Sherry Yard

“Caramel gives chocolate a run for its money.”

“I can't sit still.”

“The market is my church; it's my family.”

“The appetite starts with the eye.”

“Meringue allows me to cut out flour in a lot of desserts and make them lighter. It's just about my favorite thing to work with.”

“I shop at the farmers' market twice a week.”

“The essence of a thoughtful spring menu is bringing the table to life with flavorful color!”

“It's all about the fruit. A crumble should maintain the integrity of the fruit.”

“Truth is, I love to play bartender and assist my husband at the BBQ.”

“The Governors Ball is like a big birthday party, and all these stars are like excited kids running around - 'Oooo, look at my pretty new dress!' And what's the best, most fun surprise at a birthday party? When the cake comes out!”

“If someone wants to order a cake, I might say, 'OK, when do you want to eat it? What time are your guests arriving? 6 P.M.? So you might be done with dinner around 8:30? Fine, you can pick up the cake at 4. Any earlier than that, it won't be good, it won't be fresh.'”

“Grandma played a taste test game with my sister and me when I was 3 years old. She would blindfold us and have us guess what was on the spoon: the first flavors I got were strawberry - then coffee!”

“Brush your teeth often.”

“You have to know when to give up control, and if you go to a good restaurant, you have to give it up - it's a trust factor.”

“Baking is both an art and a science.”

“When I was four and my sister six, we got a Susie Homemaker oven for our birthdays.”

“Desserts are all about form and function, about warm and hot and cold. I want every component to hit your palate on different levels at different times.”

“It's all about technique. Rotisserie sounds simple, but to really do it the right way is important so you can get really great products and let them stand on their own.”

“In baking, cooks need to understand ingredient ratios.”

“Sugar is my friend, not my love. I always season sugar with a bit of acid or salt. Listen to your tongue.”