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The Joys of Baking: Recipes and Stories for a Sweet Life Hardcover – Illustrated, October 8, 2019
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Cooking is a necessity-everyone needs to eat-but baking is different. No one needs a chocolaty cake or a delectable sweet to survive. That is, until that moment when a chocolate cake is exactly what you need to survive.
Author Samantha Seneviratne believes that every baking project begins with a spark-a desire, a craving, a memory, or a feeling-and through baking that spark is made real. Inspired by the gumption and charm of the classic, bestselling cookbook The Joy of Cooking, this cookbook focuses on the joys that make up everyday life and 75 ways to bake yourself back up when you feel like you've hit the bottom. Each chapter explores one of five themes and provides recipes paired with touching, humorous, and thoughtful essays and beautiful photos throughout.
- Chocolate Cardamom Swirl Babka
- Apricot Frangipange Phyllo Tart
- Nectarine Galette with Sour Cherry Jam
- Strawberry Rhubarb Cake with Bay and Orange
- Coffee Crème Bundt Cake
- Print length208 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRunning Press Adult
- Publication dateOctober 8, 2019
- Dimensions7.8 x 0.9 x 9.55 inches
- ISBN-100762492538
- ISBN-13978-0762492534
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Editorial Reviews
Review
The Joys of Baking bursts with ripe fruits and berries, dark, bittersweet chocolate, buttery tarts, whole grains, and creamy custards - in short, all of my favorite things to bake... and eat! Sprinkled with personal stories, Samantha Seneviratne's gorgeously photographed cookbook will fill anyone's sweet spot.―David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen and The Perfect Scoop
"It's not just the glorious recipes, it's her personal stories too--Sam shares her passion for baking and the physical and emotional benefits of baking."―-MarthaStewart.com
"Samantha covers a lot of ground - cookies, cakes, breads, pies - making this a lovely gift for a baker looking to discover new things."―-FoodNetwork.com
"Seneviratne interweaves the personal with the practical, often poetically, to show us how a simple baking project can help us find "joys, plural" even - and perhaps especially - when life gets messy."―-The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Running Press Adult; Illustrated edition (October 8, 2019)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 208 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0762492538
- ISBN-13 : 978-0762492534
- Item Weight : 1.85 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.8 x 0.9 x 9.55 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #431,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #190 in Pastry Baking (Books)
- #422 in Gastronomy Essays (Books)
- #614 in Bread Baking (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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SAMANTHA SENEVIRATNE is a James Beard Award-nominated food writer, recipe developer, and food stylist. She is a graduate of the International Culinary Center and has worked as a food editor in the test kitchens of Good Housekeeping, Fine Cooking, and Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food. She blogs about dessert at Love, Cake (Lovecommacake.com).
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book's recipes delicious and easy to make. They enjoy the touching, relatable stories written by author Samantha Seneviratne. The book is described as a delightful read with beautiful photography. Readers appreciate the clear and thorough instructions and praise the writing quality as amazing.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the recipes in the book. They find the recipes delicious, easy to make, and the stories behind them vividly told. The book is described as a unique baking inspiration that brings the passion for baking to life. Readers appreciate the simple, delicate, and matured flavors of the cookies, coffee cakes, and peanut cakes.
"That's the most unexpected part of this inventive and deliciously photographed cookbook -- the wonderful, story-driven prose is a delight!..." Read more
"...funny, moving prose, Ms. Seneviratne makes the stories behind these recipes come vividly alive...." Read more
"...photography and easy to follow recipes with fresh fruit, nuts and other delights of nature, this cookbook is a must have for everyone!..." Read more
"I am enjoying baking recipes from this book. I've made spicy chocolate hazelnut biscotti, orange streusel bars and the coffee creme bundt cake...." Read more
Customers enjoy the author's storytelling style. They find the stories touching, relatable, and poignant. The prose is moving and the book is described as heartwarming. Readers appreciate the author's connections between emotions and recipes.
"...The stories are personal and touching and entirely relatable. Even if you're just in it for the recipes (who isn't?)..." Read more
"With incredibly funny, moving prose, Ms. Seneviratne makes the stories behind these recipes come vividly alive...." Read more
"...cookbook The Joys Of Baking, author Samantha Seneviratne writes inspiring life stories and connects her emotions to creating scrumptious recipes,..." Read more
"...The emotional tapestry woven thru the book makes its a heartwarming read as well. A unique and beautiful book...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the recipes delicious and the story-driven prose engaging. The book is praised as a great work by a talented baker.
"...photographed cookbook -- the wonderful, story-driven prose is a delight! The stories are personal and touching and entirely relatable...." Read more
"...This cookbook is great for avid readers and competent bakers...." Read more
"...I wont deduct any points for it though as i had delicious outcomes following the recipes as written." Read more
"Another great book by this fabulous baker. Love her story telling on all of her books!! Get them!! IVM" Read more
Customers enjoy the book's photography. They find the pictures beautiful and mention it's a gorgeous read from cover to cover.
"That's the most unexpected part of this inventive and deliciously photographed cookbook -- the wonderful, story-driven prose is a delight!..." Read more
"...Beautifully written, with gorgeous photography and easy to follow recipes with fresh fruit, nuts and other delights of nature, this cookbook is a..." Read more
"...A unique and beautiful book. The lack of precise weights is one drawback as baking is so exacting...." Read more
"...The photographs are stunning, and the recipes are simply fantastic. I'm purchasing her other two books as well. Please keep writing, Samantha!" Read more
Customers find the instructions clear and thorough. They also mention the recipes are easy to make and delicious.
