Crescent-News.com - SWEET JOB: Leonard cooking goodies at Defiance College for 32 years

By LISA NICELY

Forget the sugar plum fairy and her land of the sweets this holiday season. For holiday sweets at Defiance College, look no farther than Mary Leonard.

Leonard has been with DC for 32 years. Although she's had no formal training in baking or candy making, she's learned a lot over the years. Her candies and goodies are a holiday staple at the special student Christmas dinner every year.

"I guess I just learned from living on a farm and 4-H," Leonard said of her baking and candy making. "My grandmother taught me to decorate cakes. I've been here (at Defiance College) 32 years and it's sort of evolved."

For the holiday dinner on Tuesday night, students were treated to cookies, fudge, candy apples, caramel pecan bars and more.

"I think I've got 25 different desserts," said Leonard. "Usually during the year they get three or four different desserts a meal. Christmastime we go all out. There's a yule log the kids always ask for. There are many, many desserts for Christmas."

Becky Wright, food services general manager, said the goodies Leonard makes "are amazing."

"She's very skilled and dedicated," said Wright. "It isn't just her baking skills that are good. Her standards are so high and she cares so much."

Leonard has two helpers to aid her in making the Christmas goodies. Normally, she has one helper a couple of hours a day. However, since there are so many candies, cakes and other items, she needs more help.

The students look forward to Leonard's goodies.

"There's some that look forward to it every year," she said. "There are new students that come in and don't know until they see."

Student Erby Lopez of Defiance said he likes that the college hosts the dinner. When asked what his favorite dessert was, he scanned the dessert table.

"Is that cheesecake?" he asked as he got a closer look at the desserts. "Definitely the cheesecake is my favorite."

Student Jestin David of Edgerton said he likes the buckeyes the best.

"It's neat that they put this up for us," he said.

The buckeyes are one of many favorites of students.

"I like to have a variety and try something new every year as well as put in a few standards," said Leonard of the holiday treats. "This time we are trying the chocolate covered apples, the caramel pecan bars, reindeer munchies, and we made these penguin candies. We make meringue mushroom cookies. They look like real mushrooms."

The yule log and buckeyes are standard. Leonard said she gets requests every year to have those treats at the holiday dinner.

Leonard has a favorite treat, but it wasn't on the menu.

"We had it for Thanksgiving," she said. "I like the pumpkin roll the best. I like everything really."

Leonard is still experimenting with different recipes and ideas for cookies and candies, so there may be many new items at next year's dinner.

"I always said if I didn't buy as many cookbooks I wouldn't have to work," she said. "I like to see the new ideas. We come up with a few of our own, too."

Wright said Leonard doesn't only use her skills for the students. Leonard has also designed desserts when there have been guests at the college and for other events.

"She's a big piece of the college," she said.