kolaches as big as your head

Good morning! I wish I could figure out how to turn the picture of the cake I posted so that it is right side up! I guess I better change it on the computer and repost--I don't know, not very tech savy! So, for getting a very late start yesterday, I ended up having a marvelously productive evening--lots to stuff into the case this morning and I am at 5 special orders for the week--hurray! My kolaches are huge this morning--lovely to see! I know they say size doesn't matter, but those seem to be people that don't measure up, if you know what I mean...heeheehee. I'm going to try and keep my momentum going today and get tons and tons done. It is such a busy weekend coming up and I don't want to miss anything or get too far behind. Oh, and did I already mention that the new almond puff loaf recipe is to die for?? Fantastic--I'm going to try it again and see about making it into individual pastries, though. I can't see why that wouldn't work--then I won't have to worry about cutting into them--or having someone else portion them or whatever--it will be done! The dough is too sticky for a mold, but if I draw out a templete on the parchment, fill it in, then go from there--I can control the portion from the pre-baked stage! Perfect! They sure do look nice--and my husband and I could not stop eating it! That's a good sign....late....I've got baked goods to sell......happy spring day!

suzy's sweets

what a beautiful spring day! so, took a big, ol' carrot cake over to the Bistro. Hope it sells--I sure think it looks good! It is actually a new recipe and very yummy! Silly me forgot to take a picture. I really need to get better about doing that...you eat with your eyes first! I also think I forgot to mention I found local eggs! They are gorgeous--big eggs, too. I would hate to meet some of those chickens in a dark alley--yikes! The yolks are such a pretty yellow--very exciting, at least for me! I hope to be able to afford local milk and cream someday, but it's a bit out of my range right now. I don't have any room for marking prices up that much to cover the cost. Sad, really. So, go Suzy's Sweets! I'm working on it! Oh, and I have a really interesting sounding recipe to try too, going to try and get to it today if possible--and almond puff loaf its called--I'll make sure and get a picture of that one!

ginormous cupcake

so made a very cool looking ginormous cupcake today--white cake, but then took pink, purple and white stripes of fondant along the bottom, sort of looked like the cupcake paper--then fluffy white frosting with pink, purple and white sprinkles--lovely! went along with "fancy nancy cookies" and petit fours of the same colors...a perfect little girl party, for sure! As soon as I figure out how to get pics posted, I'll do it! I am certainly keeping busy--it is that fine line...I could really use bigger equipment and help, but cannot quite afford it, but if I don't get that stuff soon I'll be in trouble! I won't be able to keep up--I'm barely hanging on as it is...and paperwork, I don't even want to talk about it! Yikes! Otherwise, I sure had fun doing the cake. I've got another one for next week, then a graduation cake coming up and a teddy bear bread order, too. Plus filling the case--all in all, plenty to do and keep me busy, for sure. One of these days I'll sit down and figure out how deeply in the hole I am and if I can ever get in the black--holy schmoly what a party!

what's the most popular

chocolate--but not just any chocolate. At first the brownies, and they still sell quite well, but if I embelish them at all, frosting, etc then they fly! Good to know. I tried some bigger, fancier cupcakes and we shall see what happens there--a beautiful red velvet with cream cheese icing, of course, german chocolate--delicious topping if I do say so myself! and coconut cream. They sure look good! The pecan rolls are still flying off the shelf, too--hooray! I'm very happy with the way they have been turning out. I think I'll do 2 sizes for the weekend. We'll see if the smaller ones sell, too. I got a lovely order from the PTO for the end-of-year celebration. I'll be making a big sugar cookie decorated for the 4.0 honors kids and the sheet cakes for the honors tea--hooray! And I have an order for a couple of graduation teddy bears, too. All good, for sure! And the baby has decided to sleep almost 2 nights in a row! Now if the laundry fairy would just swoop in and fold/put away/sort/continue washing life would be damn near perfect! (Except for the mounds of paperwork...yikes!)

getting over the hump

I need to get over the hump--sales have been quite steady and lovely, goodies looking marvelous, I love the way my kolache turned out this weekend and I have a cream cheese one to add to the mix that is heavenly! I want to really get a couple of big, yummy, exotic looking cakes in there and I just do not have enough time in the day! My poor house needs love, too! Today will be awesome though, the baby slept thru the night, which means Momma did, too! Amazing what 4-5 hours of sleep, IN A ROW, will do for someone's attitude! ha! Very busy with special orders today and I have somehow managed to run out of butter--darn the luck. This is what I mean by getting over the hump. Cash flow is still not optimum because I won't get paid for the case for about 9 more days. Whole Foods pays when they feel like it, as does the government! So, if I can just hold on for about 3 more weeks we should be in Fat City! WooooHoooo! Better go rally the troops--daylights upon us and its a school day! And it looks like some warm weather for a change, too....heaven!

