Bonnie Kilgore-Conde is a grandmother of 8 with the energy of a 20-something. She’s going to need that energy to launch Seven Wonders Bakery in Jacksonville, Florida. Bonnie is using Kickstarter to raise money for cleaning, remodeling and opening costs. Seven Wonders Bakery has been dormant since 2008 and Bonnie contacted the original owners through access to public records.

Bonnie envisions the bakery as a place where college students will come from nearby Jacksonville University and University of Florida and enjoy the cafe and free access to Wifi. Community members will come for birthday cakes, graduation cakes, and pastries for parties. She values the diversity of Jacksonville and the bakery will highlight desserts from around the globe.

A north Georgia native, Bonnie grew up in Lookout Mountain with limited access to the latest technology. “It’s two mountains and a valley; you’ll pass it in 30 minutes. In high school we had two computers each the size of a coffee table and seniors were the only ones who could sign up to use them.”

Now, Bonnie uses her smart phone, laptop, desktop and a digital camera almost daily. Bonnie created the Kickstarter video advertising her campaign by using her digital camera and adding a voiceover using the built-in microphone on her laptop. She’s planning to use a ipad with a Square attachment to accept credit cards when she opens the bakery sometime in late March or early April.

Bonnie’s been around the world since growing up in Georgia. A few years ago, she relocated from Los Angeles to Jacksonville. Kickstarter caught her attention when a friend’s son explained that many of the movies featured in Sundance receive their funding through the website.

Since launching her Kickstarter campaign on January 15, Bonnie has received attention from online backers and offline donations. She’s also gained Basha Staub as a business partner.

“Basha and I come from medical administration backgrounds and we have both been baking for decades. She saw my Kickstarter page and contacted me. We hit it off right away and were bouncing ideas off of each other as quick as anything,” gushes Bonnie.

There’s a lot to be done before the bakery can open for business. These instant collaborators are using their resources to update the inside of the bakery and market their wares. They have access to two contractors (Basha’a husband and Bonnie’s father) and a wealth of family members vowing to help them launch on time.

The original bakery website will keep its URL but is scheduled for a facelift before the grand opening. For now, you can visit them on Facebook.

You can donate to Bonnie’s campaign by visiting her Kickstarter page here. Contributions will be accepted through Valentine’s Day.

Bonnie’s Buttery Citrus Cake recipe is below.

Buttery Citrus Cake

Ingredients

¾ cup of butter

6 egg yolks or 3 whole eggs

2 2/3 Cups of all purpose flour (I find you make a lighter cake if the flour is sifted

2 teaspoons of baking powder

½ teaspoon of salt

¼ teaspoon of baking soda

1 2/3 cups of sugar

1 cup of milk

2 teaspoons of finely shredded lemon or lime peel

1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel

2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice

2 tablespoons of orange juice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Set aside. (If possible use a whisk to really combine these dry ingredients together)

In another bowl beat the butter until fluffy, then beat in the sugar, then add the yolks in one at a time and beat.

Add the flour mixture and milk alternately and beat into the butter, sugar, and egg mixture. Begin and end with flour mixture. (This may seem silly to start and end with the flour mixture, but if you don’t you will notice that your cake will not bake at the consistency that you desire)

Last stir in the peels and juices. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

Lemon, Lime, or Orange Whipped Cream Frosting

In a chilled bowl (glass or metal in the freezer for a few minutes will work great) beat 2 cups of heavy whipping cream, 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar, and 1 tablespoon of instant vanilla pudding. Beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in 1 tablespoon on shredded lemon, lime, or orange peelings.

I find if I double the frosting recipe I have a prettier and more well covered layer cake.

This cake makes 12 servings.

Thin slices of Meyers lemons, limes, or oranges make a very nice garnish.