How to attend West Point training and learn West Point production in West Point Teacher Training School? Here are some suggestions from Bian Xiao for baking enthusiasts:
1. Master four key aspects of West Point training and learning.
In West Point Training School, observing the teacher's demonstration operation is the first, and the knowledge of ingredient formula is the second (although very important). The teacher must observe carefully when explaining the demonstration, take notes, master the production process and essentials, and make a video if possible to facilitate repeated observation in the future.
The making of West Point generally includes the preparation of dough ingredients, dough forming, dough ripening and other stages. Some are basically manual operations, such as dough shaping and decoration, and some need to use equipment (such as mixers, proofing boxes, ovens).
(1) Manual operation
This is the most important, mainly manual mixing, dough processing and molding (including mold molding), decoration and decoration.
A dough mixing operation, the teacher shows you, it only takes a few minutes, you basically know how to do it and can master the essentials; If you study by yourself, you may have to look at many sub-pictures and spend a long time studying. It's scary enough to explain a dough mixing operation with more than 50 pictures in a bread baking textbook. Since you spend money to study at school, you should firmly seize this opportunity of hands-on teaching.
There are many basic techniques of kneading dough, such as folding, pushing and kneading, copying and stirring. There are many processing methods of dough, such as rolling, cutting, kneading, cutting, pressing, rolling, folding, kneading, rounding, dividing, filling and so on.
How is the dough of French muffins made?
How is a pumpkin pie shaped with a pie mold?
How is a woven bread turned over, divided into pieces, rounded, rolled, rolled, twisted and woven?
How is a curry beef horn oiled, rolled and folded?
Wait, wait, etc., are the focus of observation. Each operation method has many details, and the teacher will show you the correct way and explain the typical mistakes that should be avoided. Everyone should take notes and remember them firmly, so that you will take fewer detours in the process of learning to make West Point.
Through the primary and intermediate West Point training, you can master the operation of nearly seventy or eighty typical West Point varieties, and it is no stranger to get other people's recipes in the future.
(2) the use of equipment
For example, when mixing dough batter with a blender, we should carefully observe the order of feeding, the control of water temperature and oil temperature, the control of mixing speed and the control of mixing time;
For example, temperature, humidity and proofing time are the most important factors in proofing bread dough with proofing box. For example, when baking dough in an oven, the most important thing is to control the temperature and time of the oven.
Of course, there are many details, which all depend on your careful observation and careful listening.
(3) Completion criteria of each operation
For example, what kind of dough is made of, what is the standard of success in dough making, and what is the quality standard of success in bread making. It is very important to know the completion criteria of each operation. Only by knowing the standards can we know what are the shortcomings of our operation and how to improve it. Some people make soft bread that looks good on the surface. In fact, there are many problems, such as not soft enough, rough texture, big holes in it and so on. He feels good about himself and doesn't consider improvement. How can he make progress?
(4) Listen carefully to the teacher's comments (including comments on others)
When studying at West Point, you should be a teacher's demonstration variety show on the spot, and the teacher will guide you. After the finished product is finished, the teachers will analyze the pros and cons for you. Compared with self-learning West Point at home, learning West Point production at school has an obvious advantage: it can solve many problems at once, so we must seize the opportunity. Because it is a collective study, when doing a variety show, everyone may encounter different problems, so there will be many problems. For example, when making Qifeng cake, some people have the problem of sinking after baking, some people have the problem of big bubbles, and some people have the problem of too thick skin. The teacher will explain it to you at one time. If you teach yourself, you may not encounter so many problems in your life if you practice one less variety; And every time you do this variety show, there may be different problems (which may make you flinch); Every time I encounter a problem, I have to turn to the books to find the reasons and solutions, which is more than studying at school.
Therefore, when teachers give guidance and comments, please listen carefully, including comments on other people's finished products. It is best to write down all common problems and solutions, which are very practical experiences; Try to avoid these mistakes when making west point in the future; You don't have to make mistakes every time to know what to do. Learn from other people's mistakes, and I believe your study at West Point Military Academy will be smoother and smoother.
2. How to practice making West Point?
(1) The making of West Point can only be mastered through repeated practice. I believe everyone knows this, so I don't need to elaborate. How can someone not make a variety for ten and a half months and want to improve their baking level quickly?
(2) Through practice, we should know how to find our own shortcomings, and then correct them before we can make continuous progress. It is suggested to write down all the problems encountered. Even if baking master made mistakes, they became baking master in this way.
Why do I always get along with each other?
Why can't my dough be round?
Why is it difficult to shape the dough I stir?
Why is my bread ugly in color, too big, rough in taste and so many holes?
Why do I cook cookies well at school, but when I cook them at home, the color is uneven and the outside is burnt and the inside is raw?
These problems, some of which are ingredients, some are equipment and some are operational problems, can only be found and solved through their own continuous actual production. In the process of solving problems, you will unconsciously learn a lot of knowledge and practical skills of West Point formula ingredients by asking teachers or looking for information on the Internet by reading books, and gradually become a baking master. That's why Bian Xiao advocated focusing on learning basic operation methods first, instead of focusing on formulas from the beginning.
(3) The varieties to be practiced are not limited to those taught by the school, and you can also find recipes from other sources yourself (it is best to find classic recipes from baking master, and don't just find some recipes. It's hard to find the cause of the production problem, because you can't figure out whether it's the recipe itself or your own operation), or you can change the recipe yourself (this official WeChat account (West Point Training Knowledge Extension) has a lot of West Point recipes). In this way, not only will your operation become more and more skilled, but your knowledge of raw materials, formulas and equipment will also become more and more abundant, and you will gradually become a master. You can write your own recipes and design and make your own West Point.
3. Communicate more and ask questions frequently.
(1) If you are not afraid to show your products to others, let some people taste and comment. The reason for showing it to people is to find problems, find solutions, or find advantages and carry them forward in the future; The reason why we want more people to comment is to try to hear comprehensive and pertinent suggestions. It is possible that you did it yourself, because only one person has tasted it, and he has some taste preferences and will say that you did it badly.
(2) Since I have studied in the training school and there are so many teachers and classmates to communicate with, I should make good use of them and ask more questions. The ancients said, "Listening to your words is better than reading for ten years". Although it is not so exaggerated, sometimes there is something wrong with the production of West Point. I have been thinking hard for a long time and I can't find the reason. Maybe my classmate's words will enlighten you.
4. Read more books and professional websites.
I won't explain this point. Books, websites and apps are not recommended. I have searched a lot of recommended articles on the internet, and I suggest reading more classic works of masters.
The above is my humble opinion on baking enthusiasts learning to make West Point, hoping to help you learn to make West Point.