberries, black raspberries (aka black caps), black berries or blueberries? Those are my favorite berries. I am glad you like what The Big Crazy's Pastry Shop has in its display cases. The specific fillings and toppings delights you are asking for are in the oven as we speak. They will be out shortly. As matter of fact we have one that just matches the request and coincidently its called "The "Fernwood" Special.............Understand now it was just a coincidence we picked that name for the pastry.     Cheers, johnw |
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Post by Pat on Dec 4, 2018 12:12:06 GMT -5
Yummmmmmm..,, š
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Post by johnw on Dec 4, 2018 12:15:10 GMT -5
All look delicious! You picked a great specimen to collect, those lace agates are nuts Thank you miket you are absolutely correct, Lace is, in and of itself, mind blowing and to me, is really a wonder of creation. Errr, hmm, well, with respect Sir, I have been advised by the Sentient Being cookers at "The Big Crazy's Pastry Shop" to inform you they do offer just more than nuts.  Cheers, johnw |
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Post by johnw on Dec 4, 2018 12:18:24 GMT -5
alikat218....It does look delicious, but I must warn you, another one of my friends called George tried to swipe a bite and wound up looking like this. The sad thing is he has no insurance.............. you really gotta feel for the guy.  Cheers, johnw 
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Post by johnw on Dec 4, 2018 12:27:44 GMT -5
Hi Pat, what is your favorite pastry, maybe we have one on the menu..........  Cheers, johnw |
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Post by Pat on Dec 4, 2018 13:15:11 GMT -5
Several! Key Lime pie, cheesecake... Iām sure there are more. š
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Post by rockpickerforever on Dec 4, 2018 13:47:59 GMT -5
In the interest of sharing, how would you like a nice slice of blue pudding pie? (No idea what flavor it really is, did not taste it!) 
Entered this in the Ugly rock contest (embellished category) at the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society's Annual BBQ and Silent Auction in May of 2015. Won the contest, I did.
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Post by johnw on Dec 4, 2018 14:30:53 GMT -5
In the interest of sharing, how would you like a nice slice of blue pudding pie? (No idea what flavor it really is, did not taste it!)
Entered this in the Ugly rock contest (embellished category) at the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society's Annual BBQ and Silent Auction in May of 2015. Won the contest, I did.
Now that's what I'm talkin' about, that magnificent specimen looks so good I could sink my teeth into it. Congrats. for an outstanding job, rockpickerforever. Now, to the $65 million dollar question, the cherry and cream: "real or unreal?" BTW, I like the plate. Cheers, johnw |
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Post by johnw on Dec 4, 2018 14:37:48 GMT -5
Several! Key Lime pie, cheesecake... Iām sure there are more. š Pat, I am checking with the cookers now but Key Lime Pie will be a tad difficult. I have never seen any '"green" in Laguna lace. As to Cheesecake, now ya talkin' I have placed your order but be patient, it takes 65 million years to cook.  Cheers, johnw |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Dec 4, 2018 14:49:48 GMT -5
In the interest of sharing, how would you like a nice slice of blue pudding pie? (No idea what flavor it really is, did not taste it!)
Entered this in the Ugly rock contest (embellished category) at the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society's Annual BBQ and Silent Auction in May of 2015. Won the contest, I did.
Now that's what I'm talkin' about, that magnificent specimen looks so good I could sink my teeth into it. Congrats. for an outstanding job, rockpickerforever. Now, to the $65 million dollar question, the cherry and cream: "real or unreal?" BTW, I like the plate. Cheers, johnw
The cherry and cream are real. You are allowed to add "embellishments" to rocks in this category. There are two other categories - "ugly" (self explanatory) and "mimic" - looks like. Hey, right up your alley! Over the years, we usually win in at least one category. I have photos of past entries, will have to locate and upload them.
BTW, the plate is Pfaltzgraff stoneware. I used to pick these (plates, bowls, etc) up at the thrift stores. Still have them, but have put most away, all but the big platter. They are heavy! A complete set must weigh many pounds, was afraid they would pull my cabinet down from the wall! Using lighter Corelle dishes now.
