Sweets by Jocelyn

You know there are times when "your plan" isn't working.  For instance, for the past two years I have kept teachers kids here at my house with Adda and then Ella at the end of the school year last year.  I had two spots open up when school ended and I haven't been able to fill the spots yet.  I have tried everything "I" can think of to get the information out there and fill these spots.  There comes a point that you realize "your plan" might not be "His plan".  I don't know what the Lord has in store for us, but we are praying and pressing in to hear Him speak.  Our prayer is that He would speak clearly to us.  The blog is something we have prayed about.  I am thoroughly enjoying doing it, but we are also praying that God would bless it!  I don't know where it will go.  For now I will continue to post and pray! 

I love, love, love to bake!  My love of baking came from different places at different times in my life.  I took a professional baking class my senior year and fell in love.  Mrs. Browning brought out a passion in me that I didn't even know I was capable of.  I wish I had taken every cooking class she taught!  Also, I have had three amazing women in my life that taught me things in the kitchen... Mom, Granny, and Nana!  

The first thing that pops into my mind when I think about cooking with Granny is biscuits and gravy.  Not just cream gravy, but sausage cream gravy!  Making gravy (good gravy) is not easy.  I can still see her standing next to me at the stove as we stirred the flour into the grease in the cast iron skillet.  My brother and I were so incredibly blessed to have one set of grandparents in Lovington, where we grew up.  She would have us come over on Saturday mornings and eat biscuits and gravy.  She and Grandad spent countless hours in prayer for us, and so many others.  When you walked in the door she could see it written on your face if you were struggling with something.  I miss her!  I miss Granny!  I miss her biscuits and gravy!  As I type this I have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes!  I wish she were here today to read this blog!  I would totally post she and I making our favorite breakfast meal together! 

My first thought about cooking with Nana is cinnamon rolls!  These are not just any cinnamon rolls!  They have a butterscotch bottom and icing on top!  A-MAZ-ING!  She makes the very best there are (according to the Lewis', Goudekets', and Scotts').  Every long 12 hours road trip to Tulsa meant hot out of the oven cinnamon rolls, at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, looking out the paned window at the garden.  As a kid I knew they were good but as an adult I appreciate each morsel I put in my mouth.  She has it down to a fine art.  Out of everyone in our family myself and Laren (one of my cousins) are the only ones who have made them with her.  I have her instructions written out in great detail.  I have made them many times and they are wonderful...they just aren't her's!  It must be the hot out of the oven, sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, looking out the paned window at the garden that does the trick.  She is getting older now and hasn't made them in years I am sure.  I am thankful for her taking the time to teach me! 

My Mom, Mamasitta, Beth Ann, NanAnn, or B (as my Dad calls her)!  I have learned so many things in the kitchen from this amazing woman.  A big one would be pie crusts.  We just don't buy pie crusts and never have.  She knows how to make the very best, perfectly crimped, flaky, buttery pie crust.  When you watch her mix this dough up with her hands she has them rolled out and in the pan before you blink.  All with fantastic finger nails!  I am not this quick yet but I'm working on it!  I can't even begin to list off all the other things I have learned and am still learning in the kitchen with my mama!  She taught me to be a cook, to try new things, to read a recipe, and to not read a recipe and just go with what you know.  She let me come help, even when she probably knew it was going to make a bigger mess than she wanted to clean up.  She was and still is the best!  Our visits home to Lovington always include amazing meals and lots of time in the kitchen.  Memories I will never forget!

All of this (sorry for the very sentimental stories) said, I feel like the Lord is telling me to push my baking.  To do what I love, love, love to do.  For the past few years I have made many cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and pies and sold them to friends.  Many people have mentioned you should do this as a business.  But honestly it wasn't in "my plan"!  So I have printed some business cards and I'm going to do it.  I have a tab at the top of the blog that says Sweets by Jocelyn.  This will be a place that you can click and see pictures, pricing, etc...!

Here are a few pictures of some of the things I have made over the past few years for people.  Enjoy!