At age 14, Sarah Suttles is already a ‘pro’ in the kitchen
Good Cooking
Story by Jacquelyn Hall Photos by David Moore
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ome people are lucky to find their calling in life. Others are perhaps luckier to find their calling early in life. Some of these latter people are doubly blessed to also be encouraged by loved ones to pursue their calling. Sarah Suttles of Boaz is one of those people. Having been interested in baking for as long as she can remember, around New Year’s 2022, when she was still 13, Sarah took steps to become a pro. She started with one of everyone’s childhood favorites, decorated sugar cookies. Her mom, Renea Suttles, in true proud mom fashion, shared pictures of the cookies on Facebook, and the rest, as they say, was history. Between social media, southern wordof-mouth advertising, the unwavering support of Renea and her five siblings plus her own drive, Sarah got licensed under the Alabama Cottage Food Act and started her own business – Sugar & Crumbs by Sarah. She did taste-testing at her church, Alder Spring Church of Christ, to get feedback on flavoring and icing then came up with her recipe combination. She sold her first cookies on Valentine’s Day – 15 dozen for a party at her church. Sweet. That makes her a pro.
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he second of six adopted children, Sarah usually insists on doing things solo in the kitchen, but sometimes gets assistance from sisters Hannah and Rebecca. “It just depends on what I am making,” Sarah says. For instance, when making her crowdfavorite iced cookies, they pitch in, but they leave the tedious job of flooding the icing on them to the pro. Sugar & Crumbs quickly became a family operation, in part because Sarah’s still too young to drive, so her mom takes her shopping. Renea also handles her social media and helps drum up business. Making it even more of a family business, Renea’s biological daughter, Kelli
Sarah, center, presents her shepherd’s pie, fresh from the skillet. Hannah, Faith, River, Rebecca and Sebastian appear happy with the prospects of supper. For ordering information, visit: Facebook Sugar & Crumbs, Boaz. Hubbard, partnered with Sarah to keep up with orders. Soon after the success of her cookies, Sarah branched out to baking cakes to take to church potlucks. Her crowd-pleasing favorites are red velvet and lemon; she never comes home with leftovers.
Besides the iced cookies, Sarah’s favorite thing to make is her Oreo cake. (Her recipe is on the following page.) “It’s fun to put together and decorate,” she says. “And it is delicious, too.” Sarah has expanded her savory NOV. | DEC. | JAN. 2022-23
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