We've been doing these breakfasts for years now [even before I came to Ottawa], but the last 4 years have been amazing. That's due to our master chef, John, who enjoys cooking, and is a great breakfast maker. He has graciously helped us out over the past 4 years. I can't even remember how we raised funds with "just add water" pancakes. : )
What makes these breakfasts so great is that John continually is trying to improve from the year before, as am I now. So, for this year, we did away with the apple pancakes, and introduced a basic food group requirement in life: Dark Chocolate! : )
The pancakes were blueberry, and thin crepe like ones, and then dark chocolate wrapped inside dough rolled up. Yummy!
I added real syrup this time (that stuff tastes really good, but boy is it pricey), and better sausages. With all these changes, I think this was one of the better breakfasts we offered. The comments we received afterwards sure backed that up. : ) Below is a picture diary of the Friday prep time and Saturday breakfast. Enjoy.
FRIDAY PREPARATION TIME
In order to make sure things run well in the morning, we have been preparing certain elements the night before. For this breakfast it was the dark chocolate rolls. Here is Leah cutting up the dark chocolate.....did you taste test any Leah?
Even though I might be the "Youth Pastor" and even though I might be viewed as the "organizer" of the events we do, I'm smart enough to know that there are others who make our events succeed. I'm also smart enough to know when to get out of the way and let others lead. When it comes to our breakfast, I'm simply doing whatever John wants me too. In this case, it's washing dishes. I can do that well : ) .
John took the time to teach the YP how to make the chocolate rolls. Jacob's ready to go. Sorry I missed most of your body in the pic Jacob, but hey, John's the star of the show today. : )
Now this is an interesting picture. Father John and daughter Hannah looking at the same task and if you look closely, pretty much the same facial expression. : ) Both seem to be taking this very seriously.
Fontana decided it would be great to cut some chocolate with Leah, and that can only lead to trouble, if you ask me. Here Fontana is commenting on her hands....
Hey, if you are going to cut chocolate, you are going to get dirty....suck it up Foo, Foo.
Once the chocolate is cut, it's placed in the dough, that has been cut into pizza sized shapes.....well, why don't I just let you see how it's done via video. Look below......
Video of making dark chocolate rolls.
No event involving food goes by without someone doing something to someone with said food. This time it was me being floured....and no, this time I did not provoke that attack at all................this time.... : ) Thanks Ben, for the flour face.
In the midst of the seriousness of working, there are always moments when Fontana and Leah, and others, do strange things. Someone got hold of the camera and, well, here's the result. Very interesting Fontana....how long did you hold your breath for?
Just as weird Leah....just as weird.... : )
Hmmm, this is interesting. Not something I'd suggest you try at home......just so you know, this wasn't wrapped around Hannah's head....thankfully. John, were you keeping track of your kids????? Obviously I wasn't.
This picture just puzzles me. We are done working, so maybe Hannah is very happy and ready to jump for joy?
So, we have finished our preparation work, and now it's time to catch a couple of hours sleep before arriving back at church at 6:30 am.
Saturday Morning
6:30 am sure comes quickly. I didn't sleep well, that's for sure. I'm always afraid I'm going to sleep in, and that would be embarrassing. As we slowly woke up, we began to get things ready. Here's Leah putting cups out on the tables.
Jonah and Ben making the OJ. It was very good this year. A secret blend. : )
We began the morning in the kitchen by baking the rolls. They came out looking wonderful.......
A dark chocolate glaze on the outside just adds to the flavour. Don't they look amazing?
As others were getting the fellowship hall ready, John was busy steering some YP in getting batter ready for the blueberry pancakes and crepe like pancakes (the dutch word is "Pannekoeken," in case you were wondering).
We have a welcome table that allows people to pick up their donation envelopes, and a brief explanation sheet that outlines why we are doing what we are doing. Here's Megan getting those important donation envelopes ready.
Jeannine giving Megan a hand.
