Better Know a Baker

Drawing by Edward Gorey

Oh hey guys, what's up? My name's Colleen. I love baking, baseball and my boyfriend Ken. Not necessarily in that order. I also like whiskey, babies and gastro-pubs, but not as much as the first three things I mentioned.

I'm also the proud mom of the sweetest cat the world has ever known: Ms. Gracie LaRoux. Ken and I love her on levels that's probably not healthy, but what else can you do when you've got the best looking cat?

I live in South Philadelphia now, but I grew up in the Scranton, PA area (which you'll frequently see me refer to as NEPA, or Northeastern Pennsylvania). You'll hear me talk about both cities a lot. Get used to it.

2009 World Series Game 5

What you'll find on this site are pictures, recipes and musings about the stuff I make. I also do occasional product and restaurant reviews. Maybe a giveaway. I talk about Phillies baseball a lot too. I try to keep the randomness to a minimum. (The keyword in that sentence being TRY.)

I learned a lot of baking from my Grandma while growing up. The rest is self-taught. My cooking skills are sub-par at best, but I'm working on it. I frequently post about my kitchen-woes, so if you're looking for perfectly polished and professional recipes, this probably isn't the place for you.

Apple Cake

My goal is to sell my baked goods. Getting a small business started is kinda confusing and overwhelming. If you've got any input or advice, I will gladly take it. I've done a couple of bake sales and markets around Philly and Scranton, but nothing's official yet. I'm working on it!

Pumpkin Brownies with Cream Cheese Glaze

Everything I bake is vegan. No eggs, no dairy, no animal products. My treats are all grandma-approved, and are just as delicious as their non-vegan counterparts. You'll never miss the butter.

I've been a lazy vegetarian for years, and last year I made the decision to slowly go vegan again. I've been transitioning for a few months now, and since January my diet has been completely vegan!

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

I like to make pies. I'm definitely on team pie. And for those of you on team cake, my blueberry pie or strawberry rhubarb pie could convert you. And for those of you who aren't looking to switch teams, I'll make you some CARBOMB or some Casbah cupcakes, and we can still be friends. Ok?

CARBOMB Cupcakes

This blog is a little over a year old, but still very much a work-in-progress. Browse around, check things out, leave a comment and join the conversation. And hey, Thanks for stopping by!

John Tenniel drawing from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass