A mum-of-two has shared her inspiring story after turning her passion for baking into a side hustle.

From brownie scotch eggs to cookie pies, Bleu Carlisle is the self confessed chocoholic behind Out of the Bleu.

After spending years working in a “stressful” job, Bleu wanted to completely change her life.

She discovered the recipe for success when family and friends began requesting Bleu’s sweet treats for special occasions.

Bleu, who lives with her family in Eccleshill, said: “I was the practice manager for four private dental practices. I found it very stressful, I debated so many times about leaving.

 

“I got pregnant with my daughter. It was a combination of wanting to find something that fit my lifestyle better and Covid.

“I’d seen some letter box biscuits and I thought, why don’t I try to do that?

“I went for shortbread as lots of people just do normal sugar cookies. I couldn’t find many people out there that did it in shortbread. 

“I just baked for family and friends. 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

“I had an interest in baking but I didn’t think I would love it as much as I do. I started it as a side hustle to earn extra money and maybe find another career path, where I didn’t have to get up and go to work every day and it could work around me.

“It’s just ever evolving and changing.”

Bleu’s popular treats include brownie stacks, ‘browniepops’, personalised shortbreads, and chocolate bar themed cookies, boxes and rocky roads.

She is now a wholesaler with The Old Library cafe, Wrose, and will have a regular stall at Haworth Artisan Market from March.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Self confessed chocoholic Bleu Carlisle, picturedSelf confessed chocoholic Bleu Carlisle, pictured (Image: Newsquest, Mike Simmonds)

All the while, Bleu is working in a new full time job.

In a message to anyone looking for a fresh start, the 33-year-old said: “It was so scary. Anything out of your comfort zone is frightening. 

“Life is too short to be unhappy. If you’re stuck in a job that doesn’t fulfil your needs or potential, regardless of how much money you might lose, all those scary things, you just don’t know until you try.”

She added: “I want to ultimately grow my business to a point where it’s my full time job and I’d love a little shop. There isn’t really anything like that in Eccleshill. I just want to be able to make coffee and delicious cookies and I’d love to have little workshops for children. I’d love to host baby showers and coffee mornings for mums. I have lots of little ideas.

“It will evolve through my love of baking and my hard work.”

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