Glorious! - Day 203

Today was a glorious day.  For the first time in a very long time, I awoke rested, refreshed and ready to take on the world.  Ryan, Mike and I headed to Sweet Tomatoes for a BOGO breakfast.  Then they accompanied me to Costco to pickup baking supplies and something for dinner.  I rarely have company when I run my errands and I reveled in the rare treat.  We picked up a can of lump crab meat for a Maryland Crab Cake dinner.  The rest of the afternoon was spent running errands alone.  I washed my car, made a little pocket change at Plato's Closet, visited Kenda and picked up a few more baking supplies.

Dinner was a tremendous success.  Maryland crab cakes, mashed potatoes and fresh peas.  Yum!  Ryan even complimented me.  He liked it...he really liked it.   

Then it was on to my favorite pastime...baking hugs.  I baked a batch of White Chocolate Blueberry NO NUT cookies for my no nut cookie lover friend, Randy.  Then I threw together some White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan and Toasted Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies for my new retail opportunity meeting tomorrow.

Mike was down for the count with a heavy dose of NyQuil to try to cure what ails him.  So I spent the evening watching the Oscars with Ryan.  Glamour, glitz and star gazing.  This was the cherry on top of a truly glorious day.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Sold Out - Days 201 - 202

Sold Out...two lovely words that are music to my ears.  Thankfully the world is filled with cookie monsters that are gobbling up my cookies as fast as I can bake them.  Friday afternoon after my early morning delivery to Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux, I received a call from Jen, the owner, asking for 10 more.  They had almost sold out by early afternoon and had no cookies for the weekend.  I love it! 

Saturday at the market was more of the same.  One by one, the flavors sold out...with the Fat Mint Cookie Cookie and White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan the first to go.  We only had six cookies left when we packed up the booth.  As I headed for the car I was greeted by one of my regulars asking if I had anything left.  She promptly bought every last one and wanted more.  Sold Out!  Cookie monsters are a very good thing.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Productive - Day 200

Tonight I was an organized, efficient, fearless baker on a mission.  The result was a very productive evening at the kitchen.  I baked White Chocolate Macadamia, PB Cup Chocolate Chip Pecan and Dark Chocolate Orange Cookies for my B3 delivery tomorrow.  I also made the dough for Jenn's wedding favors...more Dark Chocolate Orange and White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan.  Then I cranked out a pan of Outrageous Brownies for the farmers' market on Saturday.  I even measured ingredients for more farmers' market offerings.  I am NOT going to show up at the market again with less than 3 hours of sleep.  All in all, it was a good night.

Many hugs,
Kathy

FEARLESS! - Day 199

This morning while I was taking a shower a word popped into my head.  I wasn't thinking about anything in particular...just plans for a rather mundane day.  And there it was...this word.  Almost shouting at me.  "FEARLESS!...FEARLESS!...FEARLESS!"  I couldn't stop thinking about it.  I repeated it to myself..."FEARLESS!"  This is how I want to approach my life.  In the past at times I would let self doubt overtake me.  No more,  I am going to be FEARLESS in my approach to life.  I am tired of playing it safe.  I want to take chances.  I want to put myself out there.  I want so desperately to succeed.  I am going to listen to the voice that shouted in my head.  Oh my, I sound like a crazy person.  A "FEARLESS" crazy person on a mission...to make Heartsong Cookies a success. 

Many hugs,
Kathy

Fat and Sassy - Day 198

Today was all about eating.  Lots of "not so good for my figure, but great for my soul" food was on the menu.  The culinary delights began at B3 as I made my morning cookie delivery.  Jen offered me a cup of coffee to go and I decided to grab a quick bite for the road.  As I perused the menu, one of my favorite things jumped out at me...NUTELLA....mmmmmm!  Nutella on a warm toasted croissant.  A croissant the size of California.  I barely made it out of the parking lot before devouring half of this amazingly delicious treat.

The guilt associated with consuming a bazillion calories for breakfast quickly kicked in, but it was worth every fat laden bite. 

