My First Inspiration
Whenever I had sleepovers at grandma and grandpas, I was always so excited to bake with my grandmother. I got to choose the type of cookie we made and, if I was lucky, I got to use my hands to mix the dough. She also taught me how to make apple juice from my apple tree. Each year, we get together and make apple juice in my kitchen; it is a weeklong process and I have always cherished that time in her kitchen and her company. I am excited to continue to make memories in the kitchen in that years to come.
My Dream Job
My grandma may have gotten me into baking, but as I expanded my baking horizons, I discovered local bakeries such as C&J located in Winnipeg on Grassie Street. I reached out to them, floating the idea of potential employment as anything in the kitchen, even a dishwasher, and I attached my resumé. The next day, they invited me in for an interview where they got to know me. It was clear that I was passionate about baking and a week later, they put my baking abilities to the test as I went in to do a second interview where I baked for them as they instructed me. One week after that, I got the call and I have been working there as a part time baker ever since. From local bakeries such as C&J, I have grown a love for cakes; cakes that are intricate, exploratory and works of art. I want cakes to give someone an experience and for it to have a long-lasting impression of them. Having a cake personalized just for you is such a special feeling and an effect.
What Celebration Means To Me
The act of celebrating is the forefront of most of our memories for large life events such as birthdays and weddings and both occasions have cakes as a center piece of the day. On these big days, we gather to appreciate the one whom the celebration is for, and we give back to them to thank them for all that they do for us. I have baked birthday cakes for my cousins’ children and their reactions to the cakes are magical. On one specific occasion, my mother and I made a unicorn cake for my cousin’s daughter, and she was amazed that her birthday cake was a unicorn head! By her reaction, I could tell that this was precisely what she wanted, and I love seeing how my creations have an impact on people. These occasions are days of joy and I love giving back with cakes and treats and this is what my final project is all about.
My Final Project
I am currently in grade 12 at MBCI where our staff works tirelessly for us. I will be putting together a spread of sweet treats as a thank you to the staff of MBCI. Our staff have helped us navigate through online learning from 2020-2022 and never quit making our experience at MBCI as flourishing as it could be.
This celebration will be held in the middle of June. I will bake a showstopper cake and three smaller desserts. The cake will have three tiers, each one being a different flavour and the smaller desserts will be lemon sugar cookies, red velvet cupcakes, and raspberry chocolate mousse. These four desserts encapsulate the themes that this event is surrounded by: summer and celebration. The apparent role of berries and fruit mirror the season in which the event will be held and the chocolate and elevated flavours of the cake; pink champagne, key lime, and candied orange chocolate, show the appreciation that we have for our teachers in this celebratory time of graduation and living in the real world.
Graduating for me is like a plant being brought from a greenhouse to the outdoors to flourish and become all that it can be. I hope to make my grandmother proud of her youngest grandchild and to show her how much she continues to influence and inspire me.
Anika Enns