weekend photos

 A good morning to all!  Here's what I was working on this weekend.....besides homework.   Can I go back to sleep now?  Yes?  Cool.    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Vegan SnickerAngels -- the counter part to SnickerDevils (spicy chocolate-cinnamon)

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate --also vegan.

weekly wrap-up

Well, I survived another week of school...barely.  I am still buried in the business model stage which wouldn't be so bad except I have a nasty habit of getting thrown off track by unnecessary elements.  For example:  the plan requests that I draw a simple diagram of how my business operations will flow. Easy enough. I then get over-excited about how I could incorporate a schematic of how the cookies are made and packaged and turn it into a cool way of advertising the cookies.  So instead of getting actual WORK done, I spend precious time doodling the following:

Soooo, basically i need to find a way to not get distracted by non-class business tactics/shiny things, for now, and focus on the boring, but necessary, elements of a business model. 

Wish me luck.  Here are your cute kitty pics.  xoxo

my boys, Gary & Ashataka

the cookies that stated it all - recordBar 45s - and Linus, working on quality control

Cinnamon Rolls!

If you are familiar with the Donut Girl Facebook page, then you probably remember that I posted about how both sides of my family have influenced my baking style  (click here to revisit).


Continuing with this theme, I present to you another gem from my Dad's recipe vault.....Aunt Sarah's Cinnamon Rolls.  My large extended family used to converge on our family "cabin" every Thanksgiving when I was a kid, and I still remember the smell of waking up to Aunt Sarah and Grandma Irene making these cinnamon rolls in the morning.  I'm pretty sure they woke up at like 5 am to start making them.  Below is a jpg of the recipe and a couple present day shots of me and my crew re-visiting the cabin.  Enjoy!

Memorial Day - 2010 

the kitchen counter - home of the famous cinnamon rolls

the acknowledgment of the recipe's vagueness cracks me up - click on photo to see in full size

Daydreaming:

So, I am still knee-deep in working on my business model, which I really didn't think would be so bad because it requires me to write about something that actually interests me:  my business!   UGH!  How wrong I was.  I'm swamped with redundant questions about things that all sound the same to me.  Do you know the difference between the "key resources" and "key activities" required for a "value proposition"??  Me neither.

So, today's post is dedicated to the cute and creative side of my business I'd rather be focusing on:  ideas for cookies and cool decor ideas for a bakery.  Please join me in ignoring my problems for a minute......xoxo

 I love these jumbo size versions of frosted animal crackers from Bake at 350.  I get lots of great decorating tips from her blog.

This is something I've been dying to try for awhile.  It's a chiffon cake, but the purple color comes from purple sweet potato flour, not food color. 
I found it on la ciliegina sulla torta, but the site is Italian and the Google translation leaves something to be desired.

Nutella Squirrels!  from my KC fav Dolce Baking Co.



Obviously, this is a little extravagant for a bakery, but I LOVE the striped wall in DG colors, pink and green.  I found this on Design*Sponge, but I cannot find the direct source. 
Please don't sue me.



mmmmmm, donut fabric.



R&D

ahhh, recipe testing.  it's a difficult and tireless job, but someone's gotta do it.

 Lemon Sparklers (vegan)

more lemons, Peanut Butter (vegan), and Brownie Crisps

Peanut Butter

Brownie Drops

Last night...

see you Monday!

thank you!

Thanks for all the survey responses, folks.  Looks like Peanut Butter is the winner!  I will make sure to have an awesome PB cookie available for purchase when the online store opens (April?). 

Right now I am super busy with trying to keep up with school AND get the online store together.  There is so much to be done.....decide on a website design, get help with creating it, do my business model and plan for the e-commerce class.  ACCCKK!  On top of these things, I've got so many ideas buzzing in my head for package design, web design, etc.  Oh, yeah!  And I still have to finish up all the hard "research" of figuring out which recipes will make the cut. 

Once I decide on the final flavors for the store, I am going to be distributing sampler packs to local businesses that might be interested in carrying DG cookies...with easy, online ordering capability.  Please send any interesed parties my way, and I will be sure to get them samples.

Also, I think there is still time to hop (huh huh huh) on over to the Leaping Bunny page on Facebook and "LIKE" little Homer pictured below in their "cutest photo" contest.  Homer was one of my foster kitties last summer,& I still miss him!  You have to actually "like" Leaping Bunny in order to "like" the photo of Homer...just an FYI.  xoxo

Tonight:  making Brownie Drops!