Melinda Shell Speir indulges her sweet tooth by making cakes for others.* Original recipe: Melinda Shell Speir loves to be elbow-deep in flour, putting together pastries and pound cakes in her bakery/cafe. From decorations to the way she runs her store, she said she keeps it old school. She makes everything from scratch using recipes passed down from her mother and mother-in-law.
* Worth the wait: Speir learned from her mother, who learned from her mother, that it's better to make things from scratch. Growing up, Speir said everything she ate was homemade, from biscuits and cornbread to birthday cakes. So, these days, she prides herself on making what she can from scratch. Speir said she uses real butter and buttermilk and puts care into every piece that comes out of her bakery. She even follows in her mother's footsteps by making things including mayonnaise, sauce and salad dressings herself - earning her a following of grateful customers.
* Prices: Sandwiches range from $5-$8, while cakes start at $38 and go up in price based on the intricacies involved.
* Other pastime pleasures: Speir also enjoys sewing, and sells her monogrammed tea towels, hand towels and coasters in the cafe.
* Bread and butter: Though Speir sells deli sandwiches at her store, she prefers to indulge her sweet tooth by making desserts. Her favorite thus far was a chocolate truffle cake with praline truffles on the inside and a white chocolate buttercream frosting on the outside. Featuring angel shortbread cookies as a tasty design element, it took both Speir and her partner to make this Christmas cake.
* Made with love: Speir said customers feel comfortable in her cozy bakery, often staying for long periods of time to enjoy dessert and tea instead of hurrying back to work. She finds it relaxing to be in the kitchen and said she is glad her customers feel the same way in her store.
* Location: 117 W. Villanow St., LaFayette
* More information: 706-638-8234