Author: Deanna Martinez-Bey: Family History and traditions with Author Deanna Martinez-Bey

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Family History and traditions with Author Deanna Martinez-Bey

Baking sweets has always been a big part of my life. Thinking back to when I was a child...baking with my mom and family provides happy memories for me. I do not remember most of my childhood from the age of 4 until I was 12, BUT, I do recall Christmas Eve gatherings with my family and all of the cooking and baking we did together.

I always say that baking soothes my soul and brings peace to my spirit. Since the happy memories I have as a child revolve around food, I can understand why baking makes me feel this way.

Those happy memories and family traditions are always present in my mind. Each time I bake with my daughter, who is 6 years old, and every time all 4 of us (myself, my husband, my son, and my daughter) have a cookie decorating night for each Holiday, I am reminded that I am creating happy, peaceful, and fun memories for my children.

My mom passed away when I was nineteen years old. Thankfully, mom taught me how to bake up a mean cheesecake when she was here with us. Mom made her cheesecake without a crust. It was a thick, rich, creamy, New York-style cheesecake. I was born and raised in New Jersey, and let me tell you, northern, Italian women know how to cook and bake! Mom fit right into that mold. Her teachings inspired me to write my book, The Ultimate Guide To Cheesecakes.

Because of the skills my mom and my Aunt (her sister) taught me, I entered into a Taste of Italy contest with Taste of Home Magazine several years ago, with my, Mascarpone Cheesecake recipe, and I won 2nd place! Thanks, mom and Aunt Jeannie!

The love of food has brought me where I am today. I have a food blog, home bakery, and I just wrote another cookbook, The Ultimate Guide To Cookies!

I have been featured in several Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, Taste of Home Best Of cookbooks, Taste of Home Magazines, and online with Womansday.com.
I have written 3 novels and in the back of each one, I share recipes that were made in the book (that are all my personal recipes).
I am the administrator of several pages and groups on Facebook: all food-related!