Cheesecake!!

I love LOVE love cheesecake!  Only plain, with graham cracker crumbs crust and it must be creamy!!  I do not like New York style cheesecake.  In my opinion it is too dry and limited graham crackers on the bottom, not the sides.  What fun is that?

I had an order for a dozen salted caramel cupcakes and a cheesecake.  Sometimes when I fill an order I make a little extra for my family.  Recipes for cheesecake really only makes one.  This time I thought I would increase the recipe to have a small one for us.

Well, it didn't work out so well.  First I did not have a small springform pan so I lined a small cake pan with aluminum foil, filling the springform pan first then the small pan.  It looked great during the baking process but afterwards the small non-springform pan caved in.  It tasted ok, not good.  I cannot fill an order with food that is 'ok'. 

I thought the taste difference was one of two things.  I didn't calculate the recipe correctly - I had to do 1 2/3 of the recipe - or it was becasue of the cream cheese.  Let me tell you - Philadelphia cream cheese is the only way to go.  We bought a block of the cream cheese at either Costco or Cash N Carry.  I've used other cream cheese before, the stuff we had tasted okay, but when baked....

Who knows?  Anyway I made another one that day to replace the first one.

Well since we had a left over cheese cake we decided to try it.  Well it wasn't bad at all.  Maybe the lesson was that you really do need a springform pan to make it taste good. 

Samples and Cards

On Monday I made some cupcakes and banana bread.  I made cupcakes for a friend of mine, long story, but my husband was to deliver the cupcakes after work on Tuesday.  I made extra cupcakes to take to my where I get my hair cut, then decided I should take cupcakes around for people to sample and pass out my business cards. 
With the cupcakes in their boxes, my husband had his dozen and an extra loaf of banana bread I headed out to Salon Parente in Federal Way.  Stan Parente is the owner and now owns 3 salons.  One in Federal Way (obviously), Maple Valley and the newest one is in Bellevue.  He is fantastic along with his staff in Federal Way.  I don't go to the other salons so I cannot comment on his staff there.  His apprentice, Jennifer, was there - the purpose of the banana bread.  They were surprised to see me, after all I only just got my hair cut 3 days prior.  I offered samples to people and provided my business card.  Jennifer ordered cupcakes and a cheesecake for her daughter's birthday.  On my way out there was a police officer sitting in his car in the parking lot, who better to give a cupcake to than him?
I decided I would go to the stores that I frequent where people are personable.  I went to our local yarn shop called Unraveled Shop (Unraveled Yarn and Artful Gifts).  AHH they were closed until 1:00!  Now what?  I drove around thinking about the next place to go.
Well, I had a gift from my daughter, Merissa, from Mother's day that needed to be returned to Macy's.  She bought me a great paddle for my kitchen aid but it was the wrong size.  On my way out I'm sitting in the car trying to think where to go next and I see my vet! 
Cascade Veterinary Hospital.  Now it has been a little while since I was there, my husband takes in the animals, but they remembered me and my pets!  Great group of people there.  They loved my samples!  And I enjoyed talking with them as well.  Thank you ladies for taking the time!!
I eventually went back to the yarn shop.  I spent about an hour in there talking to them, discussing possible store fronts, Ann provided me with a name for a gentleman at the Small Business Center that helped her when starting the business.  They took a bunch of my cards and are thinking about the next event to order some cupcakes or other goodies! 
The day was coming to a close, kids were getting home from school, hubby was expected to be home soon, as I was on my way home I got a text from my husband - cupcakes melted in his car.  He parked in the shade and left his windows open slightly but they still melted.  He cancelled his delivery and went home.  Sooooo.....about that husband of mine!  I asked him if it was possible that he was subconsciously sabotaging me!!  Lesson learned....don't let him help.  I was going to add unless you're watching him every minute, but then what would be the point?  I guess I'll be making more cupcakes, if it isn't too late for our friend to give them to whom he wanted to give them to.  Yes, I'm glad he didn't deliver them to our friend anyway!  Seriously honey.....YOU'RE FIRED!!! 

Cookbooks!

I love my cookbooks!!  We had a yard sale last year, trying to get rid of as much stuff as we could.  But I could not part with any cookbooks.  Years ago, maybe 15, I got rid of my set of Bon Apetite' series cookbooks.  It was an awesome set!  But truthfully, I didn't really use them that much.  They weren't that practical to use for everyday food.  I bought that series in the 80's.  I remember selling that one, I also sold some others that I didn't really use, but it is extremely difficult for me to part with them. 

