Thursday Treasure - Baking With A Purpose {Share Our Strength}

Would you believe that I've been on a natural high since Saturday?? Well, I'm almost always on a natural high, but this one is different. It was generated by the pure goodness and generosity of a BIG group of people and it's all because of that little sign up there. I'm talking about all the wonderful people across the nation who gave donations to Share Our Strength and those who baked/volunteered and purchased baked goods during last Saturday's Great American Bake Sale.

I had the honor of participating as a baker and volunteer with some fantastic Atlanta area folks at The 2011 Atlanta Food Blogger Bake Sale. Our group was spearheaded by Tami Hardeman and I must commend her on pulling together an Olympic class team. I'm proud (and SHOCKED) to announce that our group raised just over $3000!!! Can you believe it??? . As I shared a few days ago, via Facebook, this was not your mother's bake sale and I have the pictures to prove it, so I'll stop talking and just show you.

And here are shots of items that made it home with me.

Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats

Whole Wheat Croissant

Lemon Drop Shots

Mascarpone Cream Filled Cookies with Chocolate & Pistachios

Gingersnaps

Pistachio Lemon Biscotti

Meyer Lemon Curd Tart

There is no better feeling than knowing you're a small part of something great and this is a feeling I'll surely treasure for a lifetime.

Sheila Denise

P.S. As I was wrapping up this post yesterday, I received an email from Tami, announcing that the Atlanta Bloggers raised the most money in the US!!! Yes, you read that correctly! The most money raised in the country was raised right here in Atlanta!! That's not all...in honor of having raised the most money, Duncan Hines is donating $10,000 in our group's honor!!!!!!!!! *insert crying, dancing and fainting spell here* That money will make a HUGE difference in the lives of many hungry children.

Thank you so much for your generosity!! I can hardly wait for next year's bake sale.