The name, Kitty Cat Artisan Confections, has a very special meaning and combines my three passions in life. Let’s start with the Confections part. My love for baking began more than 30 years ago when I became curious about the preparation of all kinds of food. I must have been about 13 years old when I tried to fry a batch of something and almost burned down the entire kitchen. (A tip: Never try to put out a grease fire with water!) Even after that day, I found myself gravitating to the best room of the house to observe family and friends while they cooked. I asked a lot of questions and I made mistakes all the time. (Mistakes lead to mastery) Wonderful people were generous with their time and patiently taught me what they knew. And I kept cooking. Baking became my favorite culinary endeavor.
We have Confections down. Now it’s time for “Artisan”.
According to dictionaries, the term artisan has two different meanings.
ar·ti·san
…a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand.
…of food or drink) made in a traditional or non-mechanized way using high-quality ingredients.
Ahhh, how I love art and the creation of it. I love to use my hands to make things. I love to touch things… and textures. Kneading dough is so calming. And, ohhh…how I love colors, all of them. A messy painters palette, paint brushes strewn about… this makes me happy. Paint stains on my hands? I love it!
Am I really an artisan? Well, I don’t know. But the word sure sounds cool. And I do like creating edible confections with my hands. Oh, I almost forgot! In 2014 I took a break from my desk job and spent some time in Italy at Florence University of the Arts, Apicius School of Hospitality learning Italian Baking & Pastries from the pros. Okay, I guess you can say I’m a forever confections student, learning a little here and there…getting better and better each day.
As for the “Kitty Cat” part (the most important part)…It was circa 2003 and I considered myself a “dog person”. I had never owned cat. Until one day my boss, a lovely Louisiana lady with a southern drawl, planned a trip and asked me to babysit her cat. She had two cats. One was named Sugar, the other was Spice. Perhaps sensing I wasn’t experienced with cats, she left just one in my care: Sugar. Or maybe it was Spice? Anyway, all of the sudden, cats began finding their way into my life…or maybe I found my way into theirs.
Add another bunch of years and here we are. I still love cats and spend much of my free time ensuring the welfare of the most vulnerable cats in our community. It is what gives meaning to my life and makes me happy. That’s why 20% of all sales will be used for the care of community cats, ensuring they are spayed/neutered, fed and healthy. So now you understand the importance of Kitty Cat in the name.
It’s 2020 and Kitty Cat Artisan Confections is ready to bring a smile to your face and a tickle to your tummy!
Favorite Quotes
“One of the deep secrets in life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.”
~Lewis Carroll
“Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.
~Albert Einstein
priscillakittycat 