Lights, camera, action! Let me take you behind the scenes again.
Since I shared my last update, I’ve been hard at work on my cookbook manuscript. My cookbook is expected to release in 2025. Here are two posts I shared about my manuscript process so far:
In addition to my cookbook, I’ve been doing about 1 billion other things like testing and publishing recipes on my website, planning ahead for holiday baking season, and doing a couple intense weeklong recipe video shoots in my home kitchen. (Which I’m showing you below!)
All while trying to run a company and balance that with my children, family, and other aspects of my life… and somehow stay healthy and sane!
I probably wouldn’t be able to manage it all, if not for the wonderful people I have supporting and surrounding me. My incredible husband, hardworking team, and talented video crew… plus the other creators and authors I connect with on a regular basis, and, of course, my readers! Reading all the heartfelt messages I receive from you gives me so much joy and fulfillment, and truly gives me the energy I need to keep creating. I talk about this a bit in the “About” video we filmed during this video shoot—more on this below!
Recipe Video Shoot
This past spring, we once again transformed my home kitchen into a video set to film a fresh batch of recipe tutorials to share with you. We actually just did this again last week, too, and I’ll show you those behind the scenes soon!
Filming 20+ recipe videos in just a few days requires a lot of people, a lot of work, a lot of planning ahead and organization, and, of course, a lot of food! Luckily, it’s a giant crew of people with plenty of hungry friends, family, and neighbors who stop over to see the action.
We filmed a variety of walk-you-through-the-recipe tutorials as well as “hands and pans”-style recipe videos. I also had the crew put together an “About” video, to briefly share the story behind my career and website. I added this to my site’s About page.
About Video
Some of these new videos have already been published on my YouTube channel, and you’ll find each one embedded in the recipe card on the recipe post page on my website.
I recently published a How to Crimp & Flute Pie Crust tutorial, which we filmed during this video shoot as well as a hands/pans style video for Blueberry Pie.
While I have my entire team and my video crew here, we try to film as many recipe videos as possible, to make the most of our time.
Everything is filmed in my home kitchen, where I do most of my professional work… and, of course, cook and bake with/for my family.
Filming 20+ recipe videos over a few days demands organization, and to help keep everything straight, we measure and set out all of the ingredients on separate baking sheets. This is a little trick of the trade!
That way I can grab exactly what I need for the video we’re filming.
Here we’re filming a tutorial for my chocolate buttercream recipe:
Even with all of the planning and people around, some things can still go wrong! Filming a polished, seamless video for French Silk Pie was quite the opposite off screen. The chocolate curls kept breaking apart under the heat of the lights, so I had to apply the delicate chocolate curls with tweezers. LOL.
It turned out pretty though! But then I dropped the slice off the pie server…
Oftentimes, recipes need to bake and completely cool, or chill in the refrigerator, so we’re usually doing 2 or 3 videos at a time, weaving in steps and scenes where we can.
Blooper Reel
It’s hard work and long days for everyone, but I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t also fun. These days are intense, but they’re also filled with so much laughter. The video crew even compiled some of the funny moments they caught on camera. LOL.
Did you see steamies?! 😉
More recipe videos from this video shoot:
- Strawberry Cake
- Raspberry Cake Filling
- French Silk Pie
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Homemade Glazed Doughnuts
- Chocolate Raspberry Cake
- Blueberry Pie
For now, you can find me finishing up the 1st half of my cookbook’s manuscript… and gearing up for Sally’s Pie Week, Sally’s Cookie Palooza, and the relaunch of Sally’s Baking Challenge in the new year!!!
Q: What videos do you want to see next?
Love to see this, Sally! Always inspired by you and your incredible work!
Thank you for posting this!! Love seeing behind the scenes!
Your posts always makes me smile…..so looking forward to the ne book! CONGRATS 🙂 all your recipes are so good, easy to follow and did I said good! Thank you for making it easy on us on this side of the screen.
Thank you Lilly! So glad you’re excited!
Sally! You looked awesome! How can you keep yourself so tiny with all the great desserts? What is the secret? I tried a handful of your recipes so far and they all turned out great! Thank you for doing what you do! Really appreciate you and your team!
Thank you so much, Chen! I share mostly everything I bake, and have learned loads of self control. And I run a lot… to keep my head on straight!!!
I have always loved those behind the scenes posts, whether it’s blog or cookbook related. I’d love to see how you develop recipes for the blog versus the cookbook and how you choose which goes where. Love the blooper reel, and steamies is fun to say 🙂
Can’t wait to get my cookbook. I’ll take the piece of French Silk Pie that fell off the pie server.
I loved your blooper reel! Thanks for sharing. Made me laugh on a day I needed to laugh!
Thanks for all your recipes and tutorials!
Sally- I have a quick message for you. I am always really excited whenever you post. I have tried many of your recipes and have never failed. Sally, you were the one that introduced me to baking and I think I fell in love with it. I have impressed my family with your recipes and your instructions are so careful and clear. I can’t wait to bake more of your recipes! Thank you, Sally, for introducing me to the joy of baking.
Hi Sally, Thanks for sharing! I love learning about the behind the scenes of making videos. Also, so excited for your next cookbook. The bloopers were funny, I definitely saw some steamies 😉 haha!
Gotta LOVE IT!! Your video is FREAKINFABTABULOUS!!! The Sign of a True Baker is knowing NOT to BE so SERIOUS!! Some of the Best Recipes have been discovered when the Original Failed!! I look forward to seeing your Many Delish Recipes….Thanks For ALL You DO!! Bless Day to ALL!!!
Thank you for sharing what you do! I’ve been following you since 2013 and one of my favorite things you post are your Coffee Breaks! And of course, your recipes are the absolute BEST!!
I love your page and recipes! You honestly make it all so much easier by showing step by step photos as well as videos that it makes anyone more successful in their own kitchens! I have one question: what do you do with all of the finished results? Do you share with the filming crew or send home with family and friends or what?
Regardless, keep up the great work! Love it!
Thank you Niki! On these video shoots, we send it home with everyone, or we send it into school. We also freeze A LOT of it, or give it to neighbors. This past shoot, one of my team members took some into a local hospital for the staff caring for a loved one.
This was really awesome to see!! Nice to see behind the scenes. Thanks for all your (and crew) hard work!! Glad you have such a supportive family. Can I say I am so so pleased you are bringing back the baking challenges!!Take care, Sam
Love your energy and passion ,they are ingredients that give your receipies an extra good taste!
Thank you for your dedication.
Sally, you are beautiful, inside and out.
Yay, love these posts. I watched the bloopers video several times, please provide these type of videos whenever you film, it shows your personality and somehow makes you more human if that makes sense.
Thanks so much for your hard work, also shout-out to the entire team and your husband!
Thanks Jenny! Honestly, these video shoots are SO MUCH FUN. A lot of work, but endless laughter!