Update on upcoming Market

Everything is moving along nicely...
I submitted my application to Council last week for a temporary food licence, I have a week to go to submit my market application and I am almost there with my labels order.
Have got lots of ideas whirling around my head as to how I will set up my stall and display my cookies.
I visited Handmade Market at St Peter's Hall last weekend and was very impressed. The stallholders are all very talented and I left feeling very optimistic and inspired about joining them at the next market.
So with a bit of luck, 'Roocke Cookies' will hopefully be available for sale on the weekend of Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th January 2010, at Handmade Market, St Peter's Hall, corner of Harrington and Brisbane Sts.


I hope to confirm this in my next blog...

Merry Christmas! Don't forget to leave a Cookie out for Santa!!

Jam Drops

I have been baking Jam Drops today as a friend came over for afternoon tea.


This recipe reminds me of the smells from my Nanna Marj's kitchen.
I can picture the round biscuit tin coming out of her sliding cupboards.



A cup of tea and Jam Drop (or two) make a perfect match.

Keeping Busy!

It's 3.27am - what am I thinking??
Earlier today I had my wisdom teeth out so my sleep patterns are all over the place. Like a lot of nights when I can't sleep, the notion of Roocke Cookies comes to the fore of my mind and my ideas get running. So I've spent the last 6 hours writing in my Ideas Book, getting all my labelling sorted, conversing with the Council to make sure all of their requirements are being met, and doing a few costings.

I have no idea how many of my cookie packages will sell, so I'm doing lots of sums.
The market that I intend to start at, runs over a Saturday and Sunday, so I need to ensure I have enough packages to cover both days. There's never going to be "the right amount" - I'm either going to under or over cater! If I under cater, then there's going to be a mad rush of overnight baking on the Saturday night, but if I over cater I'm hoping it won't dampen my spirits too much. At least my workmates will be happy on the following Monday.
Everyone who has seen my blog or heard my ideas so far have been very positive, so hopefully I can guarantee a few customers!

The labelling aspect has taken a lot of my time - I've been researching what needs to be included, have gone through my recipes to identify proportions of ingredients and allergy warnings.
I have also arranged gift bag labels, so that if my customers wish to convert their packaged cookies to an instant gift, they will be popped into a gift bag with a label of their choice for a small extra charge.
The lady I have been dealing with to create & print my labels has been fantastic. She has responded to my emails really quickly, and understands my needs.
It's refreshing to get great customer service. I hope I can offer the same to all the Cookie Lovers out there.

Until next time (hopefully not when there's only 2 hours to go before I'm due to get up!!).
Katrina

Cornflake Choc Chip Cookies

Tonight I've been baking Cornflake Choc Chip Cookies, in preparation for a catch up with my Mother's Group tomorrow.
Our toddlers will be exchanging Christmas gifts.
Should be lots of fun.

Taking the plunge...

It's 3.10pm on a sunny Thursday afternoon. I'm at the computer having some "me" time as my 16mth old son has his afternoon "sleepy time".
I have been coming backwards and forth to the computer a lot lately, doing some research to see how realistic my dream is to venture into small business, without having any knowledge of what it's all about. It's scary but equally exciting. I have been making weekly trips to the library and have a pile of books on my bedside about taking a chance, and living your dream, how to be a "mumpreneur" etc.
So small and steady steps, and who knows what the future holds.

My vision is to sell my home baked cookies. Quite a simple thought, but the logistics of doing so have caused a few sleepless nights. Some councils don't allow me to bake at home unless I have a 2nd kitchen, or a commercial kitchen. They have suggested hiring one, but my aim was to bake at night or afternoon when my son has his sleeps. Then there are the insurance costs, food licences etc. Some days it seems all too hard and I give up, but then the ideas start whirling around in my head again, and I get back on that horse!

Where did it all begin?? I've always had a fondness for baking and recall the delicious smells in my Nanna's kitchen and the morning coffees and cookies that my mother shared with her friends when I was very young.
My mother passed away from breast cancer when I was 6 and as I got older, I felt like I still wanted to give something to her for missed birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's day etc and didn't hesitate when given the opportunity to fundraise for the Cancer Council.
I donate the ingredients and my time to bake trays and trays of Cookies and sell them at my workplace for 50 cents each. I have donated all of the money back to the Cancer Council. I wish I had kept records of the amount of cookies I've baked or the amount that I have raised, but I have been doing this since approx 2003. I feel very proud of this achievement and just feel it is the least I can do to prevent others in our community from growing up without their mum (or any other family member).

Since having my little boy in June 2008, the baking and fundraising have taken a back seat. I had no idea how busy motherhood would be, but in saying that, I love it.
I am now only working part time in paid employment and have a strong desire to do that little bit more (but without spending any less time with my son).
So the concept of Roocke Cookies has reared its head again... and again.
I am in the process of getting set up so that I can sell my cookies at local markets around Hobart, and hope to make a start in January 2010.

In the meantime there is lots to be done - costings, labelling, reading, researching and of course baking!!

For anyone reading this, I would welcome any suggestions on taking the plunge into small business etc. I dearly hope it all works out.

Regards
Katrina