Eric Hill of Pottstown with his Lemon Basil Cookies! We had a bunch of great submissions! Each one was great in its own right and we really enjoyed tasting them all! But Eric really nailed our challenge with his submission for a great summer cookie. Fresh citrus and fragrant basil combine to create a fantastic seasonal treat! When we asked Eric about his baking and his inspiration for the cookie, he told us "The inspiration for my cookie was my family. My mom grows and uses a lot of fresh herbs in the summer and my dad is a big fan of citrus desserts. Lemon and basil make me think of summer and my family so it was the perfect combination. My mom and grandmother are great cooks, and I try to spend as much time as I can in the kitchen with them learning all their secrets. I've always enjoyed cooking, but in the past year or so, I've started to do a lot more baking. Right now I just bake for friends and family, but I could see myself getting more serious with it in the future." He went on to say that he loves "cooking all kinds of things, especially seasonal ingredients. I also like using unique flavor combinations" and added that "luckily, my wife is willing to try everything and give me feedback on what works and what doesn't." Besides baking, Eric's other hobbies include fitness and golf. He enjoys triathlons and last year completed Ironman Lake Placid. Impressive!! He says that working out makes him feel a little better about eating sweets. Eric lives in Pottstown, PA with his wife, Mary, and their two pugs, Tucker and Gus, and teaches 6th grade at Spring Ford Intermediate School. He is a graduate of Pottsgrove High School and Millersville University. Eric Hill's Lemon Basil Cookies will be available in-store, both baked and in frozen dough form, for the months of June, July and August. We will be offering free samples of his creation on June's First Friday on 6/4, so stop in and give them a try!