You're invited...

A new menu item...

As some of you may have noticed, my company has some what of a french twist to it. I studied French at the University of Utah and had the opportunity to live in both french speaking Switzerland and in France during my studies. But equal to my love of all things french, is my love of all things Czech. I lived in the Czech Republic for 18 months and grew to love the people, the traditions, and the výborné jídlo - wonderful food. I even managed to catch myself a Czech for a husband... And my darling mother-in-law has been gracious enough to share some of her very sweet recipes with me. I have decided to add one of these to my menu - Svatební koláče - or wedding kolaches.

Small, sweet breads filled with a cream cheese filling and rolled in a crumb topping. They are a favorite in our home. I am delighted each time I bake them as I watch my children stare in to the oven, eyes big, mouths watering, waiting for them to rise, my husband eagerly alongside them.
So, here's to a palate pleased by many cultures... Bon Appétit and Dobrou Chut'

A Woman, 1 oven, 6 hours, 270 desserts, and 2 little rugrats...

Well, that pretty much explains it all! Wednesday I prepared a grande assortment of fine little fancies for a Spring boutique in the area. 270 of them to be exact. The entire day was a blur of baking frenzy, interspersed with clouds of powdered sugar and taste-testing spoonfuls of yummy. The oven was hot, the kitchen was messy, the kiddos were restless, and the desserts were delectable. All in all, a very pleasing day. I hope for many more days of such tasty chaos. À bientôt!

A Rainy Day for Baking...

On Monday we reached 93° here. Perfect for playing in the park and giving my children those pinkish cheeks indicative of Summer fun. Not, however, the best weather for baking. I was a bit dreadful of the coming days when I was to be baking scrumptious goodies for my first "job". But to my great surprise we made it back down to a rainy 58° on Wednesday. Perfect for sending my little ones downstairs to play while I baked trays full of brownies, hello dollies, and yes, more chocolate chip cookies. It was so exciting to awaken with a sense of purpose more than just dressing and feeding kids (not that that isn't rewarding in it's own unique and marvelous way). I suddenly felt like I had re-entered the real world - the world where adults interact with other adults and have conversations pertaining to things other than school work and play dates. And as I folded my first pastry box, filled it with homemade treats, and taped my card to the side I felt a sense of exhilaration. I delivered the boxes of little fancies to a "So, You Think You Can Dance" premiere party and went home to enjoy the sweet, sweet satisfaction of a rainy day baking and my first successful job as Très Sucré... Salut!

Très Sucré. Very Sweet.

Can you smell that? Mmmm... The ever-sweet aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven. I can almost taste them - and I will, in about 3 minutes, still hot and the chocolate dripping as I break one apart... I guess you could say I like to cook. In fact, I might even say I love to. I don't know if there is any thing else in the world that offers such sweet and instant gratification as does cooking. I have not the patience for scrapbooking, sewing, or any and all activities that require hour upon hour of labor before reaching the outcome. But cooking, baking, I can spend a few hours in my kitchen and create somewhat of a masterpiece. I can look at a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie as I would a Renoir or Monet, a fine work of art. With each curve of the dough and every morsel of melted chocolate I see beauty. And what's more? I can eat it.

I hope this to be the first of many posts as I take you along on my journey to Très Sucré and what I know will indeed be a very sweet adventure.