Laura Kanya Title: Recipe Tester and Developer Education: University of Vermont, Culinary Institute of America Location: Williston, Vermont Expertise: Pastries, Chef instructor, Testing recipes, Recipe management Laura Kanya worked as a recipe tester and developer in the Vermont test kitchen of Dotdash Meredith for Southern Living and other company brands. She has been active in the food industry for more than two decades in a variety of roles including pastry chef, chef instructor, executive chef and director of operations in restaurants, resorts, catering, retail operations and food production companies. Experience Laura discovered her love of baking growing up alongside two grandmothers and a mom who loved baking and cooking. They unknowingly established the importance of food and cooking in Laura's life. Growing up outside Philadelphia, she had access to great restaurants, and her dad took her to many. Education After graduating from the University of Vermont with a B.S. in dietetics, she pursued her love of baking by earning an associate degree in baking and pastry arts from the Culinary Institute of America. She has worked at the Macrina Bakery in Seattle, Sundance Resort in Utah, and Vermont Mystic Pie Company, The Inn at Essex, New England Culinary School and Sugarsnap Catering, all in Vermont. About Southern Living Southern Living, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, celebrates the food, homes, places, and culture of the South. We reach 7.2 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists and fact checked for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.