"Pie it Forward" was a Success!

I know it has taken awhile to report back, but our "Pie it Forward" was a big success. We delivered apple pies to a number of deserving people. They included a department at Youthville, a man who drives a bus and picks up toys for Catholic Charities, the new director of the Boys & Girls Club, a woman going through chemo but still working at an area high school, helpful family members, and even a couple who have been married 70 years. It was a lot of fun and very rewarding to hear stories of such generous people. What a way to start 2009, I look forward to making this an annual event.

Hope everyone got some SuperBowl treats. Here is what we did this year. Have a good weekend and enjoy the game. (I just watch for the commercials!)

Cheri

Still taking "Pie it Forward" Nominations!

We are still taking nominations for our "Pie it Forward" Event on Friday, National Pie Day! See the entry on Friday, Jan. 16, for complete details. You may also call us and we will be happy to take down the information. I would love to deliver a pie on YOUR behalf, FREE!!

Come by and sample our apple pie today! You will receive a 10% off coupon on your next pie purchase with any pie you purchase this week.

Pie is one of the oldest, most traditional desserts. It is dessert that is meant to be shared. So, take a little break this week, and enjoy some time with your family members, coworkers, neighbor or good friends.

I know I sell pies here, but making pies at home is alot of fun too. Kids especially like to help. Here is my 10 year old, Bryn, making her favorite Key Lime Pie on Monday when there wasn't school. She was very proud to serve it for dessert that evening. And yes, that is a store bought graham cracker crust. Cheating a little at home is just fine with me, but only made-from-scratch crusts at the bakery! I'm a working Mom too, you know!

All about pies...

I just want to remind everyone we are celebrating everything pies this week. Scroll a bit further down to read about our "Pie it Forward" event. You can have an apple pie sent to someone special FREE! I will make it and deliver it, just tell me why your special someone or special family deserves one. Scroll a bit further down on last Fridays entry to read about it. Let us "Pie it Forward" for you!

Todays Pie Fact: It was once against the law to sell cherry pie on Sundays in Kansas.

We will be sampling pie all week at the bakery. Tuesday is cherry pie day. It is has a made from scratch crust and filling. No buckets or cans of fillings at Cheri's. Stop by and check it out.

I will be on tv tomorrow morning. Turn to the Kansas CW or cable channel 5 at 8:48. I will be doing a little pie demo and talking about pies.

Cheri

A beautiful cake from 2008

Hi there,

I thought I would go back in my wedding files a show a beautiful cake from the past year. It is a buttercream design and accented with fondant appliques and draping. It had a lot of bling with all the rhinestones and just sparkled. Susan's did the flowers. It was quite a centerpiece!

Don't forget about our "Pie it Forward" event. If you don't know about it yet, check out the previous post. Now my weekend begins!! See ya later!

Cheri

"Pie it Forward"

If you don't have this on your calendars already, I want to make sure you all are know that next Friday, January 23rd, is National Pie Day. We are celebrating all week long by sampling different pie flavors and if you purchase a whole pie, you will receive a 10% off coupon towards your next pie purchase!

On Friday, we will deliver 20 free apple pies to "Pie it Forward" to celebrate National Pie Day. These pies are not from me, but can be from YOU!

Just tell us why you want to "pie it forward" to some one special or to a certain business or organization. Maybe you just want to say "thank you" to a friend for always being there to help, or "I am thinking of you at this difficult time", or perhaps there is a special organization that is always giving, without asking for anything in return. This is your chance to "pie it forward" to someone for doing something nice for you. We will deliver these pies on your behalf. Here is what you need to do:

• Tell us in 100 words or less why your friend, family member, business or organization is deserving of a special "pie it forward" pie. What have they done for you?
• Send us their name, address and where we can find them on National Pie Day, Friday, January 23rd. Don't forget to give us your name and daytime phone number so we can contact you if you are selected. We will take requests until 5:30 on Wednesday, January 21st.
• E-mail us your information. Our address to receive the requests is images@cheris-bakery.com. PUT IN THE SUBJECT LINE, PIE IT FORWARD. (This is only for receiving requests, we do not take orders from this address.)
• You may also fill-out a form here at the bakery.

