Lori's interest, knowledge and passion for baking is deeply rooted in her ancestry.

Lori's great-grandfather, Hendrick VanderLoo, was born on January 11, 1868, in Appledorn, Netherlands. He was a baker and owned his own bakery.

Lori's grandfather, Huibert (Herb) VanderLoo, born on July 29, 1919, was the youngest of 13 children. Herb grew up watching his father in the bakery and working for him alongside his brothers. The picture above is of Herb when he was a boy, with a bakery box on a bike, peddling his wares.

Herb worked in the bakery until he moved to Canada, then the United States in 1953. He settled in Wyoming, Michigan and was employed at Keebler Company in Grand Rapids tending to the Pop-tart ovens. Lori can remember staying overnight at his house, and having him come home at 11:00 p.m. with warm Pop-tarts, just out of the oven, in a brown paper bag.

At this time, Herb baked mainly for fun on behalf of his friends and family. He would make delicious cakes, cookies, and tarts. His famous cake had alternating slices of mocha, strawberry, and vanilla frosting. He utilized homemade wooden boxes to put the cakes in – people would always bring them back and order more! It's one of his recipes in his handwriting to the left.

Lori has fond memories of his famous "Olie Bolen" – fried Dutch Apple Fritters – that he would make every Christmas and New Years' Eve, to dip in powdered sugar!

Lori's love for baking was kindled by the "bake-offs" she'd have with her grandfather and uncle as well as the delectable desserts she's made for family, friends, and church gatherings. It's only natural that Desserts by Lori has materialized and become a dream-come-true.