On Our Shelves: Baking From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan

It’s been a couple months since I shared a cookbook here, mostly because I’ve been sharing other stuff (like new acquisitions!). But I think I should get back to cookbooks. As a basis to what you’re cooking, a good cookbook can make or break anyone’s motivation to cook. Today I’m focusing on Dorie Greenspan. If you’ve stopped into the Local Root store you’ve probably heard me sing Dorie’s praises. Her books are straightforward and give clear, concise direction without missing the point. I love them.

All of the recipes in her books are easily modified or adapted to your personal tastes – want to swap in coconut oil for butter in that muffin? Sure, it’ll work. Want to use a soft farm cheese in lieu of cream cheese for that perfect cheesecake? It’ll still be a perfect cheesecake. Flipping through Baking: From My Home to Yours is one of my greatest pleasures and ALWAYS helps me to become inspired or think outside the box of my cooking repertoire. This book is a great baking foundation – from the simple, sublime yellow cake that can be found on page 258 to the Black-and-White Banana Loaf a few pages earlier, I’ve never had one of these recipes flop.

This can also be an expansion of your knowledge — yes Ms. Greenspan covers the basics, but she’s also got some homemade indulgences like her Lemon Cream, which I made for a wedding dessert and was an OUTRAGEOUS success (the Irish side of the family said I was welcome to come stay anytime – as long as I made that lemon cream again). Or homemade jams, because what layer cake can’t be bulked up by a healthy smear of homemade jam? The correct answer here is none of them.

So grab Dorie and a cup of tea, then sit down and get to know her. You’ll be so glad you did. I’m still glad and she helps me throw all of my best parties.