November Update

It has been a busy few weeks.  The 3rd Thursdays at Boston's House of Jazz & Blues has been great exposure.  I am still learning as I go.  The plates for November's service sold out.  I know that we could have sold more plates if we'd had more food.  That was very exciting.

I am happy to report that we have signed to do a small Christmas Party in December.  I am very excited about doing that and continuing to sell goodies to my friends.  The word of mouth is helping and I am very thankful for the support.

My friends have remembered me and have blessed me with their business and the desire to share my goodies with their friends and family.

The addition of Sweet Potato bread to the sweet bread menu has been very well received.  I am crediting that with the use of North Carolina grown sweet potatoes.

Thanksgiving orders are going out tomorrow.  If you missed the chance, you can still put an order in for a later date.

More to come!  Peace, Love and Happiness....

Short list Menu - Updated

Please see Feb 2012 post.

GHOE! - Kick off at Boston's House of Jazz

Homecoming weekend is apparently a big deal. The "Greatest Homecoming on Earth!" They keep yelling. People are in town from all over the place. There are parties nightly, a big concert, the game and just a lot to do.

The Pink Box of Happiness served at Boston's House of Jazz for their homecoming kick off event. Temptation Thursday!

I love cooking for Boston's. My banana bread went over very well! I know that we will be serving something sweet every time we make an appearance.

There is something that puts a smile on your face when you taste something fresh and filled with love.

My new business cards came in. They were redesigned by Bry of OneBry Photography www.onebryphotography.net

I just got in a bushel of sweet potatoes! I have started playing with a sweet potato/ banana bread, mashed sweet potatoes, sweet potato chips and fries, oh and sweet potato hash that my sister was telling me about.

I have to make my daughter some lasagna for her birthday and I want to make a chocolate cake. Those will come into play when I get my kitchen time.

I will be posting an new price list in a week or two.

Until then, put love in everything you do......I do.

Love Jones Thursdays..@ Boston's House of Jazz

Bostons' House of Jazz
422 N Edgeworth St, Greensboro, NC 27401


I know I haven't written in a while. I've been busy. I am pleased to report that for the past two months The Pink Box of Happiness has been selling plates at Bostons' House of Jazz for their Love Jones Thursdays, which is the third Thursday of each month. Show starts around 8p.m. and the table is set up and ready to serve by 9 p.m.

August: Chicken Skewers and Vegetable Rice
September: Chicken Wings and Warm Pasta Salad
October: Chicken Wings and Mixed Vegetables & special treat: Lemon Pound Cake!
November: TBA
December: TBA

As the weather gets colder, we will be offering some sweets at the events. My sister is kind enough to man the table while my best friend makes a beautiful sign. I'll post pictures soon.

Please continue to pray for us as we work to make the Pink Box of Happiness synonymous with wonderful food and quality.

April Update

Business has been picking up. It is very exciting. I have had 3 orders a week for the past 4 weeks and the one week that I had so much going on I was worried I would not be able to make an order, I only had one. It worked out for the best.

I am going to be sponsering some events with food. I sent some love in the form of some brownies to a poetry event on April 17th. The goodies were well received. I am hoping to get some business from it.

I have a soft spot in my heart for the arts so I will do what I can to support in any way I can.

I'm really looking forward to hearing from you. Let me know what goodies you would like. I have a lot of love to bake into your order!

Wheat Bread

I have been thinking about making healthier bread. Whole Wheat Bread is next on the list with honey wheat being close in the experimental list.

I have had a minor setback with the kitchen inspection. I hope to have the issue resolved and be back on track to get legal!

Words cannot express how much I enjoy baking and bread has become my new infatuation. It is great to kneed the bread and form it into a loaf. The smell as it bakes in the oven. The smiles on the faces of my family and friends as they enjoy something I've made.

Awesome!

Updates coming soon!

Beginnings

I wanted to share with you a little bit about the beginning of the pink box.

In 2003, my father passed away. My heart still weeps at the thought. I often think of him when I am cooking because so many of my memories of him are of helping him in the kitchen.

Heartbroken and sad, I started to look for a way to create memories with my children that will help me honor the memory of my father.

I found a recipe for banana nut bread. I had my daughters help me make it and while working together in the kitchen I told them stories about my dad. Working together with them made me feel closer to them and him at the same time.

I remember once going into the kitchen and cutting up some potatoes and onions. I fried them together with a lot of pepper. That was one of my dad's favorite dishes. It was just me in the kitchen and when I called my daughters to share in what I'd made, I told them a story about my dad. I never thought about the fact that one day I would be telling stories to my children about my dad that way my dad used to tell us stories about his father, we never got the chance to meet him.

Cooking became my means of working through my emotions. Until on day I realized that cooking made me happy. Stressed out and anxious I went into the kitchen and pulled out a recipe. I read the list of ingredients and started pulling each from the cupboard. As I reached the bottom of the list I noticed that I felt more relaxed. I measured, poured, mixed and beat. Each step was zen and clear. I held my mixing bowl, breathing in the aroma of sugar, butter and vanilla. I closed my eyes and things made a little more sense.

I once had issues with food. It was not my friend. It was like a rag stuffed into the hole of a dam. The water kept flowing not matter how much I stuffed in. I have since worked through those issues and have a much healthier relationship with food. I eat or not based on my physical needs not my emotional ones. It feels good to cook and know that the love I put into each step will be shared with those that eventually will consume it.

Sharing is another food philosophy I have. I was once asked for the recipe to my banana nut bread and I asked that the person I gave it to do one thing in return. Share what she made with someone else and tell the story of why she was giving this delicious food away. I later crossed paths with this woman about a year later. She told me about making the banana nut bread and sharing it with a friend. It felt good to know that the bread turned out great and that she got so much satisfaction from sharing it with someone else.

I get a great deal of pleasure from sharing what I cook with others. It is great to know that my food is satisfying on more than one level.

I read a quote somewhere, but I don't recall who said it. "Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life." That is how I feel about cooking. I just hope to be able to do it for a living. I pray to have a local diner where people will come to enjoy the food we make.

Who knows! You may be singing "Made with love in Coley's oven!"

Pushing forward.

Progress Update

I have written my simple business plan. I have filled out the necessary application and have sent it to the appropriate office. Now I have to schedule the initial inspection.

I am going to a potluck tomorrow and plan to take some bread and maybe something sweet. I can't decide.

I am cautiously optimistic about the future and being able to make money at selling my goodies.

More to come...

Pushing Forward

I have begun the process of trying to get the proper inspections, certifications and licences for my business. I have been trying not to put together a business plan, crazy I know, but now I am at a point where I have to because I need to map out where this thing is supposed to head.

I am hoping the process of getting the kitchen inspection goes smoothly and I am certain that I can obtain my first contract!

It is so close I just have to keep heading in the right direction and I will reach it soon.

Once I do have what I need to legally sell my wares, I will be posting a general product list with contact information for ordering.

More to come...The oven is warm so let's get cooking!

The Road to Certification

I made a contact a couple of weeks ago. A man that owns a coffee shop that sells baked goods. I looked at what he had to offer and asked him if he needed a new supplier. He said that once I got certified by the department of agriculture as a home bakery that he would be interested in doing business with me.

I am making the appointment soon. I am going to take him a basket of goodies soon. I know that once he tastes the treats, he will be hooked!

Made with Love in Coley's Oven!