Warm Winter and a Valentine's Treat

What is up with the weather we have been having lately?  Record breaking heat (although it's only been in the 70s, not it's not REALLY heat, at least, not by Texas standards), teasing us with rain clouds, only not to rain?  Windy like mad?  Hmm....

Anyway, there is not a lot I like more than baking on a cold winter day.  It makes the house smell nice, and it makes me fell nice and cozy.  I think every day is a great day for baking, but especially during the winter.  Oh!  Or when it's raining.  Something about baking when it's raining outside just makes my day.  I long for frigid winter days, and rain most of the year.  Oh well...

And while it's probably not going to get cold again here soon, probably not again until December (fo' real), I am really looking forward to baking next week for Spiderhouse's Valentine's Day event (you like that segue?).  Spiderhouse is a really cool place here in Austin.  It's locally owned, and if you are into keeping small businesses in Austin,  and are anti-corporate coffee (except on those days where you just aren't anywhere near a cool coffee shop, so you have to visit a corporate one, or just if you are totally anti-corporate, and if you are, I envy your ability to be that way, because sometimes, a gal just needs a freakin caramel macchiato in the middle of her day, and where she works, she can't just hop around the corner to a small business to get one, okay??), you should definitely check it out.  They actually do a little more liquor and beer now than coffee, but it's got a great atmosphere, they have nice cocktails, and the people who work there are nice.  They also have some goooooood looking salads (you thought I was gonna say baristas, didn't you?), and other good food.  Go check them out if you're in the area- they are at 29th and Fruth.

Spiderhouse is having a Valentine's Event, and Holly's Pie Hole will be baking whoopee pies, cupcakes, and cookies for this event.  I will tell you that cookies and alcohol really do make a good pair, as do our other treats.  Just don't get too drunk and barf it all up, okay?

We will also be making some savory appetizer kind of treats.  Our speciality is baking, but we do like to whip up some darned fine appetizers now and then too.  As we get more details, we will keep you posted here, on Facebook, and on Twitter!

And you know what's funny?  I just stepped outside, and I think the temperature dropped about 10 degrees, and it looks like rain.  Is it possible that we live in one of those Twilight Zone episodes, where a character writes something and then it happens?  Hmmmm... we just might, guys.  We just might...

Exciting Things and Why You Should Shop Locally

Hello, lovelies!

Big things are a-happenin at Holly's Pie Hole.  Friday, we took samples to some great local businesses: Spiderhouse Cafe, Wheatsville Co-op, and a new favorite, Thom's Market.  I was a dunklekopf and didn't take pictures of our adventures (I blame it on traffic and being harried trying to get around and not spill our goodies all over the place), but I will next time, promise!  All of these places are local to the Austin area, use sustainable goods, and are part of what makes Austin so amazing.  I suggest, no, INSIST that each and everyone of you in the area check these places out if you have not, and that you patronize these businesses.  If we don't continue to patronize businesses like these, they'll surely be torn down to make room for big businesses, or even, perish the thought, BARF CONDOS.  Grrr.

Anyway, enough of that.  We are working around our busy schedules to bring you some new flavors and Holly is working her little booty off trying to get us some new contacts.  That means a few good things, one being notoriety and getting our name out.  YOU, our undyingly faithful customers will be able to get our goodies without having to wait for us to make them, and it means a few more dollah bills, yo, so we can continue to live our dreams :)

Anyway, sorry for the lack of pictures (I am the most camera shy person ever), but here is some really good 80s pop music for you to enjoy by another Joanne favorite- XTC.  It's currently playing in my apartment, so I thought I'd share :)Exciting Things and Why You Should Shop Locally

Vegans Need Love Too!

We got a request to make a whole mess of vegan treats for a friend's daughter's third birthday party.  I used to be vegan myself, so I brought my knowledge of vegan baking to Holly's Pie Hole.  I haven't done any vegan baking in a while, so I was honestly a little nervous.  However, I think our customer will be really happy with the results.

I would like to say that we do not normally do cakes.  There are several reasons.
1.  In order to make a profit, we have to charge a good amount for cakes.  That wouldn't ordinarily be a big deal to me but...
2.  We are not cake decorators.  Neither of us really knows how to properly decorate a cake, and we feel bad charging someone what we would charge for a cake that isn't beautifully decorated.
3.  We like to stick to smaller scaled things at the moment.  It's just us two, so we have to bust our asses sometimes just to get something as simple as cupcakes and cookies out to clients, especially if we have things going on in our personal lives or a lot of orders around the same time.  To put the pressure of making a beautiful cake on ourselves is not something we care to do.
4.  There are FAR too many bakeries who can do a better job at decorating than we can.  We pride ourselves in being completely organic when possible and in bringing you interesting flavors, not in creating art out of cakes.  We know our limits.

