I grew up in a home that centered in the kitchen, where at three years old I became the official "chocolate dipper" for my mother's massive holiday cooking extravaganzas. I've spent the last 22 years honing my skills, graduating from an Easy Bake oven to a kitchen packed with every one-purpose gadget on the market.

During my first year of law school at the University of Maryland, I found myself coming home from stressful days to bake-and because I didn't want my waistline to expand as much as my brain-I started giving the cakes to friends, taking them in to school, or when I made too many, eating one forkful and throwing them out! Word got out (law students are notoriously hungry people) and people started putting in requests, and from that asking me for special orders-and from these special requests-Torts and Tarts was born!

I look forward to a challenge (I'll make a cake shaped like anything) but I also appreciate the sweet tastiness of a yellow cake with butter cream icing. As long as the cake will make your face and your tummy smile, I welcome the opportunity to bake for you.