I have been in love with cooking and baking since I was five years old. My mother will attest to the fact I made the best mud pies in the neighborhood. My toy box held an arsenal of tools to rival any child chef- empty Morton Salt boxes, aluminum pie tins, giant eggs (courtesy of Leggs Pantyhose) and an endless array of play dish sets.  I hit the big time with my first Easy Bake Oven.  It wasn’t one of those new fangled microwave types you see out today. I had a floor model with a stove top, knobs and a spring loaded oven door you could open and close. I still remember the thrill of baking my first cake in it with my Mom and the excitement of giving it to my Dad when he came home from work.

Some 40 years later not much has changed. I still love to bake. I still love the thrill of having someone try my creations for the first time. I love being a part of special occasions in people’s lives. The highlight of most any celebration is the food- and when that food is fabulous, it becomes a part of my customers’ fondest memories. I consider that a great honor.

For years I dreamed of owning my own business but chose the safer route making a living in Corporate America.  I started The Brownie Pan Fine Desserts and Gifts in 2005 on the side of my full time job as a Sales Assistant for UBS Financial Services.  I started out doing orders for the office which branched out into orders from several of the Financial Advisors.

As my business grew, so did my desire to commit to it full time. When I took a good hard look at what was stopping me, it boiled down to one thing—fear.  What if I failed? What if I lost everything? As I prayed over the decision a few things became crystal clear. First of all fear is never a good reason to stay where you are.  It also became clear that baking is one of my God-given gifts. It is my passion. I don’t just want to do it—I have to do it. It is one of the ways my love for people is expressed which probably explains why I find myself hugging many of my customers.

Finally, in the summer of 2008, I took the plunge into full time self employment. Despite the hurdles of a declining economy and lean cash flow, I have never been happier with my work. The sense of fulfillment I have gained by pursuing my passion is absolutely priceless.