The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif., Follow-Up File Column

By Dawn Rapp, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Oct. 30–DEE JAROSLOW

–Job: Former owner

–Business: Cambria Cookie Co.

–What she said then: When The Tribune spoke with Dee Jaroslow last year, the owner of Cambria Cookie Co. was busy making 10 to 15 dozen batches of cookies five days a week. She sold her homemade specialties to a variety of markets, coffee shops and college campuses in San Luis Obispo County. Her sweet desserts were often used by local businesses, including Idler’s Appliances.

“The business also specializes in corporate gift packages and mail orders, which are hand-packed and personalized with a handwritten note,” she said.

The Cambria woman launched her business in 2001 after realizing that she could turn a hobby into a job. She did all of the work by hand, even scooping the dough. That, she said, could be very tiring.

Jaroslow often spent hours baking, packaging and delivering her product. She said she hoped to increase business by moving into a larger market, selling pre-made frozen tubs of cookie dough and creating more gift packages for corporations.

–What she says now: Jaroslow moved to Seattle shortly after being interviewed by The Tribune in October 2004. Now, she’s closer to family.

“We lived in Cambria for five years, but we’re from Seattle,” she said. “The opportunity for (our kids) and us to all be back in the same place was more important.”

Jaroslow, who had her own commercial kitchen, said many customers were upset when she moved. But after working constantly for three years, she was ready for a change.

“It was hard on my hand with all the scooping,” she said. “I’m taking some time off from baking.”

Jaroslow is still working in the sales business, she said. But this time, it’s for a large corporation. She has not completely ruled out a career in the baking business, however.

After all, Jaroslow is holding on to secret family recipes, which were passed down from generation to generation, she said.

“I’m just making them for my family now,” she said. “But you never know. These are good cookies.”

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