Sorry...it's been a while. Truth is (and I know...it's the oldest excuse there is) I got busy. Really, truly, busy. I started a little project for myself; a little made-to-order bakery out of my kitchen to see if I am really ready for something along the lines of my own gluten-free bakery someday (a long-time day dream of mine). The response has been overwhelming and wonderful. People are very excited, ordering everything from personal treats to gifts to the snack for tea time. Word has spread to the dorms as well and I have dorm parents and students ordering as well. What began as a "well, if I get one order a week then it will keep me occupied and happy..." has turned into "I hope my little oven can handle all this!" And I am loving every minute. I was called about 15 hours before the school's Christmas Mela (a big craft fair type sale) to see if I wanted a table. I would be raising money for a home for people with Autism in the area so I had to donate 10% of my profits. I said yes, of course, and began to bake like crazy. Staying up until 1:00 a.m. the night before and baking the entire next day. Oliver was so supportive, napping a nice long nap and being patient while I took my sweet time taking him out of his high chair.
I made 20 dozen cookies and brownies and I sold out in 15 minutes! I couldn't believe it. I had brought extra clothes for Oliver for when it gets cold as the sun goes down. But then there we were, packing up our table as people were still setting up theirs. It was a great feeling. People seem genuinely excited. For Westerners, there really are no "sweets" here that we typically eat back home. There is one bakery in town, that I know of, and they specialize in birthday cakes. I have had several friends get their cakes from there and then complain because the cake is "glazed" instead of "frosted". It's just different here. My treats are familiar, tested recipes (I had to adapt all my recipes to high altitude!) that people are missing from home. The orders have been pouring in. I am just trying to get them all filled while still making time to clean (I may be considering hiring a new maid), play with Oliver and eek in a minute for myself and also for Andy. So far, I am hanging in. I hope I can keep this momentum going once we return from vacation in February. I am really enjoying myself.
We also had Oliver's first birthday party. What we thought would be an intimate gathering of our close friends and their kids quickly snowballed into 40+ people. Andy made falafel, I made hummus and two kinds of birthday cakes: cornbread and banana for Oliver (who is sweet enough and doesn't need super concentrated sugar just yet) and gluten-free chocolate cake with my mom's fudge frosting recipe (no glazes here!). Simple and easy, I hope everyone had a great time. I sure did. Though it felt a bit like my wedding reception; a bit hazy, way too fast and I didn't get a chance to talk to everybody. Oh well. Oliver had a bit of a social "hangover" the next day but I think he had a good time seeing all his pals in one place. My parents were able to Skype in at 5:00 a.m. their time and sing along with us. Great, great day.
So, I have been a bit swamped on the home front and Andy has been trying to wrap up a semester with grades, performances (Several of them! It didn't seem fair) and seeing his kids off to their home towns and countries. There have been going away parties for friends who are leaving and holiday parties...typical December craziness. So, I will try to do better and stay on at least a weekly plan for posting. The days just slipped away from me. Oliver will be one year old in twelve days. The days are just slipping by too fast.
I made 20 dozen cookies and brownies and I sold out in 15 minutes! I couldn't believe it. I had brought extra clothes for Oliver for when it gets cold as the sun goes down. But then there we were, packing up our table as people were still setting up theirs. It was a great feeling. People seem genuinely excited. For Westerners, there really are no "sweets" here that we typically eat back home. There is one bakery in town, that I know of, and they specialize in birthday cakes. I have had several friends get their cakes from there and then complain because the cake is "glazed" instead of "frosted". It's just different here. My treats are familiar, tested recipes (I had to adapt all my recipes to high altitude!) that people are missing from home. The orders have been pouring in. I am just trying to get them all filled while still making time to clean (I may be considering hiring a new maid), play with Oliver and eek in a minute for myself and also for Andy. So far, I am hanging in. I hope I can keep this momentum going once we return from vacation in February. I am really enjoying myself.
We also had Oliver's first birthday party. What we thought would be an intimate gathering of our close friends and their kids quickly snowballed into 40+ people. Andy made falafel, I made hummus and two kinds of birthday cakes: cornbread and banana for Oliver (who is sweet enough and doesn't need super concentrated sugar just yet) and gluten-free chocolate cake with my mom's fudge frosting recipe (no glazes here!). Simple and easy, I hope everyone had a great time. I sure did. Though it felt a bit like my wedding reception; a bit hazy, way too fast and I didn't get a chance to talk to everybody. Oh well. Oliver had a bit of a social "hangover" the next day but I think he had a good time seeing all his pals in one place. My parents were able to Skype in at 5:00 a.m. their time and sing along with us. Great, great day.
So, I have been a bit swamped on the home front and Andy has been trying to wrap up a semester with grades, performances (Several of them! It didn't seem fair) and seeing his kids off to their home towns and countries. There have been going away parties for friends who are leaving and holiday parties...typical December craziness. So, I will try to do better and stay on at least a weekly plan for posting. The days just slipped away from me. Oliver will be one year old in twelve days. The days are just slipping by too fast.
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