Nightmares and Dreams

Running a business online can be a bit nightmarish.  Lost packages, Paypal not adding tax, down servers, and  cancellation before final checkout on that selling site.

Most often everything runs smoothly!  I've found selling online to be fun and exciting.  I have friends across the globe, I have fans of my Art in countries I've long to visit, I've received notes from folks in different countries wishing they could purchase my Gourmet Treats.

In real life business folks will walk in the door looking for a certain item to purchase, walk up to register with item, pay and leave.  Many times folks will chat a bit before leaving the register and a brief but steady friendship develops as they return for more purchases.

Many folks love to window shop and dream of things to purchase when the right time ~ they have bookmarked that special item in their storage area of their brain, I do that quite often.  I have a whole inventory ready at hand for when I have the space and money available for my purchases.

I firmly believe we should follow our dreams to success in any venture that one desires.  In the coming weeks I'm going to be exploring more of that.  The time for me to follow a dream is at hand.  I have found a charming cottage in the business district of the city I live for rent.  Before ones jumps into burning fire one must know the risks involved.  This week will be busy doing follow up with various City departments to gather the proper information for a budding business.

Stay tune as I dream and focus on life goals.

Beer, Cocktails and me

It is seldom that we drink beer.  It's not one of those items I ever liked...I grew up in a city that had two breweries.  Most of my family enjoys a good beer; I was the outcast.

Cooking with beer is a new experience for me but heard others talking about the different beers they have used in Sweet Desserts and I had to try in some of my creations.

Alaska is a budding community of brewers!  I must admit I was drawn to the label on the ones that I chose to try out.  From a brewery down in Juneau, and they do like 5 types and I selected 3 with the help of the sales clerk in the liquor store.  Alaska groceries stores do not sell any liquor, its found in a separate store.  Most are located right next door to the grocery store, or in mini malls.

 

The smoked porter was very heavy and dark -tried it in a beer cheese broccoli  soup and it didn't work in fact was a total mistake; the soup turned an awful brown LOL and cheese soup as we all know is a pretty yellow and since I had added the whole bottle the flavor was overwhelming - I had to toss the soup...maybe a lamb stew it would be better - needs a heavy meat to go with - next adventure in beer I will do lamb for sure I really believe it will be the perfect match!  

The Winter I totally enjoyed - I was really surprised super great flavor, we liked it so much it didn't even get to be tested in any item for cooking LOL and I have to say I've never drank a whole beer until this one - we had it with mild white fish and went very well with the total dinner!

We have not opened the White yet...I'm making enchiladas today for dinner with pulled beef so I will stir in a 1/2 cup into the meat mixture and save the rest for drinking with dinner.  We are looking forward to this.  And will make for another post.

The past week I've worked on various things...getting ready for several juried Art Shows, sewing up a few new Cocktail Hats that I been trying to fit into the schedule; plus planning on activities I will be attending for Fur Rondy which starts next week.  I love this little Cocktail number:

 

If your a follower and live in Anchorage: I have a photo entered into the Fur Rondy Photo Contest that is held at Sears Mall:

 

This handsome guy is my little guy I mention every now and then!  He is as close as a grandchild I'm ever going to have.  I'm Grandma Pat to him and that makes my heart sing let me tell ya!  On this day we were down at Ship Creek looking for salmon and within 3 seconds of walking on the boardwalk  (don't read the rest Little guys mom) but stepped in gum warmed by the sun Grrrrrr...his exact words where GRAMDMAA PAT I STEEPED IN GOMMMM!  I don't chew gum, totally dislike seeing folks chew their cuds with it and think those who just spit it out where ever should be hung by their thumbs over boiling oil with snapping sharks.  The picture keeps one guessing to what he is up to... it was snapped just before his announcement and yes we did clean off the gum.

Hallow Weenies

A play on words for baked beans and hot dogs.  It was one of my childhood favorites.  I still like it! 

I like to take dry beans; pinto and kidney - soak them overnight, then cook to use as the base for my baked beans.

Recipe for Hallow Weenies:

2/3 cup cooked pinto beans
2/3 cup cooked kidney beans
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 white onion chopped
Seasoning: 1/2 tsp each - pepper, salt, cumin, ginger and Mrs. Dash tomato basil seasoning
6 or  8 hot dogs sliced into bite size pieces

Mix all together and place in 8 x 8 inch baking dish.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake for 30 minutes

Serve with hot rolls, a spinach salad with orange slices dressed with a spoonfuls of Balsamic Vinegar drizzled over the salad

I serve my Hallow Weenies with chopped green onion on top and with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese.

Giveaways and Specials

What a better way to celebrate September than to have a few specials and giveaways going on for everyone who visits! Run over to my online bakery shoppe and find a delight that you could even share with a friend or two or even three!:

http://coveredinchocolate.etsy.com

"Going to the Emmy Awards Special" Buy any Cookie Package and get one free (order is doubled) Good only til September 5th!