Work was a little crazy today.  I shuttled back and forth with proofs until almost 3:00.  For some reason, I had a craving for Indian food.  Not just any Indian food, but vegetarian Indian food.  I consulted Urbanspoon for Indian restaurants in the area and decided on Woodlands just down the street on OBT.  The reviews were impressive.  A lunch buffet priced by the pound was just the ticket for me to sample several flavors.  I am not an Indian food connoisseur, but I love the flavors.  I cannot begin to tell you the names of what I ate, but I filled my to go box with a bit of a sweet carrot side to compliment two types of spicy curry over basmati rice, a crisp salad of iceberg lettuce with radishes, peppers and carrots and a crepe filled with curried mashed potato.  The price tag was surprisingly low...just a little over $5.00 for one of the best lunches I have had in a very long time.

Dinner was prepared by my new personal chef...my son Ryan.  He keeps amazing me with his culinary endeavors.  Last night was a spicy Enchilada Lasagna.  YUMMY! Tonight Chicken Piccata with Pesto Spaghetti was on the menu.  YUMMY squared!  Not only was the food incredible, but he served it to me and even cleaned the kitchen.  I am in "Mom Heaven" right now...proud with a content, full belly.  I am feeling very fat and sassy.  I would happy dance right now, but my fat and sassiness won't allow me to move.

Many hugs, sit ups and cardio,

Kathy

REALLY, REALLY EXHAUSTED - Day 197

If I thought I had reached the point of total exhaustion yesterday, I was oh so wrong.  I hadn't begun to feel what true exhaustion was.  Maddie made sure I was taken to new depths.  My head hit the pillow at 2:00 after a full night of baking for Anthony and Susan.  I quickly fell asleep only to be awakened an hour and a half later by a barking Maddie.  That was OK, I could handle that...what I could not handle was the next half an hour of Maddie pacing the floor, jumping on top of me and staring me down within inches of my face.  She needed to go out and she needed to go out NOW!  Problem was it was 4:00 in the morning.  I begrudgingly got up, put my contacts in and grab some clothes.  Out the door we went.  Maddie spent the next 10 minutes finding the perfect place to do her business.  She didn't care that I was scared, cold and tired beyond belief.  She didn't care one bit.  We finally completed her mission and headed back to bed.  Mission accomplished...total exhaustion.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Exhausted - Days 194 - 196

I have been a baking fool this weekend.  Friday was another one of those days that would not end.  I climbed into bed at 4:00 a.m. after a full night of baking at the kitchen, but was disappointed in my output.  Even though I cranked out eight batches of tasty looking cookies and a platter of 50 minis for Alissa, I fell short of my goal.  Brownies, breakfast cookies and my new experiment, Maple Bacon Chocolate Chip were the casualties.  I am guilty of over ambitious goals that I just can't meet by myself. 

My butt did not want to get out of bed when the alarm went off Saturday morning at 6:30.  Two and a half hours is not near enough sleep for this hug giver.  But the market was calling and Chris was coming to help in an hour.  I grabbed a shower, threw on some clothes and tackled the loading of all my market gear.  Mike normally has my car all loaded and ready to go, but he was in Indianapolis with the UF bowling team and I was on my own.  Ryan finally got up to help, Chris arrived and we were on out way to the market.

With Ryan and Chris' help the tent went up and the booth came together.  We had a great day at the market.  Almost all the cookies were sold.  Alissa picked up the platter for her mom and seemed genuinely delighted with the presentation.   The star of the cookie offerings was the "Fat Mint Cookie" Cookie that Sarah and I had created the night before.  I was a little worried that customers would be turned off by a cookie with "fat" in the name, but they didn't seem to mind a bit.  The got the joke and loved the taste.  Sarah was really proud and so was I.

At the end of the market day, I could barely lift a thing.  My body was rebelling.  It needed sleep and it needed it badly.  I took a three hour cat nap before enjoying a wonderful dinner of chicken and polenta prepared by Ryan.  I don't know what I am going to do when he leaves for a new job.  I am spoiled rotten.

