To make lots and lots of money! No, no, no, you don’t start a cottage anything to make money—at least not at first.
I needed a change. After ten years in corporate America, I knew I couldn’t continue through the motions of toiling my life away doing things I actively disliked for people I didn’t care about.
My wonderful husband and I deliberated for several months, and we decided together I would quit the corporate grind and move into something that let me be at home doing something I love.
I have memories of standing on a stool in my parent’s kitchen, helping my mom make cookies. At first, she let me do the easy things—just pouring ingredients into the bowl. As I got older, I got more involved in the measuring and breaking of eggs.
In high school, my mom made chocolate chip cookies for me all the time, and I gave them to my classmates—everyone raved. I was so proud of my mom’s cookies. My classmates talked about my mom’s cookies for years after I graduated. What a legend.
One Christmas, well into adulthood, I was going to a party, and I wanted to make a special kind of cookie. I found a website with hundreds of dessert recipes and chose one. Those cookies were a huge hit. After that, I started baking a lot more. I memorized the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe I still use and never looked back.
If there’s a party, I usually volunteer to bring a fun dessert. They are always a hit. I love baking. It’s more science than art, but I can be creative in my own way (like doubling the vanilla), and I love baking from scratch.
The cottage bakery right now is just cookies and scones. I could see the menu growing in the future. I also love making cheesecake and bread. Maybe someday, it’ll expand.
Things are pretty slow and that’s okay. I’m enjoying having time to explore different talents and gifts. It was quite the risk to move away from a high-paying job, but even with less money coming in, I am way more content with my life. I have more energy for my husband and our niece and nephew. Not every career change is about money, and it certainly isn’t if you want to start a bakery out of your home.