Weekly Article

My name is Amanda Bentley. I am 36, a wife, a mother of two boys, (and two bonus boys!), and the oldest of four children. I owned my own bakery business for over 15 years, and have been working in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. I served and bartended for many of those years, and was very fortunate to be able to be home with my kiddos as they were growing up. I am also starting a women’s cooking class/bible study in my home starting in the spring, and really looking forward to what God has for us there.  

My passion for baking came from a love for art, which I absolutely loved in school. Baking in itself was never my true passion, it was the art side that I craved. As I had children, I thought it would be awesome to be able to do their birthday cakes for them. And that’s where it all began. I started with cupcakes, and then worked my way up. Soon, I had more than just friends and family wanting desserts, so I decided to branch out, and 15 years later I am still creating. 

Working in the professional field of hospitality for many years has been a highlight for me. I have also come to realize how much I love cooking, over baking. The love for food (and the occasional wine pairing!) has grown exponentially. I remember when I first started, my palette wasn’t exactly “adult like”. But getting to work beside some brilliant chefs, and gaining knowledge from them, has been a true gift. It made me realize not how much I just love food, and creating new dishes, but being able to serve others in the process, is what makes what I do, so much more heartfelt. Food is a connection point for all. 

I am so thankful to be a part of Derry Church. I am coming to familiarize myself with everyone, coming up with new systems, and settling in nicely. Terrific Tuesdays are truly one of the highlights of my week. I always look forward to seeing everyone’s faces, some who I don’t get to see most of the week. There are many ideas that I have stirring up in my head, of events that I would like to do and make happen. One that we are moving forward with is a movie night! Also, working with Sue, we are going to start a new cooking series, which will range from super easy appetizers to a hearty, soul filling dinner, to sandwich ideas, to desserts! As we progress into the year, my hopes would be to provide everyone with healthier options for snacking, along with our terrific Tuesday dinners, and post worship fellowship. 

If you ever have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. Feeling very blessed to be able to serve such a wonderful group of people. Be blessed.