I consulted with our customer about the cake, and let her know that we couldn't offer a fancy cake, but could guarantee it would taste good.  I made sure she understood that a cake baked by us wouldn't be fancily decorated, and that the extent of my cake decorating was spreading frosting, and MAYBE writing a little message.  As this is for a young girl's party, she didn't need anything elaborate, so we agreed.  As you can see below, the cake came out okay, but it's nothing fancy.  The customer really likes it, by the way (and a candle is going in that big space there.), so that makes me happy.

Pictured below is our vegan Bollywood batter.  I think I may actually like it better than the regular; you can really taste the cardamom in these babies.

I can't tell you how many times this stuff has saved my life in my past vegan life.  It works so well in baking!

Pictured below are our famous Bollywood whoopee pies and our Lemon Drop whoopee pies.  These are vegan as well.

I had such fun baking these vegan treats.  I hope some of our vegan friends and possibly vegan readers in the area will order from us.  It' was nice to get back on the saddle with these!

What I'm Listening To...

I have loved The Ocean Blue since I was 13 years old.  They made such good jangle pop, and they're still going, making amazing music, and I am still a huge fan.  So, I'm sitting here listening to them, making fun plans for our blog and our business.

We have new ides in the works, and we're going to be rocking your face off with new flavors, give aways, cool blog posts, and other fun things very soon.  We'll keep you posted on when to check for new and exciting stuff.  Right now,  just listen to the soothing sounds of Mr. Schelzel's voice and marvel at his gee-tar skillz.  You won't be sorry.

What music are you into right now?

Psst. Hey, you.

You look like you may need a nice warm apple pie.

Want to get one for free?  Huh?

Winter Special: FREE Apple Pie with any order of $50 or more!!!! Offer only good until January 31st. xoxo

DO EET.  

Happy 2013!

Hello, everyone!  I know it's been a while since we've blogged, but we've been really busy.  We promise to blog more often in the future.  It's one of our New Year's resolutions!

I’d like to take a moment to reflect on 2012.  We started our business in May 2012.  Holly and I got together over barbecue and snacks one Sunday, and Holly’s Pie Hole was born.

We’ve put a lot of ourselves into this business.  It’s taken time away from our families and loved ones (who have been nothing but supportive).  We’ve stayed up countless nights baking and have covered several hundred miles delivering (which has been a lot of fun!).  We gained and lost a partner due to personal issues.  We got all of our legal paperwork done, and have been able to advertise and sell our goods at local shops.  We attended a big vendor party at in.gredients in Austin, where we gained a lot of good contacts.  We’ve been featured in the Austin American Statesman and on the Bob and Dudley show.  We’ve encountered a few bumps on the way (starting a small business is SUPER hard and super expensive!), but it’s been worth it, and this is only the beginning for us! 

I would like to take yet another minute to thank each and everyone of you who have supported us.  Thank you to Mike and Allen, our significant others who have, in the process, befriended each other, and have given us undying support and have been there for us to give us pep talks when things were looking bleak.  Thank you for putting up with our bitching and moaning, and for eating that “one more bite” of super sweet food at 11 PM.  Thank you for being honest with us; your input has been invaluable.  Thank you for helping us with your artistic skills in coming up with our logo, our menu, our gift certificate, and other things of that nature that we are not good at.  We love you more than words can say and appreciate all that you do for us, every day.  You are our flames, our muses ;)

Thank you to all of our friends who have donated time to help us bake in our hours of dire need, and who have helped us by putting flyers and stickers up all over town.  Thank you also for helping us deliver when we were unable to due to other commitments.  You are appreciated, and we love you so much!

Thank you to everyone who has been our guinea pigs for new recipes, and those who helped us tweak them.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us financially as well. 

Thank you to Megan, Holly’s amazing sister, for helping us make sure we’re legal with the state and with the federal government. Without you, we may be in jail by now ;)  We appreciate your help and responding to emails, texts, and phone calls at random times of the day when you were super busy.  We still owe you dinner and drinks!

And last, but not least, thank you to everyone who has supported our business.  I know sometimes things get hectic with just the two of us, and it takes a little while to respond to you, but we appreciate your patience and your support.  It’s really tough to get a small business started, and without you, we wouldn’t have a business at all.  You have helped us realize our dreams, and we appreciate your continued support.

Happy 2013!