Last semester, I saw a poster advertising for an international dessert festival. At first, I signed up thinking that I would make pastel de natas, a traditional Portuguese pastry that some friends and I discovered this past summer. The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation sent four Grove City students, myself included, to Porto, Portugal, where we spent three weeks at EIA (European Innovation Academy), the world’s largest start-up program.
This pastry became something we ate every single day. I kid you not. Some days I ate two, maybe even three. They were at every bakery, and every shop, at every corner.
Anyways, I originally intended to make pastel de natas for this international dessert event, but quickly realized it wouldn’t work because I would need access to a stovetop, which would mean going to Ketler… and that was too much work. I decided baklava would be the move instead.
I had never made baklava before, and so it wasn’t until later that I realized it required I make a simple syrup out of sugar, honey, water, and lemon… on the stove. :/ Anyways, I ended up just making it in the microwave (all you chefs out there- please, don’t kill me, I know I am a disgrace).
Long story short, it turned out great:
It was a huge hit at the festival so I decided that I would host a dessert night for any and all of my friends who wanted to come!
I made a little graphic (about four hours before the event- the night of the candlelight service) and about 30 people showed up! I sadly took 0 pictures which makes it feel like it never happened, but it did (at least I don’t think I dreamed it) and everything went over smashingly.
Anyways, this semester I decided I was going to host these more often, starting with one I did yesterday! A bunch of friends came and helped (for which I am eternally grateful). This time we not only had baklava, but raspberry jam thumbprint cookies, monkey bread, and your classic, delicious, gooey chocolate chip cookies. Those were just the desserts. My best friend made a wonderful charcuterie board with a variety of salamis, cheeses, crackers, and pickles. We also had fresh blueberries and cherries (it can be hard to find fresh fruit options in the dining halls so I was sure they would be a hit).
My grandma very kindly gifted me a digital camera this past break and so I put it to good use- wanted to make sure I didn’t dream up this dessert night:
All this to say- I guess I sold my friends on dessert night! Hopefully, I’ve sold you too! Comment on this post (you have to do two anyways for credit) and I’ll make sure you get an invite to the next one! 
SchrieberBE23 
FrenchJA21 
andersonsa22
I was there. You did not dream it. The baklava was great both times too! I think to take it to the next level for the next one, perhaps you try and sell our wonderful sales professor on our idea. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him show up with an apron and some sugar to help out at dessert night. This is a great community-building event and a great way to network and practice sales. I’ll be sure to try and sell more of my friends on monkey bread for the next time too.
Hey Leyla, I can tell you had a lot of fun with this post, and I can say from my own experience that I have enjoyed your baking nights with friends. I’m happy you have found something fun to do that has contributed to networking and practicing sales.