If You Love to Bake, You Will Want to Get Your Hands on the "50 Things to Bake Before You Die" Cookbook -- Includes Full Color Photos of Each and Every Recipe! (Review)

 Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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Next to blogging and homeschooling my girls, I love to get in the kitchen to make.  The kitchen is my happy place; and, I love baking up sweet treats to surprise my family with.  I guess I got the love for baking from my Italian Nana who was always in the kitchen making something, and always had freshly baked goodies for us to enjoy whenever we went to visit.  She shared her love of baking and making sure everyone left with full, happy bellies, and I find myself the same way in my house.  And, when the holidays roll around, I make a point to get in the kitchen as much as I can, so that I can bake up goodies to send over to the neighbors, to bring to holiday gatherings, or just to have ready for when friends and family stop by to visit.  

One cookbook that I received recently to review from Ulysses Press has been getting a lot of use.  The "50 Things to Bake Before You Die" cookbook is chock full of recipes to make the world's best pies, bakes, brownies, cookies and more.  Whenever I get a new cookbook, I will sit and read it like a novel, flipping through each page, and lingering for a bit to take in the delectible treat if the cookbook has full color images.  And, when I am browsing book stores and online for new cookbooks, I make a point to get cookbooks with actual pictures of the recipes so I know what to expect and how to present, but also because I want to make sure I am not wasting my time in the kitchen baking up something delicious.  This cookbook has photos for each and every recipe, and all will have you drooling and eager to get in the kitchen to get your bake on.

I have been making a point to bake 1-2 recipes in a weekend from this cookbook, and usually have one of daughters helping me, as they, too have been bit by the baking bug and love to roll up their sleeves and bake tasty treats --- as well as sample the batter before it goes in the oven. :-)

Just last weekend, my oldest daughter was asking for Oreos.  Instead of heading to the store to grab some, I told her I found a recipe in this cookbook for homemade Oreos, so we spent the afternoon making some, before settling in with a cold glass of milk to enjoy our hard work, while watching a holiday movie together.  

These Oreos tasted so much better than store-bought. We were able to add as much filling as we wanted, without having to pay crazy prices for overstuffed Oreos at the market.  You never know how long the cookies have been sitting on the shelf. But, when you bake up a fresh batch of your own Oreos, it will be hard to keep them around for long, as everyone will be reaching for another and another, until the plate is empty.

In addition to making homemade Oreos, we have also made and loved the salted caramel brownies.  They were so rich and creamy, and the fudgey chocolatiness just melted in your mouth. Yum!! I am getting hungry just thinking about them and looking at the picture below.

Another family favorite, which goes well with tea on a cold New England morning are the Madeleines.  

These were the first cookies my girls learned to bake, and a staple at their tea parties they used to host for their stuffed animals and dolls. Now, whenever they want to have a hot cup of tea to warm up, they ask if we can make some madeleines to nibble on. This recipe was so easy to make, and the cookies were so pillowy and full of flavor.

There are so many recipes we can't wait to try -- if only there was enough time in the day to bake each day!  But, I guess my waistline is thankful I only get in the kitchen on the weekends. When I do, though, this is my go to cookbook; and, I know that whatever I make, it will make the house smell amazing, and put a smile on my family's faces as they enjoy each and every bite.

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More about this cookbook:

"Turn your home-baking skills into professional-grade desserts with this mouthwatering baking book featuring recipes from some of the most incredible bakers and bakeries—including Tieghan Gerard, Joanne Chang (Flour Bakery), Chelsey White, Allison Kave (Butter & Scotch), Daniel Boulud, and more!

 

This heavenly collection of dessert recipes—gifted to us from the greatest bakers and chefs from small-town café owners to fancy restaurateurs to TV show hosts—is a call to arms, to action, to revolution! Or, at the very least, a call to turn on the oven. Because who has time for the third-best brownie recipe or so-so Nutella-stuffed chocolate chip cookies?

 

Written with a fun and friendly tone and featuring easy, step-by-step instructions, 50 Things to Bake Before You Die will make you feel right at home as you bake up these world-class desserts, including:

 

• Brown Butter Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies (from Chelsey White)
• Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding with Fresh Chantilly Cream (from Wiltshire Pantry Bakery and Café)
• Brown Sugar Peach Cobbler (from Tieghan Gerard)
• Chocolate Cheesecake Mochi Muffins (from Sam Butarbutar)
• Pink Velvet Cake (from Liz Marek)
• Cookies and Cream Macarons (from Cambrea Gordon)
• And more!

 

So bake up Courtney Rich’s sublime Ultimate S’mores Cake, and Joanne Chang’s soul-shaking Homemade Oreos. Bake them—before you die."

 Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.