Mrs. J’s delivers tasty memories

Graduating from University of Central Florida with her M.ED degree she enjoyed her many years in the classroom. She is married to Chuck Jackson and the couple live in Lake Mary.

"I have always enjoyed baking for family, friends, colleagues and students," she said. "I have always baked as special rewards for my students. I also used cooking in my elementary classroom to focus on measurements. After retiring I started baking for the Lake Mary Farmer's Market as a hobby. As private orders grew we knew we needed a commercial kitchen."

It was during her youth and growing up in a large family that Jackson was introduced to baking. She described the "center" of the family was found around the kitchen table. She and her sister were frequently found helping in the kitchen and regularly baking on holidays.

"Our primary focus is on recipes that have been handed down through the generations," said Jackson. "Many of our recipes came from my grandparents, great grandmother, mom and sister. Others have been collected from old cook books and friends through the years. There are a handful we favor, but if I had to pick one it would be our red velvet cake. It is our desire to bring back memories of  times gone by through the foods we offer and the connections we share."

She continued by saying, "We are always trying new recipes and new adaptations to old recipes," said Jackson. "I recently came across an old folder belonging to my grandmother with recipes she used and collected. I am also trying to work old recipes to accommodate special diets such as those on a gluten-free program."

Jackson cited that her greatest reward is when a customer tastes one of her cakes or bars and reminisces about how it tastes just 

"like something they remembered their mom or grandmother making when they were young." 

Mrs. J’s Old-Time Goodies recently opened their storefront at the Village Marketplace Shopping Center at the corner of Lake Mary Boulevard and Highway 17-92. Her hope to continue building business at the storefront location as she strives to expand her presence to other area markets.

For information about Old-Time Goodies go to her website at http://oldtimegoodies.com, Facebook at http://facebook.com/oldtimegoodies, email smj821@yahoo.com or call 407-697-3844. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.