HomeBasedBaking.com

Do any of the baby-boomers out there remember the Pillsbury Bake-Off Cookbooks sold at the grocery check-out for 25 cents many, many years ago. Okay so I'm dating myself, but during those days women and men really baked from scratch. There was no prepared cookie dough, bread dough or cake mix. You had to know math, flavoring techniques and possess the strength of Hercules since most recipes called for you to beat the batter 250-300 strokes with a wood spoon to form smooth silky cake batter.

Yes, for those "baby-bakers" out there the word Kitchen Aid® was non-existent; and there was no such thing as an electric mixer, we had plain egg beaters dependent on good old fashioned muscle power. As I think back on those days I can now appreciate the knowledge I gained from having to do things from "scratch." When you bake from scratch you learn about the texture of a product, the smell, taste, color, knowing when it is wrong and when you have hit pay dirt.

I do not use boxed mixes or bread machines, I am a purist and I admire and cultivate to other purist (birds of a feather). It's easy to toss ingredients in a bread machine and dump out dough. I know the bread will bake up beautifully and taste divine, but there is something about getting your hands in that dough and making the bread from scratch, plus if the machine ever breaks down, I can still produce wonderful bread for my family and friends. I am not knocking folks with bread machines, use what you like. I am of that generation that just appreciated the work that goes into using physical labor, hands, sweat to produce a delicious product. One of the students in my micro-business class said it best, "There's something about going to sleep at night knowing you have produced with your own hands a product that not only fed the hungry, but also "your" soul, you just seem to sleep better at night."

Well it's time for the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off and another person will win one million dollars for creating some sweet or savory concoction from preservative laden pre-prepared dough and mixes. What does this tell us? We are continuing to dumb down American cooks and bakers. Why can't we go back to the days when people made these delicious baked goods from scratch? What's wrong with scratch cooking? Don't give me the excuse about saving time either, because I know all the garbage (preservatives) put in these prepared mixes has to affect our health.

Scratch cooks and bakers around the world need to rise up, take note and protest! This is an abomination, right?

There is a revolution occurring at farmers markets today. They no longer sell just fruits and vegetables, but honey, butter for the local dairy farmer, Artisan breads, carrot cake, cupcakes, cookies, pies, jams, jellies and pickled okra and bamboo shoots. The unique variety of products available is endless.

If you are interested in selling homemade baked goods or family recipes at your local Farmers Market, stay abreast of food trends by using Goggle Alerts to locate what's hot and what's not. What was a huge seller last year may not be this year and although people loved those butter-cream topped cupcakes last year they may be seeking smaller versions this year; cutting back to help both their health and wallet.

If you are a home-based baker, baking Artisan breads; you might want to consider offering value-added items, such as homemade jams, jellies and fruit butters.  Remember though, some value added products can be costly, so select accordingly and consider selling your products both individually and as a pair. There are also numerous legal restrictions that need to be followed before selling your value-added product; you may have to use a incubator or licensed commercial kitchen facility so check with your state/local regulator agency.

Every food processor should also note that a Farmers Market is not always the best location to sell every type of food product. People who visit and make purchases at local farmers market are looking for bargains. They are not interested in paying an exorbitant amount for a gourmet pound cake, custom cookies or homemade chocolate truffles. For example, pumpkin pies may be your favorite baked good; unfortunately, no one may want them on a sunny spring day in April. The venue (a farmers market) may be the perfect location, but the product does not represent what consumers want. You might fair better selling your oatmeal raisin bars, or gluten-free coconut butterscotch cookies, priced at 2-3 for $3.95-4.95. These are products farmers market attendees can eat while strolling through the market or stick in their purse for an afternoon snack.

