PATRICE'S CAKES AND CONFECTIONS - PATRICE'S BLOG

January 30th, 2021

1/30/2021

GOODBYE 2020. . . HELLO 2021!
Please allow me to also say - GOODBYE CALIFORNIA . . .
HELLO TEXAS!
It's hard to believe a year has gone by since my last post. We ended 2020 with a big move to be closer to family. And, I also have a great opportunity to introduce East Texas to
PATRICE'S CAKES AND CONFECTIONS!
I will update this post and my other blog account as soon as I get my home-based baking business up and running. Please ask questions and/or make comments in this blog. I also plan to change email accounts and will provide the new email address within the next few weeks.

And, as always, STAY SWEET!

PATRICE

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

1/10/2020

WELCOME TO 2020!

HERE'S TO A FABULOUS 2020 FOR ALL!

As we step into another year, I hope to spend a bit more time, not only in this blog, but in my OLD blogger account I abandoned back in 2015. I am working on updating my blogger messages and posting photos from 2019 to bring everyone up to speed. My goal is to use the blog - patricescakes.blogspot.com - as a forum for baking information, small business owner experiences, tips and tricks. I will maintain this blog for my local customer base and those wishing to hear a bit of family updates with our BEAUTIFUL AND CLEVER granddaughter, who is now mastering the art of WALKING! Keep those running shoes on, Mom and Dad!

This past fall I set up a booth at Machado's Apple Festival in the town of Auburn, California. Weather was pretty good and the people (and sales) even better. I just about sold out, which made my aching bones and back very happy. Caramels, cupcakes and sweet breads (Cranberry Orange, Lemon Bundt, Pumpkin and Banana Pecan) went fast! I ended the year with a smaller venue in Auburn at a church Christmas craft fair plus individual customer orders of even more caramels, breads and peanut brittle. Altogether it was a successful business year.

As Patrice's Cakes and Confections moves into the New Year, I hope to gain a bit of momentum and offer quarterly, if not monthly sales of many of my bakery items. Please check out my Facebook page as well as frequent visits to my website and the blog.

If you have any suggestions for baking business topics to discuss or would like a humble opinion or two about owning a small baking business, please provide your comments and questions here or on the blogspot blog.

Have a spectacular January!!

Best Regards,

PATRICE

November 07th, 2019

11/7/2019

WELCOME TO FALL. . . I THINK!

Welcome to November in California. . . about 75-80 degrees worth. We are still waiting for cooler weather and stunning leaf colors; however, I suppose we'll hang on in the 70's until just before Thanksgiving! And, no, I am not whining! LOL!

Some personal events have prevented more frequent blog posts. I wanted, at the very least, to get rid of the summer post from July! I had a very successful event in October at a local Apple Festival. It was one of those 12 hour days that leave one tired, yet thankful. I nearly sold out, which was quite the blessing.

As we enter the 2019 fall/winter holiday seasons, I want to take this time and say to ANYONE who even glances at these posts, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! Life has it's moments and I am truly a blessed and grateful woman. As long as I am able I will continue Patrice's Cakes in whatever capacity - from small, occasional orders to catering larger, "sweet" events.

Enjoy the next Season!

Patrice

IT'S THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER...AND WILL BE HOT, HOT, HOT! (106 - hello Sacramento!)

7/27/2019

It's been quite the Spring-Summer here. July has had fairly mild temperatures; however, as we enter August, triple digits are creeping in!
I LOVE BEING A GRANDMA!
We had a great Texas trip in May, visiting our beautiful, beautiful, beautiful granddaughter, Charlotte Marie - aka Charlie! It is so very true that from birth to almost one children sprout so fast, gain momentum (almost walking??) and melt your heart with the smiles, giggles and personality that grandparents live for! (sigh) I know we're gonna be ready for another visit real soon.
OH YES, I STILL BAKE!
Baking!? Yes, I still remember what that's like! I have had one marvelous customer this year keep me in the kitchen while I baked lovely tea loaf breads, such as Lemon, Chocolate, Banana Pecan and Pumpkin, as well as a Neapolitan layer cake and a few caramels. Not only do I love baking those tea breads, but I really enjoy getting to know my customers and having great conversations about baking and life!
UPDATED MENU AND PRICES!
Coming in AUGUST - somewhere during the month - I will update my menu and price list, publishing it here and on my Facebook page. Be on the lookout for a sale or two and a Fall preview of new tea loaves and other sweet stuff.
LOCAL CUSTOMER NEWS
Patrice's Cakes and Confections will be at Machado's Apple Festival on Saturday, October 19, 2019 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Loads of fun, great crafts, music, food, apples and local vendors. Come visit us in Auburn, California!

WOW! This is the longest blog post I've had in awhile.

