My Baking Blog Begins

I have enjoyed baking for as long as I can remember. My pleasure has its roots in my first Easy Bake Oven. God bless my dad for all of the little disks of "cakes" he ate, lovingly baked by me and a 100 watt light bulb. How that light bulb baked a "cake" I'll never know. We used to try to fry eggs on the sidewalk on hot summer days and that NEVER worked.


I started more serious baking at the elbow of my older sister, Janice, who taught me how to make our family's favorite wheat germ chocolate chip cookies. Fast forward to today, where my enjoyment for baking has turned into a passion. I fantasize about someday opening a bakery--perhaps when I retire and I no longer depend on my "regular" job to pay for college loans.

I took a weekend job last fall in the bakery at Smolak Farm in North Andover, MA. I figured it would be a good way to find out if I'm really serious about this bakery thing. I started out baking pies, something I was never very good at. After thousands of pies, I think I can finally say I'm getting better! I'm enjoying my part-time job at the bakery and it inspires me to explore new recipes and to learn more about the "science" of baking.

This brings me to this blog. My daughter, Helen, keeps telling me to start one. So, here it is, Helen. Enjoy!