Baking Book Gift Guide

It is the day after Thanksgiving. 

Sometimes it's also known as Black Friday. In the states after Thanksgiving people start getting ready for Christmas. A lot of families will be putting up trees and other decorations this weekend, along with starting their Christmas shopping.

It makes a bit of sense really, if the stores know that people are going to be shopping over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend then why not entice them in more with some great savings? 

It suits both retailers and shoppers. One makes a lot of money while the other gets some great savings. I don't like the chaos and you will never find me going out on Black Friday, but I don't hate it either.

So, because a lot of people will be starting their shopping this weekend I though I would write up a quick "gift guide" based on baking and cook books that I own. Then at the end of the post I have included my book "wish list" for books I wold love to read!

I have chosen these books because I think they would make great gifts for bakers with particular tastes! Some are just because they are a good read! 

To me it's not just about the recipes, it's about what they have to say as well! I like a cookbook that I can read and get into too! 

 

Cake by Rachel Allen

This literally has every and any cake you’d ever want to make in it! A great book for cake lovers!

Cake Days and Home Sweet Home by Hummingbird Bakery

Cake Days is the book that really started my baking and blogging life. I can’t recommend it enough. It has amazing recipes perfect for every season. 
Home Sweet Home is just as good! Perfect for a new or experienced baker! 

Chocolat by Eric Lanlard

~ For the chocolate lover in your life! 

Crumb by Ruby Tandoh

It is one of the most informed baking books I have ever read. Perfect for a new baker! 

Fat Witch Brownies by Patricia Helding

I think this has some of the best bars and brownies I have ever come across! Perfect for brownie lovers!

Jamie Magazine

Not a book, but I love this monthly addition to my recipe collecting habit. I should probably get a subscription!

Kitchen by Nigella Lawson

 I find myself engrossed in this book whenever I read it. Perfect for any cookbook lover!

Leon: Family & Friends (book 4) by John Vincent & Kay Plunkett-Hogge

Great book for anyone who likes to cook for their friends and family! 

Naughtiest Vegan Cakes in Town! by Ms. Cupcake

Not just for Vegans, but a must this Christmas for the Vegan in your life!

Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz

Perfect gift for ice cream lovers! Make sure they have an ice cream maker!

Robicelli’s A Love Story with Cupcakes by Allison & Matt Robicelli
The funniest and most real cookbook I have ever read. For cupcakes biggest fan! 

Sprinklebakes by Heather Baird

 Need an artistic twist to your baking, then this is the book for you!

Sweet Treats for a Sugar Filled Life, Presented by Cakespy by Jessie Oleson-Moore

 This book is your guide to taking dessert above and beyond your wildest dreams!

The Vintage Sweets book, The Vintage Tea Party Book, The Vintage Tea Party Year by Angel Adoree

If you know someone who loves vintage, afternoon, tea, sweets, parties and more then this is the book for them! 

Warm Bread & Honey Cake by Gaitri Pagrach-Chandra

Great read and recipes in this book! Great for someone who loves to learn about food from all over the world. 

Now for the books I wouldn't mind appearing under my Christmas Tree this year!

Bake to Baking: 200 Timeless Recipes to Bake, Share, and Enjoy by Anna Olsen

My Paris Kitchen: Recipes & Stories by David Lebovitz

Sweet by Valerie Gordon

Paris Sweets by Dorie Greenspan

Baked Elements: The Importance of Being Baked in 10 Favorite Ingredients

& Baked Occasions by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito

Sugar Rush: Master Tips, Techniques, and Recipes for Sweet Baking by Johnny Iuzzini & Wes Martin

Huckleberry: Stories, Secrets, and Recipes from our Kitchen by Zoe Nathan

Marshmallow Madness!: Dozens of Puffalicious Recipes by Shauna Sever

What is your favorite baking and/or cookbook that you think would make a great gift? Any book that you think everyone you know should own? Just leave a comment below because I am always looking for new cookbooks!!

notes: To see my full list of baking books and a handful of my cookbooks check out the tab above! I really need to update it! All opinions and suggestions are my own I have in no way been compensated for this post by any of the publishers or authors. Please see my contact/policy page for further information. The black box on the top is intentionally a black box. 

Memory Triggering Cherry Oatmeal Bars

My sister, Janet, and I always have conversations about memory. It seems to be that mine is a bit better then hers and we wonder why? What makes me remember things that she doesn't or things she does that she wouldn't have expected me too?

In my opinion it has a lot to do with triggers. The obvious trigger being someone bringing up a memory "hey remember...." and the second obvious would be photos. But there are a lot of triggers in our senses.

When my husband came to visit me in the early days he brought Davidoff Cool Water, his choice of scent at the time. Every time I catch a whiff of it now I am automatically overwhelmed with the memories of that time we spent together in the early days of our story. Music and even books trigger a similar reaction.

I was looking for a bar to take along on a picnic and for no particular reason I grabbed my Fat Witch Brownie book by Patricia Helding. After opening the book I was transported back to when it was one of five baking books and I had yet to start my blog and I was still just dipping into the whole baking thing. It's hard to put into words how I felt as it was a realization of how far I've come. How much I have learned. How big my book collection has grown ... scary. I bet my husband is glad it's not a shoe obsession,  though it hasn't been cheap, shoes are way more spendy!

Anyhow, Janet and I will probably never know why my memory seems to trigger easier? Maybe I just dwell on the past more then she does? Maybe it's because I spent most of my childhood observing more then participating? Either way now any time I make or even look at these Cherry Oatmeal Bars, I will be transported back to a sunny day spent with my youngest daughter and long for the days when she was still little.

Cherry Oatmeal Bars:
190g/12tbsp unsalted butter
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of rolling oats
1 cup plain flour
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
75g/about 1/2 cup of dried cherries
handful of chopped cashews (optional)

Grease a 9in baking pan with butter. Preheat the oven to 350C/180F. Melt the butter, brown it to have a nuttier taste, or not. Let it cool before adding in the vanilla.
Combine the oats, flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Make sure there are no lumps before pouring in he melted butter and vanilla mixture and mix well. Fold in the cherries and nuts if using.
Spread the mixture into the prepared pan, using your hands to flatten.
Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for an hour before enjoying!

I have a tendency to always over bake oatmeal aka granola bars. I don't know why I'm always worried about under baking them? When ever time I over bake? Anyway even though these were a bit on the brown side they were still tasty! Perfect treats for a picnic and I used the rest for my breakfast the next day, I just poured a little milk over them. Yum!

notes: Now that summer is approaching there will be a lot of picnics to be had so be prepared for a lot of bars and other easy transportable baked goods! - Fat Witch Brownies by Patricia Helding Amazon UK & USA;