Passion for pastries

CNA photo by VALARIE ALLEN Finished: Whitney Greene pulls a hot pie crust from the oven at KellyÕs Flowers, Gifts and Garden Cafe.

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It may be a dying art to some, but for one local teen, it’s alive and well. The pies and brownies at Kelly’s Flowers, Gifts and Garden Cafe are made from scratch, including the pie crusts. At 16, Whitney Greene is carrying on a family tradition. She started learning at a very young age. Whitney learned pie baking from her mother and grandmother. “I was probably 3 when I started learning how to bake pies,” said Whitney. “I couldn’t do it by myself, but I would help.” Whitney works for her mom Jacque Greene, owner of Kelly’s Flowers, Gifts and Garden Cafe, 911 N. Sumner Ave. Everyday after school and on weekends, finds Whitney in the kitchen at Garden Cafe. “I usually make five or six each day,” said Whitney. “With Thanksgiving, I have some special orders, too.” The most popular has been the strawberry ruhbarb during the summer and pumpkin this fall, she said. “I have the recipes memorized,” said Whitney. “I’ve made a few changes — they’re secret.” When asked how she determines if a recipe needs an additional ingredient, she said it’s by taste. Whitney is a normal teenager, with an exceptional ability with pies. “I like volleyball — and boys,” she said with a grin. “I’m working off my car payments, so I’m not playing this year.” Multitasking “She can run the entire kitchen,” said Jacque. “If I’m gone, she can do it. She can multitask extremely well, which is important in the kitchen.” The Garden Cafe takes orders for pies from customers. “I’ve made several pies for different occasions,” said Whitney. “I’ve made as many as 12, but I could do more.” While the recipes are kept locked in her memory, she systematically adds ingredients. “There’s just an order I’m used to doing things in,” said Whitney. “I make the crusts ahead of time and freeze them. I thaw them out when I need them. That saves time.” Another specialty item Whitney said she enjoys making is brownies. “I make cupcakes occasionally,” she said. “Usually, they are for a special occasion, like a wedding or baby shower.” Family ties Working at the Garden Cafe is a family affair. “I like working here with my family,” said Whitney. “Sometimes, it’s hard having my mom as my boss. She has high standards.” There are drawbacks to working in the kitchen. “I have extremely long hair,” said Whitney. “I have to put my hair up. I hate that.” Whitney knows her way around the kitchen. She also does prep work, and on weekends, she makes the ham balls, she said. Although she has a knack for baking pies, that isn’t a career goal. Whitney plans to become a mortician. “I think it’s a bonus that I can bake pies,” she said. “I go to funeral homes a lot making flower deliveries. I think it would be interesting.” ____________ Valarie Allen can be reached at 782-2141, ext. 233 or vallen@crestonnews.com