My Baking History, Continued

Continued from yesterday's post, my reflections on all the baking I've done throughout my life...

Even in graduate school, I found myself baking at the most unexpected times. Most of our classes were organized around group projects with an accompanying presentation. To make one of my first group presentations stand out, I made square cookies with the Ikea logo frosted on them. Little did I realize that word would spread, and all my professors came to expect cookies with the group projects I was involved with. As in, points would be docked unless I showed up with cookies in hand. I graduated not only with a degree, but with a reputation as the girl that baked for class!


I carried my habit of baking into the workplace, as a way to break the ice when I was new on the job and eventually, a way to celebrate coworker’s birthdays. I actually credit baking for these birthdays as expanding my culinary horizons. I was very hesitant about tackling new things at first, but ended up being motivated to try things like carrot cake from scratch (with hand grated carrots, no less). This marked a shift from making only recipes that relied on work-arounds such as box mixes to focusing on making things from scratch.
 
When Andrew and I first started dating, I knew I had a great (and perceptive) guy on my hands when he starting gifting me with baking-related things. I know it sounds like a no-brainer to buy a baker things to use in the kitchen, but I swear most people seem to underestimate how much enjoyment I get out of things like spatulas, sprinkles and cupcake liners! And I still love the fact that he proposed to me with a cake.  It was so perfect because it's so us.
 
And on to the present - I'm obviously obsessed with baking and food.  I have a reputation as being a baker at work (the go-to person for bake sales), so much so that I met a coworker's husband for the first time the other day. I didn't expect him to recognize me in any way, but upon hearing my name, says, "Oh, you're the cupcake girl."  His wife had brought him one of these cupcakes from the shower.
 
So that's me, the baker, as seen through some random memories and anecdotes. So enough tooting of my own horn, onto the important stuff - more recipes, baking and thoughts on food!