Back in the Kitchen (and back on the blog)

Wow, I haven’t written a post since we were on the East Coast! Since then, we packed up, made the road trip back to Arizona, and settled back into life (and my kitchen!) here. It feels so good to be home and back into a baking rhythm again.

Somewhere in the midst of all that, I officially got my cottage food license, which still feels really exciting to say. Since then, I’ve been baking plenty of sugar cookies, trying my hand at a couple of cakes, and — maybe the best part — rediscovering my love for macarons.

If you’ve been around for a while, you know that macarons were one of the things that really helped me get my business off the ground. And man, there were plenty of trial and error batches before I finally started to get them right. They’re tricky little things — temperamental, dramatic, and definitely high-maintenance — but that’s part of what makes them so satisfying to bake. The weather here in Arizona is perfect for macarons with its low humidity — such a difference from New York, where some days it took me nearly six hours just to get them ready for the oven. Getting back into making them has reminded me exactly why I fell in love with baking in the first place.

Lately, I’ve also been trying to take the next step with my little business. I’ve started applying to local farmers markets — fingers crossed I can get into one! I’m already on one waiting list, so we’ll see where that goes.

And because I can’t help myself when it comes to new ideas, I’m also planning my first ever porch pop-up market. I’m excited to create a setup at home where neighbors and friends can stop by, grab some treats, and chat. Since my customer base is still small out here, I’ve been brainstorming different ways to get people to come — from fun little promotions to spreading the word in the neighborhood — to try and make it a successful event.

I’m going to try and keep blogging — what I’m baking, what’s working (and what’s not), and everything in between. It feels good to get back into it, and I can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes my little business.

Now — I gotta go make more sourdough since we’re all out! While I’m busy in the kitchen, check out my latest treats!

Dough-lightfully,

Shannon (Sweet ConfectShan)