The world is full of strange people and one of my favorite things about my job is getting to talk to all kinds of them.

One in particular was an unexpected friendship with a “grumpy” old man. He used to scare me and I would hide to avoid conversation when he walked in, but over time somehow found his way into my heart.

One interest (maybe the only one) we had in common is baking. He made fun of me because all I do is stay home and bake. He lived on the wild side and never had a boring story to tell.  On Fridays I looked forward to telling him my plans: the new recipe I was going to try. I’d tell him how I’d get nervous when someone ordered a certain cake or someone would order something I didn’t know if I could do and he’d say so matter of factly, “Good. It’s good they have high expectations. You need to be pushed.”

He was from Sweden and always talked about a “Princess Torte”. I finally looked it up and after months of being intimidated by marzipan had it on my heart to make one just to  bring him a piece…just so he could critique it. 🙂

My unexpected friend passed away about a month later (December 2016).  As much as he scared me that’s how much I’ll miss him walking into the gym and saying “Miss Aimee!” and telling me how boring I am.  I’d say, “I don’t know…for someone who is so boring you keep coming back to talk to me.”

Princess Torte: Sponge cake layered with vanilla pudding, jam, topped with whipped cream, and covered in green marzipan.

When the directions say to put the cake on the bottom rack you should put the cake on the bottom rack of the oven.  It’s hard for us stubborn folk to follow directions sometimes, but listen to the professionals.