March is a swing month. You begin to think of St. Patrick's Day, parades, and yes, Spring. As they say in Brooklyn, fuhgettaboutit. In the above picture of my backyard you can see a few spots of brown peeking out from the snow. If I wanted to live in Minnesota I would. Enough already!

Then I realized your day is what you make of it. Push aside those evil thoughts of cold, shoveling and snarled traffic. Rest assured Spring is sure to come. Think of the feeling of taking in a deep breath of fresh air perhaps with a touch of fragrance from the beginning blooms. As an early riser, I marvel how the sun seems to step more lively into the dawn as opposed to meekly creeping to the horizon during winter. The birds seem happy to greet the day and for me, my morning coffee seems more a pleasure than a necessity.

At the bakery we begin to switch over to lighter items. Since Easter is in late April we have an opportunity to make some different items. As a youth, gas stations would give out promotional items such as drinking glasses with every fill up. Remember when a fill up was $5? Our family had a cupboard of team glasses from, I think, American Oil. I was at a seminar down in New Orleans and I ordered a dessert that was delivered in a stemless wine glass. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This month I have recreated that dessert with an apricot brulee, a light chocolate ganache with a tinge of Gran Marnier. This dessert will be presented in an old fashioned drink glass. Like the promotions of old, if you like the dessert you can collect a set.

Whether it is cold or mild, this Sunday March 9th, Huntington will have our annual St. Patrick's Day parade. The bakery always makes our special hot chocolate with secret ingredients and dairy fresh heavy cream and Belgium chocolate. Visit us this Sunday from 12-5 and enter to win our 4ft. Easter Bunny. The winner will have enough chocolate till the 4th of July.

Good Luck on winning a bunny and hope to see you Sunday for the parade and a hot chocolate.