First Day at the Bakery

When my alarm went off at 4AM today, I figured I got about 2 hours total of sleep. But this is what I signed up for, right? This is the job I've been longing after for time out of mind. So I got up, put on a big t-shirt, sneakers, and my blue bandana and headed out the door.

The bakery I'm working at is located in a Whole-Foods-type grocery store, so when the head baker, I'll call her Karen, let me in, the produce guy was just beginning to check his stock. It seemed sort of magical to haunt the behind-the-scenes storage rooms and walk-in freezers of the shop. One advantage of baking at a store, and something I've always fantasized about for my own home (when I have a gazillion dollars) is having the entire place serve as your pantry! No turbinado sugar? No bittersweet chocolate nibs? No problem! Take a cart and go down the baking aisle! No fresh blueberries? Hit the produce section.

Anyway, today was an easy introductory day. Karen is always ahead of the game, so she had made in advance several batters and frostings, so we were good to go. We baked/made:

1) Scones - apple cinnamon, blueberry, raspberry
2) Muffins - more types than I can remember
3) Cinnamon sticks - a breakfast pastry
4) Cookies - again, numerous types
5) Bars - brownies (normal and vegan), blondies, and apricot

We also iced several cakes. I have to work on frosting abilities and my piping. My rosettes are really not up to par yet. All in good time.

It is so novel for me to have giant bins of flour and sugar and nuts and grains. And industrial ovens! I can't believe I get to be in my ideal playland, but for work. But I am pretty exhausted, and the job does require that I'm on my feet for hours, so it's not all fun and games. It seems most jobs aren't . . . Well, nonetheless, I am excited to start this new adventure. Tomorrow I learn challah bread production!

Exciting News!

So, I think it's safe to blog about this without jinxing myself now: I've been hired by a bakery! To bake! I'd seen the ad on Craigslist a while back and applied, but I heard nothing for weeks. Then, last week, I saw the ad again and went in, this time armed with photographs of my baked goods. The head baker liked them and soon I was meeting with the manager and owner!

There'll be a trial period, so they can see if I can handle the machinery and production. There's a big Jewish population in the area so the challah bread production will be one of my major responsibilities - thank goodness I brought a picture of my challah bread with me! If all goes well, I'll be the sole baker on Saturdays and Sundays, in charge of muffins, cakes, scones, etc. etc.

I start this Thursday morning with training - at 5AM! Ahhhh!!!

Banana bread with chocolate chips and rum-soaked raisins.