HAVE A FABULOUS REST OF THE SUMMER AND REMEMBER TO

STAY SWEET!

HAPPY SUMMER! JUST A FEW DAYS LATE!

6/24/2019

Hi Everyone!

Believe it or not I'm on the run again!
Will attempt a more detailed update later today.
Stay Sweet!

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY SPRING, 2019!

3/25/2019

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!

We're just waiting for the March/April rains to finish cleaning out the air and then it's on to the SUNSHINE! Let's not mention the coming of spring cleaning, which, alas, seems to beckon us as well.

This is a quick announcement to let all of my LOCAL CUSTOMERS know that I am now offering GLAZED LEMON LOAF breads for sale at $12.00 each. It's quite the lemony treat to greet the Spring and lasts quite a few days wrapped well on your kitchen counter! This lovely loaf will be added to the main menu in a future update.

In a few days, perhaps, I will post a photo of my latest cake for a customer's birthday. . . NEAPOLITAN THREE-LAYER CAKE. It's quite the undertaking and worth the effort. This also means that my three-layer STRAWBERRY CAKE is now available for $50.00 as a Spring specialty with truly great strawberry flavor.

Must dash. Thank you all for your support and reading my blog posts.
Pssst.....special discount for local customers who leave a comment on this post.

ONCE AGAIN, HAPPY SPRING!

Patrice

HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL!

1/1/2019

HERE IS WISHING YOU AND YOURS A VERY BLESSED & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

I HAVE UPDATED THE LOCAL MENU WITH SOME LOWER PRICED ITEMS!

CHECK BACK IN A FEW WEEKS FOR MORE UPDATES.

HERE'S TO A FABULOUS AND WONDERFUL 2019!

HELLO AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.....

12/20/2018

And, gee, didn't I take my sweet time updating the blog.

Well, news abounds as we are now GRANDPARENTS of a beautiful baby girl - Charlotte Marie! We took quite the trip to Texas this fall and welcomed our GORGEOUS granddaughter into the world. Mommy & Daddy are doing great and finally getting more sleep. . .Oh, who are we kidding??? There is no more sleep!

In short, the business continues and I am happy to provide updated Menu and Catering prices in 2019. I will spend the next several weeks working on updating EVERYTHING! Please take a moment to send me a quick reply that you've read this blog post. Your comments and constructive suggestions and ideas are most welcome!

CHEERS TO THE NEW YEAR!
MAY YOURS BE TRULY BLESSED!

PATRICE

Still Summer - yes, but thinking about Fall!

8/11/2018

Oh, please don't be upset about the title!
I haven't started Christmas shopping yet. . . ha! But I honestly can't wait for the Fall season to start.
That being said, I decided to announce a permanent price reduction for all one-pound caramels, formerly $28/pound, now $25!! I can tell you that one of my main ingredients, vanilla extract in all its forms, has skyrocketed in price over the past few years. I do not want to alter my flavor profiles in the least; however, I believe I can comfortably lower the pound price and still continue to provide pure vanilla flavors in my caramels. (Well, except for the Espresso Chocolate, which, let's face it, needs to be just espresso and chocolate!)

And, as sorta promised, here is a photo of the dessert table at our daughter's Texas baby shower last month.

Did you catch the flamingo theme? The two-tiered cake was a two-team effort! I baked and Natalie decorated. It was a pink ombre vanilla layer cake (top tier was all vanilla), strawberry puree and whipped cream/mascarpone cream filling, beautifully iced with Natalie's awesome buttercream and decorated with a fondant flamingo and candy wings. (whew) She also made amazing cake pops and I brought a ton of lavender, chai and salted vanilla caramels. It was a fabulous shower and I do not believe our granddaughter will lack for anything!

SUMMER UPDATES!

6/28/2018

Greetings Everyone!
Wow, June is almost gone, but we're still here! Lots to think about and get ready for my visit to Texas in July. Baby shower plans are underway and GUESS WHO is making the desserts, together with my very talented baking daughter!? (I tend to get a bit carried away when planning baking events, just ask Natalie!)

This summer finds me with time to experiment and bake "practice" products and try something I don't normally do...like a two-tiered baby shower cake. Pictures to follow soon - having mini uploading issues. The baby shower theme is flamingos and pink and white polka dots. Will most definitely post the final results at the shower. In the meantime, enjoy a few shots of my baby GIRL practice goodies. Yup, did I tell you they're having a GIRL?

Cute Onsie Cookie and Foot templates. . . but we won't be doing cookies. I have no problem sharing my less than perfect attempts with something new! It's all about the icing thickness and a very steady hand. Plus, there is a huge timing and patience factor making cookies such as these. Hats off to the experts out there! Baby shower practice cake coming soon. Have a SWEET day!
Patrice