About 5 years ago, with the horrid economy looming over head, I was lucky to be laid off. I left a job that I had come to think was important, I was making very good money and had been since I was fresh out of high school, the savings account was well stocked, and I was on my own. It seemed like the perfect sort of life. With all that around me, I wasn’t aware of how miserable a person I had become.
Without warning I said my good byes to some very kind people, flipped some other people the bird and started a new chapter in my life. It took months to break the conditioning of the job I was in. In such a small and close business, I can’t begin to explain the horrid way some people would treat one another, the disgusting things they would say and do, and how manipulative and low some became.
Had I not lost that job, I wouldn’t know what life could be like.
I am now one of those lucky people who can honestly say that I love my job. I sell comic books. Not nearly as glamorous as the job I had before, but I love it. I work with schools, kids, libraries, and the people I grew up idolizing in the pages of the books I read. I have the most amazing co-workers who would do anything in the world for me if I needed it, and my clients are some of the most genuine people you could ever meet.
I have had many job offers back in the field I was in and people still can’t understand why I continue to refuse them. I think some people won’t ever get it. And that’s ok. I love my job, have more opportunities then ever, and am happy, which is more important than any amount of money in the world.
Oh, and I have time to make awesome little treats like these!
Samoa Tartlets
From Food Network Magazine Feb/Mar 2009
Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 3 tbs unsalted butter, cold, cut into small cubes
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 tbs firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 teas salt
- 5 oz semisweet chocolate finely chopped
- 1 quart coconut ice cream*
- 3/4 cup dulce de leche or caramel topping*
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with aluminium foil. Spread coconut evenly over baking sheet and bake for 5-10 minutes until toasted, stirring halfway through. Leave oven on at 350 and set coconut aside to cool.
Grease a 12 cup muffin tin with butter or baking spray.
Pulse flour, 1/4 cup toasted coconut, brown sugar, and salt together in a food processor until blended. Add the cold butter and pule until the mixture resembles wet sand with pea sized pieces, about 5 times. Divide mixture evenly between muffin in and press to make even rounds. Bake until crusts are golden, 15-17 minutes.
Remove pan from oven and sprinkle the chocolate evenly over each crust. Turn the oven off and return the pan to the oven to melt the chocolate; about 4 minutes. (I had to use a spoon to swirl the chocolate to make an even layer over the crust as my finely chopped chocolate just kind of melted into little lumps). Sprinkle each crust with remaining coconut. Let the pan cool slightly and place in the freezer to set, about 15 minutes.
With a thin spatula (or a pairing knife), gently remove crusts from the muffin pan. Top with a small scoop of ice cream and drizzle of dulce de leche and garnish with remaining toasted coconut.
*I couldn’t find coconut ice cream or dulce de leche so it was a simple vanilla and caramel ice cream topping for the win.
My name is Kita. I am a 20 something girl geek and website/graphic designer who can rock an apron like there is no tomorrow.
Great post Kita. If you never left that job, my son wouldn’t have begun reading for enjoyment. Thanks!
You have a really cool job
Comic books! Yeah 
and Wow your tartlets looks scrumptious 
Sell comic books – that is SO cool! Isn’t it awesome how change that seems bad ends up the best thing eventually?
I really enjoyed your post! I’m very happy and jealous that you are doing exactly what you love to do, like making these awesome tartlets. You’d put the girl scouts out of business!
Great post, and good for you for following your dreams. Thanks to you…I’m going to be dreaming about these tartlets!
These look like a really good substitute for samoas!
Also, I know what it’s like to be in a really toxic work environment — and you’re right, when you get out of it, life is so much better, even if you have to take a pay cut!
Good for you! The corporate world isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. And these? thank you!
Money has nothing on happiness. Life is about people. So glad you’re happy! And ummm yes thank you for creating these
Sweet goodness, these look awesome!
So great a feeling it must be to love your job! If only I could figure out what I want to do with all this schooling I’m doing…
this is a perfect situation of when one door closes, another one opens!
i’m very happy that you can bake these little treats now! yum!
Another man’s treat may be another one’s garbage. I guess, to each your own. Nobody can judge what you do for a living, or for any other reason for that matter because, nobody has ever experienced to be in that same situation in the same circumstance. As long as you enjoy what you are doing and happy with the results…Keep going!
Like this recipe is worth trying, I will! Thanks!
aw this are so cute and such a brilliant idea, Kita!! I’m glad you love your job..I want to love mine. Well, no. There are days i LOVE it but then there are a lot of days that I don’t. We’ll see what happens, but in the meantime, I’ll gawk at your beautiful tartlets
YUM!!!
I’m so glad that you’re living the life you really want. People always question happiness because they think it all has to do with money or prestige but from my experience that’s not the case at all and far from it. As long as you’re in love with life that’s the most important part of it all. I’m glad you sell comic books and blog you’re another awesome person I get to “know” and learn from and about. So thank you!
these look awesome. I love your plate and napkin choice in your photos. Very festive.
Have a great weekend!
That’s so awesome, Kita
I hope to someday be in a job that I love! Thank you for sharing such wonderful recipes, like this, with us 
This is such a great idea! I made homemade samoas recently and I just love the flavors!!! Yum!
It is a true blessing to love what you do! And these tartlets look amazing! I love samoas!
i want!!!!!
So yeah I just drooled all over myself while staring at these photos. I’ll take 10 please, thank you.
I love how you always give us a little slice of your life along with a slice of whatever you’ve cooked or baked.
Holy cow!! I love these! Those have always been my favorite cookie from the girl scouts. YUMMY