Most everyone knows the feeling — some days we’re simply overworked and overwhelmed. The kids need shuttling to and fro, job is running late, company’s coming in — or we just don’t feel like coming up with dinner. Ashley Chandler and her mother, Teresa Little, know it, too. That’s one reason they offer a variety of frozen casseroles at Dewie’s Bake Shop and Anytime Cakes in Caledonia, across from Ola J. Pickett Park on Wolfe Road.
The mother-daughter team, with help from another daughter, Casey Little, makes a rotating menu of about 10 casseroles, in addition to the cakes, cupcakes, breads and sweet treats the shop features.
The cozy storefront grew out of Chandler’s custom baking service she began at home. When demand outgrew her kitchen, Chandler teamed up with her mom to open the shop in December 2016. Little had been doing custom cooking for various clients. (“Dewie” in the shop’s name is courtesy of Chandler’s children — that’s what they call Little, their grandmother.)
Chandler said, “She does the breads, and I do the sweets, and we pitch in on everything in the middle.”
A casserole menu was added this past spring.
“We knew we wanted to be one of those bakeries that did that,” Chandler remarked.
Take your pick
Casserole selection is extensive — poppyseed chicken, chicken spaghetti, pizza macaroni, cheeseburger macaroni, Mexican lasagna, chicken and rice, baked spaghetti, cheesy enchilada, chicken and dressing and cheesy chicken broccoli are among them.
When asked which stands out as a bestseller, Little readily responded, “Poppyseed chicken.” Chicken spaghetti is a close second. Customer suggestions are always welcome.
“If someone comes in and requests something, I’ll fix it,” said Little, who stays busy making casseroles Tuesdays and Thursdays. “If they ask if I can put bread crumbs on a casserole, I say sure. If they want something without the vegetables, I’ll fix it for them that way.”
Casseroles can be made up in three sizes; the 9-inch round is most popular. It generally serves four (“or two really hungry men”) and costs $16. Large casseroles are 9-by-13-inch and run $32. Small, individual size casseroles can also be made up. Call in advance to be sure of availability.
Every casserole comes with a bonus — a fresh bread loaf, or three cupcakes.
With the holidays just around the corner, look for menu additions to help out harried hosts.
“We’ll be doing side dishes, like sweet potato casserole, creamy corn pudding and green bean casserole,” said Chandler, who anticipates offering a meal package.
Quality ingredients are important, as is being open to customer suggestions, Chandler and Little said. That philosophy applies to everything the bake shop prepares, from wedding cakes to sausage cheddar biscuits, from lemon bars to homemade chicken salad.
As Dewie’s Bake Shop and Anytime Cakes nears its first year anniversary in Caledonia, everyone involved knows there is another critical component that helps make it all work.
“It’s always comfortable back here between us, my mom and Casey, my sister,” Chandler said. “It’s always a fun environment, and we try to keep it light.”
Little added, “We have a ball together. We cut up and have a good time together, and people come in and talk about their day. Everybody seems like family coming in the door.”
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.