Sunday was a day of errands, another cookie delivery to B3 and of course...more baking.  I almost forgot the cookie request from Anthony in Boston and the hug bags for Susan.  Anthony requested five different types of cookies for his shipment.  Susan requested three more types.  Uuug, I can't make eight kinds again.  I settled for the five Anthony requested and hoped Susan would by agreeable to his choices.

By my rambling, I am sure you can tell I am exhausted...but happy.  Very, very happy...happy dance happy.

Many hugs,
Kathy

A Happy Collaboration - Day 193

Tonight was all about collaboration.  My friend Sheri and her daughter Sarah met me at the kitchen for a night of creativity and fun.  We concocted a plan several weeks ago to incorporate some of the mint cookies she was selling into a Heartsong Cookie.  The result was the Fat Mint Cookie Cookie...a dark chocolate base with bittersweet chocolate chips, a hint of mint extract and chunks of mint cookies.  When they cooled we drizzled them with green chocolate the color of her troop.
Collaboration definitely agreed with us because the final cookie was a thing of beauty.  Sarah took six home to share with the family.  A couple will make their way to B3 tomorrow.  The balance will be sold at the Lake Mary Farmers' Market with a little help from Sarah.

This was a happy dance kind of evening.  Thanks Sheri and Sarah!

Many hugs,
Kathy

"The Tracy" - Days 191 - 192

Tuesday night was all about Tracy...and "The Tracy", the Dark Chocolate Orange Cookie she asked me to create.  I met Tracy a couple of months ago at the Lake Mary Farmers' Market and we became fast Facebook friends.  It turned out she loved my cookies, but was unable to get a regular fix because she calls Rochester, New York home.  Tracy has been shuttling back and forth between New York and Orlando every few weeks.  No...not to get a cookie fix, but for something far more important.  She is helping her mom through kidney dialysis treatment.  To help ease the stress, she orders cookies each time she comes to town.  And not just any cookie...she likes to challenge me.  I love challenges and when Tracy asked for a Dark Chocolate Orange Cookie, I was ready. The cookie began with my favorite dark chocolate base.  To it, I added bittersweet chocolate chips, a container of candied orange peel leftover from the holidays, a little orange zest and blood orange juice from the McCullough's tree and orange extract for good measure.  The smell as this cookie baked was more intoxicating than any I have ever made.  I was afraid the flavor profile wouldn't appeal to many, but that was OK.  It just had to appeal to Tracy.  Funny thing happened...it appealed to Tracy and almost everyone else that tried it.  It rapidly has become one of my signature cookies.  "The Tracy" is a really good thing.  Thanks Tracy, for your inspiration.

Tonight was a really good night.  Ryan cooked for me, my mom and my brother.  He set the table, cleaned the house and even cleaned the kitchen afterward.  I definitely could get used to this.  Ryan made Chicken Marsala with lots of mushrooms, wild rice and Caesar salad.  My mom brought homemade banana pudding.  The evening was filled with sweet smells emanating from my kitchen that for a change had absolutely nothing to do with cookies.  The conversation was great, the wine excellent, my belly full and my heart happy.  Like I said...it was a really good night. 

Many hugs,
Kathy

Happy Heartsong Cookie Day - Day 190

I had grand plans for this season of love...platters of sugar cookies dipped in chocolate or drizzled in lemon glaze, dark chocolate cherry cookies, chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolate dipped Oreos.  Cookies and treats for everyone was the plan.  Somewhere a long the way the plan went off course.

Oh there were cookies...made from leftover dough in my recently temperamental oven.  They were less than perfect, but still pretty tasty.  Some spread the size of Montana...some looked like they had spent a little too much time in the tanning bed...some were extra gooey...some looked like little mountains of dough instead a gentle slopes.  These cookies weren't part of the plan.  Normally I would have thrown them out.  I aim for perfection, but instead I swallowed my pride and gave them out.  After all, how can you have a Happy Heartsong Cookie Day without a Heartsong Cookie?

