When my brother and I were little, my Mother would pull us in to the kitchen everyday and make us stir something or fetch ingredients for her. While we were measuring, peeling, or stirring for her she would ask, “Do you know why I’m doing this?” and point to the complicated action she was doing. We would shrug and she would explain to us every detail of the recipe she was making and why it was important not to take shortcuts. We would learn why yeast loved to be toasty and warm while it snacked on sugar and grew, why you had to soak peeled potatoes to remove starch, or how you must make sure that your bowl is beyond clean before you try and beat egg whites into fluffy meringues. We would listen, hoping to get done with our task in minutes so we could run to the living room where the television was, but eventually we started to understand and like the explanations. My Mother was a very hands on teacher and she cared about my brother and I knowing and understanding why something had to be done. The older we got, the more time we spent in the kitchen. It eventually backfired on my Mother, who didn’t consider that while it’s easy sharing a kitchen with two children, space is limited when you have to share with two teenagers
From those years in the kitchen with my family, I noticed more than just my Mother’s lessons. I noticed and understood that food makes people happy! A cupcake on a bad day can make a person smile. Having a cookie is like getting a hug. This is why I eventually opened Red Bird Baking a shop dedicated to making delicious, beautiful, and natural desserts based on my Mother’s and Grandmothers’ recipes.
.
This blog will show my journey with the bakery, help me share some of my favorite recipes, and help me connect with the wonderful people out there who love baking and food as much as I do!
