Custom cakes and desserts created from your choices!

In July 2004 I began baking officially as the owner/operator of Dragonfly Baking.  It has been a pleasurable time with a few lows, but, for sure, many, many, many highs.  I have grown from laboring over designing cakes and stressing over large orders, especially weddings, to an enjoyable place of comfort with my abilities and limitations.

 

I have met many new people and reveled in their engagement, shower, wedding, anniversary and baby shower cakes.  I have watched many of those same babies grow up through their birthday cakes.  I have watched and celebrated many retirements of friends, new and old, with my cakes.  I was also able to celebrate the weddings of my children with my cakes, and now the family cake saga continues with my grandchildren!

 

I have learned new skills and developed new baking interests while I tried to remain grounded in basic pastry and baking principles.  The chemistry of baking continues to astonish and frustrate me, sometimes both at the same time.  It is wonderful to watch coarsely chopped chocolate turn into glossy, smooth ganache, or watch the perfect chocolate chip cookie rise in the oven and fall flat as a pancake as it cools! (I have finally mastered my nemesis after all these years, although I am knocking on wood as I speak!)  I have also found that all is not lost when I have made mistakes.  Sometimes new flavor combinations or new looks are born, but always something is salvaged, even if only a lesson in grace.

 

I have had to learn patience (not always an easy feat) to read recipes carefully and to resist the temptation to play super woman by multitasking while completing some baking tasks.  The business of baking does not take kindly to the inconsistencies or the substitutions in the home kitchen.  There is no magic wand for a real flop; thankfully I have had very few forgotten orders or less than appealing results that could not be rectified in time to be enjoyed.  I have learned that “It is only cake and I do know that it will definitely taste good!”

 

So, I am hanging up my Dragonfly Baking apron!  Although I still enjoy making cake, I have decided to tackle some projects I have put on the back burner for a while.  I am sure it will still involve some baking in some manner, but also some gardening, some reading, some writing, some painting, some speaking, some family visiting … sounds like retiring all over again … I’ll take it.  I planned on ten years of baking and I settled for twelve – I think it is time.

 

Thank you to everyone who has supported my business and enjoyed my cakes, cupcakes, cookies, breads, pastries or whatever your taste was hankering for.  I have thoroughly enjoyed serving all of you and I know I will miss seeing you and baking for you.

 

Merci et adieu!

Judy