Jacob stayed over at our house (I think we're just going to make him our pseudo son now). He's loads of fun. Don't you like his chef outfit. You'd think he was trying to move in on John's turf or something. : ) I decided to wear my Grinch t-shirt JUST for the fun of it. It got lots of comments. : )
Hannah wore her Bday t-shirt as well. Just had to get a picture of that....though I DON'T think Hannah wanted to be in it. : )
The setting up continues. REAL syrup and margarine for the pancakes. Yummy.
Megan was charged with breaking eggs for the batter. What a hoot watching that.......how many shells did you get in the bowl Megan...... (tee, hee).
So, here's a story. Micheal has a job, and he does dishes for that job. See how he loves doing dishes. I was actually supposed to help him, but alas, I ended up schmoozing with the patrons, and helping out in other areas (not cooking FYI) so he ended up having to do much of this with David....Sorry about that Michael, but you did an awesome job.
It was 8:00 am and it was time to rally the troops. Here I am assigning tasks to everyone and giving them a pep talk....I sure hope they were listening.
The boys hanging out before the storm of people come in.
Fontana became our front-line person. She's so bubbly and has a great smile, and as you can see, she's ready to welcome one and all.......
Just before the crush of people, the group takes a relax break.
Chris gets the blueberry pancakes moving.
Jacob taking his Chef role very seriously.
Our first patron rolled into the fellowship hall at 8:05 am. Twenty-five minutes early. Jackie mentioned something about trying to buy light bulbs, but no stores were open yet.....hmmmmm
The room is just beckoning for patrons......
John manages the Pannekoeken, alone!!!!! : )
Some things are best left to the expert.
Megan is getting the rolls ready for consumption.
Now the fun begins. People are arriving.
Everyone's happy so far. Look at all that food...and those sausages.....yummy!
Both young and old came out this morning. I think the young loved the chocolate ALOT!!!!! : )
Good thing the patrons can't see what really goes on in the kitchen. That's just gross Leah.....
The kitchen just humming along (mostly because I'm not in it : ) )
So Harold. How were the rolls? We made sure they were ready on time for you.......hey....are you sticking out your tongue at me????
Our breakfast wouldn't be the same without Sandy, Cheryl and Simon and Miranda there....and hey, how did you get in the picture Ella? It seems that Cheryl loved the chocolate, but Sandy was a bit ambivalent......what's with THAT!!!! : )
More happy stomachs.
Here's James and Annette with their family. James had some cousins? visiting and they came out for breakfast as well. They have 12 children.....wow....I think 8 of them were at our breakfast.
Here's a wide angle shot of the fellowship hall teaming with people. Everyone enjoying themselves. We served about 110 people this morning. Seems every year, even though we set up two different shifts, they all come at once.....
The kitchen is getting a bit messy if you ask me.....
Our youth leaders taking a break and enjoying the food. Jackie liked it so much, she stuck around and helped us out. Thanks Jackie.
Ben likes the fruit of his labour.
Ok, I'll admit it, the primary goal of this event is to make some $$$. However, there are other great spin offs when fundraisers happen in youth ministry, like; a) more community building within the youth group, b) teachable moments when it comes to working hard for the money you earn, c) community building for the church itself. Here you can see that community building is alive and well. Eric and Brenda visited with pretty much everyone during the 3 hours of their stay for breakfast.....[ok, maybe I exaggerated a bit....it was 2.5 hours... : ) ]
Chris is enjoying his breakfast. Michael must have dish pan hands, and Jacob looks like he's in a daze.....not enough sleep last night, eh Jacob?
The sausages were very good this year. Here's Jonah swallowing one whole....no really......well, maybe?
Our last slide with John and Ben and Hannah...no wait, that's Tobie.....how'd she get in the picture.
That brings us to the end of our breakfast time. Everyone really enjoyed the morning. Thanks John for all your hard work again. Thanks CIA for your hard work as well. Thanks to all those who came out and helped make this event a success.
We were able to raise just under $1,800 profit due to your generosity. Much of that will go to our CIA members to help them cover the cost of YP events. A portion will also be going to OIM's youth art program. A wonderful ministry targeting homeless youth in Ottawa.
I bid you adieu with the knowledge that John is already thinking about new creations for next year. If you didn't get the chance to come out, consider 2012. It promises to be another amazing morning.......!!!!!! : )
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