WICHITA, Kansas, Jan 23, 2008 -- Imagine being surrounded by cupcakes, cookies and cakes on a daily basis. In many ways, though it sounds like a dream, it's a hard reality for Cheri's Cakes.

Flour and sugar concoctions are in Cheri Kovacic's blood.

"I've been baking since I could stand on a stool and reach a mixer."

Cheri studied nutrition and food sciences in college. She eventually lived her dream of working in the Betty Crocker Kitchen at General Mills.

Having the first of four daughters put her on the mommy payroll. So while raising her kids, Cheri created the recipe for a baking business.

"I enjoyed being a mom and staying home all those 13 years but I was really wanting to get back what I always wanted to do."

In 2000, she tested her talent for baking cookies at the weekly Farmer's Market.

"I went there, opened up the back end of the Bronco and I set up my little table and I looked absolutely ridiculous but I sold all my cookies. I went back the next week, sold them. I bought another table and I bought a tent and I just had a ball with that and I realized that I was really missing working."

Five years ago, Cheri took the plunge and rented a space for her bakery, Cheri's Cakes. Business has been good. Her business was up 24% and her December numbers outpaced December 2006 numbers by 30%. So last year, she moved to a larger space and doubled her production capacity.

Starting, growing and maintaining a labor-intensive business is not cakewalk (excuse the pun), but doing all that while keeping meals on the table and getting four daughters to piano and dance lessons requires an extra special kind of entrepreneur. While Cheri loves her active life, she can't wait for the day when just doing her job is her job.

"I wouldn't want to redo that first year for anything in my life. That was the hardest year -- long, long hours -- but that's what it's taken."

Cheri began with a solid business plan but growth has far exceeded the business model. The start-up money came from family assets and business loans. They have always turned profit and enjoyed double-digit growth every year.

She's a tremendous baker, but she wishes that she had management experience before she started.

"I've had to learn a lot by the school of hard knocks."

Cheri's secret to success is really not that confidential. First, the product has to look good. Second, it needs to taste good. Mix in a lot of dedication and you have a recipe for baking success.

Cheri's next challenge is pies, which she expects to launch with a few signature selections in just a few weeks.