Keepin it real!

I've been a baker all my life... I know what your thinking "how can he have been a baker all of his life?". Well, I grew up in my Dad's bakery in Ferndale, WA. On my Mom's side there are bakers back at least 4 generations that I know of starting with my maternal grandfather. I really started when I was 6 (that's when my Dad bought the Bakery in Ferndale. I swept floors, cleaned dishes, made streusel and whatever else my Dad could think of for me to do. Of course I had to stand on a bucket to reach the work bench at that point.

My Dad being a baker from Germany with a Masters degree in Baking taught me all he knew about baking. Eventually I wanted to learn more and so much of what I know is either self taught or I learned from correspondence courses that I have taken. I went on to take over the bakery. I wish I still had it now but it was long hours and hard work so that part I don't miss.

I now work for a bakery supply company but I still love to get my hands into the flour and make bread at home, or make my kid's birthday cakes, or make desserts for family gatherings.

I find that a lot of baking books and recipes make things more complicated than necessary so that is why i am writing this blog. To take the mystery out of how baking works and give some hints and trick to making things just a little easier.

Let me know what you think!