Need a break? Bake a cake: Photo essay by Annalisa Madonia

Baking is one of the purest forms of art, combining a human’s love for food and family. It connects people as generations pass down recipes like they’re memories. As someone who grew up in a home filled with old cookbooks passed down from my ancestors, I learned the importance of keeping their memories and their legacies alive.

Photography allows me to capture these memories through a different lens as I go through old cookbooks, and even new ones, one recipe at a time. I keep these memories not just in a recipe book, but also in a picture to enjoy and give to new generations.

Here are some of the things I made over the Thanksgiving and winter breaks to fulfill my baking withdrawal. I believe everyone should bake once in a while to relieve stress and to let themselves be creative after a difficult semester.