Old friends and cream puffs....

I met two long-time friends for lunch today. One friend I get together with every couple of months, and the other I haven't seen in at least 15 years - maybe more. We all used to attend the same church at one time. Lunch was at McKoy's Smokehouse and Saloon off Old Pineville Road. They have to-die-for macaroni and cheese. BBQ and some good conversation among old friends is like the perfect Saturday. 

I don't think either friend has had my cream puffs before, so last night I whipped up a small batch of 18. I gave each friend a polka-dot box of 5 cream puffs. The waitress managed to lift one from each box with her sweet personality and kindness, and she was willing to forfeit her tip for another. Wait....what? Now, that's a pretty good review right there! For the record, we weren't about to let her do that. Anyway, that left 8 cream puffs. 

I ate one as soon as I got home. So now we're down to 7 cream puffs. 

I sent a text message to three officers to see if they were working hoping I could pass off a box to them. One officer was off, one detective was off but on call, and one officer was home sick with strep throat. 

I had to go to the grocery store for a few things and pass a shopping center along the way that almost always has an off-duty officer in the middle of the parking lot, so on a whim, I fixed another polka-dot box and took it with me, and I was right. 

The officer rolled down his window as I pulled up and I introduced myself. I told him I was a volunteer with CMPD. I gave him my name and told him I was also The Cream Puff Lady. He was very nice. He smiled and said he would love a cream puff. He seemed pleased to finally get to try one, and that always makes me happy. He said, 'maybe another officer will pass by and I can share with them'. I said, I hope so, and with that, I wished him a good night.  

The two puffs diminished to one, and now there are none.  :)

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Daydreams and food trucks....

I've been thinkin' again.

When I found myself at a career crossroads in 2016, I had already promised a cream puff drop to the nice officers in the CMPD North Division. So two days after losing my job, I kept my promise and delivered two boxes of cream puffs.

It was nice walking in there, not rushed for a change. In a conversation with the kind lieutenant, I told him what happened and that I was enjoying my time off. With a cream puff in-hand, it didn't take the lieutenant long to say...."Miss Ann, I think you should start selling your cream puffs. You're sitting on a GOLD MINE!"

As lovely as that thought it is - and I think about it a lot - the regulations are very strict. For example....some people bake cakes at home and sell them for profit, but it's not that easy for my cream puffs.

According to the Dept. of Agriculture (weird that this would fall under their department), I cannot make cream puffs at home (for profit) and the first two reasons that nixed it for me were:

1. I have a pet - my darlin' Clementine. No pets allowed inside the home if you're making food for profit. At least that's the rule for NC.
2. The puffs must be refrigerated.

I'm sure there are many more reasons, but these were the first two road blocks.    

I haven't closed the door on this dream completely. I checked into renting a professional kitchen. The idea sounds easy enough, but it's expensive and the puff filling needs to chill overnight which means I would need a refrigerator (with a lock). I would have to leave the filling there in a strange, unattended refrigerator. That creates a whole other problem and, well, that's just not going to happen. I need a locked refrigerator if I can't keep my eye on it.

My other idea was to turn my garage into a kitchen. Now wouldn't that be amazing! It would be pet-free. No doubt an expensive investment just to make cream puffs.

My friends tell me all the time....'you need to open a bakery', which inspired this post. Not so much a bakery, because I want to concentrate on what I do well and what my friends behind the badge like most....and that's my Cream Puffs.  

What I envision is a mobile truck/trailer, bee-bopping around the city of Charlotte selling only cream puffs and coffee, and soft drinks. With retro signage that screams "The Cream Puff Lady!" 

With retirement five years on the horizon, it gives me some time to try to figure it all out.

Here are a few ideas that keep my dream alive. Each one has its own unique personality. I love them all!

'La CREPERIE de MARIONE' -- this adorable food camper resides in Barcelona. Click here.

1962 SANTE FE VINTAGE CAMPER converted into a super cute mobile food truck -- click here.

I love this, although the window doesn't seem very secure. Anyone who knows me knows that I am all about safety first!

I would need about 3 of these refrigerators.  :)

MARGUERITE du PRE is a cute little yogurt truck, somewhere in France.  Click here.

SWEET LUCIE'S ORGANIC ICE CREAM resides in Mar Vista, CA. This 1959 International Harvester Metro was a functioning ice cream truck for over 30 years in Los Angeles, CA. It was in a serious state of repair when Sweet Lucie's acquired it in 2009. After a four year restoration, it was brought back to it's original glory. Super cute, eh? I love the white-wall tires and the red rims. Click here.

Love the white wall tires and red rims.

COMBI COFFEE in Porto, Portugal. Click here.

CAROLINAS in Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil (a sweet shop)

I just LOVE this one! I could definitely see myself selling my cream puffs in this.
Enough room for coffee, and an adorable sign that reads....'The Cream Puff Lady'.

PINTEREST

♥