The Baking Sheet - Fall Holiday 2014

Having joined The Baking Sheet family really late in the game, I am in constant awe of the development and evolution of the publication.

One of my very first tasks was to catalogue each recipe from every issue going back to the very beginning. An almost overwhelming undertaking, when you look at the number of volumes alone. Once you get to the sheer amount of recipes and knowledge nuggets and technique instructions; it was enough to make my spreadsheet want to jump off the screen and run away screaming.

Once I stopped panicking and actually got started, it quickly became an obsession.

Coming from a literary background, it was a treat to spend a few hours each day reading through what PJ Hamel and Brinna Sands had written in the ‘90s and then Susan Reid in the ‘00s. Their voices flowed through the pages and it was almost addicting to just keep turning to the next story. Particularly fascinating to read about was what were at that time current events.

For instance, 1994 brought about an ultra-cold and ultra-snowy winter that stretched across the country and wouldn’t seem to quit. All of these weather patterns affected the way that they wrote about baking and absolutely resonated with me in the present-time when we were ALSO having a long, cold, and wet winter. Baking knowledge 100% transcends time.

Working on The Baking Sheet has been an absolute dream. For a girl who was relatively fresh out of college, with only home baking experience but a fierce desire to learn, this was my dream job. Susan is a talented chef with so much wisdom that I have done my best to absorb. Nothing like first-hand experience and first-hand mistakes to learn! I’ve acquired so many skills already, and I know that it has only just begun as we evolve even further.

No one’s good at goodbyes, and we’re no different. So, this isn’t goodbye. It’s more like, “Hey, we’re changing a bit. You’ve been asking for more content, and we’re finally able to offer that to you.” It’s been a delicious ride so far, but we’re still on this road and there’s plenty of room on board. We’d love for you to join along!

GOOD BYE FROM GWEN T I M E L I N E SEPTEMBER 2011

Our first DVD, Pie Essentials, appears. It’s followed by Cake Essentials and Whole Grain Baking in subsequent years.

APRIL 2013

The Baking Sheet app is born, with access to all the issues ever printed, a comprehensive index, and unique capability to link from any recipe from that index.