The first boxed cake mix was not invented by General Mills (not a retired officer) or Pillsbury. The product came from the creativity of John D. Duff of P. Duff and sons.

You may think sheet cakes are basic, but we consulted cake experts, and they gave us the best ways to spruce up sheet cakes using decorating techniques.

I’ll never forget meeting Grandma Shaffer, my husband’s mom’s mother, and being immediately taken with her hospitality and ...