Welcome to Melanie Dorothy

As the saying goes, when life gives you lemons...make lemon coconut slice, or lemon meringue cupcakes. Well, that is my version anyway! And when life handed me...let's say a man-sized lemon, this is exactly what I did. A few years ago, I was forced to look at my life and think about what made me really happy - what I could do that would make me get out of bed every single day, with a little shimmy and a big smile. I thought about what I loved most in the world, and dancing and roller-skating came to mind. Now, unless a re-make of Xanadu was in the works, there was no way I could pursue this as a career. Then I thought of my one true love...baking. Baking and eating sweet treats brings me nothing but pure enjoyment. I'm the person who orders a dessert for main and who, when in Paris, bypasses The Louvre and Notre Dame, to skip from patisserie to patisserie.

So I set about baking cupcakes, cookies and slices for...well everyone! I have been honing my skills on friends, family, colleagues, and neighbours for the past few years and am now ready to cater to the sweet teeth of Melbourne.

Of course, I was also schooled in one of the best classrooms in the world...Nan's kitchen. So thank you Dorothy and thank you for not only passing on all your good, old-fashioned tips, but for also reminding me that an apron is so much more gorgeous than a suit. And to the Polish side of my family, how do you thank someone for introducing you to homemade Paczki? This is clearly in my DNA!

Melanie xx