now if I could just find a money tree

things are going great! Plenty of interest, some requests that so far I have been able to accomodate--although, getting some interest in desserts for people with diabetes and I have not really done too many of those recipes. I've got a book and I'm willing to learn, however! I taught a class at Whole Foods market the other day--ouch. A good size crowd, so lots of food needed and I did not plan my "stove space" wisely. It ran over about 1/2 an hour. They were all very gracious about it, to me at least! I guess we shall see if there are any complaints! I've got two more to teach yet in April and then 2 planned in May. They still owe me for one I taught in March--typical corporate stuff--take as long as they can to pay you...I'm out of ingredients, though, and if I do not get some money in the bank asap I'll be overdrawn as well. sigh. The health inspector stopped by and gave me a long list of things to do before he will approve my little shack--which means spending more money there as well. I am trying so hard not to be discouraged, but it is really getting tough! It doesn't help that the baby is sick--between a wicked cold and very ouchie teeth trying to come in, he is having a rough week, too--but that doesn't make it any easier on Mama! I've got some special orders for this weekend which is nice--that's a bonus! And a big catering order for the beginning of the week--hurrah! I did not hear anything back from 6 dozen cinn roll order, so perhaps they did not like my rolls--dunno. Okay, I've got to go wake kids up to get ready for school--make bakery deliveries and get busy creating! ha!

let the tweaking begin!

Cathy over at the Bistro sent a brief inventory over last night. As predicted, the pecan sticky rolls were the best seller. 9 out of the 12 I sent over sold. Hurray! I've changed up the way I am baking the cinnamon rolls, so we shall see if that helps them. Maybe even slather some icing over half. As always, more ideas than time! Yet, here I sit typing away--naughty! Helps align my thoughts a bit though. I'm taking in some decorated cupcakes this morning--I never got to a store that sells puff pastry--I think the fruit turnovers would do well. I'll have to make sure and have that for either this week/definitly by the weekend for sure. She is sold out of her stock, too, so scones away! And some muffins, probably, too. Gotta get some more yogurt for my muffins--the kids love it and eat it all gone! I've contacted Mike Patrick, bread baker extraordinaire, to seek advice and help on equipment needs, etc. I sure wish I could afford him and all the stuff he needs. That man can make some serious bread! Its amazing! His chocolate cherry bread--to die for! Hopefully he will teach me something before he moves away--or he will change his mind and not move away! Okay, too the bake cave, Robin!

slower start

well, it was certainly a slower start then I originally envisioned! I could not get as big a variety done as I wanted. Getting there, though. If I could get the baby to cooperate and be put down every now and then for oh, I don't know, 5 minutes in a row! I would have a better shot at getting something done. Good comments on the items I've managed to get complete, though! Chin up, it's bound to get easier! I am even almost caught up on housework--now if I could just force myself to get some paperwork done! Blech--hate it!

what a lovely week!

so, my sales calls are paying off, for sure! Very exciting--I am preparing for my debut at the Bistro on Friday morning--hoping for about 12 different types of things--maybe more with cookies thrown in there. Then the Beanery called about some muffins and biscotti. Although, my biscotti is going to be a tough sell. It is so work intensive--and different then the packaged kind most people are used to! We will just have to see what we will see--all they can do is taste it and say no! Then, the truck stop called--I hadn't talked to them in at least a month and he needed some cinnamon rolls for today--6 dozen--hurray! Plus I have some cookies to bake for a parents' meeting at the elementary school--I'm donating those. Cathy has been kind enough to hook me up with her supplier--I will check out their prices and hopefully get a handle on my ingredients. It will be easier to inventory and keep stock when I have a better idea of what will sell in the case. I can't wait to see it! I'll take lots of pictures--should I lead with some ginormous cupcakes? They are just so impressive! I want to make some princess cakes, too. That will have to be later, though. They are rather expensive to make. Maybe a triple layer chocolate cake for the weekend crowd. You never know! How could I have that portioned? I will just have to mark slices, I guess. Okay, better get one or two things done before the gang wakes up!