I had a really cool job as a Department of Defense contractor. I helped my military brothers and sisters and their families prepare for and endure cycles of deployment to places like Iraq and Afghanistan. There were more perks. For example, my caller ID showed up as “U.S. Government” and I could really mess with my friends with that.

Our contract ended and I was given a little over a week’s notice that my job was eliminated. That same week I lost my mom.

Somewhere between “Shock and Denial” and “Acceptance and Hope,” my inner- Marine kicked back in and I changed my perspective to, “I can do anything I want to do!”

I knew this was going to be a character building experience. I swallowed my pride, often. I asked my family and friends for work. I raked lawns, cleaned and painted houses; cut fire wood, pampered pets, delivered pizzas, whatever it took.

When they ran out of projects I focused on my love of cooking and offered to ‘Personal Chef’ where they bought the ingredients and gave me a donation. Everything changed after I catered a small private wedding.

I began researching organic farming by attending conferences and workshops. I hyper focused to learn more ways to have fun with food, such as using molecular gastronomy, gluten-free cooking, vegan diets and sugar free baking.

My family and friends are small business owners, educators, and hardworking individuals. They always took my calls and made time to give me advice. They really helped make this dream come true.

I started organizing my favorite recipes and those shared from my family and friends. I decided if I created sweet and savory cupcakes, I wouldn’t have to choose between being a chef or a baker so I became a chef who bakes.

At 4 &20 Bakers, we hope you will appreciate why we cook, bake from scratch and choose local ingredients because it just has to be worth it, and it has to be good.

To me, if it doesn’t taste good, I don’t eat it. So if I am going to indulge, it better be worth it and it better be delicious.

Thank you for this opportunity and I hope that you taste the love.