About

My name Dana. I’m a small-business owner, writer, dog mom, baker, and pie artist.

Some folks call me ‘The Nostalgic Baker’ because I have a passion for creating vintage desserts and nostalgic-themed pies. There’s a unique joy in taking a walk down memory lane while enjoying a slice of your favourite pie.

It all started when I was 8 years old.

My parents bought me an Easy-Bake Oven for Christmas, and there was no going back. I was completely hooked.

I set the little oven up in my bedroom and baked cakes daily to share with family, friends, and neighbours. My mom told me she used to wake up in the middle of the night to the delicious smell of cake, and then she’d often be too hungry to fall back asleep (whoops!).

I don’t have photos of my cake-making adventures with the EZ Bake oven (i.e. evidence), but here’s a picture of ‘little me’ looking happy to be eating breakfast, anyway. Yes, even though it isn’t cake 🙂

My Baking Journey—My first business while in college! 

Fast forward a few decades…

Not much has changed. I still bake obsessively, but my desserts are slightly bigger now (the Easy-Bake oven was for kids after all!), and I’ve also moved my baking experiments from the bedroom to the kitchen. I don’t remember what happened to that little oven, but I probably wore it into the ground. It’s a wonder I didn’t set my bedroom on fire with how often I had that little oven running.

In college, I’d inadvertently started a cheesecake business. I’d received a cheesecake cookbook from my parents for Christmas, and after baking every recipe in that book, I handed out samples of my favourites to family and friends. I guess they were a hit because I could barely keep up with orders, mostly from my mom’s friends and coworkers.

Eventually, however, the demands of school quickly overwhelmed my fledgling new business, and unfortunately, I had to put my little baking business on hold. I realized it one night when I had 6 cheesecake orders to prepare, but I also had a crucial geography exam looming the following morning. I got it all done, but only because I did an all-nighter–fuelled by copious amounts of coffee. From that point on, I decided to just focus on my studies and save my baking orders for weekends. During the next semester, I decided to take a hiatus from my studies (I originally wanted to teach but changed my mind partway through my graduate work), and I jumped into baking (especially cheesecakes) with both feet. I have been baking ever since!

Originally, I’d contemplated opening up a storefront bakery to sell my creations, and family and friends were pushing me to get a location. But before committing to a 5-10-year lease (and the expensive kitchen equipment as well), I decided it was a good idea to try a few Farmers’ Markets first (I rented a commercial kitchen on an as-needed basis) to see if I wanted an actual storefront bakery.

Turns out I made the right call because I quickly realized that I’d rather spend 4 hours sketching Darth Vader on a pie than actually baking the pie–which is not overly conducive to a pie business, really. (lol). I loved the social aspect of being at the Farmers’ markets a lot more than churning out 60-100 pies every week.

I also felt that I probably shouldn’t have focused on pies/pastry for a baking business (especially without a physical location) as pie has to be fresh. A few friends who owned restaurants offered me their kitchens on Sundays or Mondays (since they were closed those days), but there was no way I could bake all my pies five days ahead of the market. They needed to be prepared the night before in order for them to taste fresh.

In hindsight, it would probably have been easier for me to do a cake, cupcake, cookie, or cheesecake business, as those items can often be prepared ahead of time and frozen (or at least they stay fresh longer than pastry). I was exhausted at the markets on Saturday mornings since I usually did an all-nighter on Friday to get all the pies made. Thank goodness for the fantastic coffee vendors at the markets 😉

My Passion for Baking & Pie Art (ie: putting Darth Vader on Pie!)

Baking is not only something that I’m incredibly passionate about; it also connects us to memories and brings us together. There is something deeper and more meaningful about slicing a homemade cake, pie, or fresh bread with family or friends. The flavours and aromas of the food we prepare evoke memories that tightly bind us to our loved ones. No matter how our family recipes are tweaked or adapted, the heart of all recipes lies in love, comfort, and time spent with family and friends.

Even the mere act of baking can connect us to the past and help us cherish memories of those who are no longer with us. Every time I make my mom’s coffee cake recipe, for example, I feel her spirit in my kitchen, cheering me on. If I’m making a fresh strawberry pie, my thoughts turn to my favourite Aunt Colleen, who was like a second mom to me. She was also my biggest cheerleader for my baking business. Given that Aunt Colleen baked for her family all the time (she once told me she used to bake cookies every. single. day when her kids were small), and we could discuss baking/food until the cows came home. Sadly, she also passed away a few years ago, but not a day goes by that she’s not in my thoughts as well. Since strawberry pie was her favourite dessert, whenever I make it (usually during the summer months), I think of her and celebrate with her spirit over a slice.

From time to time, I share stories from experience as a self-taught baker. And, long long ago (…in a galaxy far far away–sorry, Star Wars reference), I used to have a dog bakery! While I still make dog cookies for my clients, I no longer supply my treats to pet stores. However, if you’d like a bag of (doggie) peanut butter cookies, a carob-dipped doggie biscotti or a birthday cake for your pup, reach out anytime. I still do doggie treats and cake orders on the side.

Additionally, since I spent nearly 20 years in the restaurant industry, I love sharing some of my memorable tales about all the incredible (and a few crazy) folks I’ve met along the way. You can never go wrong with a behind-the-scenes crazy restaurant story, right?

I’ve also got a penchant for food history, particularly desserts that have been a part of our culture for many decades, if not longer. So if you’re curious about the humble beginnings of carrot cake, or how chocolate chip cookies were invented, I’m your girl.

I Started this Blog during the height of the Food Blog Era! 

I created this blog (circa 2011) to share my geeky pies, favourite recipes, baking experiments, food ramblings, and plenty of other shenanigans with family and friends. Since I’d just started my freelance writing career around this time, having a blog provided an opportunity to enhance my writing skills while covering a topic I truly adored: food. It also allowed me to showcase my creative outlets (themed pies are my specialty). Back then, dinosaurs roamed the land social media wasn’t a thing yet (Facebook was new, and Instagram & TikTok weren’t invented yet), so this space offered an opportunity to share my pie designs with family, friends, and fellow bakers. If you know me (or you’ve been reading my blog for a while), you probably already know that I love storytelling–which is more old-style blogging. So, if you’re looking for a ‘jump to the recipe’ type site, this space may not be ideal for you.

My blog not only documents my passion for baking, but it also allows me to share my recipes, baking tips (I’ve been baking gluten-free for well over a decade) and connect with other bakers and food bloggers.

Hopefully, I can inspire you to make something creative, and possibly even go outside your comfort zone in the kitchen. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, recipes, or just a few laughs, I’d love to help you embrace the little joys in everyday moments. If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you’ll probably enjoy a walk down memory lane with one of my geeky pies. Because we 80s kids know that the only way you can improve an apple pie is by putting Darth Vader on it! Right?

I currently live in Ottawa, Canada, along with my two fur balls (Tibetan spaniels): Rocky (Rockstar) and Yoda (Yodes), who are also my In-House Taste-testers and Quality Control Officers.

Thanks so much for stopping by! For updates and my new geeky pies or baking projects, please follow me on Instagram. I’d love to hear your thoughts, stories, comments, and feedback anytime. I look forward to connecting with you!
Dana xo

Instagram: @piesandprejudebaker
Email: piesandprejudicebaker@gmail.com

Dana xo