Since you are here you might want to start following me and then you are eligible to be in the drawing ~

Giveaway Special drawing!

Sign up to follow me and get your name in the drawing - Drawing will be on the September 18th! You will win a product that went to Hollywood's Emmy Awards!

Chocolate Candy

As my name is Covered in Chocolate...this post is about classy candy. I am about to begin a testing with my chocolate truffles I create. New flavors will be coming to my shop soon. Watch out you sweet tooth folks! Anyhow going to also try using some of those classics we all like and grew up with. M&M's has the new and fancy candies called M&M premiums Yummm. I tried the triple Chocolate today not bad! Thought I would use them as a topper on two of my truffles just to add something cute. What do you think? I thought the blue almond ones looked great but didn't purchase will have to try next time. Then I also tried Lindt 'Lindor Truffles' the swiss white chocolate with a smooth filling. OMG really good. For a candy bar its the best. So it will be a added treat on the side of one of my handmade super Key Lime or Orange Truffles. Tune in a few days from now to see pics!

Cookbooks: Heaven & Sin

I have a confession. I'm a cookbook junkie. Today I was out and doing some general shopping when out of the corner of my eye I spied cookbooks for a price I could not pass up. About 6 different titles but the one that really made my heart sing was "Perfect Chocolate". As I was checking my list of 'do I need this' - 'do I want this' - 'do I buy this' - 'will I really use it if I buy this'. Well of course I threw the book in my cart after scanning through the pages of the book and several recipes pictures just blew me away. Each recipe has some form of Chocolate in it. Totally heaven if I say so! For a sinful price of only $5.00 I have an additional 100 recipes that Chocolate stars in. Two cheesecake recipes really stand out and of course I'm going to try those right off! Then there were 3 cookie recipes. One day in my dream home I will have a whole room just off my kitchen for all my little kitchen gadgets plus designer bookcases from pecan wood for all my cookbooks.

Angels in my Garden

Angels are everywhere. Some folks believe - some folks don't. Either way is fine with me. The angels you see on Victorian cards are endearing, the full drawn angel with white flowing wings are beautiful. And the statues of angels seen in various country gardens are delightful. I know I have a whole lot of angels watching over me - it's a full time job keeping me in line and keeping me safe. Here is my version of angels: http://www.lollishops.com/node/12856 Just too darling! Drop by the shop today and order. Yes what the angels are gathered in IS white vanilla chocolate. Yes you can eat that Jewel Box! I'll will be selling the Chocolate Jewel Box shortly...we are working on the fine details of the flowers and design; when you work with melted chocolate it can wreck havoc on another color in the design when you pour additional chocolate onto the first colored chocolate. Practice makes perfect - I want the Chocolate boxes to be perfect! But then again it is so much fun to eat the practice pieces Over the weekend we will be adding a bunch of new products! We also are working on a Business Website of our very own. If you are wanting to check it out here is what we have so far: http://coveredinchocolate.food.officelive.com Let me know what you think. Still have to add pages of products, pricing, shipping and more but will give you the Professional Business Look that is a goal of mine.

Chocolate Dipped Apples

Lollishop Love Dipped Apple - just looks so pretty pink & white chocolates, then Rocki Road...a lots of yummies on this one! My dipped apples will only be available thru Lollishops! http://www.Lollishops.com/CoveredinChocolate Buy any three apples and save $5.00 on the total purchase price - 3 apples for $28.00 plus shipping of only $9.30 for all three (a savings in indiviual shipping of $18.60) Super great deal! Okay off to do more baking and play in the snow!

A Day in Chocolate Heaven - Ohhhh so Sinful

Today I'll be working with various chocolates to test out several new candy molds I recently purchased for adding to my line of Gourmet Sweets. I'll be testing out new colorings, extracts, and different chocolates to see how each work together in the process of making Gourmet Candies! Testing day is exciting, fun, but also frusrating! But it is the one chance I get to become totally creative with all my kitchen gadgets. Then we get to sample what we made to see if and when it gets added to the growing list of sweets that go into my online shops. Pictures will be taken during the whole process so that I'll be able to share the fun I had while testing.

Baking for Profit

"Spiced Chocolate Pecan Bars" just about to cut and add to my online shops! I'm setting goals for 2009. I love to bake. By this year's end I will have a real brick and glass shop that is primary my baked goodies and will also carry products from other handcrafters! I have two venues I sell my baked Gourmet Edible Desserts at. I ship priority mail...4 cupcakes can weight a pound and you want them fast! I am a vendor at Etsy and Lollishops. Visit either shop and I do allow drooling while looking at my baked creations! http://www.CoveredinChocolate.etsy.com http://www.lollishops.com/CoveredinChocolate I do catering, custom orders, and offer private teaching classes for learning or improving cooking/baking skills.