LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — Maryland Public Television’s latest feature, “Grandma’s Hands,” premiered Nov. 23, taking viewers on a journey through the kitchens of Southern Maryland to explore the rich history of family recipes passed down through generations. Among the featured guests was Teandra Thompson, owner of A Heavenly Taste Bakery LLC in St. Mary’s County, who shared her story and her grandmother’s beloved desserts.
Thompson described her experience on the show as “absolutely amazing and rewarding.” She reflected on the joy of introducing host Craig Sewell to the “300 Years of Black Cooking in St. Mary’s County Maryland” cookbook and working with the production team. “Meeting the filming crew that came in and had to set up lights and cameras was another great moment,” she said.
For Thompson, her grandmother’s recipes are the foundation of her business. “The desserts are my business,” she explained. “I grew up having those desserts, and so did my mother and her siblings, and my grandmother and her siblings. The recipes have been passed down from generations. I wanted to give everyone the opportunity to experience these incredible desserts.”
The roots of A Heavenly Taste Bakery trace back to the holidays when Thompson baked for her family. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a simple Facebook post sparked her journey into entrepreneurship. “I made a Facebook post saying, ‘cookies, brownies, candies, oh my,’ and a friend of mine asked me what type of cookies I was making. Once she realized it was my classic chocolate chip and white chocolate macadamia nut, she placed an order. That was the start of A Heavenly Taste Bakery. It has since flourished.”
Thompson finds fulfillment not only in her business’s growth but also in the connections she’s formed. “The most rewarding part of owning my business is seeing how having faith can literally make anything happen,” she shared. “Another rewarding part is not only the people I have come in contact with, whether it’s by placing orders or attending my pop-up shops, but the children that have come into my home to attend my baking and cooking classes.”
In her segment on “Grandma’s Hands,” Thompson emphasized the role of love in her creations. “When you include love as the main ingredient, your product will taste amazing, and others will definitely taste and enjoy it,” she said. Thompson also hopes viewers appreciate the importance of preserving family history. “I want the viewers and readers to understand the importance of passing down family history and keeping it alive.”
To watch Thompson’s heartfelt feature on “Grandma’s Hands” and explore the cherished traditions of Southern Maryland kitchens, visit Maryland Public Television’s website.
To learn more about A Heavenly Taste Bakery, visit Thompson’s Facebook page.
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