Hey, I'm Mary-Lou!
It's great to have you here. I am the founder, baker, photographer, and videographer behind Salty Ginger. Where I create and share easy-to-follow recipes for the home baker!
About Me - Salty Ginger aka Mary-Lou
Hi there! Basically, I'm just another South African who found their way to New Zealand. And well, I have always loved baking!
I was born in Cape Town, in the 80s, spent the earlier years of my childhood in Durban, and then was whisked away to Port Elizabeth (now known as Gqeberha) as a teenager.
It was in PE that I finished high school, attended Nelson Mandela University and met the love of my life.
We moved to the Witbank Coalfields shortly after getting married where I jumped from Biochemistry to Environmental Management to find work in the mining industry. Then we were given the opportunity to move back to the Cape, which we jumped into only to be catapulted to New Zealand a few years later.
But I've Always Been a Baker!
I've loved baking since I was a kid. Maybe I took my mother's maiden name to heart. Having fond memories of biscuit baking day when we (mostly my mum) would whip up several batches of cookies for the kids running around the house.
Mixing all the ingredients together, and then having a great cake or batch of cookies in the end brought me great joy!
I rediscovered my love of baking around 2016 and enjoyed baking personalized birthday cakes for my colleagues, from plain vanilla to lemon meringue or cat-shaped! During this time, I also fell down the YouTube rabbit hole of baking and learned so much from professional bakers and pastry chefs along the way. My favorite teachers are Cupcake Jemma, and Patrick Ryan of Firehouse Bakery.
Currently Craving!
Condensed Milk Cookies
These easy, homemade condensed milk biscuits or cookies are thick, soft, and slightly chewy.
Why did I start Salty Ginger?
While we were settling down on the other side of the world, as human nature dictates, I started to compare and contemplate the differences between South African cuisine and what the Kiwis (and Aussies) had to offer. Because we are all former British colonies there is a sense of familiarity in the food. For example - the love of Hot Cross Buns, Chelsea Buns, and custard slices.
However, there are a lot of differences too. This is due to the ingredients available (and how the ingredients are named), as well as the other cultures (both indigenous and imported) that have had an impact and molded the overall cuisines as we see them today.
So saltyginger.com was born (officially in 2021) as a way to experiment and share recipes that I have grown up with while also exploring my wider heritage such as English, German, Dutch, Greek, and Irish ancestry and the foods from those cultures.
Let's keep in Touch!
My Number 1 Baking Tip
Be patient, be present, and take your time. Allow that oven to preheat properly, read the recipe thoroughly, and prepare your workspace. Enjoy the process!
What does Salty Ginger have to offer you?
Popular Recipes
These are the most popular recipes on Salty Ginger right now!
