We all have to start somewhere

Well here i go. My first Blog on my new website.

Where to begin...

I guess i better start at the beginning. I wont take you back to my child hood just the start of my journey into baking. You see that photo of me. That's me at Adelaide Regency Tafe where i got my Certificate in Commercial cookery and Certificate 3 Patisserie. I know HARDLY any tattoos who is that person. Well That is me i was at the beginning of my career. I was just learning the ins and out of laying dough's. I had previously been an apprentice for 4 years and decided i needed to add another 2 years because i'm one of those people who likes learning. I would go to school in the morning and working at my restaurant job at night 5 days a week on hardly any sleep.

I loved school, being able to make something new everyday was a dream. I didnt have to worry about the cost of ingredients or not having enough on hand because the school had an endless supply. Fast forward 18 years and i own my own bakery and have the stresses of every small business owner has.

I could tell you my whole life story or i could skip that and go straight to the fun parts. Lets say 2019 when i competed in my first Food Network show The Big Bake. I remember getting the email that we where going to be on the show! I screamed like a little girl! This was my dream! Since watching top chef i wanted to be on TV. And There i was standing on the set of The Big Bake. Once we knew what we had to do and they said go me and my team mates Alicia and Elise Sprang into action. We decided we were just going to go for it and make creepy pumpkins, being as the theme was Halloween. There was so many things that went wrong and during the episode i started crying my eyes out totally forgetting that the cameras were even there. I remember Eddie Jackson consolidating me and telling me its ok and to just keep going. So that's exactly what i did. I pulled my big girl pants up and we finished our 6 foot standing cake! It wasn't pretty but i knew our flavors were amazing. The judges didn't really have much to criticize about the cake and the flavor was spot on. To my shock we went on to win the competition.

That's it my life's dream came true i went on TV and we even won (totally didnt expect that).

I figured that would be it for my TV career so i concentrated on my bakery and creating some weird and wonderful sculpted cakes. i wanted to take my cakes to the next level and practiced sculpting cakes as much as i could. I even did some for free just to practice new techniques (i know bad business owner tisk tisk tisk). My bakery won multiple awards and struggled through some extremely hard times.

Fast forward to 2023 when i competed and won The Halloween baking championship. Going up against 12 of the most amazing bakers i have ever met. I learnt so much from all of them. Tricks i had never even dreamed of. Till this day it is still like a dream, I need to pinch myself every time someone asks me about it because it was just an amazing experience. I literally just went on and was my weird crazy self and did what i do everyday which is make weird and wonderful treats. I am greatful to be part of an amazing show.

Now im Here sitting at my kitchen table in my Pjs on a snow day working out what to bake today. Don't get me wrong there are days where i can't stand to step foot in the kitchen and that's ok (take out is amazing)

I love creating something from nothing and baking is one art form that just comes easy to me. I started this website and blog to share what i know about baking so i hope my recipes and website helps you create some amazing treats in your kitchen.

so Lets start with the basics, Here's what tools i recommend you have in your kitchen:

-A good electronic scale- most of my recipes i convert them into grams because sometimes cup measurements lie! Yes i said it they LIE! A scale will help you measure your ingredients down to the gram.

-An oven thermometer. I know a weird thing but most ovens suck! unless you have an amazing top of the line oven your oven is bound to have hot spots or even run a few degrees too hot or cold.

-A mixer or hand held mixer. You don't have to have the best mixer as a matter of fact i used my grandmothers 40 year old kenwood mixer for ages.

-A food processor. I make most of my pie dough's in a food processor its fast and so easy.

-The basics a good whisk, spatula and knife. These are essential for really any kitchen. Your knifes don't have to be the top of the line but having a sharp knife is key! You can buy knife sharpeners or take it to your local knife store its most likely they sharpen knifes or know someone who does! When it comes to spatulas i have 3 i absolutely love. One is from the Dollar store! Yep who would have known i found my favorite for $2.

-Mixing bowls you can buy a good set of these from any kitchen store or even online.

and Last but not least a candy thermometer.

Ok Now we have The basic tools down its time to start baking.

so stay tuned as ill be baking up a storm and creating some fun recipes that you can try at home.

Hollie