Sunday, November 24, 2013

Thanksgiving week! I think both Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays have snuck up on us. I have had some little success with my online Bakeshop. It seems most people are thinking about Christmas delivery but unless you get the word out, no one will think about asking you for cookies or anything else for that matter.

I did take a catering job that involves cooking a Holiday dinner on December 20 for one of the girls I work with at GIC. She and her girlfriends have gotten together for years apparently, for a holiday dinner with just them, no husbands or children. This year they elected to ask me to cook. I'll talk to Anita this week to see exactly what they are looking for. A holiday booking! Yeah!!

I was also asked to make pies for Thanksgiving, so this week I need to make three pumpkin pies and one apple pie. Easy stuff! I am just pleased people are asking for home-baked goods. :-)

The last two Saturdays I have worked at The Gas Lamp restaurant here in Reno. I have been shadowing Deb in her Garde Manger station making salads and desserts. There are also a few cold appetizers that she makes, like salmon carpacio and their take on tuna tartare. It has been fun, working in a kitchen again with nice people for the most part. Kitchens, like any other business, have their own politics. It's best just to keep working and take everything with a grain of salt, so to speak. I like learning new things and I have my own experiences with the garde manger station (a station I have always enjoyed). There is prep work to get your station ready, slicing tomatoes, onions, fresh mozzarella, celery, etc. Deb works much harder than I do as she makes all the ice cream from scratch, manages staff and does payroll and tazes. A very busy woman! She calls me her "new best friend", lol. I do enjoy working with her. My pastries are doing well, especially the Bourbon-Pecan Tart. That makes me very happy. I think this is going to work out! I'll keep you posted!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Where does the time go?! Life has been busy, working as a nurse and cooking and baking. Life is about to take a new turn, however!

This month I started an online Holiday Bakeshop! I am targeting mostly local people but if I can expand to a bigger market, I will. You can check my site out either from www.aprilcookstonight.com or at www.shop.aprilcookstonight.com. I have revamped my regular business website and added the bakeshop, so please feel free to check it out. Right now I only will be able to mail things within the U.S. I am starting off slowly but adding items weekly. I guess only time will tell if there is an interest or not.

This week marks the first week that April Bakes desserts will be featured at The Gas Lamp Restaurant in Reno's midtowne area. I am excited! I'll be baking up a Bourbon-Pecan Tart, Coconut Almond Cream Cake, Rustic Apple Galettes and Pear-Ginger Cheesecake.

Wa-hoo! It's a start. There are more changes to come after the new year, but for now, I have started a path toward doing more cooking and baking and less nursing. Time to own my life changes.