What's interesting is that this love of cookbooks are a common interest for my sister and I.  However, she loves to read old cookbooks - new ones too - but she has a special love for the old ones.  To me, they're ok but not something I purposefully collect.  I won't use them, why get them? 

The point of this blog.... I was at my hair dresser on Saturday, I gave him and his, what is she referred to - apprentice? - Jennifer one of my business cards.  Now, mind you had I have dropped off 2 dozen cupcakes before - Salted Caramel and Chocolate Peanut Butter - to try (which he loved!) but Jennifer wasn't there.  She said, "You make cupcakes?  How come I didn't know about this before?"  During the course of my cut, color and foil she indicated she wanted me to bake some cupcakes for her daughter's birthday.  Then she started talking about banana bread.  Yes, I'll do banana bread. 

We were having company over that evening so I went to the store and while I was there I started to have this yearning to have banana bread.  Oh but, what about white peaches and bananas?  No no, what about strawberries and bananas?  Oh yum!! 

I made Strawberry Banana bread.  I'd share a picture but it disappeared very quickly.  It was so good!  But to make sure I had THE recipe I used another recipe from a different book on Sunday.  While my son Tyler liked it better than the one on Saturday, my husband and I did not.  It was good, it wasn't delicious! 

Remember I said how I loved my cookbooks?  I have cookbooks that I've had since the early 1980's. 

The little price tag says $9.95 - and I got it 20% off!!  This is how this book really looks:

The book is just falling apart!  Front page and back page are off, the binding no longer holds, the book comes apart in chunks!  I have looked for a replacement for this book - meaning I've looked for this exact book before, but they don't have the same recipes!  I have NEVER found a better Belgian waffle recipe than the one in this book!  There are so many other recipes in here that I love!! 

My next favorite book:

I think this is one of my very first cookbooks that I bought when I moved out of my mother's house and in with my future ex-husband!!!  This book has fantastic recipes!  Great apple pie, fried chicken, and THE banana bread recipe that I used on Saturday.

On Sunday I used the one from the red and white checked cookbook. 

Because I don't have enough room for all my cookbooks to be in one place, I have them separated.  The books on the black book shelf are not all cookbooks.  These are in my office.  (which I'm in the midst of remodeling)  These are cookbooks I don't use as much.  As well as magazines, knitting books, business books and all sorts of other books. (part of the reason for the remodel)

The ones on the yellow shelves are in my kitchen but two different shelves.  I tried to separate them into topics but the truth is, I needed space on the big one and these shelves had knickknacks on them.  My solution to not enough space for books is...buy more shelves.  You should see my family room!! 

Whoo Hoo!!

On May 5, 2011 Washington state Govenor Christine Gregoire signed the Cottage Food Operation bill.  Which means.... 

"Sec. 1. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Cottage food operation" means a person who produces cottage
food products only in the home kitchen of that person's primary
domestic residence in Washington and only for sale directly to the consumer.

(2) "Cottage food products" means nonpotentially hazardous baked

goods; jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit butters as defined in 21

C.F.R. Sec. 150 as it existed on the effective date of this section; and other nonpotentially hazardous foods identified by the director in rule."

There is a caveat to this bill.  The cottage food operation business cannot make more than $15,000 a year.

There are rules and regulations to follow, of course.  But this is a start.  My mother-in-law is the one who actually found this.  Thank God.  I say that because we contacted an inspector with the Washington Dept of Health regarding information for what we would need to develop our extra room into a commercial kitchen.  She failed to inform us of this pending bill. 

I've heard about the 'cottage' industry but with regards to home based yarn spinning, fiber processing etc...  but not food. 

One would think "YES!!!  An obvious answer to the question - "should I stay or should I go (now)?"  Well, no it really doesn't answer it.  After some research Tennessee also has a cottage food bill that was signed in September 2007.  It has basically the same rules and regulations of operation with some minor differences.  The biggest difference is that amounts that can be made.  It states you can sell 100 units a week.  Units being a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs, etc... whatever consists of a normal unit of sale. 
Maybe the dream isn't as far away as I recently thought!!!

