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When I first started Sheer Ambrosia Bakery, people would often ask, "How did a Black woman end up making baklava?"
I would usually tell them the story about working for a Greek family and how they introduced me to their culture — and to that incredible pastry called baklava among other tasty treats. And that story is true. But there’s another, equally important influence on my love of baking and all the different flavors of baklava I now carry: my mom.
Growing up, I was one of five daughters. My mom and dad were regular, hard-working, blue-collar folks. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we always ate well — thanks to my mom’s magic in the kitchen.
Every Friday night after work, she’d take us grocery shopping. And every Saturday night or Sunday afternoon, she’d bake something wonderful for us to enjoy after church.
I remember sitting on a stool, perched right above the counter, just watching her. When I was really little — before she started working outside the home — she was always in the kitchen, creating something delicious.
I remember one time she made yeast donuts from scratch and blackberry pies with berries we picked ourselves was a constant every summer. On our way to my grandmother's house, we always would stop along the road and buy summer peaches at farm stands and with them, she made the juiciest peach cobblers. In the fall, we would go apple picking and homemade apple pies were on the menu. And in the late fall and winter, pecan pies were always part of the Sunday treats. She made delicious cakes too. Lemon and coconut and one of my favorites was a 5 layer Japanese fruitcake. She was something else my mom!
Whatever the season, my mom made it taste like heaven. My sisters, my dad, and I devoured everything she made — and we loved her all the more for it.
In our home, my mom was our Martha Stewart long before I even knew who Martha Stewart was. She was an amazing homemaker, and I idolized her for it.
It wasn’t until my teenage years that I also learned from the Greek family. But it was my mom who first gave me the foundation — not just for baking, but for feeding people with love.
This Mother’s Day, I want to publicly salute my mom —
Thank you, Mom, for giving me a wonderful foundation.
Thank you for showing me what it means to take pride in what you create.
Thank you for teaching me that food can be an expression of love — whether sweet or savory.
And thank you for passing on the work ethic that makes running Sheer Ambrosia feel like second nature.
Because of you, my bakery is not just a business. It’s a home. It’s a table. It’s a hug.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you!
— Rita |
