Now that I’ve given my blog a fresh start, it feels like the right moment to reintroduce myself and share why baking means so much to me. From my earliest memories, family birthday parties were overflowing with food and adorned with beautiful, delicious cakes—most of them made by one of my grandmothers. I was lucky to grow up with two grandmothers who each brought their own baking strengths. On my dad’s side, my grandmother made the best little pineapple pies and amazing Surinamese rotis. On my mom’s side, my grandmother was a passionate baker known for her beautifully decorated and incredibly tasty cakes.
Last year I lost one of those grandmothers at the remarkable age of 103. Though she’s gone, her recipes and the memories we shared remain vivid. My other grandmother is still going strong; even at 91 she continues to cook and bake. Her skills had the greatest influence on my love of baking. Every year I got to choose the cake I wanted for my birthday, and she would make it for me. Growing up in the Netherlands in the 1980s, elaborately decorated cakes—especially in the American style—were rare. Today they’re everywhere, but back then they felt special and unique. I was raised in the Netherlands with Surinamese heritage, and my mother grew up in Aruba. It was there that my grandmother learned many of the cake-decorating techniques she later used in the Netherlands, even making fondant from scratch.
Recipes to Remember
Baking is woven with memory because it is often done to celebrate—birthdays, holidays, family gatherings. Those moments give baking its meaning. One reason I began blogging about baking was to share those recipes so others can recreate and keep their own memories. Whether I’m making a tried-and-true family favorite or testing a new idea, I see every bake as a way to preserve or make memories. My first post was titled Memory Lane Lemon Meringue Pie, a recipe meant to evoke and preserve the flavors of the past.
What are your memories?
I hope this blog becomes a place where I won’t just revisit my own memories, but help create and celebrate yours. A few years ago, a friend asked me to develop a recipe for her child who has food allergies. She told me what ingredients were off-limits and what was safe, and I set out to create a cupcake he could enjoy. When we met later, she told me she still bakes those cupcakes. Knowing a recipe I created became part of another family’s traditions was deeply moving. It reminded me why sharing recipes matters: a good recipe can spark joy and make lasting memories.
As I rebuild this blog, I’m challenging myself to get back into a regular routine. Once I find that rhythm, I don’t want to limit myself to my own recipes—I want to bake yours. Tell me about the treats that matter to you or the ingredients you can’t use, and I’ll be inspired to adapt and create. I’m not just here to post updates about what I’m baking; I want to be inspired and challenged by your stories and requests. Let’s bake memories together.