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Post by johnw on Dec 4, 2018 15:02:07 GMT -5
Shops open, this is a bit of a change from the regular segment since we got a special request from "fernwood". The Sentient Being cookers were delighted to accommodate the request and came up with two offerings here they be: This first one is a layered pastry, covered in black chopped cherry's, black berries, at the front, and covered with a puree of black-current sauce. The filling consists of cream, a berry sauce over a thin layer of custard with a sponge cake base. This is called the "Fernwood" Special.  All Big Crazy'x Pastry's are generally fist size. This one weighs in at 1 pound, and measures 4"x 4"x 2" This second creation is a fruit and berry's wrap, being that the berries, mixed fruit, custard, whipped cream, raspberry and toffee stripe have all been rolled up in the pastry. It is topped with a toffee and meringue layer. 
This weighs in at 1 pound 10 ounces and measures 4"x4"x3"
Here is a close up of the berries and fruit.
 Definitely fruit on the bottom, chopped apples and pears, and a cherry on the left. Mixed berry's in the middle and it looks like a blackberry on the right with a vanilla and strawberry layer. Not quite sure what it would be called other than a "Fruit Wrap." Dang, I shoulda been a chef, err, pastry chef. Cheers, johnw |
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Post by johnw on Dec 4, 2018 15:57:58 GMT -5
Several! Key Lime pie, cheesecake... Iām sure there are more. š Pat, I am checking with the cookers now but Key Lime Pie will be a tad difficult. I have never seen any '"green" in Laguna lace. As to Cheesecake, now ya talkin'  I have placed your order but be patient, it takes 65 million years to cook. Cheers, johnw Hi Pat, me again, I am wondering if Tommy has a favorite pastry? Wouldn't that be a hoot if I could pull that one off?......  Cheers, johnw |
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Post by fernwood on Dec 4, 2018 16:09:00 GMT -5
OMG Love them. How did the bakers know I also love currants?
@rockpickforever I love your piece of pie. Can see why you won the contest.
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Post by johnw on Dec 4, 2018 16:10:32 GMT -5
Now that's what I'm talkin' about, that magnificent specimen looks so good I could sink my teeth into it. Congrats. for an outstanding job, rockpickerforever. Now, to the $65 million dollar question, the cherry and cream: "real or unreal?" BTW, I like the plate. Cheers, johnw
The cherry and cream are real. You are allowed to add "embellishments" to rocks in this category. There are two other categories - "ugly" (self explanatory) and "mimic" - looks like. Hey, right up your alley! Over the years, we usually win in at least one category. I have photos of past entries, will have to locate and upload them.
BTW, the plate is Pfaltzgraff stoneware. I used to pick these (plates, bowls, etc) up at the thrift stores. Still have them, but have put most away, all but the big platter. They are heavy! A complete set must weigh many pounds, was afraid they would pull my cabinet down from the wall! Using lighter Corelle dishes now.
Pat, let's see those goodies you are talking about. Cheers, johnw |
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Post by johnw on Dec 5, 2018 0:20:34 GMT -5
Shop's open .... The Big Crazy's Pastry Shop offers two apple flan pastry's. Here is the traditional baked apple flan with a honey glazed topping. Apple slices are bedded on crushed almonds.  This piece weighs 4 pounds 3 ounces and measures 6"x 5"x 3.5" A close up of the apple slices and honey glaze. Be careful, some honey is starting to drip.  The second offering is folded and shaped more like a taco but has plenty of apples inside and outside the pastry. It was baked and then covered with icing sprinkles. Here you are, fresh out of the oven........it's hot.  This one weighs 3 pounds and measures 5.5"x 3.5"x 4" The Big Crazy's Pastry Shop cookers want me to remind you to get your Plum and Fruit Puddings for the Holidays. 
Weighs in at 4 pounds 8 oz and measures 6''x 5''x 4.5"
TBC............Cheers, johnw 
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Post by fernwood on Dec 5, 2018 5:44:02 GMT -5
The first offering for me is wonderful combinations that tantalized all of the senses. The blend of the cherries, currants and blackberries created an overwhelming smell that invited the taste buds to take action.
Upon engagement the taste buds were not disappointed. They all agreed that this is a pastry to indulge in slowly, to fully appreciate the intricate blend of flavors. They also appreciated the delicate blend of nutmeg and paprika in the cake layers was a wonderful surprise. This blended layer can be seen in the photo. The addition of paprika to a berry pastry is an art, which must be carefully done to prevent overpowering the other flavors. There may also be a hint of powdered peppers. Maybe a smoked variety, as there was a hint of smokiness. This added to the overall appeal.
Will be recommending The Big Crazy's Pastry Shop to all my friends who appreciate the finer things in life.
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Cheers, johnw
Cheers, johnw
Cheers, johnw
I have placed your order but be patient, it takes 65 million years to cook. 
Cheers, johnw
