By Andy Furman
NKyTribune staff writer
Home Cookin’. No one typifies this more than Summer Smith, the Erlanger resident who took her dream – and passion to another level.
It became her life’s work.
Well, exactly – it became her life’s fun.
“I was an English major at Thomas More University,” she told the Northern Kentucky Tribune. “I just didn’t think that degree was serving me well.”
So, what did she do? Turned to the kitchen – her kitchen.
“I had no idea I had a love for baking,” she admitted. “At least not like I have now. But I needed to accomplish something.”
Smith was in-between jobs when she turned to baking — fulltime.
“I just started my day – and ended it – in the kitchen,” she said.
“I created a food blog about three or four years ago, and found myself baking, at home four-plus hours-a-day.”
It was a way to actually express myself, she says.
And, low and behold this December will be two years she actually started promoting her work – baking – to friends and family as well as on social media.
“My family was so impressed and so enjoyed my baking, they took my samples to their work place, sand I started growing a small business.”
From her kitchen.
We caught up with Summer at the Outdoor Covington Farmers Market Saturday selling her baked goods in her Summer Morning Bakery booth.
“I started with the Farmers Market of Covington, indoors last year,” she said, “and the response was good.”
Smith has become the chief cook and bottle-washer as well as order-taker and delivery person.
“I do get help from friends and family,” she says, “but I take orders, do pick-ups and deliveries.”
Birthdays are the busiest she claims.
Her specialty, she says, Cinnamon Balls.
“It’s my own recipe. I learned much from watching them being made on YouTube, and did some on-line research, but this is my own version.
“I learned how to make them fluffier – but still trying to make them better. I’m a perfectionist.”
Her cinnamon rolls come in original form, she says, as well as orange. Her monthly/seasonal special this time of year – the Honey with Lavender Icing Cinnamon Roll.
Biscuits are a close second on her list.
“They are tall, flaky and buttery,” she said. “I have an original and a chili chive.”
This Fall season she plans a Honey/Rosemary version.
And cookies are third on her list.
“My Brown, Butter Chocolate Chunk are my top seller,” she said. “They’re my favorite, too.”
Also, on the cookie menu – Strawberry Pistachio – loaded with white chocolate and Peanut Butter Snickerdoodles.
For now, Smith works at home, but dreams to be a part of a commercial kitchen, she says.
“That way, I could sell to local coffee shops as well as other businesses.”
Last week – the first for the Covington Outdoor Farmer’s Market – Smith said she sold out all her goodies. Perhaps she’s outgrowing her in-home kitchen.
“For now,” she says, “I’m taking baby steps; maybe one day I’ll have my own shop.”
For now, it’s all Home Cookin’ for Summer Smith.