Speaking of Recipes...

For those of you who share a passion for baking – you know the worth of a great recipe. But for every great recipe, there are at least three bad ones. There is not much worse than a bad recipe.

Let me share with you a bad recipe:

            Jess is gone this weekend.

            5 catering orders are up this weekend.

Well so there it is, a recipe for disaster, but here I am writing about the success (mostly) of this weekend (this very long weekend).

Several weeks ago Susan called and asked about some cupcakes for her daughter’s Senior Piano Recital. She decided on 8 dozen minis in a variety of flavors: caramelized rum-pecan, red velvet, and our signature broadway brew. Well then Sherri called (we love Sherri around here!) and ordered a dozen cupcakes for a friend’s birthday: red velvet and almond joy. And then of course we still have to make all sorts of things for the shop – cupcakes, breakfast items, cookies, and more! We had more than enough on our plate – and it was just me!

Well Thursday came around (as it always does) and of course I had a chart. Jess came in (she was leaving that afternoon for her overdue vacation) and we turned into baking machines; we made icings for all of the cupcakes, cookies, muffins, and prepared all the dry ingredients in little bags so they would be ready to sift the next day (YES, we make all of our cupcake batters fresh, everytime we use them). I had called David and asked if Stacey could come in early to help and then I finally felt prepared. But then Bradley came in and added one more order to our “already crowded” Friday morning: cinnamon rolls and kolaches. Deep breaths, Alex.

Well Friday morning came (early, as usual), and I was ready to be a baking machine! Stacey came in and helped, and by 8:45am, when I had to leave for class, we had baked 8 dozen cupcakes (only 3 dozen red velvets to go), and filled two of the three orders for the day! Awesome. I went to class, learned about the French Revolution, and then came back to finish those cupcakes.

1 hour later, everything was done. I was exhausted (but felt like a cupcake dominator). As I was leaving, Norma came in and ordered a dozen Red Velvet cupcakes for an office meeting – due at 8am on Monday. Feeling on top of the world after the cupcake domination, I thought “no prob” and I left the shop and went to choir.

Both Susan and Sherri came and collected their cupcakes and by the way, Melanie's recital was INCREDIBLE! (The cupcakes didn't look to shabby either).

Then David texted me. We are catering breakfast for 20 and dessert for 20 on Monday at Wayland. (This is when I decided I was chaining Jess to the kitchen upon her getting back.) And, so, I made a chart: a variety of bacon cheddar biscuits, mini vanilla-almond scones, and mini blueberry muffins for breakfast, and sugar cookies, chocolate-chip cookies, coconut-pecan cookies, and crispies for dessert.

I got to the shop this morning at 5 45am and after getting everything out for the shop, I started on the breakfast catering order for Wayland. At 7 30, I sent David out the door with hot muffins, scones, and biscuits. Yum. Okay, deep breath. Now for the cupcakes… ACK it is already 7 30… thirty minutes.

I have never made cupcakes so quickly. At 8am Norma walked in and I was icing the last few. Fortunately she decided to get a few extras so I told her I would just deliver them to her office. At 8 15am I delivered the cupcakes and all was well.

I went to World Civilizations again, taught a Music Together class and went back to the shop to finish the order: cookies and crispies. Oh yeah, and make cupcakes for the shop. Well one hour later, everything was ready… I did it – although it would have been impossible without the "Brew Crew” helping me!

Long story short, I need Jess.

-alex