Sweet Beginnings

Here it is…my second attempt at the blogging world!  So many things have changed since the first.  I’ve married my love and best friend and have moved to a new city, home, and office. My sweet dog has passed away (which still brings tears to my eyes), but I’ve also been blessed with a beautiful niece and new precious nephew.  Hence, the name for the blog. Sweet Beginnings.  If you know me well, you know I’m resistant to change.  I prefer order over chaos and prosper in the familiar and the routine. But God has shown me that this journey is all about change, and if we look hard enough, we will discover the sweet in all the new beginnings He brings us. 

The name has another meaning too…since the first blog, I’ve found a new passion! Appropriately, it began with my first gift from my sweet hubby, a shiny KitchenAid Artisan Mixer. 

Why is it that our best childhood memories are those involving food?  I think the short answer is that food brings us together and makes us feel loved. 

My sweet mom probably doesn’t remember, but I treasured our Saturday morning tradition of making pancakes. The day she starting letting me flip the cakes was a proud day!  It was a simple thing, but it was our time together and it made me feel special.  I still think about those Saturdays every time I make pancakes. 

I can distinctly remember the smell of Mummy’s kitchen during the holiday baking days.  Her perfect divinity just tasted like Christmas and those days brought the whole family together.  To this day, when I make a cup of hot tea, I crave her simple but sweet white bread tea sandwiches with butter and sugar. 

My other grandmother, Nanny, was a wonderful baker. Her cornbread, biscuits and breads were nothing short of amazing. One of my fondest memories with her is the day I finally mastered her cream cheese pound cake!  I’m still working on those biscuits.

Once I finally received that KitchenAid Mixer, I set out to begin my own traditions.  It started simply enough, making birthday cakes for my stepson and hubby.  But I soon realized I couldn’t get enough.  I’ve been covered in flour since our marriage began, and I don’t think he would have it any other way!  Recently, I’ve turned to making cakes for special occasions.  There’s nothing better than creating something that adds joy to a special day!  I’ll highlight these in the Cakes section of the blog. 

The past few months of change have been tough, but rediscovering the simple joy of cooking meals and baking treats has made all of the new beginnings so much sweeter!