About Us

Julia Klee (AKA Judi) is owner of The Spice Rack, a kitchen supply store/specialty bakery in Cherokee, Iowa, and this website, HomemadePizzelles.com.

Judi was introduced to pizzelle cookies at a very early age by her Italian grandparents. They were also a common goodie in the mid-Atlantic states, where she grew up. Today, Judi lives in the Midwest where most people aren't familiar with pizzelles. In a quest to satisfy her own hunger for these deliciously light and delicate cookies, she decided to share them with the world through her website.

After launching her pizzelle cookie business, Judi soon expanded, making a variety of biscotti. Judi loves to be in the kitchen, so this business venture provides an outlet for her passion!

After establishing her business selling pizzelles and biscotti at local craft shows, Judi further expanded by investing in an embroidery machine and serger. A line of home decor items and various gifts for family and friends were added to the line!

The demand for Judi's products quickly grew, so during the summer of 2005, Judi and her husband, David, decided to expand the venture even further. In September, they sold their home, purchased a commercial buiding in downtown Cherokee, Iowa, and moved right in. Since then, they have been refurbishing the building to accommodate their apartment upstairs, Judi's bakery/kitchen store on the main floor, and David's recording studio in the basement. The kitchen store and bakery opened during the summer of 2006. Construction is still on-going for the recording studio, so an opening date is yet to be announced. Someday the apartment upstairs will be finished!

Judi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, Food and Nutrition, from Fort Valley State University, Ft. Valley, Georgia, and a Master of Science degree in Nutrition from the Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, N. Chicago, Illinois (now the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science).

In addition to running the store and website, Judi also is an adjunct instructor of nutrition and related courses at local colleges.

Julia Klee, MS

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