Press release submission issued the following announcement on Mar. 16.
Baking has always been a part of Kaiden Jefferson’s life. Her aunt helped her make her first cookies from scratch and she frequently helped her stepmom make cupcakes and cakes for her siblings.
Despite all that time in the kitchen at home, Jefferson never imagined baking as being anything more than a hobby. She had other creative passions, and her first choice for classes at the Steel Center for Career and Technical Education was collision repair. With those classes full, however, she turned to her second choice: Baking.
“When I actually started going to baking, I was like, wait, I actually really like this,” Jefferson said. “We started learning more on the technical side of baking where you can make things your own, but still good enough to eat.”
Jefferson has a flair for the confectionary arts. The Steel Valley senior qualified for the Pennsylvania SkillsUSA Baking Competition that begins April 6, 2022 at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey. Chocolate Town USA is the perfect setting for Jefferson, who will be challenged on her technical skills in the kitchen along with her creativity.
“I'm an artistic person,” she said. “So, when I found out I'm able to put my own art style into my baking, that was really cool to me.”
SkillsUSA is a national organization that promotes the development of leadership skills alongside the occupational skills students acquire in technical education. To qualify for the state competition, Jefferson competed against other area students in the regional competition at Parkway West Career and Technical Center.
“They gave us recipes that they wanted us to make for the competition, which was a raisin spice muffin, chocolate chip cookies and a pie,” she said. “They were judging on your sanitation, your organization, your presentation, on your personal look and how you carry yourself.”
The state competition will feature five baking categories, including cake decoration and a crumb pie. The other baked goods will be determined later, though the contestants have been given a list of possibilities.
“A lot of the things that are on there, I haven't made or I forgot how to make, so we have to go over all of those things so I can be prepared,” she said.
Jefferson is no stranger to making more complex or unique treats. She makes a mean raspberry chiffon cake, a light and fluffy sponge cake with Chantilly cream, raspberries and raspberry jam. She’s also tried her hand at a complex mango passionfruit chili tart. Jefferson added chili to the desert to honor her Hispanic heritage. She said the presentation could’ve used some work, but it was still delicious.
Will this newfound culinary success lead to a career as a pastry chef? Jefferson doesn’t think so. Becoming a pastry chef would likely require a college degree, which isn’t something she’s interested in pursuing. However, the experience and chance to expand her creativity may help her in her pursuit of another creative career.
“I want to pursue tattooing. It's more of the art aspect that I really enjoy doing,” she said. “I love everything about art, so that’s the career I want to pursue.”
Original source can be found here.
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