Sweets

Southerners are known to have a sweet tooth, and even though I was born in Connecticut, I inherited the gene. My Southern grandmothers were both home bakers and there was always a cake or pie on their kitchen counters. I grew up attending a traditional Southern Baptist church that would often hold bake sales. Cookies, layer cakes, cobblers, puddings, and pies are part of a long tradition in the soul food kitchen and I love them all.

To my mind, a meal isn’t complete until I’ve had dessert. While I’ve spent most of my career working on the savory side of the kitchen, there have been several times when I’ve had to work in the pastry department, and I’m a better cook for the experience. Baking requires more patience and precision of timing and measurement.