My two beautiful nieces are credited with my nickname "Aunt Cake" because every time they would come over they "claim" I always had cake or sweet things to eat. I can not confirm or deny this claim.. However, out of all the nicknames I have had in life, this is by far my FAVORITE one. It all began standing on my mom's chair rolling out dough for cookies when I was a 5 or 6 years old. Then I took
every culinary and baking class in high school. In 2003, I graduated with 3 Associates Degrees from the Westmoreland County Community College: Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry, and Food Service Management. I have been a chef in corporate places such as the Olive Garden and Chili's Bar and Grill and private hotels and banquet facilities. I have been apart of the corporate bakeries such as Shop N' Save and the private bakeries like the well known, The Pie Shoppe in Mt. Pleasant, PA and The Original Pie Shoppe in Laughlintown, PA. I couldn't choose and I love to do both. Therefore, you get the best of both worlds with me, which is a rare combo in this industry. In 2006 I had a life changing event, a slipped disc, that changed the course of my career. For the next few years I begin a new career in a local psychiatric hospital while getting an Information Science Degree at night. In 2019 I finally finished this and have a great job, but it doesn't fill my heart the way food does. I miss it and all that it brings to people. In the meantime I of course NEVER stopped cooking, baking, or decorating. Family, friends, and co-workers all will call upon me to feed them :) I love every minute of it. Now I want to share that same love with the rest of the world. At the end of the day, what I enjoy most is seeing others gather around food and share recipes and stories with one another. This is what you can not find deep in the corporate kitchens. There is nothing more enjoyable to me than teaching others how to cook and laugh in a kitchen. God has given us all a purpose in life. Some figure it out sooner than others. While I new this was my purpose and passion from an early age I wasn't sure what it was supposed to look like. I think I have figured it out now, but maybe this is only the beginning. Bringing people together to enjoy the company of others, to help share the gospel and feed people as Jesus did in the bible. It is such a blessing to be on this journey. Join me around the table and lets have a great conversation, great meals, and a great time :)
