About

My name is Dana. I’m small business owner, writer, dog mom, baker, & pie artist.

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 oven up in my bedroom and baked cakes almost daily to share with family, friends & neighbours. Years later, my mom told me she’d often wake up to the smell of cake, so she’d be hungry to fall back asleep (oops, lol).

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 because of how often I ran that thing (haha).

In college, I’d inadvertently started a little cheesecake business. My parents bought me a wonderful cheesecake cookbook to support my newly emerging passion for baking (even though my mom hated cheesecake!), and I baked every recipe in that book. I perfected a few of my favourite recipes and then began giving out samples to everyone who would try a slice. Turns out they were a hit because suddenly orders were coming out of the yin-yan and I could barely keep up. (To this day, I still make cheesecakes for friends and family).

Eventually, however, the demands of school quickly overwhelmed my fledgling new business so I was forced to put it on hold temporarily. It dawned on me one night when I had four cheesecake orders to fill, but I also had a crucial geography exam looming the following morning. It took an all-nighter, fuelled by copious amounts of coffee, to get ‘er done. After that, I decided that I’d just focus on my studies, and save my baking projects for weekends and summer vacation. Not long after, I took a hiatus from my studies (I originally wanted to teach but changed my mind part way through my graduate work), and I jumped in with both feet. I have been baking ever since!

I originally thought I wanted a storefront bakery to sell my creations, and my family and friends were pushing me to get a location. But before I committed to a 5-10-year lease (and the expensive kitchen equipment as well), I decided to do a few Farmers Market events first (I rented a commercial kitchen on an as-needed basis) to see if this was something I wanted to do.

Turns out I made the right call because it didn’t take me long to realize 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 Farmer’s Markets, more than churning out 60-100 pies every week. I also feel that I chose the trickier option (pies/pastry) for a baking business (especially without a physical location) as pie and pastry 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 5 days ahead of the events.

In hindsight, it would probably have been easier for me to do a cake, cupcake, or cheesecake  business, as they can often be prepared ahead of time and kept frozen. But man, was I ever tired every Saturday morning at the markets since I usually did an all-nighter Friday to get all the pies done. Thank goodness for the amazing coffee vendors at the markets 🙂

Baking is not only something I am 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 that she baked cookies every. single. day when her kids were small), we could discuss baking (and food, in general) 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 shops. 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/cake orders on the side, just for fun.

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 back in 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, it also allows me to share my recipes, baking tips (I’ve been baking gluten-free for well over a decade, so I love to share gluten-free baking tips especially), and baking ideas with readers and fellow bakers. I also love to connect with other bakers, food bloggers, and give back to my community. (Note: I’m currently planning a “Pie It Forward” (2025) project in my hometown… Stay tuned for more info)

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 to embrace the little joys in everyday moments. If you grew up in the 80s or 90s (like me), 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 a homemade Apple Pie is by putting Darth Vader on it….. right??? (who’s with me?)

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 my social media. I’d love to hear your thoughts, stories, comments, and feedback anytime. I look forward to connecting with you!
Dana xo

Instagram: @piesandprejudebaker
Facebook: @piesandprejudice
Email: piesandprejudicebaker@gmail.com

Dana xo