Krishana Pleasant is the founder and owner of Good & Pleasant, a new, custom-order online baking company. Krishana is a third generation pie maker and baker who spent many days and nights in her home kitchen adapting her grandmothers’ classic southern recipes to offer a gluten free alternative to the nostalgic desserts everyone loves. Krishana is responsible for recipe development and all aspects of the management and day-to-day operations of the company.
Krishana is also a full-time senior associate with Blank Rome LLP's commercial real estate group, where she represents companies and financial institutions in connection with complex commercial real estate transactions, acting as lead attorney directly advising clients. Krishana’s attention to detail and project management skills have been honed throughout her legal career as she routinely documents, negotiates, and facilitates the closing of multi-million dollar deals.
Learn more about Krishana in this week’s Spotlight Saturday.
WHAT GOOD & PLEASANT DOES
Good & Pleasant bakes decadent, crave-worthy desserts that happen to be gluten free.
WHAT GOOD & PLEASANT IS KNOWN FOR
Their sweet potato pie.
Krishana says: “Our sweet potato pie won 1st Prize in the Progressive Pediatrics Blue Ribbon Pie Baking Contest in Jersey City, NJ in March 2014. No one knew it was gluten free; the handmade all-butter crust is that good. It’s my grandmother’s down-home tasting sweet potato pie upgraded to appeal to sophisticated palettes by removing wheat/gluten and adding flavor-packed ingredients, like a hint of dark rum.”
HOW GOOD & PLEASANT GOT STARTED
“I was inspired to create award-winning pie and dessert recipes a few years ago, when I faced health challenges related to gluten sensitivity. My doctor advised me to radically alter my diet and live gluten free. Not willing to compromise my health I followed my doctor's advice and my health improved, but I didn’t want to give up pies and pastries forever or settle for bland tasting gluten free products. So, I got in the kitchen and spent lots of time adapting my grandmothers’ classic southern recipes for those living gluten free like me. Once family members, friends, and co-workers sampled my pies and pastries, they couldn’t believe they were gluten free and wanted more. I baked before going gluten free, but I knew this time around I had something special.”
GREATEST INFLUENCE
Her maternal great-grandmother (Lillie Pearl) and paternal grandmother (Elvira).
They both had the most influence on her recipe development.
Krishana explains: “They both moved from the rural South (Mississippi and Virginia, respectively) during the Great Migration bringing their classic southern recipes with them. When I close my eyes and dream of the sights, smells, sounds, and mouthfeel of good pastries I am dreaming of them. How they could bring the family together, and fill a home with love and the sweet aroma of sweet potato pie, vanilla cake with chocolate icing, and cast-iron skillet corn bread. LAWD have mercy, they could throw down in the kitchen! The first song I ever wrote was about Grandma Lillie’s ham hocks…for real, for real!”
FAVORITE QUOTE
“It is your life essence that empowers you to do that thing you were born to do. It’s not magic or mysticism. It’s the breath of God in you…divine life and creativity expressed through you. Guard it. Protect it with all you have.” – Krishana Pleasant
FAVORITE PASTIME
Krishana’s favorite pastimes include traveling, experiencing new foods, and making memories.
IF HER LIFE WERE A MOVIE
It would be called “ Craving Home”.
Krishana explains: “I have a deep passion for developing products and platforms that bring people together to build community, create ownership, develop meaningful relationships, and celebrate life.”
ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF
Stop telling yourself, “I am not creative”.
Krishana explains: “That is SOOOO not true!!! Most of my life I believed I was analytical and logical, without much creativity. I remember my 1st grade teacher being so disenchanted with my arts and crafts skills that she complained to my mom. I actually carried this stigma around. Listen, we are all made in God’s image. That means we ALL have the capacity to create and produce. It’s in that field that makes your heart skip a beat. It’s that thing that you can’t forget about, but you’re probably too afraid to try. That’s where you’ll find your passion, creativity, and power.”
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FUTURE
“Come visit our booth 311 at The Gluten Free & Allergy Friendly Expo in Secaucus, NJ today and tomorrow, October 3rd and 4th.”
“It’s going to be huge! We’ll have plenty of samples there and you can discover the story behind the brand.”
For more details visit: http://gfafexpo.com/locations/secaucus-nj-2015/
To learn more about Krishana Pleasant and Good & Pleasant visit http://goodandpleasant.com or follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.