"...Her directions are clear and thorough, and the recipes, while looking technical, are actually easy - just follow the directions...." Read more
"...Beautifully written, with gorgeous photography and easy to follow recipes with fresh fruit, nuts and other delights of nature, this cookbook is a..." Read more
"...I felt the instructions were detailed and encouraging for the novice as well as the more adventurous bakers. Thank you for this book...." Read more
"...The next one was a simple, delicate and matured in flavor cookie (with Earl grey!) I also made Danish cookies with black currants!..." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing quality. They mention the recipes are wonderful and beautifully written and photographed. The author is described as an amazing writer and baker.
"...Beautifully written, with gorgeous photography and easy to follow recipes with fresh fruit, nuts and other delights of nature, this cookbook is a..." Read more
"Samantha is an amazing writer and baker. She pours her warmth and brightness into this book- which is filled with beautiful and delicious recipes...." Read more
"This book is full of beautiful writing, mouthwatering recipes, and stunning photography!" Read more
"Wonderful recipes. Beautifully written and photographed...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Bakes that double as Aromatherapy
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2020That's the most unexpected part of this inventive and deliciously photographed cookbook -- the wonderful, story-driven prose is a delight! The stories are personal and touching and entirely relatable. Even if you're just in it for the recipes (who isn't?) the stories here will give you something to do while the smells of cinnamon, cardamom and caramelizing sugar are wafting out of your oven. So far the Banana Bread Scones have been a fave (genius way to use up just one brown bananas) as have the Lemon Lime Earl Gray Sables (crushed it at the Christmas cookie swap this year!). Up next: Salted Chocolate-Covered Chocolate Caramels.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2020With incredibly funny, moving prose, Ms. Seneviratne makes the stories behind these recipes come vividly alive. You wish you were there to commiserate, laugh and cry - and then bake these all with her. This cookbook is great for avid readers and competent bakers. (My mother is both of these things, and she absolutely adored this book as her Christmas present.) Her directions are clear and thorough, and the recipes, while looking technical, are actually easy - just follow the directions. For now, it's on my nightstand; once I finish it's perfectly-turned stories, I will move it to a prominent position in the kitchen!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2019In her new cookbook The Joys Of Baking, author Samantha Seneviratne writes inspiring life stories and connects her emotions to creating scrumptious recipes, therefore making it a truly unique cookbook.
Beautifully written, with gorgeous photography and easy to follow recipes with fresh fruit, nuts and other delights of nature, this cookbook is a must have for everyone!
Two of my favorites so far are The Maple Cream Pie and the Rum Raisin Slab Pie. Amazing!!! Perfect for Fall or anytime! I can also read her stories many times over!
- Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2020Nice book. Good recipes, lovely photos and I don't even mind the shlocky commentary throughout. The organization of the book is odd - should be separated into a more thoughtful format than the author's emotional journey in life. Cookies, quick breads, yeasted items, etc.
But dear heavens, why oh why make a baking book and NOT include real measurements in ounces or grams (or both!)! It's SO annoying when you are a baker to have to look up the weight of every single ingredient, especially odd ones like spelt flour or cornstarch. Samantha's NY Times editors always include the weights and so should her editor in this book!
- Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2020I am enjoying baking recipes from this book. I've made spicy chocolate hazelnut biscotti, orange streusel bars and the coffee creme bundt cake. All scrumptious! The orange streusel cake doubles up as aromatherapy! The emotional tapestry woven thru the book makes its a heartwarming read as well. A unique and beautiful book. The lack of precise weights is one drawback as baking is so exacting. I wont deduct any points for it though as i had delicious outcomes following the recipes as written.
5.0 out of 5 starsI am enjoying baking recipes from this book. I've made spicy chocolate hazelnut biscotti, orange streusel bars and the coffee creme bundt cake. All scrumptious! The orange streusel cake doubles up as aromatherapy! The emotional tapestry woven thru the book makes its a heartwarming read as well. A unique and beautiful book. The lack of precise weights is one drawback as baking is so exacting. I wont deduct any points for it though as i had delicious outcomes following the recipes as written.Bakes that double as Aromatherapy
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2020
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023Another great book by this fabulous baker. Love her story telling on all of her books!!
Get them!!
IVM
- Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2022I have never been so moved by a book let alone a book on baking until I read this. Thank you for the beautiful stories behind those joyful recipes. I felt the instructions were detailed and encouraging for the novice as well as the more adventurous bakers. Thank you for this book. Will be trying out the Mascarpone gingerbread bars. :)
- Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2020I'm not sure whether I've ever read a cookbook from cover to cover before, and I have a LOT of cookbooks. The short stories were touching and enjoyable to read-I actually teared up and laughed out loud a few times! The photographs are stunning, and the recipes are simply fantastic. I'm purchasing her other two books as well. Please keep writing, Samantha!
Top reviews from other countries
- Lin HReviewed in Canada on November 22, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Great pandemic cookbook
I love this cookbook. I'd had my eye on it for a while but finally bought it during pandemic 2020. With extra time at home, it was a lovely addition to my kitchen. My favorite recipe so far is the Sunshine Wreath. I've tried the biscotti, the shortbread, cookies, a cardamom chocolate bread, and donut waffles. The book is a fantastic read - it is so personal, with a wonderful mix of heart and humor - and the recipes have just enough variety and twists on the traditional that it's a nice source of inspiration when lockdown life has become so restricted otherwise. I have bookmarked many more to try (coconut hand pies) and look forward to exploring the recipes more.
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Victoria TrempeReviewed in Canada on October 31, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Superbe qualité
Magnifique livre!