More Than a Bakery, Part II

The bakery turned banquet hall awaits Thanksgiving guests.

The guests? 30 relatives. The other 15 were seated in our original dining room.

More Than a Bakery, Part I

Aunt Ruth and Mom roll flatbread while Grandpa looks on.

The bakery is more than a bakery. We knew that it would be way back in the blueprint phase. That's why we...
...chose a floor plan suitable for both a bakery and a living space (if needed in the future).
...chose flooring that's both commercial and "pretty."
...plumbed it for commercial sinks and a small apartment (again, if needed in the future).

I could go on, but you get the picture.

Here is a peek into one of the non-bakery moments. One day last December my grandparents and aunt, Ruth, came for our annual flatbread making day. A Ronnevik family Christmas Eve meal would not be complete without this delicious, crackery bread. This time we were aided by a compact and efficient bakery, four ovens included. The baking was done in record time and satisfied many palettes over the next month.

Grandma and I manned the ovens.

Flatbread. Mmmm...

Meals for a Dime

Together we shipped 109 meals to Haiti and Africa!

Over the summer a can sat on our market table collecting pocket change. By the end of the year we had collected $10.97. Last month we sent that money with our friend, Joey, to the Global Aid Network Distribution Center in Lancaster County, PA. That's where Joey works packing aid to be shipped to needy communities around the world in the name of Christ. Thanks for helping!

To learn more about this project, go to gainusa.org.

All good friends share. They even share jobs. At least Megan and I did.

Many a Friday last summer found Megan on an early morning drive to my kitchen. She would join Maren (sister #1) and me for the day's baking, up to twelve hours at times. Megan brought much help and encouragement to our kitchen. Due to her deft hands Maren and I found a few formerly unheard of minutes for meals, coffee, and even a little story time. By sharing, I think I got the better end of the deal.

This fall Megan took her turn at sharing. A dream came true when Hannah (sister #2) and I got a behind-the-scenes view into a coffee shop.

Megan mixing up one of her many ice-blended coffees that day.

Hannah and I each got to make our own coffee. Here I am preparing grounds for espresso.

Caramel colored espresso. Beautiful!

Heating and frothing milk. Thankfully Megan helped me through this scientific process.

Adding flavors.

Almond Joy Mocha. Amazing!

Farmers Market Fare

There are many great things about selling at farmers markets.  One of the perks is the swapping of left-overs that takes place at the end of the day.  Often these swaps take us beyond the vegetable basics.  That was true one day last fall.

Upon receiving a bag of beautiful, blue potatoes, I began dreaming.  Blue Chips with a Twist. 

Crispy.  Crunchy.  Potato-y.  Yummy!

A Susie Homemaker Day

I love these days. Days I can put business and busyness aside. Days to delight in the joy of homemaking. Days to bless my family by restocking the pantry.

Basically no bread in the house? Time for Mom and me to try out a couple new recipes from last year's Christmas gifts -- no knead bread recipe books!

Two hours later and the dough was up to the top of the pails. Seven grain bread...

...and basic European white bread. Time for the dough to go into the refrigerator until tomorrow.



We are always trying to use up something in our pantry and freezer around here. This day my goal was to make frozen, leftover bread samples (served to customers at farmers markets) into croutons. A few of these seasonings are also on our to-use-up list.



Multigrain, Sourdough, Dill-Onion, and Cran-Orange Whole Wheat Breads, seasoned and toasted to perfection. (Sound like a strange combo? Think cranberry stuffing.)

Spiced herring makes way for croutons. It is just too fun to use old jars.

Time to fill up the granola container while making a bit to sell to a friend.

The next day -- Seven grain bread goes from fridge to oven to tummies.

Thick, chewy crust. Creamy and crunchy crumb. Yum!

"Though the weather outside is frightful..."

Twenty-some degrees.
Frost to scrape from windshield.
Brown, saggy plants frozen in their pots.

Frightful? Maybe not. Especially when I smell decaying leaves, hear the cheerful voices of chickadees, see the clear, star filled sky while crisp air meets my nose... Still I prefer to enjoy these pleasures in short snippets or wrapped mummy-style in warm clothes. I admit it. Cold and I don't get along.

I remember the cold Octobers of yesteryear, sitting like a bag lady in my parka along the street while selling my home-baked wares to regulars and passers by. But I only remember it. This year I got smart.

Bumping my farmers market schedule back a little, I used the month of September to catch up on the backlog caused by busy summers. The beginning of October then saw the launch of this year's once-a-month baking and delivery schedule... one month earlier than last year.

A stack of deliveries waiting to go.



Standing Order
This family chose a great variety of baking to enjoy every month.




Two Bread Subscriptions
Here is a peak into October's "edition."