Everyone always assumes that if I could do any other job besides teaching, that I would pick something to do with horses. Maybe giving lessons or training, just boarding or running a tack shop. The other one that everyone tells me I should sign up for is writing a book, novel, children's book, etc... I love that idea, however it isn't as easy as a person would think and well, my stories never seem to get finished. So while those all sound fun, you know what has become a crazy new dream? A pie and ice cream shop. I know... I know... I should get enough of that working at the Village. But see, I love that job too. Wouldn't it be fun to take my favorite parts of that job and apply them to St Charles? I even have a name for it.
Missy A’s would be a little shop. I'd have ice cream, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream from Wisconsin of course. If you haven't ever had it, you are missing out. We have it at the Village in Harmony, I think they have it at the Village in Fountain and I know they have it at the Creamery in Rushford. There are a TON of flavors and we have some favorites at the Village like Munchie Madness, This Shit Just Got Serious, Sticky Buns, Almond Joy and oh my favorite - Lemon Meringue. So, of course we would have ice cream. But no malts, because making malts is a giant pain in my.... well...you know. And we'd have those waffle cones that taste amazing by themselves, but also cups and plain old cake cones. Something for everyone of course.
Then the pie. I've learned a ton about pie baking over the years. My Grandma Kiehne was a great baker and I started making pies even before I graduated high school at the Harmony House. I remember the first time she tried my apple pie. She said the apples were too hard but it was "better than she thought it would be". That was a huge compliment coming from my grandma the task master. She shared her recipes with me as well. They were kind of a challenge to sort through as they often were things like, use that green coffee mug full of flour. Ummm.. great, but what happens when I'm at my house and I don't have the green coffee mug? Or "add milk until it looks right". Grandma! I don't know how to make it. I don't KNOW what looks right! She put up with me and I learned a lot. I have picked up a little from others over the years. I'll never forget Ethel Long and her tips for perfect meringue. But it was Julie at the Village who taught me how to make crust. I'd tell you her secret, but then I'd have to kill ya. ;)
And what about cheesecake? Oh yes - there would be cheesecake. You should see all the recipes I have pinned for cheesecake. Am I the only person in the world who loves cheesecake? All kinds of cheesecake. What other desserts would you crave or want in a pie and ice cream shop? Bread puddings? I have a pile of recipes for those saved. How about my famous rice pudding, with or without raisins? Brownies? Does it get any better than brownies AND ice cream?
What else would we have besides pie and ice cream? Well, everyone's favorite soups of course like loaded baked potato and chicken wild rice. The challenge would be not eating it all before any customers. And bread. We'd have some kind of bread. Fun breads, different breads or rolls? Maybe rolls... And cinnamon rolls right? What's a pie and ice cream shop without cinnamon rolls to kick off your morning coffee just right?
I have a vision of this little shop with a few cute little two seater tables and a couple of comfy couches. (Picture Central Perk from Friends) It would have a little book swap rack so folks could come in, have pie and coffee and enjoy a good book or swap it out for a new one. I have a color palette and decoration theme all picked out. And of course, it would be eclectic yet rustic and furnished with thrift store/garage sale finds.
Obviously I've thought about this dream a lot. Someone once told me that you can have any dreams you want, they don't hurt anyone. So while I keep my feet firmly on the ground, I'm going to keep dreaming about Missy A's. It's not hurting anyone, right? And who knows? Sometimes dreams really do come true.
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