Learning Curve

Amazing how things work out.  Having Bryn Athyn Bounty for a scant six weeks last year was just right - gave us a taste for the fun behind baking up a storm while supporting the college garden project.  This year, it's just right to extend the season to a whopping six months!  

The first four weeks have been a learning curve...  

• Get there at 8 to help Suzie set up.
• Have all signage & tags DONE by Friday afternoon.
• Pack the car with non-perishables the night before.
• Cherry Crisps in a Jar may not be big sellers - much to John's delight, as he gets to savor whatever isn't sold - but look too nifty not to do.  
• Maple Pancake Cupcakes need just a scant amount of Maple Frosting - just enough to serve as anchor for bacon crumbles (much tastier than a single bacon shard, which might look more dramatic but has nowhere near the taste bud power as crumbles of freshly frizzled bacon).
• Works to include a mini Blueberry Spice muffin to the mini mix - bodacious helping of blueberries just right early on a Saturday morning.  And great to stock up on for Sunday morning breakfasts!
• Speaking of stocking up - learned that people LOVE the 5-pack, so don't even bother having larger boxes. 
• Am going to have to use a shortening-based icing when it peaks beyond 85 degrees (real deal buttercream starts to melt).
• Use two ice-filled storage boxes to keep the cooler chilled.  
• Keep most of the cupcakes in the cooler;  bring them out as needed to fill orders.
• Friends can be founts of great ideas - Suzie S. suggested using a sliver of lemon slice jelly candies for the top of the Triple Lemon instead of a mini dollop of curd;  Ann B. sent me a recipe for Shortbread with l;avendar which I'll debut this weekend; use a friend's kitchen to bake the Cathedral Pound Cake (feels like I'm wearing out my welcome at CV).  
• Keep it simple - Whoopies, mini cupcakes, Cherry Crisps, shortbread are easy to make.  The only time-consumer is the Cathedral Pound Cake, and that looks too stunning to skip.  
• Take the Cathedral Bundt Cake pan WITH me for display, along with the biz card for Lahaska's kitchen store (from whence it came).
• Have a bowl of water at the corner for parched pups.
• Make sure I have brochures of my summer creativity workshops for all ages/cross generations on display (includes baking sessions).
• ALWAYS remember that the most important thing is to make & have FUN!