For those interested in reading the entire Washington Bill - http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202011/5748-S.SL.pdf

For interested in reading the entire Tennessee Bill - http://homebasedbaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/TN-Regulations-for-Domestic-Kitchens.pdf

Decisions

After quitting my job we are trying to decide what is the next best move for us.  The choices are: stay here in Washington or move to Knoxville, TN.  My sister lives in Knoxville and we both have a strong desire to open an bakery/cafe - breakfast-lunch.  If we move to Knoxville we could open one together.  If I stay here I open one by myself.  For the past year I've been putting my products out to the public in hopes of creating a following.  I'd hate to leave that.  But with two heads doing it there is more power.  However, in my home I have a bonus room that is 20x21 ft square that I could convert into a commercial kitchen and have the bakery run out of my home.  Problem is....I'm broke and won't be able to do that right away.  There are kitchens to rent that I could use.  I'm not keen on dragging all my stuff there just to drag it back home.  I'd really have to think about that one. 
Moving there - I don't have a TN nursing license so I'd have to go without a job.  My husband would also have to transfer his teaching certificate to TN and create a rapport with the various school districts.  We'd have to put our house for rent, transfer the kids, find a home....  Here - I'd just have to work a little harder to start the business, find a job that I could work in until I can get the business up and going. 
While I quit on Monday, I had an interview on Wednesday and the second interview for the same position today (Thursday) so things are moving pretty quickly.  I'm torn about that as well.  I don't suppose I'll get much sleep with all the thoughts running through my head.  This is a Director level position and I just don't know if I want to put all that extra effort into a position I don't really want.  I want the time to start the business.  However, if I take the position I could work toward the goal of attaining the necessary equipment for the kitchen and save enough to allow me to quit.  Especially since my husband finished school and will be able to work.  This position also will have the health insurance that the family needs. 
Ugh!!  I hate these types of decisions.  If I had investors...... Oh if only.  Any suggestions are gladly welcome. 
As my daughter said, "Did you like Living in TN when you lived there?
Do you like the idea of co-owning? or not being 100% in charge?
What are the pros and what are the cons of working with your sister?
How much would it cost you to move over there?  Would it be cheaper to stay and use that money it would cost to move out there to put down on a business?" 
What I don't have is the knowledge for running a business.  The book side of it.  What licenses do I need?  Where do I get them?  What are the specifics I need for the kitchen?  Taxes.  Can't I just bake for people? 

I quit!

My job that is.  Not that I am financially independent and don't require a job.  I was working 3 hours from home, in a job that, while not that fulfilling, had a boss that was not supportive to her staff.  I am the type of person that speaks my mind, states the obvious and will speak up for the rights of others.  This personality gets me in trouble.  I have no intention of changing.  Many have tried to change me, but at the end of the day while I brush my teeth and look into the mirror I need to know that I am OK with who I am or what I've done.  If I do not have a boss that supports me then there is no purpose of me being there.  I will be the problem, not the solution.  The 'solution' could only exist with support. 
So, combine that along with the fact that I was not vested in the community, my family was still 3 hours away, I could not bake except for when I went home, and that I didn't care for my work environment it was evident I needed to leave. 
My husband stated to me on my drive home last night, he gave my circumstances some serious thought.  He said, "you need to bake.  Whether with your sister in Tennessee or here in Federal Way, Washington."  I called my sister on Sunday and talked about the potential of opening a bakery together.  We both want to own a breakfast-lunch-bakery.  We both have the same work ethics, we both are direct, bossy, honest and have the same love of baking.  Please note - these are not as a result of our upbringing but as a result of our own - separate - cultivation of our womanhood, or our being.  My mother was not a good cook and she didn't have this love of the kitchen that we do.  What's more interesting is that my sister's daughter and both of my daughters also love working in the kitchen. 
I called my sister again on the drive home yesterday and told her what was going on.  She gave more thought to our united efforts.  Now we need to develop a plan.  I have no idea how to develop a business plan.  But I have on my cork board an article I cut out a long time ago, "Business plan is an essential first step." 
Next up - learning how to write one. 
If we move to Tennessee I will also need my nursing license for that state so I can continue to support our family.
At least I have a goal to work toward that makes more sense this way than what I've been doing the past month. 
HOWEVER, I want to say that the people I met and the friends I've made during that month was invaluable to me.  Robin - I will always cherish our friendship.  You have strength beyond your knowledge.  Jan and Judith - two beautiful ladies that own the Cashmere Cottage Yarn shop - thank you for extending your warmth and compassion to me every Wednesday evening.  Charlotte, Debbie (Thelma) and the rest of the women that attends the Wednesday evening knitting group - you have taught me the importance of being a part of a 'sisterhood' (as Robin calls it) that I have never been a part of.  Thank you - you opened your hearts to a direct, bossy, honest and a no B.S.er type of person.