(SWEETWATER, Texas) – For students in Texas State Technical College’s Culinary Arts program, Valentine’s Day isn’t just about cards and flowers — it’s about the perfect temper of a chocolate mousse and the flaky crust of a guava empanada.
The Sweetwater campus Culinary Club is preparing to share those skills with the community during a Valentine’s-themed bake sale from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13. The event will be held at The Library Cafe, located in the Temple Dickson Technology Center.
The menu promises a sophisticated departure from standard bake sale fare. Offerings include cherry chocolate mousse parfaits, guava and cream cheese empanadas, “love” brownie bites, red velvet sugar cookies and triple chocolate cake.
For Josephine Preuitt, a second-semester student originally from Missouri, the sale is a chance to step out of the classroom and into the spotlight.
“Valentine’s Day is a holiday filled with sweet things,” Preuitt said. “This is a great time to show the community more of what we can do.”
While the club works as a team, individual students have already staked out their favorites. Preuitt is leaning into her love of pastries, focusing her efforts on the guava and cream cheese empanadas.
“I love working with guava,” she said. “It is going to be delicious.”
Across the kitchen, Sarah McCoy, a second-semester student from Abilene, is perfecting the cherry chocolate mousse parfait. She describes the dish as the ultimate indulgence for the holiday.
“It is going to be very decadent,” McCoy said. “The mousse will melt in your mouth. This will be the perfect party dish.”
The inspiration for the sale stems from the expertise of their instructor, Lyanna Cintron, who specializes in baking. The students say the event is a reflection of the specialized training they receive in the program, which extends far beyond basic kitchen prep.
“I came in with an idea of what I wanted to do,” McCoy said. “This program has introduced me to so many different concepts. When I come out of the program, it is going to open so many doors for me.”
As they prepare for Friday’s rush, the students hope the community will appreciate the craftsmanship behind every bite.
“You are not going to find anything like this in the area,” Preuitt said. “We hope everyone will come out to support the program and try some tasty treats. This is one way we are able to give back to our community.”
The bake sale will accept cash, debit and credit cards.
To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.