Hola! I am Rachel- a professional gal in my 20s from the Baltimore area who bakes things and eats them. I also buy things and eat them. I am a bit of a perfectionist so if something does not come out the way I hoped, it will certainly be evident in my posts. I am no expert and I am always trying to get better at this baking stuff and learn from my mistakes. My family has a history of high cholesterol and when I can, I try to cut fat in my baked goods. When I do bake with full fat, know that these are sometimes snacks. Everything in moderation!
Some of my favorite things to bake include:
- Quick breads (namely, zucchini bread)
- Scones
- Cupcakes
Some of my favorite snacks to purchase and eat lately include:
- Ritter Sport bars (and candy bars in general)
- Greek yogurt
- Milkshakes
By the way, I don’t have that fancy of a camera so I apologize for the quality of the pictures. Also, I’m probably going to use Instagram sometimes too, so there’s that.
Why I Made This Blog
While I realize there’s no shortage of food blogs, I knew creating this blog was something I really wanted to do now. I have been an avid baker since I was about 10. Only recently have I felt like I am starting to make good food- food worth sharing with others. My goal is to have my love of food be reflected in every post. I hope also to connect with other food bloggers in the Baltimore area. I want to continue to become a better baker and cook, and learn more about myself in the process.*
I am also a person that enjoys experimenting with cake mixes, trying out new snacks and candy, so I want to review those products in addition to baking from scratch. When possible, I will blog about food-related events I attend as well. Some of my interests such as fashion, anime, and television shows may creep into the blog occasionally, but I will try to keep it all food related.
I am also going to try to keep most posts fairly short and simple, mostly because I don’t care for long-winded posts myself.
Reviews
Even if or when I review something, my goal is neither to put an establishment or product on some insane pedestal of perfection or to drag it through the mud. I plan to use the Rachel Baked (beta) scale:**
1/Yikes: I probably wouldn’t recommend this food or product. You can find a better version elsewhere. No bueno.
2/Meh: The food could be better, could be worse. It is possible that something or someone caused it to have an off day.
3/Good, Sorta: It was pretty good. Not the best thing I’ve ever had, but overall has good qualities. I would probably recommend this food or product.
4/Spot-on, Spot-on: This food or product is really good. While not without flaws, I’d definitely recommend it.
5/Amazing: I highly recommend this food or product, with little or no criticism of it.
Last Things
If this blog ever becomes a chore and not fun at all, I will get rid of it ASAP.
If this blog ever becomes more negative than positive, I will get rid of it ASAP.
*a tad cliche and sappy, but I mean it
**scale subject to change with notice
Rachel baked. 
Just from your about me, I think you’ll have a good blog! We are always reminding oursleves that we are doing it for fun…it really is important to keep in mind! I’m looking forward to reading more posts. Good luck!
Tip for photos: I use my iPhone most of the time. The key is lighting. If you can use natural lighting that’s best. I don’t usually have that option, so I turn on every light in the kitchen to make it as bright as possible instead. 🙂
Thanks for the photography tips! My kitchen can be pretty dim, so I’ll definitely try to utilize natural light. I was a bit intimidated since some blogs mention using SLRs and other fancy cameras, but I’m glad to hear someone else uses an iPhone.