Diary of a wanna-be baker.
Diary of a wanna be baker.
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I'm Alicia

HMM WHERE TO BEGIN. WIFE. DAUGHTER. SISTER. FRIEND. BAKER. PHOTOGRAPHER. INA GARTEN SUPER-FAN. RENISSANCE WOMAN.

SEEKER OF A LEGACY THAT REFLECTS WHO I WAS MADE TO BE.
 

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Bakeover: Chocolate Chip Ripple Cookies
Bakeover: Chocolate Chip Ripple Cookies

Our newest series, Bakeovers, is a recipe makeover with the Everybody Baking Co. treatment. I'll link you up with the original recipe inspiration and then share the gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan versions. I thought these cookies would be the perfect place to start; Sarah Kieffer’s Pan-Banging Chocolate Chip Cookies.

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One little spark.
One little spark.

I've always subconsciously been in pursuit of that one thing that 'lights me up.'

"What am I suppose to do with my life? What is my gift to give the world?" The minute I'd find something and think I found it, the sizzle would wear off, and I'd be back to square one.

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Five things I don't do in the kitchen
Five things I don't do in the kitchen
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Buttered Saltine Crunch Cookie
Buttered Saltine Crunch Cookie

I sat on the cream linoleum floor, curled up next to the cast iron wood stove to warm my frozen toes that were fresh from my sopping wet boots. I had just come in from an afternoon in the snow, exploring the woods at my grandma's house in northern Michigan. The afternoon of this memory isn't one snowy day in particular. It's an entire season filled with memories of American Girl books, Anne of Avonlea rentals, and this flavor memory I hold so dearly. Buttered Saltines in my grandma's kitchen.

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Vulnerability and Shrimp Tacos

Today I asked a few questions in my Instagram stories to plan the year ahead and what I hope to Everybody Baking Co to provide. I asked, "do you want me to bring back cooking videos," and the overwhelming response was YES! 🌮

I started making my cooking videos on my stories about 5 years ago now, mostly when I was home alone making dinner or on Saturday mornings making breakfast with Stella. It reflects more of 'me' than anything I probably have shared online at this point. They're spontaneous, unscripted, full of mistakes. On the fly decisions to fix errors or swap ingredients I don't have. As with most things, I got in my head about it way too much, mainly regarding my own self-doubts.

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Heirloom Scottish Shortbread Cutouts

My grandmas Scottish shortbread transformed into foolproof cutouts. Merry Christmas!🎄 

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Vanilla Bean Scone Challenge

Choose your own baking adventure: bake traditional, gluten-free, vegan, or allergy-free vanilla bean scones that are better than Starbucks.

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Quintessentially Fall Cider Donuts

Truth: I wanted to avoid the whole predictable ‘cider donut’ recipe this fall, but a couple weeks back, I had been gifted a bag full of apples, and I could NOT help myself. So one rainy afternoon, I was coming up with recipes featuring cinnamon, and I decided to dive deep into this autumnal staple - the cider donut.

You don’t even need an orchard at your disposal - as Ina says - store-bought cider is fine!

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The First Step in Baking for Everybody

I hear from a lot of people every day asking me, I want to start baking more...but where do I start? Deciding why you want to start is the first step. Are you looking for a new hobby for yourself, or for something to do with your roommate, child, or spouse during quarantine? Are you gluten intolerant, have a food allergy to something like eggs or dairy, or even if you’re vegan - it can seem SO overwhelming if you’re wanting to learn more about allergy-free baking. Or all of the above.

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Baby, we were born to bun...

Something is in the oven at Everybody Baking Co that you guys have been asking for - Born to Bun the eBook.

Consider this your invitation to get in on all the details on the front end, enter your email below, and secure your spot in on the list.

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Twice as Nice Dream Cream Base

This recipe is accessible to EVERYBODY! You don't need an ice cream maker. You don't even have to be dairy-free or vegan to make it - you can sub in traditional ingredients. All you need is a mixer, two bowls, a loaf pan, and a dream.

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Baking Playlists

The minute I walk into the kitchen, it’s always the same refrain - “Alexa, play chill baking" playlist” or “Alexa, play early 2019 playlist”.

I don’t know about you, but I think music is an important ingredient in baking. There is rhythm to mixing and measuring. I wanted to share my favorite playlists with you here - hopefully, this post is ever-evolving!

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Just like Ann's Cinnamon Buns

These cinnamon buns have a secret. They’re vegan. You heard me right - NO DAIRY. NO BUTTER. NO CREAM CHEESE FROSTING. Trust me - you won’t miss it. This dough is so tender, so pillowy soft, that this will be your go-to cinnamon bun recipe.

