meet the bakers

Hi! My name is Judy Bao-An Marino and I am so excited to be part of Pasadena’s first ever Bake-Off! I chose to bake Apple Roses (mini-pies) not only in honor of our “City of Roses,” but also because these tasty treats are a symbol of who I am. My mom (shoutout to my #1 fan) calls me her “Baby Rose” and I am a school teacher during the day, so it was only fitting to use apples in my bake. I am a strong believer that food brings people together so it is with great joy and appreciation for getting to share in this experience with our community. 

For this competition, she’s developed a Middle Eastern take on the classic Jamaican-American Hummingbird Cake, which she calls “Sunbird Cake."

Hi :) I'm apart of a lot of Catholic Church Families and I enjoy cooking and eating classic style fusion foods!!! I learned to bake from my Aunties who learned from my Grandma and she learned from her Mom. My daughter and Grandma Spirits are always with me especially in the kitchen. I have two doggies and enjoy side quests. 

This chocolate cake recipe is top secret and super delicious!

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies. 

I’m Laura. Social worker by day, sappy amateur baker by night. Future patron saint of the espresso and emo kids. My cookie reminds your of childhood joy and that a cookie can still surprise you. 

Rachel is a Catholic watercolor painter and storyboard artist living in Burbank with her beloved husband, Alex. For the bake-off, she has baked a browned-butter hazelnut layer cake with browned butter buttercream, salted caramel glaze, and candied hazelnuts. She clearly likes browned butter too much, but she refuses to budge on her mantra that browned butter makes everything better

Julie Esch here, happy 6 year long parishioner of St Phils! We were transplanted here from New Jersey,  and I bring to you our exclusive Aunt Mary's crumb cake! We never had a family party without it! Enjoy a taste of the sweet northeast;)!

Hi, I’m Mairead! I’m a UX/UI designer living in Pasadena with my husband and our 5 month old daughter. I’ve found joy in baking as both a creative outlet and a way to make something special to share. Among family and friends, I’m best known for my scones, with each holiday having its own signature recipe. I’m especially drawn to herbal and natural flavors, often weaving delicate, aromatic ingredients into my recipes.

For this bake-off, I’m sharing my lavender Earl Grey shortbread: a buttery, fragrant cookie that reflects my love of subtle, floral flavors.

Hi, my name is Amber. My mom passed away a few years ago from cancer, and she was definitely the baker in the family. I have now taken it upon myself to try to live up to her baking standards. I try to embody her in everything I do, which is reflected in these brown butter banana bread cinnamon rolls. 😄 This was my first time ever making cinnamon rolls, so I feel preeeeetty good. 

I am thrilled to support St. Phillip the Apostle Church and the Newman Center with this Bake Off! 

I’m a school teacher and I love baking treats for my students as gifts to celebrate their achievements. Then it turned into baking for my friends and family. I made these Lemon Sugar Cookies to share during the Easter Octave; now they get to be shared with you! 

I started baking sourdough, like most, during Covid. I love baking and finding new recipes and ways to use my sourdough starter, along with baking traditional loafs.

I’m Jen. I enjoy the sense  of community at  the Newman Center. I’m gluten free so I was happy to share our family's gluten free banana bread recipe. My favorite part is the chocolate chips! 

I’m honored to share these Mexican shortbread cookies, a cherished family recipe passed down from my great-grandmother. We traditionally prepare them for Día de los Muertos, placing them on our family’s Altar of Remembrance. The design features a simple Latin cross inspired by St. Philip, with two loaves of bread symbolizing his patronage of bakers. The box features four butterflies representing our loved ones who have gone to heaven, and the floral details reflect the beauty of our altar. As a member of the Spanish Mass and Guadalupano Ministry, this recipe reflects a deeply meaningful part of my family’s faith and heritage.

We're Lucy, Betty, and Janessa...besties since 7th grade. The picture you're seeing is from 4 years ago, and boy have things changed since then. For starters, Lucy is now married and has a baby! Betty is taking a gap year, but is going back to school in North Dakota this Fall. And Janessa is about to finish her junior year at UCLA. We may not see each other as often as when we were in high school, but we are as close of friends as ever. This baking competition was proof of how much our friendship means to each other...Lucy and Betty drove all the way to Janessa to bake these carrot cupcakes. A lot of love was baked into those. We hope you enjoy Lucy's Grandma Ginny's legendary recipe. 

I’m originally from New York City, where I was raised by two amazing parents who love food almost as much as they love me and my brother. I studied pastry arts at École Ducasse in Paris last year, where my passion for baking was given professional legs.  I found inspiration to develop my earl grey milano recipe from a desire to synthesize the experience of having tea and cookies into a singular form. I hope you enjoy!