From Home Baking to Global Snacking with Desiree from Mondelēz International

From cupcakes to Oreos!

This is one of those shows I've been wanting to do for a long time! I'm glad the schedules were finally kind and we were able to connect because I really enjoyed this one!

I had the pleasure of talking with Desiree, who I've known for over 10 years! Crazy how time flies. When she worked with Wilton, she was the one who helped me get my footing as a blogger. Giving me an opportunity that I mention on the show I had zero business having haha. And now, she’s the Global Media Relations Manager at Mondelēz International, which to us commoners, sounds like a big deal! But for her, it's a Tuesday.

On the episode, we catch up on our history, and then talk about some of the roads that got her to where she is now. Mostly, I think the biggest takeaway is how important it is to have an emotional connection with what you do. And what better way to be connected to memories and nostalgia than with snacks!

Lastly, we touch on a big promotion Oreo is doing for Thanksgiving! Sadly, I couldn't get her to crack and slip out some secret upcoming collaborations, but you can't say I didn't try!

Come check out her journey! 

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Links and Info Discussed

• Here is the main site for Mondelēz International where you can find all the brands that fall under their umbrella.
• While there, I found this recent article - Sentimental Snacks: Holiday Memories Help Shape Our Snacking Choices - and I thought it fit perfectly with a conversation we had about memories, nostalgia, and the snacks the can spark them. How, many people remember Oreos as a deep rooted comfort from their childhood, and Desiree even mentioned how her dad is Chips Ahoy's number one fan. 
• Here are the infamous Thanksgiving Oreos that really should have been the main topic of the conversation! I feel like I let everyone down here, so I'm sorry! lol I recommend checking out the reviews as one in particular was freaking hilarious. 
• Here's an article talking about the Thanksgiving Oreos. 
• Here's the blog post of the Wilton Meet-Up we talked about! All the info and pictures are there, and if you look on the welcome sign in the picture, you can see the infamous Vader icon I shamelessly used LOL. 
• Here's a side blog post where I documented the adventure of getting to the meet-up. Ugh, I was such a good blogger. If only I had time these days. 
• Below you'll find all the different links to my recipe blog posts I did while working with Wilton. I'll try to do them from earliest to the last. If you check them out, for most of them, I linked to other blogs that were on the team with me. You can see how much I was faking it at that point hahaha.
  • The Ambassador's Dirty Shamrocks - Four-leaf Clover molded chocolate with crushed potato chips
  • Key Lime Brownies - For these I used a flavor of Candy Melts that isn't available anymore. Which is a shame because these  things were LEGIT!! The wife and I STILL think about them, which is crazy because I made them over 10 years ago! I went through a few batches where they didn't come out how I wanted, but once I nailed it down they were insanely good. 
  • Shot Glass S'mores - These were another huge hit! MAN they were good. Huh, I guess Desiree was right, I'm not as much of a pushover as I thought! 
  • S'mores Rolls - If you like s'mores (who doesn't?) and cinnamon rolls (again, who?!) then these are for you. Hey, maybe I was pretty good! 
  • Bacon Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookies with Maple Buttercream - These were insane and possibly my most over the top "hold my soda" recipe I've done. 
  • Pumpkin Spiced Bone Cookies - Addictive little things the kids had fun with. Ugh, I made them for the kids... who are now in the teen years.... I'll be over here getting something out of my eye