How It All Began

This tray of homemade tea breads may well have
been the beginning of the Afternoon Tea bakery.

Ana and I have been baking and collecting recipes since before either of us can remember.  It is a joy and a passion we always shared.  We were constantly talking about recipes, trying new ones, baking up treats for family and friends, and sending folks off with care packages of home-baked goodies.

In Florida, Ana's father-in-law was a prominent attorney and city official, and was always entertaining and hosting events of one sort or another.  Often Ana would cater some of the more casual gatherings, and feature a dessert table or sweet noshes to go with coffee and tea.

At one such event, she featured trays of tea breads including Pumpkin Bread, Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Fruit Cake and her famous Wine Date-Nut Bread.  Everyone raved.  Many times during the function, she was literally stopped in her tracks by people complimenting her delicious cakes, and suggesting that she consider going into business as a professional caterer.  The idea was planted, but as we usually do, it was tucked aside as an interesting thought, and nothing more.

It wasn't long, however, before I went to visit my sister at her house one afternoon, and we pored over a stack of new recipes we had each discovered.  While we were ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the tantalizing confections, I happened to mention a magazine article I had read about a young entrepreneur who had started a baking business out of his own home.  I casually said, "You know, we could do it, too."

The Afternoon Tea bakery in Miami, FL

That was it.  The fire was lit.  The next thing I knew, Ana and I were designing a brochure to test out the idea in the neighborhood, and it wasn't long before the phone started ringing off the hook.  Our operation remained a home-based business for no more than 3 months before Ana found a lovely vacant storefront at a nearby shopping center, and the Afternoon Tea bakery materialized.

And among the many confections we baked at Afternoon Tea from day one, and still make to this day, are Pumpkin Bread, Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Fruit Cake and Ana's famous Wine Date-Nut Bread!  What can I say?  A  great recipe is always a great recipe!

Here's to your wildest dreams and your next big, brilliant idea!

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French Apple Pie, Georgia Peach Pie, Mount Vernon Cherry Pie, Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie, Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie, Sweet Potato Pie, and more!  Download your copy of The Afternoon Tea Bakery Book of Pies for your Amazon Kindle today!

 

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