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.
OCTOBER 2014
The Baking Sheet completes its 25-year run,
making way for a much bigger publication to
come in 2015.