Bringing Home the Baking

By Mia Freneaux

    For twenty years Julie Durham has been delighting the tastebuds of her friends and family with her sweet confections.  She has been making cakes and pastries commercially part time.  Finally, with the encouragement of her husband John and her four sons, she will now be sharing her delectables with the public full time.  John, who is in industrial sales, will be handling the business side of the endeavor, while Julie will reign supreme in the kitchen.  "John covers quality control," she dimples.  John hastens to agree with this. 

    Julie has a wonderful heritage in the culinary arts.  She remembers her grandmother always baking and preserving, and Julie learned at her side. "It's in my blood," Julie says, "I have always loved to bake – breads, cookies.  I enjoy creating things, and have taken many classes on cake decorating to indulge that joy." Her specialty Christmas baskets are a tribute to that heritage, overflowing with spicy pumpkin bread, jars of special preserves, apple bread, or anything her client desires.  She also makes Birthday Baskets with balloons, a stuffed animal, and a special cupcake.  Her grandmother was also an avid quilter, and her mother, another big influence, was a seamstress and floral designer.  Julie often finds herself not just creating wedding cakes, but dresses and flower arrangements as well. 

    Julie's culinary creations are always made from the freshest ingredients, such as fresh figs, blueberries, strawberries; and the most exotic flavorings: African Cocoa, Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla.  "None of my ingredients have preservatives, and I always use only real butter.  It just has that marvelous flavor.  Every frosting, icing, and filling is made from scratch by me personally."  Julie also handles sugar free requests. 

    Julie can create a cake for any occasion – birthdays, anniversaries, showers, weddings.  Her most challenging cake?  "It was  an 'upside down' wedding cake," she remembers.  "The bride brought me a photo of a cake that was literally balanced on it's smallest layer.  I successfully recreated and assembled it!"  (Check out The Sweetest Things' Facebook page to see a photo.)  Of course, she has beautiful original designs as well.  One of her emphases right now is "Grown Up Cupcakes."  Here are a few of her original offerings:  Lavender Cocoa with Blueberry Icing (Julie actually steeps real lavender flowers to create the delicate flavor); Fig with Honey Lemon Buttercream Frosting (John's favorite – "The figs make it so moist!" he enthuses); Kahlua with Kahlua Buttercream (flavored with real Kahlua); Bananas Foster with real banana liqueur; Creme de Menthe with Chocolate Buttercream; these are but a few of her unique combinations.  John asserts,"I can confidently say put Julie's cupcakes against any other bakery and hers would win, hands down!"

     In addition, Julie can create petits fours, cake balls (her personal favorite), cake pops, edible bouquets, and any other delicious tidbit a hostess may desire. A very elegant offering is the stuffed strawberries – fresh berries stuffed with cheesecake or brownies, then dipped in luscious chocolate. "We are also offering our services to corporate affairs, and to restaurants to supply desserts" John says, "Our goal is to produce an awesome product and give our clients what they want."

    Julie and John are excited to launch their new business here in Central.  "We are a part of this community.  We attend Zoar Baptist Church, our children go to Central High School.  The folks here are so friendly and homey."  Give them a call and let Julie make your sugar plum visions come true!  Call 225-361-0018 and leave a message, or email them at [email protected].  Custom orders only.