The bottom line, before deciding to sell your home-based bakery products at any Farmers Market do your homework and check out what others are selling. You do not have to sell the same thing, but think about what folks might want to purchase. Do your food products compliment other goods being sold at the market? If you are out selling on a Saturday, would a miniature pecan coffee cake be something consumers might pick up for Sunday morning coffee before church; or something they would take to an ailing friend? Farmers Markets are great places to sell your goods if you selling what consumers want.

We sit in front of flat screens, drooling over the lives of people who have absolutely no impact on our own life and wonder why the vast majority of us are living paycheck to paycheck and comfortable with a government that has educated and groomed so many to live a life of mediocrity.

You know there is something wrong when a recent article makes a case for kindergarten teachers making $320,000.00 for laying a solid educational foundation, only to realize that in the real, real world , we care little about the quality of a child's education, nor do we care what we pay teachers, kindergarten or not. Look the fact is educators do not increase revenue, entertain, create jobs or pay out lottery dividends. They are just not the "elite" group in America, like entertainers, politicians, athletes, actors and Wall Street swindlers. http://www.cnbc.com/id/38447475

Nonetheless we all want to live high on the pork rind, everybody wants to be somebody, even if they say they don't and everyone wants to make more money and live a more comfortable, happy life…and why not?

Everyone wants something for nothing. If you want an education, you no longer work and go to school, it's too expensive. So, what do we do? Students, young and old, take out loans they can never pay back or apply for grants and scholarships that are ripping the seams out of the pockets of taxpayers.

Take a peek at any discussion forum set up to help entrepreneurs and you will see information that gives you just enough to keep you coming back. It's a "crack forum", shelling out information that teases, provides short lived mediocre value and insight. The fact is the folks who use these forums do not realize the individuals posting rarely have their best interest in mind; and are actually more interested in either selling their product or service or feeding their ego.Truly good information, something that might move you, your family or business forward will cost, and it matters not if it is a little or a lot, no one wants to purchase information. Today, the Internet has transformed us into a society of folks seeking "handout-information". Have we forgotten the old saying, "Nothing in life is free"? Nope, we stand by the belief that everyone in need should receive, "Give me what I want when I want it or I'll have a fit!"

It is apparent if we keep on the current path Americans will be a pool of mediocre, mindless, moles popping our heads up at night to see what the other moles are doing, not realizing that none of us are doing much of anything.

Stopping this madness will be painful. We are looking at the total re-education of the American people. It is no longer about leaving a world for our children or taking care of our parents, but redefining life as we know it. The idea that we do just enough to get by, build a life by hanging on the every word of Bloggers, tweet about "Winning" and boggle our minds with thoughts of who is winning American Idol is just ridiculous. This magnetic mediocre field of dreams keeps us stuck in mediocrity.

So what is the solution? Learn, then learn some more. It's simple and involves work, real work. There is nothing new under the sun and there are folks in the world who can assist you with your every need; start taking classes and networking with people who can offer you sound information and advice.

Did you know there are free and low cost online courses available with the click of a mouse?

It is not true that everything that is free is worthless, or that anything of value can only be redeemed by giving up your first born. Here are a number of online educational programs that will assist you in learning. Learning what? Whatever it is that you want to know, accounting, history, how-to start your own business, the list is endless. Take a stroll through these sites and sign up to learn. Don't give lame excuses like, "I won't get any credit for these courses, I can't learn online, I am not a good reader, or my attention span is short;" just try it, you might like it.

What American's must ask today is "What is knowledge, know-how, and experience worth?" Is a free online course worth time away from the flat screen? What price would you place on learning $10, $50 $100 or more? If a job promotion demanded that you learn Excel, would you pay for a course to learn it or just look for something else to do? Why are Americans living a life of mediocrity, whining about high gas and food prices as opposed to looking for ways to increase their personal wealth? What have you learned lately?

• Harvard University Extension School
• Open Learning Initiative
• MIT Open Courseware - Free Online Courses
• Open University - UK - Free Online Courses
• Carnegie Mellon University - Free Online Courses 
• Sanford University - (iTunes)