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Not So Scary Monster Cookies

Can I be honest that this is one of my most favorite cookie recipes to throw together on a whim? These cookies are vegan. They're gluten-free. They're the perfect opportunity for peanut butter, and M&M's to be at the same party. They do call for a few ingredients that I've now learned to keep stock on hand in my pantry (and if you want my FULL LIST of pantry items I keep on hand, sign up for it here)

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Cardamom Love Buns

I had only ever had one cardamom bun before I made them. After the labor of love (I’m an impatient person - rising dough can be a labor!), they came out of the oven and I couldn’t resist. Crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside with flecks of cardamom seeds in the filling, I find these buns so satisfying. If you prefer cinnamon to cardamom, you can sub that in but I encourage you to give this Scandinavian spice a try.

Why are they called love buns? My niece is 18 months old - not an age where cardamom is easy on the pallet unless you’ve got Scandinavian blood. Well, she got a hold of a cardamom bun and had 3. THREE! I want to name this recipe in honor of her - because she loves them, because I love her, and her last name - Lovejoy.

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Three Letter Birds
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A page of my heart.
A page of my heart.

A shoebox sat on the coffee table under the window in my grandma's living room. I eyed it as I settled into the green brocade rocking chair that my grandpa always use to sit in. Ever since I can remember, my routine when coming to my grandmas was one of a few things...

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Becoming who you are.
Becoming who you are.

I've been thinking a lot about my story and how I've gotten to this particular place. This curly haired, weird glasses wearing, bright sweater owning girl is me now - but it's the ying to the yang of the past few years.

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Pritzlaff Fine Art Film Wedding Portraits for Elizabeth Haase Photography
Pritzlaff Fine Art Film Wedding Portraits for Elizabeth Haase Photography

One thing I love about the photography industry is the partnerships that can form in community with other photographers.

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My favorite S'more Cupcake
My favorite S'more Cupcake

I have a secret. Well, I'm sorry to say it might not be that big of a tell, but...here it is. I'm obsessed with S'mores

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Summer Travel Dates 2017
Summer Travel Dates 2017

This summer I hope to do more sessions while on the road, which is why I'm announcing my summer travel dates for 2017.

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A New Season: Becoming
A New Season: Becoming

Here's a look at what we'll be talking about the coming months...the art of becoming.

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Say it with food.

It's love at first bite with my gluten free spin on Ina's Corn Bread.

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California Dreams
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My true colors are shining through.

Last year my friends Shaina & Treacy introduced me to something called Dressing Your Truth. It's an energy profiling system that helps you make your outside (clothes, hair, habits) reflect your inside! At first I was skeptical when I got the 'Type 1' energy profile because absolutely nothing about it reflected my outside look - although I was in agreement with everything it outlined for my personality and features.

The past couple years as I was building out my Hither & Hold brand I focused on darker colors...pinks with black & gray then blues and golds...and honestly the past year I felt like no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get the right fit for my design. You should know, I'm a graphic designer and so that is a little bit of a blessing and a curse. I could never just settle on a design it seemed. I would create something beautiful, but it didn't feel me and I could not figure out why.

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A taste of my own medicine.
A taste of my own medicine.

As the files trickled one by one into my Dropbox I eagerly clicked and double clicked into the files to see what I didn't know would just what I needed.

It seems, every few months or so my foot gets caught in a trap...of comparison, of bad self-talk, of really honestly thinking I can't do anyyything and I find myself asking God, "Hey...I know you want me to lay this down....that is what you're saying right? Because I'm listening...God send me a sign if I'm suppose to walk away from this whole dream and just be ____, ____ or ____." (Fill in what you will...most times lately it's filled in with 'just a mom').

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Welcome to Hither & Hold!

It's been a long journey for me to get to this place, and I am so excited that you're here with me, celebrating today! Four years ago yesterday (ironically) I launched my first website. It came up in my Timehop, a small announcement in the middle of the night. Back then, I was scared. Of this idea I could actually DO this. Of putting myself out there. To being true to myself. It's been a long road since then. Moving cross country and back, a baby, job transition, loss, gains. But that small seed of what sparked all this to begin with has grown. I can honestly say, Hither & Hold is what I always have had in me but never knew what it was or how to communicate it. What I have always known is, I wanted to tell stories...(read more)

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The Business of Light Making

This week is ending in a way that none of us thought was really possible...I don't think any of us truly believed it would happen the way the cards have fallen.

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On finding and losing ourselves
On finding and losing ourselves

Up until the other day, all the frames that hung above my desk were empty. They were still filled with the stock photo that they came with...and the quote on all 4 of them said "Art Enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time". Lost and found. The dichotomy of loss and gain is the balance that life needs. Without it we are too much or not enough.

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The Everyday Us
The Everyday Us

Do you print your pictures? Confession, I don’t. Lame, right? Skimming through the contents of my external hard drive, I came across this photo of Andrew and I. Chances are my grandchildren will not be cruising my Instagram feed in 25 years and see this picture.

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Go back in time…