Faces of Long Island celebrates the uniqueness of everyday Long Islanders. In their own words, they tell us about their life experiences, challenges and triumphs. Newsday launched this social media journey into the human experience to shine a light on the diverse people of this wonderful place we call home.

‘In college, I baked cakes for my friends, and I remember they could not believe how great everything tasted.’

Bellport

“Every year for Christmas, my mom got me the new Easy-Bake Oven. I never followed the directions on the little packets. Instead, I’d create my own cakes. I loved that feeling. I have so many memories cooking on Christmas and making new and different cakes.

“I grew up in Wyandanch but, later, moved to North Babylon. In college, I baked cakes for my friends, and I remember they could not believe how great everything tasted. That was the first time I remember people truly enjoying my cakes. I was proud.

“During the height of the pandemic, someone asked me to make them a cake and I said sure. Then when they asked how much the cake cost, I had no idea what to say. I had baked cakes, but I was new at the decorating aspect.

I still get that same feeling I had baking on Christmas as a kid.

“After that, people kept asking for more and more and they wouldn’t take no for an answer. That’s when I decided to pursue it as a business. I was terrified that if I did it as a job, I wouldn’t love it anymore, but the magic is still there. I still have fun creating things and thinking of new ideas.

“There are times when I need to get the cake someone in an hour, and it feels like everything is falling apart. I’m thinking, ‘How am going to pull this off?’ Somehow, I always do. Then people say how beautiful it looks, and I just feel a part of the whole process. It’s an art. My favorite cake to bake is strawberry and sweet potato cake.

“I work two full-time jobs now on top of baking, so I’m usually baking late into the night. I’ve never gone to school for baking or taken a class. Nobody in my family really bakes. I am completely self-taught. My mom is still one of my biggest supporters. I can call her if I’m working late, and she will run to the store for me to pick up whatever ingredients I need. I am so thankful for her.

“Owning a bakery would be interesting. I would definitely have my best friend working with me. I dream of it being a small storefront somewhere on the Island. That’s the thing about Long Island, it’s expensive and you have to work really hard, but it’s also so beautiful. Making cakes has been a lot of fun. I still get that same feeling I had baking on Christmas as a kid. It’s therapeutic for me, and I love to see my progress.”

Interviewed by Maggie Melito

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Faces of Long Island is produced by Newsday Consumer Marketing. This content does not involve the reporting and editing staff of Newsday’s Editorial Department.