The count down has begun. Only 6 days to our next Tasting Party! Six days of crust baking, candy making, bread baking, ice cream making, biscotti baking, curd making, and cake baking. Blissful, intoxicating smells of coffee, chocolate, peanuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, walnuts, cherries, pecans, oranges, lemons, limes, apricots, raspberries, lavender, and of course, more chocolate.
And I play music, sing and dance my way around the kitchen.
Everyday several things are checked off the list. Tart crust. Ice cream. Gelato. Nougat. Caramels. Granola. Crepes. Shortbread. Monday this. Tuesday that. Wednesday and Thursday this and that. Until Friday.
All the while, the music and singing and dancing continue.
Friday I kick it in to high gear and finish all the last minute things that can only be made, well, at the last minute. And not only does it all have to taste sigh-inducing amazing, but it has to look tantalizingly perfect, too. That's when I have to take a deep breath and tell myself to calm down. No more singing. No more dancing. Just pure concentration adorned with love.
And I work like mad!
Until 6:30 p.m. Saturday night.
That's when you come in, and my endeavors make your face smile and your taste buds dance. Hopefully.
For me, that's the crowning touch. Because, even though I completely bask in the entire process, from purchasing materials to decorating the finished product, your "Ahhh" makes my heart dance.
And who knows, some fancy footwork might even ensue.
Chocolate, Cherry and Walnut Cake