Let’s take it from the top

I love to bake. For me, it’s the simplest way to make people happy. I have been baking ever since I was a kid. There’s nothing better than watching the oven, waiting for the pie to cook or a loaf of bread to rise or smelling freshly baked cookies and chai as I arrived home after school. At first, I was a helper and dish washer. Then, I graduated to cookie scooper although my scoops always ended up in oversized cookies. Eventually I became the chief of quiche dough under my mother’s watchful eye and so much more. I loved to help my mom host both big and small gatherings.

Whether it was one person coming to tea or a kitchen full of relatives for a big gathering, there was rarely a week where someone didn’t stop by. What better way to welcome them than with a freshly baked treat! Food really does bring people together.

After years of experimenting, (how many chocolate chips can you put in before it’s no longer a cookie?) I discovered that I absolutely love the science of baking. 

This is what brought me to Claire Saffitz's YouTube series, Dessert Person. 

I was drawn to how precise and well-tested each recipe was. The presence of salt to balance sweet, the depth of flavours, and the variety of recipes from simple to complex. Claire often takes the time to explain why she takes certain steps in a recipe. She explains the relevance of temperature, time, chemical reactions between different ingredients-all in a way that is still joyful and fun.

So, I finally decided to buy the cookbook and am dedicating this blog to trying each recipe until I've tried them all. I am not going in order, but instead starting with recipes that call to me most.  This journey will not be linear, and I'm going to share it all. The triumphs, the failures and everything in between.

So grab a tea or coffee and come bake with me!