The last couple weeks have taught me a thing or two about accepting imperfection.  Time is my enemy these days.  I have such a difficult time saying no to anything and end up teetering on the brink of disaster.  This past Friday I actually ended up in the brink.  I had promised Annie I would attempt to make an ice cream cookie cake for a baby shower she was having.  An ice cream cake, 15 treat bags, a platter of decorated sugar cookies and a dozen White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan Cookies...all due in the midst of my weekly farmers' market baking.  Needless to say something had to give and the promised ice cream cookie cake was the casualty.  My heart was in the right place, but the ice cream filling was not.  It oozed out the sides of the layers in an ooey gooey mess.  I could not believe I was actually going to fail.  For me failure is not an option, but fail I did.   I disappointed Annie and I lived to tell about it.  Happy Heartsong Cookie Day!

Many hugs,
Kathy

Many Hugs - Days 186-189

The last few days have been the days of many, many hugs.  I have baked, baked and baked some more...from the new favorite, Dark Chocolate Orange to the old favorite, White Chocolate Bluebery Pecan.  I have baked for B3 Cafe, teachers' gifts, a baby shower, the Lake Mary Farmers' Market and just because.  It has been exhausting, exhilirating and just plain wonderful.  The cookie monsters of the world must be out in full force because I sold out at B3 and the Lake Mary Farmers' Market.  Thank you Cookie Monsters.  You all make my heart sing and give me the energy to keep on baking.

Many hugs,
Kathy

In Need Of A Clone - Day 185

My frantic pace has finally caught up with me because tonight I have the get up and go of a slug...a big, fat gelatinous slug.  So much to do, so little time to do it.  I asked Mike to switch his medical research from fetal alcohol syndrome to clone research.  Then my brain tried to wrap itself around the thought of two of me and I thought the world was not quite ready for that.

Tomorrow night with the help of my friend Dennis, we are tackling a variety of orders all due Friday.  Safari Animal Shaped Sugar Cookies, White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan, Choc-O-Chip, Cranberry Walnut Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Orange and more.  Oh my!  I am definitely in need of a clone.

Good luck in your research, Mike!

Many hugs,
Kathy 

Sold Out! - Day 184

Two beautiful words that I hope to hear a lot more of.  Jen from B3 called me this afternoon on my way to Gainesville to tell me that the cookies I delivered this morning were gone...SOLD OUT!  She said my friends Steve and Tom just stopped by and bought the last four.  Thank goodness my friends are cookie monsters!  Jen told me not only my friends were buying the cookies, but her other customers as well.  She is thrilled with the response the cookies are getting so far and placed another order for tomorrow.  Yipee!  More Breakfast Cookies, Sugar Cookies and Mixed Fruit and Nut Cookies will be heading her way in the morning.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Baking For B3 - Day 183

Tonight was all about cookies...imagine that!  After whipping up a Southwestern Chicken Salad for dinner, I headed to the kitchen to bake a little of this and a little of that for my B3 delivery tomorrow morning.  Breakfast Cookies filled with dried cherries, Marcona almonds, and bittersweet chocolate chips, Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Chip Pecan, Chocolate Chunk and Chocolate Chunk with Pecans will fill the B3 case in the morning.  This time I am breaking out the iPhone to capture the proud moment.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Super Day! - Day 182

Today was a super day of baking, eating and spending time with family and friends.  I woke up early to bake cookies for Phyllis...Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Chip Pecan, Chocolate Chunk, Toasted Pecan Chocolate Chunk and Oatmeal Pecan were on the docket.  I was worried that the rainy weather would affect the baking effort, but everything turned out just fine.  After assembling her basket I turned my attention to sugar cookies for our Super Bowl gathering and girls night out with Rita.  I did an loose interpretation of a Packers helmet  and dipped some football shapes in chocolate.  They tasted good, but were definitely not picture worthy.

Ryan cooked his little heart out today.  It was a feast for the arteries...unhealthy, but very, very good.  We began with queso dip and chips, followed by fried fresh mozzarella and boneless Buffalo wings with celery and blue cheese.  Ryan has become quite a good cook and I couldn't be happier.

Little did I know that all this food would simply be an appetizer.  Rita had invited me to stop by for dinner with the girls.  I didn't realize it was going to be a wonderful sit down dinner.  We started with a delicious soup with chicken, hominy and black beans topped with shredded cabbage, minced onion and a squeeze of lime.  Next came spinach quiche, soba noodle salad, fried taquitos, deviled eggs and ambrosia.  Oh my, my belly is as full as my heart.

