Baking up a Storm

Baking up a Storm
As Mother Nature makes puddles across town, you could be baking with the fam. Read on to learn how one gal makes mixes for good-for-you-goodies.

Nora with Naturally Nora (Photo courtesy of Naturally Nora)

When you're stuck inside, you can turn a dreary day into a cake walk — or at least a cake bake. You can get your kids involved with an easy box mix, but if you haven't taken a look at the ingredient list, you might want to check it out.

From hydrogenated oils to artificial ingredients, the preservative-packed boxes aren't exactly the healthiest choice for you and your family. "I know it's dessert, but there's no reason dessert has to be that bad for you," Naturally Nora Owner Nora Schultz says.

And that's why Schultz started Naturally Nora. Like many parents, Schultz loves to bake with her two daughters, and when one of them requested a specific box mix, she found the inspiration to make a cake mix that keeps it natural while maintaining the flavor. "I read the label, and I just did not feel good about making it," she says.

So, after a year and a half of trials, errors and countless taste-testing bites, Schultz achieved a confetti cake mix that met her goal of a naturally tasty treat with fun bright colors to add to the mix. In addition to the Alot'a Dots mix, Naturally Nora sells Sunny Yellow and Cheerful Chocolate.

And this time, the icing on the cake really is the icing on the cake. Alongside the cake mix boxes, you'll also find frosting mixes. "I think you can't have good cake without good frosting to finish it off, so I developed [the cake and frosting mixes] at the same time," Schultz says. "Originally, I wanted to have them be ready-to-spread because I think people who are used to buying boxed cakes are used to buying canned frostings. And those, in particular, when you read the label, they're a little scary."

Without packing it with preservatives, Schultz couldn't find a ready-to-spread recipe that had a decent shelf life. So, instead, she made it as simple as possible. You just add a little butter and milk, mix, and spread.

The Naturally Nora mixes just came to the Queen City recently and are now available at Greater Cincinnati Kroger, Meijer, Whole Foods and The Fresh Market locations. Look for brownie and cookie mixes to come, and for more information, check out NaturallyNora.com.

Linda Palacios -
	Linda Palacios is the editor of Cincy Chic. Send her an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .Read More >>

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