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COUNTRYSIDE FLOWERSHOP
Rt 176, Crystal Lake
815-459-8130
Member Crystal Lake
Chamber of Commerce
and ISHOP Crystal Lake
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| Northwest Herald |
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| Cyndy Keene runs her candy business, Cyndy's Sweet Treats, out of the basement of her Crystal Lake home, where her kitchen is health department certified. Keene makes cream-filled chocolates as well as cordials and chocolate-covered pretzels. (Sandy Bressner photo) |
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A sweet labor at home
CRYSTAL LAKE - When the Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon kicks off for the first time next Sunday at Symphony Center, guests could be singing Cyndy Keene's praises.
"People always vote her chocolate the top; the freshness and creaminess really are unsurpassed," said Valerie Beck, owner of Chicago Chocolate Tours and a devotee of Cyndy's Sweet Treats. "She is so creative with her fruit flavors. They are just wonderful ... including her new black cherry cream. It's so hard not to eat them myself."
Keene, 39, began her business in 2003, spurred on by the support of friends and the knowledge that she could have made the truffles at her sister's wedding for much less.
But she couldn't just open a shop - not with five children - four of them under 10 - at home. So she and her husband built a certified kitchen in the basement of their simple ranch home on Crystal Lake's western fringe. She was able to do so because everything is sold via her Web site - http://www.cyndysweettreats.com/ - or through Countryside Flowershop in Crystal Lake.
Still, word of mouth has been a powerful tool. Amid the six-burner stove, commercial-grade refrigerator and freezer, stainless steel sink and countertops, and tiled floor, Keene makes magic.
"I have a big sweet tooth," she said with a smile. "There are certain flavors ... if they are here and not boxed, I'm in trouble."
Keene puts a candy thermometer into a pot of black cherries, warming to boil off the water. Mixed with sugar, cream, corn syrup, cherry extract, marshmallow fluff and jelly, it will become the heart of her new black cherry cream chocolates.
Keene has 25 flavors in her repertoire. They include carmel apple, raspberry, blueberry, key lime, butterscotch and pineapple; encased in dark chocolate, white chocolate or milk chocolate.
"You don't have to have a flavor you don't like in your box," Keene said. "Plus, I personalize everything. ... I'm more than just chocolate."
The everything includes party favors, wedding invitations, baby shower tags, birthday party labels. She also makes some mean chocolate-covered pretzels, carmel apples, ice cream, fudge and molded chocolates - everything from mints to miniature chocolate shoes.
"Everything is customized; no two orders are exactly alike," she said. "Also, everything I do is made fresh. I cook when I have orders."
The filling is heated to 242 degrees, poured into a 9-by-13 Pyrex pan and cooled overnight. It will yield 150 mints and between 80 and 90 "ducks" - tiny, carmel turtles with a "bill" made from a single pecan.
"I bake because it relaxes me," said Keene, who has been known to work until 3 a.m. while her kids are asleep. "I have been baking all my life. All of these traditions have been handed down to me."
Her mother - Carol Harney, who still lives in Keene's hometown of Mt. Prospect - favored cakes and cookies. But her uncle and North Riverside resident Frank Petrovic was the candy maker. Like his niece, he is a hit at parties and family gatherings.
Keene's presents also are welcome in her children's classrooms and at the McHenry Police Department. Her husband, Rob, is a police officer.
"I'm really big in giving to the community," Cyndy Keene said. "I think it's really important."
Ten percent of her sales during the Crystal Lake Housewalk on Sept. 19 benefit the Service League of Crystal Lake. She also donates candy to the fundraisers for the Woodstock-based Adult & Child Rehab Center and AIDS Foundation World of Chocolate fundraiser in Chicago.
Keene hopes to one day open a store, when the kids are older. And she is confident that her business will continue to thrive until then.
"I'm a very glass-half-full person," she said. "Everyone I talk to loves it. To me, it's my passion - and it's a good product."
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Award Winning
Chocolates!
2007, 2008 & 2009
Judges Choice
Aids Foundation
World of Chocolate!
3 top Awards at
the 2008
Chicago
Chocolate
Salon!
Featured in
The Chocolate Guide
by Taste TV
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