Born & Bread To Bake

March 22, 2022

Today’s blog highlights our own Kerri Brodie Rodriguez whose love of baking has inspired her to create delicious memories and beautiful photography that she regularly shares on her own Instagram channel Brodie Bakes It. Kerri has been a key member of our client services team since 2014, bringing a wealth of food and beverage knowledge to each account she serves.

My love for baking runs deep. It is rooted in cherished memories created in the kitchen with mom and grandma. From homemade apple squares and cinnamon nutmeg donuts to wedding cakes and marathon holiday baking. I have such sweet memories of these irreplaceable moments. Baking in my own kitchen and sharing special treats with others is yet another opportunity to revel in those precious times. And, out of this love, Brodie Bakes It was born.

A SWEET CHALLENGE

At the end of a tough year for us all, I set out to challenge myself through something that has brought me immense joy all these years. While my baking knowledge and knack for identifying flavor profiles and recipe nuances improve each year with practice, I wanted to set a new goal that would continue to refine my skills.

Perhaps just as important, I desired to share what I love with a community that would also find satisfaction and beauty in recipes that taste as good as they look.

As we entered 2021, I declared to the world of social media (aka my circle of friends on Instagram lol), that I’d be sharing 52 weeks of bakes. While I did not know exactly what that would look like, I did know it was a catalyst to fostering growth – it would challenge me to be consistent and committed, it would unleash greater creativity and it would stretch me to try new, sometimes intimidating things.

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

I started mapping out my year with a content calendar. I noted things I enjoyed baking and researched recipes I wanted to try along with treats I didn’t know existed. Ultimately, this became a fluid document, flexible to include new things that piqued my curiosity.

Having a plan outlined and conducting the baseline foundational work has proven hugely helpful in my success. What’s more, ongoing research of new recipes and trends, paired with the knowledge I’ve acquired from agency life continues to help me navigate and improve my content development and social communications.

My goal for Brodie Bakes It wasn’t only show and tell. I wanted to share approachable, tested recipes along with tips, tricks, and hacks that would help any baker improve their experience in the kitchen. Along with practical info, I aimed to make my content more relatable, tying in a personal connection by sharing my own experiences and memories.

EQUAL PARTS BAKING & DOCUMENTING

My 52-week challenge was a two-part process – baking and documenting. The ladder required a “studio” space, so I resourcefully used our home office desktop, conveniently situated in front of a window to pull in the natural light.

To help create unique and visually interesting sets, I sourced affordable props from the clearance aisle at home goods stores and purchased inexpensive foam core whiteboards and large format paper as backdrops. I also used household items to add variation to each photo composition.

Early on, I realized my smartphone pics weren’t capturing my vision for beauty and appetite appeal, so I pulled out my DSLR camera for more custom shooting capability.

BAKING BLUNDERS

For me, baking is a form of therapy, a stress reliever. It is more than just following a baking recipe and enjoying the end result, it’s trying something new, something finicky, or even intimidating. Then, it’s feeling accomplished and excited when you nail that French macaron on the first attempt.

As with anything, however, success is not guaranteed. Case in point – this year I made my first authentic Danish pastry dough for Cinnamon Morning Buns. I repeatedly read through the recipe and meticulously followed every step, striving for the epitome of laminated dough greatness.

Fold after fold, turn after 90-degree turn, it truly was a labor of love. I continued, building the recipe as noted and on the second day, my pristine morning buns took shape. I was eager to see the baked result!

I popped them in the oven, giddy at the thought of success. Only minutes from hearing the timer expire, the smoke alarm pierced my ears. A small pool of melted butter sat on the oven floor and grease continued to drip from the baking tin, causing a cloud of thick smoke and flames. Panic mode! I ran for the fire extinguisher and the rest was history. My beloved buns were absolutely inedible, but to my shock, still picture-worthy. I guess you could say I did it for the “Gram”. Worth it!?… Well, sort of.

My baking blunder combined with the resulting Insta-worthy image is a great reminder that things are not always as they seem – you never know what goes on behind the scenes. Relatable in every aspect of our lives and a reminder to extend grace. Because, the reality is, nothing is ever perfect. Every experience, every mishap is what you make of it.

2022 LOOKS GOLDEN

In this new year, I’ll share more of what I love and hopefully more of what you do too!

• More video with facetime and dedicated content with baking tips, tricks, and hacks
• More experimentation with unique flavor combinations along with recipe development
• Trending sweet treats
• Bakery previews of local shops and those I visit while traveling
• Baking blunders – sharing BTS Instagram versus reality and how to avoid my mishaps

Come along for the ride and join me on this baking journey. @BrodieBakesIt