A Sweet Story

I first learned to bake with my grandma Betty.  She learned from her mother, who owned a bakery out of her home in Ames. 

My earliest memories are making gingerbread houses, Dutch letters and perfectly flawless cookies.  I later found out why her cookies always looked cookbook worthy; they were Iowa State Fair worthy. 

In 2013 I decided to try my hand at a family tradition, the Iowa State Fair baking competitions. 

I went in with five items and I left with 4 ribbons! 

My first two ribbons came in the beginner’s category with a lavender cupcake with lemon curd filling and a vanilla bean buttercream.  The flavor combinations blew the judges away and I strained to listen as they whispered praises and named my cupcakes not only beginner dessert winner, but overall beginner champion before they had even tasted all of the entries!

My third and fourth ribbons came for my peanut butter apple pie and my Nutella filled vanilla cake with vanilla bean buttercream and hazelnut pirouettes. 

I hope my desserts remind you of old traditions and start new ones in your family.  I know I have my grandma looking down on me giving me fun ideas and I hear her calling my name when the cookies are just about done... I only hope to live up to her delicious, sweet legacy.