My love of baking began when I was just a little girl. Weekly visits to my Grandma Kay’s house quickly turned into full-on baking days. We would start baking as soon as I arrived and wouldn’t stop until dinner time—and I absolutely loved it.
Of course, it wasn’t always peaceful. I spent plenty of time fighting off my brothers as they tried to sneak bites of cookie dough and brownie batter. Looking back, though, those little moments were all part of the fun, and they’re some of the memories I treasure most.
When my grandma passed away, my love of baking only continued to grow. As I got older, I started working at a local coffee shop, where I would occasionally bring in pastries for my coworkers. Before long, I started bringing them in for my regulars and favorite customers, too. Eventually, my boss convinced me to take the next step and start my own home baking business, selling my pastries right there at the coffee shop.
So, I did.
Business took off. I was selling out of pastries week after week, and everyone seemed to love them—including me. Even though I was exhausted from the endless batches of sticky buns and coffee cakes, it was one of the most fun and fulfilling jobs I had ever experienced.
That experience made me realize that I wanted to pursue baking and pastry professionally, so I decided to attend Johnson & Wales University to study baking and pastry arts. I packed up my things and headed off to college, excited to turn something I loved into a career.
Unfortunately, my plans changed when I suffered a severe back injury that made it extremely difficult for me to stand or walk for long periods of time. Because the required hands-on labs were no longer something I could physically manage, I had to leave the program. I was heartbroken.
I came home and spent the next year focusing on healing, hoping I would eventually be able to return. When it became clear that I still couldn’t handle the physical demands of a baking and pastry program, I made the difficult decision to change my major. I went on to graduate with a degree in Entrepreneurship.
Although I never became a pastry chef—or a chef of any kind—baking and cooking never left me. If anything, everything I went through made me realize just how much they mean to me.
And that’s what brings me here.
I created The Everyday Dish to share that passion with you. I want to show that cooking and baking at home don’t have to be intimidating, complicated, or expensive. In a world where convenience is everywhere, I want to encourage people to slow down, get creative, and make something they’re proud of.
Because sometimes, homemade really is better than takeout.
Whether it’s a recipe, a coffee I’m obsessed with, a baking project, or simply something delicious I made for my family, I hope The Everyday Dish inspires you to spend a little more time in the kitchen—and most importantly, enjoy it.