Harmony

Harmony

One day last week I took a day off. To work. Yes, to work. Katie had this bright idea to volunteer my baking services, along with her culinary services to Harmony Café . This is a new endeavor, a pay what you can/pay it forward Café wanting to open a location locally. They were having a fundraiser at our local VFW hall, and were looking for volunteers to cook, serve, set up, and do whatever else needed to be done. Me being me, I harassed Ms. Katie about volunteering my precious time. However, all the while, I was thinking, kitchen, baking, flour, sugar, eggs, fresh fruits and things and oh yes!  THIS is what I live for. Well besides the kids, the grandkids, the fiancé, La Luna….THIS is my passion.

Cindy, Rose, Me, and the Chef <3

8 Hours. 8 glorious hours in a kitchen, doing what I love. Is there anything better?  Fresh local produce all over the place, tasting, fixing, tweaking, baking, cooking, it was pure heaven.  Can I just say, my kid makes the best, bar none, ranch dressing EVER? It was suggested more than once that she bottle it and sell it. Amazing what fresh herbs can do in her hands!  There was vegan eggplant and kale parm, mixed green salad, coconut curry (amazing!) and spaghetti and meatballs. Done by Katie and our other volunteer, Cindy. Dessert was strawberry shortcake and peach

The volunteers

slab pie. By me. It all went over swimmingly, compliments on everything, people were eating, they
were enjoying, we were happy. I understand the passion now. The busting your ass to make amazing food, just to see others enjoy it. I get it. The three of us worked, literally in harmony, in that kitchen. I have always worked well with Katie in the kitchen. Except for the holiday meals when she tends to take over a bit too much, one of us gets pissed off (usually me, she wields knives too well), and walks out of the kitchen. Happens without fail every holiday dinner.  It’s almost tradition.

Fresh local, pure heaven!

Peach Slab Pie

However, Thursday was an exception. Thursday was absolutely joyous, the hot kitchen, ovens and burners blazing, knives flashing.  This is an awkward time in my life to realize what I should have realized long ago. That I should be baking. LOL and as I type this, her theme song comes on “Go forth and have no fear” indeed! Is it time?  Is it too late? A voice whispers in my head, no. It’s never too late. I can do this. I have to do this. I have worked in restaurants before. I know the pressure. I know the stress. But it’s good stress. Such good stress. And the end result, we make people happy. I have been taking classes for baking certification. I should have seen it, really SEEN it, every time I do an assignment. My family, who knows me better than anyone,  who respect me enough not to lie to me, they tell me the things I make are amazing. The Crème Brulee?  Best ever.  The Sabayon parfaits?  To die for.  When the hot cross bun dough rose, VICTORY!  They would not lie about this. They would not say this to stroke my

ego. I can do this. I’m GOOD at this, apparently.

Let’s face it, I have been baking for 35+ years. On my own time. For 35 years I have made thousands of Christmas cookies every year and shipped them all over the country. Those of you who know, well, you KNOW. There could be riots if

I ever took a year off. The birthday cakes, breakfasts I used to do on Thursday mornings for the backroom crew at the deli, I’VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS. Everytime I pull out one of my grandmothers recipes and ace it, it’s confirmation.  I’m thinking, yea, I’m thinking maybe I should accept it, call it my fate and go for it.  Go forth and have no fear indeed.  Perhaps it’s my time.

Renegade by X Ambassadors

It's our time to make a move
It's our time to make amends
It's our time to break the rules
Let's begin...

It's My Time by Martha Wash

I can see it clear
I'm getting close
I'm almost there
It's indescribable
It's my time to shine
It's my time

We all have dreams
We all have goals
With laughter and tears,
That's what we're living for
It's my time to shine
It's my time

Keep on walking your own path
Never let anyone hold you back
When you feel like giving in,
You get right up and try again and again

Be who you are
And you will go far
There's a place for everyone to be a star
It's my time to shine
It's my time

Keep on walking your own path
Never let anyone hold you back
When you feel like giving in,
You get right up and try again and again
It's my time (ohhh!)
It's my time (yes it is)
It's my time (ohhh!)
It's my time (yeah!)

I can see it clear
I'm getting close
I'm almost there
It's indescribable
It's my time to shine
It's my time

Keep on walking your own path
Never let anyone hold you back
When you feel like giving in,
You get right up and try again and again
It's my time
My time
It's my time
My time