This Old Baker Podcast

Ginger, molasses, and warm spices show up in three cookies on my site, and they do not behave the same way. Here is how my recipes differ so you can pick the right one for your tray, your cookie cutters, or your gift jar.

Find out what makes homemade brownies fudgy, how to get a shiny crackly top, and how to tell when to pull the pan. Full from-scratch recipe at ThisOldBaker.com.

Learn how to make butternut squash soup that blends smooth every time, plus what to freeze, when to add the cream, and how to make it dairy-free. Full recipe at ThisOldBaker.com.

What does "homemade convenience" actually mean? I break down the pantry mix, dinner-in-a-jar, and seasoning blend philosophy behind This Old Baker, using five real recipes to show how a little prep now makes weeknight cooking easier later.

Tired of a drawer full of pantry labels you’ll never use? I walk through why premade label sets never match a homemade pantry, and the free tool and one setup step that let you print exactly the labels you actually need.

Why does a 30-minute soup taste like it cooked for hours? I break down the spice-blooming step behind this green chicken chili soup, plus how to make it thicker, spicier, or completely hands-off in a slow cooker.

Want a coffee-shop shaken espresso without the coffee shop? I walk through the real reason the shake matters — not just for looks, but for the foam and the chill — plus the salted caramel version and the one timing mistake that leaves you with stiff caramel at the bottom of your glass.

Why does homemade gravy from a dry mix turn out lumpy — and what's the one-step fix? I break down the pork gravy mix that skips the roux entirely, the cold-water technique that keeps it smooth, and how it's different from a classic gravy method.

Why does homemade strawberry milk mix turn out clumpy instead of smooth like the canister version? I walk through the ingredient that actually makes it work, the dehydrated-versus-freeze-dried mistake to avoid, and the one-step trick for a lump-free glass every time.

Why doesn't kielbasa need to be browned before it goes in the crockpot, and which potato actually holds up through a six hour cook? I break down what makes this crockpot kielbasa corn chowder turn out thick and smoky instead of thin or starchy, plus a couple of ways to change it up.