It was many years ago when i was first introduced to baking, specifically, when my mom let me get my first real job. I was a senior in high school and I started to apply for a couple of jobs and with no work history, other than babysitting the offers were not rolling in. However, one woman and place took a chance on me - mostly likely because she new my uncle. Jackie Scott, co-owner of Scott's Pastry Shoppe in Middleton, WI asked me if Gary was my uncle. You see he also owned a bakery in Platteville, WI. Before I knew it I was starting work at Scott's - washing dishes, bathrooms and floors and slowly worked into other areas of the bakery. I worked on and off for four years at Scott's Pastry Shoppe and yes, I filled and frosted the donuts, prepped wholesale orders, created orders for the bakers who came in at night, decorated cakes and even started to watch and learn from the bakers that worked there. I learned a lot about hard work, loyalty, relating to others and creativity working there - lessons that are with me yet today and I'm grateful that Jackie took a chance on me.
A funny story from when I was first starting to use the filler (for donuts, donut holes, eclairs, etc)... i wasn't given a great deal of instruction - just the basics. To start with I got to try donut holes. It had two spouts and you place the donut holes on the end of the spouts just far enough in, but not all the way through. Finally you hit the bar to activate the jelly to go into the donut holes. So there I am have my two donut holes, put them on the spouts and hit the bar - they shot off right past me on the floor. Right at that time Russell, the other owner and Jackie's husband, was walking by and just started to chuckle - I was both a little embarrassed but also amused. He showed me that you have to hang on to them and gently pull them back off the spouts to make room for the jelly to go - it was a pretty funny moment.
I didn't do much baking throughout college, grad school or during my first positions - it's only been in the past couple of years that the realization of how much I love to bake and cook has really come to light. It is such a great stress reliever for me and have so much fun experimenting with flavors and recipes.
