No mere collection of common breads and pastries, husband and wife team, Jeffrey and Naomi have unturned many stones in their search for traditional baking recipes around the world. In this anthem we are told stories of juniper-scented tandoors in Afhganistan, find recipes for Ukrainian honey cake, Spain's Rye Poolish, Brazilian Bolo, and Himalayan Dumplings, and view photographs from travels as far and foreign as Moscow, Oaxaca, and Cambodia —or as near as Bruce County, Ontario (the very rural region where this book-reviewer grew up!).
This is what I like about Naomi and Jeffrey's collection of works: a mennonite's recipe for pecan pie in the backwaters of a blink-and-miss-it township in Southwestern Ontario are as interesting to them as the more-glamourous sounding Perfumed Filled-Quince Bread. A well-worn, chicken-scratched recipe for gingerbread from Naomi's mother tucks in nicely between Uzbek Layered Walnut Confection and an Alsatian Onion Tart.
They give credit where credit is due, always relaying the stories of the people who have passed them their recipes. If you love to bake or love to read about baking, travel, and tradition, don't miss this book. It's a real beauty and a great source for all recipes simple, rustic, exotic, sophisticated, and delicious.
Available through their website, also Barbara Jo's, Plenty, and Munro's.
