Hey there, I’m Anes - it’s nice to meet you!
And welcome to Notes from the Oven, a place where I candidly share the lessons and learnings behind attempting new baking recipes, all while embracing the art of trying.
Notes from the Oven isn’t about sharing perfectly aesthetic or flawlessly executed bakes, but rather the unfiltered, real experiences of learning and growing in the kitchen. And yes, that includes all the over-mixed batters and under proofed doughs along the way, but also celebrations of the small wins and joys of discovering what’s possible.
Because I believe real learning happens in both the hiccups and successes. Each and every bake—whether perfect or imperfect—is of value. It’s a step forward.
A little bit about me
Growing up in my Korean American household, I didn’t bake much. Instead, I loved sticking by my mom’s side to cook, asking to chop the mushrooms, mix the sauce or flip the pancakes. Cooking became my safe space - comforting,
But baking on the other hand, was a completely foreign world - daunting, rigid and unforgiving. Make puff pastry, fruit filling or layered cake from scratch? I didn’t think I had enough baking experience or knowledge in me to even try.
I created Notes from the Oven to give an example of what it looks like to try these recipes and techniques from the point of view of someone who doesn’t have a ton of baking experience. It’s meant to draw a picture of a realistic bake - with all the wins, mistakes and everything in between. I’m not here to tell you that I have all the answers. Actually, precisely the opposite. The whole point is that we’ll figure it out along the way, step by step!
Other random tidbits about me if you’re curious:
I’m a doggie mom to my beloved Kona (he’s a mini poodle that we adopted in early 2024!)
Some of my favorite hobbies are knitting, crocheting, cooking, collecting dish ware, oh and did I mention baking?
My new favorite season is fall - yes to all the cozy vibes, the autumn leaves, and a sense of slowing down from summer. I’m all for it :)
Who’s this newsletter is for?
Notes from the Oven is for you if:
You’ve ever felt nervous to start baking or try a new recipe
You want to improve your baking skills, but don’t know where to start
You want to join a community of fellow bakers to support you along your journey
You want to become more confident in the kitchen—and maybe in life too!
My hope in sharing my experience is not to have this just be about me and what I learned, but about us as a community of bakers sharing what we learned and supporting each other along the way!
What you can expect
I’ll be sharing emails about:
Behind-the-scenes of trying new baking recipes (yes, mistakes too!)
A bit of baking science explained in a way that’s easy to understand
Actionable tips to improve your next bake
Recommendations on favorite recipes, resources, things I find helpful, etc
Reflections & stories about embracing the art of trying
With all that said, I’m so excited for you and all that’s to come on your adventures in the kitchen and beyond!
