Valentine Treat Sale!

This year's Valentine's Treat Sale to benefit Food Ministries at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is right around the corner.

It will be held on Sunday, Feb. 14,  from 9 a.m. to noon at the Cathedral in Kempton Hall. Come early for the best selection because we do sell out.

I'm spending most of today planning this year's treats and I promise they will be beautiful, delicious and the perfect sweet gift for those you love.

I hope to see you there and in the meantime, here's a little sample of the treats from previous sales.

Baked, Packed, Delivered, I'm Tired

After weeks of preparation and a busy day baking more than 5,000 cookies, the 2013 Trinity Christmas Cookie Box sale is officially over. In the end we made 116 boxes each containing just under four dozen cookies and raised more than $3,000 for Food Ministries at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

Today we delivered the boxes and can now take a breather until next year. Pulling off such a large project required help from a crew of dedicated volunteers who I can't say enough about - I am so blessed to have their help and support.

Special recognition must be given to my friend Cheryl who organized the sale in addition to making and packaging cookies. By herself she made 48 rolls of shortbread dough!

Here are some pictures from the busy baking and packaging sessions that started last Friday at 9 a.m.

The baking team at the beginning of the day with more than 5,000 cookies in our future: Teri, Rieko, Leah, Martha, Mary, myself and Cheryl.

Martha and Mary counted and sorted cookies. In the background is Cheryl checking a batch in the oven. Cheryl and Rieko did an amazing job of watching the ovens and baking every single cookie perfectly.

Anne cutting Ruglach.

The Ruglach assembly station: From left to right, Tiffany, Linda and Teri.

A baker's rack filled with cookies ready for packaging.

Linzer cookies.

Bill and Dave unwrapping candy canes for peppermint bark. Dave is also the resident chocolate expert and prepared the melted dark chocolate for dipping and white chocolate for peppermint bark.

Teri, Cheryl and myself drizzling white chocolate and sprinkling crushed candy canes over chocolate shortbread.

The team returned early Saturday morning to fill the boxes. The first step was to open all the boxes and set them out on tables.

The first layer: (clockwise from top left) Cranberry Coconut Cookies, Maple Shortbread, Cranberry Ruglach, Chocolate Shortbread with Peppermint and White Chocolate, Ginger Molasses Cookies, Linzer Cookies, Vanilla Shortbread and more Ginger Molasses Cookies.

The second layer: (clockwise from top left) Linzer Cookies, Russian Teacakes, Chocolate Shortbread with Peppermint and White Chocolate, Ginger Molasses Cookies, Walnut Logs, Cranberry Coconut Cookies, Marbled Shortbread and more Walnut Logs.

The final addition was a package of Peppermint Bark.

Filled Boxes ready to be closed and finished off with a Gingerbread Snowflake and red satin bow.

Boxes ready for delivery.

Tart Packaging

I like to make individual-sized fruit tarts because they are easy to package and make great gifts for friends.

A full-sized tart is awkward and a slice is pretty impossible to package without using a hard container like Gladware which works but is expensive and not so cute.

All you need to wrap individual-sized tarts are cardboard, parchment paper and self-sealing cellophane bags. A homemade tag isn't necessary but a nice touch.  It truly is easy and will no doubt make your friends very happy.

This packaging is also great for bake sales and fundraisers. Your customers will be enticed by a well-wrapped treat that's simple to transport.

Here's how:

Cut a round of cardboard that is slightly larger than the tart and place it on a piece of parchment paper.

Fold the parchment over the edges of the round and hold it in place.

Set the tart on top.

A tag is optional but easy to make and a nice touch.  I make tags using a large paper punch and cardstock. Punch a hole on the side of the tag so you can thread twine or ribbon through it.

Slide the tart into a self-sealing cellophane bag. Seal the bag, wrap with twine and add the tag.

Sold Out!

Sale Snapshot: We sold boxes of hand-dipped Belgian chocolate truffles, French macarons, decorated sugar cookies and handmade Valentine cards.

Thank you to everyone who shopped at the Valentine Treat sale yesterday at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

Because of you, we sold every single treat and raised money that will be used to support the Wednesday Community Meal. It was the perfect ending to a busy week of baking and chocolate making.

Volunteers spent a few hours the day before the sale packaging the Belgian chocolate truffles. The flavors were dark chocolate, milk chocolate and raspberry dark chocolate.

Just a few boxes to sell!

A package of cherry macarons.

A package of chocolate hazelnut macarons (the recipe will be on the blog soon).