Hi, friends! I’m Lori. Just a tall girl baking here… Call it coincidence, fate, synchronicity or chance that I arrived at this place.

Growing up in loud Italian kitchens in Long Island, New York—that’s right… mash those words together and exaggerate those vowels and you can hear generations of Ballerinos in the kitchen, “Looor, pass me that ___, Maaaa, set the timer to ___”—a baker was born.

Thinking back, baking wasn’t a choice in the beginning, but tradition, taste and time made me grow to love it. In our household, every occasion was a reason (read, excuse) to bake, and maybe eat some delicious Italian treats along the way. But more than that, it created the cherished memories that laid the foundation for what I do today.

Every occasion sparked the urge to top it off with something sweet. Cupcakes became the natural choice, and the perfect little bites gave me an outlet to dream up new flavors and mash-ups suited to each event.

I found myself baking regularly for friends, family, and colleagues and eventually the word got out. More and more people would ask me to bake for their birthdays, baby showers, weddings, and other events.

I was always flattered when people loved my treats, so I continued to innovate, eventually entering cupcake competitions to see how I stacked up… and I WON! Many times! I guess you could say at that point I became the local authority on cupcakes and was often asked to comment for local news—talk about flattery!

Tastes Like Schmidt is my way to continue to grow as a baker and challenge myself—and you—to try new recipes, techniques, and to have a little fun along the way.

- Ciao, Lori