About

Hi, I’m Jen Leigh and I love to bake. One of my earliest food memories is of my sister and I watching, rapt, while our mother rolled out pie dough on the kitchen counter. Why did we find the process so fascinating? Why do I still? (And why in the world did she let us eat the raw pie dough, but that’s a question for another time.)

Obviously, feeding people delicious food always feels good. But the perfect bake goes beyond that. When that loaf of bread comes out the perfect shade of golden brown, or that chocolate has such a shine you can almost see your reflection in it – well, there are few things more gratifying. 

But what about when we don’t succeed? What about those crusts that tear, or the caramel that burns, or that cake that’s like a doorstop instead of an angel’s wing? I hope that by sharing some of my own pitfalls, as well as successes, as an amateur baker, you’ll take heart and keep on baking.

So from my kitchen to yours, happy baking. May your souffles always rise and your meringues never fall. And if they don’t, and they do, respectively, you know where to come to commiserate.

Join me on Instagram @realitybakes1. I’d love to see what you’re making!