Emily Mueller

I'vehad a passion for baking since Christmas Eve when I was in first grade. My grandparents on a whim, gave me an Easy-Bake Oven. I immediately fell in love with baking. It wasn't very long until I tried every kindof Easy Bake product. After a year, I graduated to the real oven. From about 2nd to 4th grade I made the same boring box mix brownies and cakeswith canned frosting, and occasionally, simple cookie recipes. I wouldlike to thank my family for putting up with that experimental and boring time! In about 5th grade, at this point the redundancy got to them, so myfather sent me to my grandma's to learn how to make a pie from scratch. I will never forget the first day I made an apple pie with my grandma! WhenI brought it home, everyone loved it. This was a turning point in my"career." I thought to myself, if I could make a pie fromscratch, why can't I make everything from scratch? So that's what Istarted doing! Chocolate cake, white cake, chocolate frosting, butter-creamicing, chocolate chip cookies, snicker doodles, peanut butter cookies, lemonbars, blondies, cheesecakes, coffee cakes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, everythingand anything! I spent countless hours going through my mom's and grandmas’cook books. Every birthday I would always receive at least one recipe bookto add to my collection. All throughout high school I expanded my bakingknowledge. My specialty for pie making really began to take off. I havemade apple, peach, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, pumpkin, and pecan pies. I have made refrigerated pies as well- white Christmas, banana cream,coconut cream, and strawberry chiffon. At this point I had completelytaken over the role of the baker in my extended family and group of friends. Every family gathering I am expected to bringall the dessert. I don't remember the last time someone has brought astore bought birthday cake. Being a fulltime college student has slowed down my baking habits, but I still find time tobake whenever I can. Baking is veryrewarding for me and has helped me in stressful times. I've even donated pies for charityfundraisers and have been paid to supply desserts for formal parties. I have ambitions to turn my hobby into a businessone day, focusing on pies most likely, either opening a pie bakery or having apie truck.