Four years ago, I launched a career-focused podcast. I dropped the show when I got pregnant, but I interviewed dozens of creatives, business owners, and journalists about how they landed their dream jobs. The conversations were so good — and I always love a chance to get nosy. While I still love talking to people about their careers, there's something else on my mind.
What do you do for fun?
I freeze when someone asks me. Look at my phone? Buy things for my kids? Lie in bed in complete silence? It's like I forget anything remotely interesting. Even though I'm bad at answering the question, I love hearing other people's responses. Which leads me to…FREE TIME DIARIES.
In my new series, I'm interviewing people who make the most of their free time in creative, fun ways. First up…Brittany Volk! I've known Brittany since we crossed paths at the Tampa Bay Times ages ago, and I've been in awe of her baking skills for years. I hope you love reading this interview as much as I loved hearing from her.
AYANA: Tell me how you discovered the thing you like to do in your spare time. How and when did you fall in love?
BRITTANY: I've loved baking as long as I've eaten sweets. Girl Scout cookie season is my favorite season, I could eat an entire box of Cocoa Pebbles while watching the next 9-part true crime docuseries and brown sugar cinnamon Pop Tarts are my go-to late-night snack. But homemade baked goods are sprinkled throughout my memories. Scotcheroos at the elementary school bake sale, my great-grandmother's dry chocolate chip cookies that came in an old ice cream bucket, learning to make Tollhouse cookies with my mom, my dad's elaborately decorated boxed birthday cakes, my grandmother's zucchini bread delivered in the mail. But it was my stepmom's pie crust recipe that activated my sleeper agent.
Pie. At first I hated it. And then I found the loves of my life. You can read all about that here.
The pandemic was a transformational period, to say the least. For me, it kicked me out of my screens and into my kitchen. I used my increasing spare time to refine my skills, read new cookbooks and research better tools and ingredients. And the cherry on top was having an excuse to go to a friend's porch to eat our feelings together. Pie is my connection to others. Pie is for holidays. Birthdays. Promotions. Goodbyes. "Lost" binge-watches. Pie is my constant. I even made a peach pie a for my doctor after my hysterectomy. There's always a reason for pie!
AYANA: One of the biggest struggles I hear about hobbies (including from myself!) is that there aren't enough hours in the day. Can you share how you find the time and motivation?
BRITTANY: My motivation is my stomach. I may love a packaged sweet — but what's better than cutting into your hand-me-down pan of warm gooey malted chocolate brownies? Actually, sharing them with friends and family would make it even sweeter.
To be honest, I have more time and energy than most women my age. I don't have children and my day job affords me a fantastic work-life balance. So while time may not be my inhibitor, creativity is. I haven't made as many pies lately, so in order to keep my baking spark alive, I found other sweet loves. I learned to bake bread, I shipped hundreds of Christmas cookies to friends and family afar and I finally found my perfect banana bread recipe.
Money is another barrier. Baking is expensive, especially since I've found that quality tools and ingredients are crucial. I rely on America's Test Kitchen's recommendations and recipes the most, so I know my money is spent wisely. However, some of my favorite recipe authors are home bakers who consistently blogging about their creative delicacies with step-by-step photos, such as Lokokitchen, Cloudy Kitchen and Sally's Baking Addiction. And there's so many pie artists on social media sharing creations daily to keep my inspiration flowing.
AYANA: What's one thing you love about your hobby? Feel free to share more than one if there are several!
BRITTANY: Baking is folded into every part of my life. I gulp down any cooking or baking media from The Great British Baking Show to Geraldine DeRuiter's new memoir "If You Can't Take the Heat." My algorithm is stuffed with ASMR cake and cookie frosting videos. It's possible my hobby has overtaken my life, but it's the only way I know how to live laugh love. My phone case is a stick of butter. I have a wall devoted to pictures of my pie creations. If had the space, I'd collect more vintage cookbooks and pie plates.
And sharing that with others is what I love most about my hobby. I want them to taste the love in each bite, admire the detailed decorations and savor the quality ingredients used.
AYANA: Do you monetize, or is it strictly for fun?
BRITTANY: For me, hobbies and money don't work well together. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if I sell my pies, I could probably open a business. I enjoy the freedom to bake what I want and when I want. But I admire those who are able to create lucrative side hustles or open bakeries. However, blending financial responsibilities and creativity wouldn't create a fulfilling life for me. And knowing that sets me free from unrealistic personal and societal expectations. Creativity can suck a lot of energy from you. It would be nice to be paid for it, but the end result — a tasty indulgence among friends — is just as sweet.
“For me, hobbies and money don’t work well together.”
AYANA: Any words of advice for someone who wants to start?
BRITTANY: If you want to get into baking, start experimenting with your favorite dessert. Elevate a box of brownies by using melted unsalted butter instead of vegetable oil, adding espresso powder or an extra egg yolk, swirling caramel sauce into the batter in the pan. Buy pastry stamps for fun sugar cookies. Cobblers and galettes are easier than pie, but just as drool-worthy and photogenic. Add a tablespoon or two of freeze-dried strawberries to your Rice Krispie treats. Use European butter. Splurge on the expensive cinnamon and vanilla extract.
It's said that baking is chemistry, which can be extremely intimidating. Don't get me wrong — I still make a ton of baking mistakes. Just the other week I was distracted and didn't check if my brownies were fully cooked before letting them cool on the counter. It was heartbreaking to throw away a pan of chocolatey goodness, especially one that used six precious eggs.
I feel so lucky to have found my thing. When someone asks me for baking advice, for the recipe, or for another slice of pie, I know I'm living the life I always wanted. Now how can I convince myself that I don't need the new butter color KitchenAid mixer?
Brittany Volk is a marketing graphic designer, weekend baker, concert junkie and pop culture snob. Follow her baking adventures on Instagram @bevolk.
I love this series idea so much and now I VERY MUCH need pie.
I'm going to love this series!!