Alaina is originally from New York and has been residing in Jacksonville since 2022. She comes from a large Italian family, where her mother is known for making homemade Italian cookies, such as rainbow cookies, biscottis and cream puffs. These desserts have always been a centerpiece for family gatherings after a nice Sunday dinner or during the holidays. Since moving to Jacksonville, Alaina has found herself missing her mother’s baked cookies.
One day, she met someone else from an Italian background who expressed a desire for an Italian bakery in town. This comment sparked an idea in Alaina’s mind. With some extra ingredients available at home, she decided to recreate a batch of rainbow cookies reminiscent of her mother’s recipe. After baking, she shared the cookies with her neighbors, who also happened to be from New York. They were amazed at how much the cookies reminded them of a bakery back in New York.
Inspired by the positive response, Alaina intends to make more of her mother’s Italian cookies, hoping that they can foster familial connections and togetherness, just as they did in her own family.