For the LOVE of BAKING

Sailor & Galley - Sailors celebrate new quartzite countertops with Foolproof Focaccia.

- LYNDA MORRIS CHILDRESS

This would really be a lot easier with stone counters," I said to my husband as my fingers clawed at the stubborn dough adhered to our galley's Formica countertops. Chris responded with a wink and a smile, jotting notes for our upcoming galley remodel.

We'd been living aboard Avocet, our 1979 Cheoy Lee 41, in Southern California.

for three years, planning to head to Mexico and beyond in the near future. We'd always had an issue with the fridge failing to stay cold, causing the compressor to run nonstop. Ironically, the fridge had been a huge selling point for me because it's large in comparison to those on other 41-footers. "It fits eight large pizzas" is how Chris describes it. Although we loved the space, we couldn't ignore the inefficiency, and finally got around to planning a remodel centered on reinsulating the fridge and freezer.

I'm a dedicated baker, so space in the galley is important to me. I grew up watching my mom bake-family recipes that were then handed down to me. In my family, cooking and baking are a love language.

Treats are gifted as love letters of sorts, so it's only natural that I inherited this sentiment. Now I regularly bake for friends and family every chance I get.