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The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst

Baking the world a better place

Quinn Burton and Kelsey Nunnenkamp
March 15, 2023
Posing beside one of his original cheesecake flavors, freshman Jahongir Ergashev takes great pride in his cheesecake company run with his mother. Beginning the Home & Joy cheesecake business two years ago, Ergashev has grown with his company through the help of his family. “My plans are pretty ambitious,” Ergashev said. “I know my mom and my brother believe in me, and they tell me I can implement whatever I plan for Home & Joy no matter what. They let me be ambitious, and so I am not afraid of challenges. I want to open a small bakery next year with the help of my brother who is a realtor at Berkshire Hathaways, and he will find a place for us.”

Baking dreams a reality

Samantha Vojslavek, Feature Story Editor
December 10, 2021
This tiered cake is bursting with flavor and pizzaz from it’s lovely vanilla cake to its cream cheese frosting and gold-dusted berries. Friend and customer Valerie Pioppi is proud of Olivia and her baking business. “I show all my friends her cakes, and I think it really displays her work ethic,” Pioppi said. “I would definitely get a cake from her because the way she decorates them is so pretty.”

Baking the world a better place

Emma Baker, Catalyst Editor-in-Chief
January 29, 2021
I covered them in cinnamon and sugar and then placed them on a plate to enjoy fresh and warm.

Released from a magical place

Annalise Smalley, Staff Reporter
May 13, 2020
After creating the cake base for her cupcakes, senior Alissia Graybill must decide how she will choose to decorate. Here, she demonstrates her piping skills as she finishes her Chocolate Reeses cupcake with her decedent chocolate frosting. She then tops the cupcake with bits of the chocolate peanut butter candy. "One of the best parts is finishing the cupcake with frosting and toppings," Graybill said. "I have about 30 different piping tips that I can use to decorate. I want to get into fondant in the future and play around with that in addition to the frosting."

Baking miracles

Chloe Parker, Staff Reporter
November 15, 2019
When in the kitchen, freshman Edison Gilbert uses a lot of decorating techniques to elevate her cakes. One of her favorites, includes using the drip technique to emphasize the otherwise basic design. By using this bottle, Gilbert can control the topping and decide where she would like the drips to fall on the cake but the process to get here does take some time. "Each cake I make usually takes about two days to make completely," Gilbert said. "I like to make the cakes a day prior and then decorate them the next day. I’m a really impatient person and don’t like to wait for the cakes to cool down and would rather just do it all in the same day."

Bold with baking

Chloe Parker, Staff Reporter
November 4, 2019
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