This has been one amazing week...the kind of week that leaves cherished memories etched in your mind.

Many hugs,
Kathy

We Made It! - Days 180-181

The last two days have been amazing...about as amazing as two days could be.  Friday began with my first cookie delivery to Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux and ended at the kitchen baking cookies for today's farmers' market.  In between my website went live and a wave of well wishes flooded my e-mail.  It appears all my family and friends LOVE the site as much as I do.

But nooooo, that's not all.  My first delivery to B3 sold out and Jen requested more to be delivered today  The commercial kitchen oven actually cooperated and cranked out some pretty awesome looking cookies.

The cookies sold very well at the market today...so well, that I had a difficult time setting aside 10 for the delivery to B3.   We made a little money, spread a lot of happiness and headed to B3 for lunch with Kenda and Mark to see the cookies in the case.  Jen welcomed us with the news that Heartsong made it to the menu blackboard.  I could not believe it...we made it!

But nooooo, there is even more good news.  Kenda pointed out a mom and her son enjoying one of the Heartsong Tri Chip Cookies we just delivered.  Then her husband joined her with a Heartsong Trail Mix Cookie in hand. Mike overheard the dad talk about how good the cookie was.  I had to restrain myself from pulling out my iPhone to capture the moment.  It is a feeling I will never forget...extreme pride and happiness.

Tonight I am taking a very brief baking sabbatical.  Early tomorrow morning the baking will resume, but tonight I am living the high life in grand style.  My son just handed me a tray with soup and a tasty grilled cheese sandwich.  I didn't have to lift a finger.  Definitely could get used to this!

Many hugs and thanks to all that helped us make it,
Kathy

It Takes A Village...Day 179

Well I did it!  I baked the Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux debut cookies, packaged them, sealed them with the cutest labels and made it home before 2:00 a.m.  I couldn't have accomplished all this without a little help from my family and friends.  Morgan created the logo for the labels, Karen isolated the oval portion of the logo, Mike created the label template and Ryan found a way to get the printer to work.  It takes a village to produce Heartsong Cookies and I am very glad it does.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Almost...Day 178

It's almost here...my retail debut, the debut of www.heartsongcookies.com and the season of love.  It doesn't get much better than this.  I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach.  A feeling of excitement and fear and anticipation.  I love this feeling.  It makes me feel alive.  Tomorrow night I bake at A Chateau Kitchen for my retail debut on Friday.  I am anxious about the oven performance at the kitchen.  Nothing beats my trusty oven at home.  Then I look at the masthead of my soon to be live website and I think those beautiful, mouthwatering cookies were baked in that crazy commercial kitchen oven.  The cookies will turn out just fine!

Morgan has been working at warp speed to finish my website.  She wants so badly to have the website mentioned in the Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux newsletter article announcing my retail debut.  The site is almost done and it is absolutely perfect...a fresh, young, fun approach that reflects what I want my company to be.  Morgan took the photo for the masthead and it is as beautiful as any professional photographer's work.  The photo makes you want to reach up and grab a cookie off the screen.  It should go live tomorrow night, but for a preview check out www.heartsongcookies.com/development.

Many hugs,
Kathy

The Joy Of Being Cooked For - Day 177

Having Ryan home for a while has many benefits.  I can watch the look on his face live as he beats me at Words With Friends.  I get to watch back to back re-run episodes of Two and a Half Men...a show I have never watched, but am actually enjoying.  But the best benefit is being cooked for the last two nights.  I have been blessed with a son that loves to cook as much as I love to eat...and he is very good at it.  Last night Mike and I benefited from his culinary expertise with cheese tortellini baked in a creamy mascarpone tomato sauce.  Tonight I came home to Chicken Piccata with Wild Rice.  The delicious smell almost knocked me off my feet when I walked in the door.  I could get kind of used to this.  Ryan doesn't want me to.  He is ready to start his life.  I am ready to see how it unfolds.  In the meantime, I am going to revel in the joy of being cooked for!

Many hugs,
Kathy