Flour, water, and an empty kitchen may not seem like much of a recipe, but for sophomore Tahiya Tasneem Sorker, it’s an opportunity to create a tasty treat. In her opinion, there is no better feeling than turning a pile of flour and water into something aesthetic.
“I like making it pretty; it’s satisfying, you know?” Sorker said. “It’s sort of like art, but I don’t always feel like whipping out a canvas and [painting]. Plus, you get to eat it when you’re done.”
This year, Sorker hopes to take a big leap in her baking journey by opening her business up to Sharon High students and faculty. Her business, called Tasneem’s Treats, offers various confections for Eagles to choose from. Although this will be the first time Sorker will be taking on school orders, she already has experience running a store. When Sorker lived in Arkansas, she began selling baked goods as a third grader to earn pocket money. After she moved to Sharon in eighth grade, she was hesitant to begin baking for others right away.
“When I moved here, I wanted to continue to bake,” Sorker said. “That took time, obviously, because I was in a new place. I had to get to know people first. This year, I was like, ‘Okay, I feel like I know enough people to be able to start Tasneem’s Treats up again.’”
Despite only recently opening her business, Sorker already has an extensive menu. She currently offers brownies, cookies, cupcakes, and more, all of which are posted on Instagram @tasneems.treats. Out of all her menu items, the most popular ones are her matcha strawberry brownies and frosted lemon cookies. However, Sorker isn’t focused only on her best-selling items. In fact, she hopes to expand her business to incorporate more confections.
Sorker explained, “One thing that I want to start having for sure are seasonal things, like holiday treats for Valentine’s Day, stuff for Christmas, stuff that’s only around for Easter or Halloween—I feel like there’s a fun decorative opportunity there!”
After years of baking and running Tasneem’s Treats, Sorker has some words of wisdom for other bakers. Whether you’re an aspiring cook or a master chef, Sorker says, the most important thing to remember is to give baking your best shot—no matter what might go wrong in the kitchen.
“Just go for it!” encouraged Sorker. “I can’t tell you how many times my cupcakes’ bottoms were burned and the tops were raw, and how many times I’ve messed up. You have to start somewhere, whether you start bad or not. If you worry too much about everything being perfect, then you’re never going to be able to bake anything. After all, you can’t just stop because your first batch of cookies burned.”
Customers can fill out the following form for ordering these treats: Tasneem’s Treats Order Form