We are going to choose 20 deserving entries. All requests can not be filled. Delivery times are up to Cheri's Bakery and unfortunately, if we are not able to reach someone at the time of delivery, another entry will be selected.

I can't wait to see the surprise of people's faces when the get their pie. I hope this goes well and we can make it an annual event.

Why not start 2009 in a positive way! No dessert evokes a warmer memories and goodwill than pie.

Have a super day!

Cheri

A return to winter...

Here are a few samples of our winter items I thought you might enjoy seeing. We have had an easy winter so far, we'll see what's ahead!

Check back tomorrow to find out how Cheri's Bakery is celebrating National Pie Day on Friday, January 23rd!!!

It could be a tasty day for someone special in your life!

Stay Warm!

Cheri

At home with sick child

I am at home today with a sick child, Bryn woke up in the night ill. So the good thing about owning my own business and now having enough employees, I can stay home with her and not worry about the business. Six years ago at the very beginning of this venture, it was much more difficult. The last thing a working Mom wants to do is leave them when they are sick. I know the bakery is in good hands and I will return calls tomorrow. This does give me a chance to catch up on some computer work. I must say I was very tired from the Bridal show this past weekend and did not do too much yesterday when the bakery was closed. (I even took a nap!) It also gives me a chance to spend some extra time with Erin before she heads back to K-State tomorrow. We will see if she gets her mountain of dirty laundry done. Jill already went back to begin a new job.



If you didn't make it to the show, I wanted to show you some of our new designer purse and shoe cookies. Cookie decorator and wedding cake consultant, Aurora, designed these to coordinate with our show cakes. They are just adorable and are a part of our new designer cookie line. They have more detail than our basic high heel and purse cookie. The colors can be changed to match your party or event.

Aren't these great!!! They are great for birthdays, showers or any event.

Check out some of the fun cupcakes we made to coordinate with our show cakes too. They each are topped with our signature buttercream icing and a fondant topper. These are also great for many occasions. Thanks for checking out my new blog. I should be back at the bakery tomorrow.

Cheri

Bridal Expo Cake Designs

We had a busy weekend at the Bridal Expo. It was, as always, a lot of fun. I think we had some great designs. Hopefully, there was something that appealed to everyone. This was our centerpiece cake. It is covered with ivory fondant and stenciled with deep purple. It took quite awhile to do and I could hardly move my neck when I was done. But, it was definitely worth the effort!

Here are a couple more designs. The coral one was just a great color. I saw that color in dresses in the fashion shows. It reminds me of orange sherbet. The next one has a navy fondant ribbon on white buttercream with brooches on each tier. It has some fun beads coming out of the flower topper. I put sugar flowers and a sugar monogram on the next cake. It is covered in 3 shades of green buttercream ribbons.
We showed 3 fun groom's cake designs. One featured Wichita State University athletics, another was a bucket of beers and the last was a toolbox with tools and nails made out of sugar. The bucket of beers was a hands-down crowd favorite, go figure!!

This tiffany blue cake has a white fondant bow and fondant flowers on the sides. It shows how you can vary the tier heights for something different. This black and white design got a lot of attention as well. It is iced in white buttercream with black fondant details. It is topped with a fondant bow and silk flowers. The ivory and taupe design was popular in a cake we did for last years show and because it was such a hit, we did a redesign with the same colors. It is accented with fondant calla lilies.

We always like to show some things that may be fun for a bridal shower. The purse can be done in so many different colors and designs. Kalee did a great job on it! The shoe and shopping cake was a real show stopper as well. The high heel shoe is made of sugar and painted in zebra stripes. Doing that shoe really put the nail in the coffin of my needing bifocals! I must finally accept I need new eyewear. Kim made the ring and ring box as well as the shopping bag. Everything about that cake is out of sugar.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth. To see these designs up close, stop by the bakery! To schedule a consultation, give us a call!

Busy start to 2009!

We are busy this week gettting ready for the Bridal & Prom Expo at Century II this Saturday and Sunday. It is the biggest show of the year and one that we always look forward to. We have created some fabulous designs so if you are engaged, come on down and see our newest creations. All the designs will be here at the bakery after Sunday, so stop by and take a look. Even if you are not getting married, you need to check them out. We have some fun sculpted designs too!