on a Plate

the freezer and then eat whenever I want,” James said. “I generally have a batch of cream scones and two or three different types of cookies in the freezer for a quick treat.”

James continues to gather and test different recipes from multiple sources. She has a preference for using cookbooks and the internet to research new techniques.

“I like cookbooks because they tend to be more to the point,” James said. “However, websites have much more variety and don’t require a purchase, so they are a great option.”

James sees baking as calming and relaxing, a primary reason why she envisions herself baking recreationally for the rest of her life. Though James enjoys her own creations, she also likes to hand out some to friends at MSD.

“Baking is very repetitive and generally allows me to just zone out which is very therapeutic,” James said. “Every once in a while I will bring a bag of chocolate chip cookies to school and give them out to people who want them. I’ve never met anybody whose day couldn’t be made better by a chocolate chip cookie.”

James hopes to spread her love of baking with friends and family as much as possible. She believes her passion is one that others should adopt as well.

“The bottom line is that baked goods are delicious, and everybody should be able to know how to make them,” James said.

No matter what, James will always have a spot in her heart reserved for baking. The activity has become one she puts careful thought into, filling her plates with the warmth of both her food and her utmost dedication. Whether finding new recipes to prepare or fixing up a dish triedand-true, she aspires to bring smiles to the people that she shares her creations in the kitchen with.

STORY BY Vincent Ciullo PHOTOS BY Brynn Schwartz