Hi there! I’m Patricia Hayes, a 40-year-old home baker born and raised in Austin, Texas. If you’d told me years ago that flour-dusted counters and the smell of vanilla in the air would become my happy place, I might’ve laughed while juggling a toddler on one hip and trying not to burn the toast. But here I am, still juggling (though the kids are a little older now), and still baking with all my heart.

My kitchen has always been the center of our home, a place for Saturday pancake stacks, after school cookie sessions, and those late night baking experiments that sometimes ended in disaster (like the time I forgot the sugar in a birthday cake oops!). But those moments, messy and real, are what make baking so special to me. It’s not about perfection. It’s about joy, laughter, and the simple magic of creating something sweet with your own two hands.

Over the years, I found myself falling deeper in love with desserts, especially cakes, cookies, and anything that fits on a brunch table. I started the Simple Family Dishes, as a way to share those tried and true recipes that even the busiest parent or beginner baker can tackle. You won’t find fussy techniques or fancy ingredients here, just approachable, comforting bakes that invite everyone to pull up a chair and stay a while.

I believe every family moment, no matter how big or small, deserves a little sweetness. Whether you’re baking your first batch of cookies with your kids or trying out a new brunch recipe for Sunday morning, I’m here to cheer you on, offer tips when things get sticky, and celebrate the wins (even if they come out a little lopsided).

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you find something here that brings a smile to your kitchen and maybe a few extra crumbs to your counter. Let’s bake something simple and sweet together!