Jaclyn Ryan-Henry starts her day in the kitchen, keeping her Italian family traditions alive one recipe at a time.

"When I am baking, I feel a sense of tradition, love, culture, [and] childhood memories that were instilled in me from when I was little," she said. "Like [my family] always said, I have my grandmother's hands. It's just joy. Pure joy."

Those childhood memories started in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, where Ryan-Henry grew up learning core Italian traditions with her parents and grandparents, including their family recipes.

" My grandmother was born and raised in Cantalupo, Italy, and she would do a lot of baking and cooking," Ryan-Henry said. "Growing up in that Italian household, I would bake with her for every occasion. So, I have that passion and that influence from her. That's what brought this business to Rockland. There was a lack of Italian, authentic baked goods."

After moving to Tappan about five years ago, Ryan-Henry was determined to keep those core childhood memories alive. In March, she started her business La Casa Di Dolce, named in honor of her grandmother.

"My grandmother would always cook and bake, and it was just a sense of warmth [and] gathering," she said. "[If] anyone walked into the house, she would have [an] abundance [of food] to feed them. So, La Casa di Doce is 'The House of Sweets.'"

Many of the baked goods Ryan-Henry offers through her shop are recipes that were passed down from her grandmother. The feeling is sentimental, as she now gets to share those traditions with her own children.

" I try to incorporate them in some of the baking," Ryan-Henry said. "I'll have them measure some stuff with me [and] mix simple recipes that they can do. Then, we'll bake it in the oven, and then they'll cut it and try it. So I'll do their little baking sessions with them, and they love it."

According to Ryan-Henry, the community feels that love in each batch she makes.

"Everyone loves it," she said. "Their comments are, ‘Oh, it's just absolutely divine.’ Or it brings them back to their childhood."

Ryan-Henry's baked goods can be ordered through her Instagram or Facebook accounts.