Project Foodie - A Passion for Baking

A Passion for Baking

Pastry Chef and cookbook author Marcy Goldman shares her passion for baking in her most recent, and aptly titled, cookbook "A Passion for Baking". While Marcy starts "A Passion for Baking" with a section on baking secrets, you'll find additional baking hints and tips throughout the book that will help feed your baking passion and allow you to produce great results. The book starts with breads, including pizza and other flat breads then moves on to scones, and muffins before attacking the sweets. Cookies, bars, cakes, pies - oh my! A Passion for Baking has it all with many recipes that are quick and easy to prepare. One example on the quick and easy side are recipes like "Candy Bar Shortbread" shown below. Throughout the book, Marcy provides detailed and useful directions that highlight not only her passion for baking but passion for teaching others how to re-create her recipes. Filled with wonderful photos of the luscious results, this is a pretty and informative baking cookbook you're sure to reach for frequently.

Candy Bar Shortbread

From A Passion for Baking, by Marcy Goldman, Oxmoor House 2007

Makes 2 to 3 dozen cookies

No one seems able to get enough of these rich shortbread cookies crowned with Toblerone chocolate.

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
4 (3.52-ounce) Toblerone chocolate bars, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 325°F. Stack two baking sheets together and line top sheet with parchment paper.

In a mixer bowl, cream butter and sugar until blended. Add flour and salt and mix to make a stiff dough that does not quite hold together.

Pat dough into a 13 x 9 inch pan lined with parchment paper and set on prepared baking sheets or pat directly into a rectangle on baking sheets (about 14 x 10 inches). Bake until lightly golden, 25 to 40 minutes. Sprinkle chopped chocolate on hot uncut shortbread

Let set about 5 minutes and smear chocolate around. Cut into small squares and remove cookies to fridge or freezer to set up.

About A Passion for Baking

The smells, the tactile involvement, the delicious results - there's nothing quite like fresh-baked bread, and no other cookbook elevates the art of baking bread and sweets to such grand style as Marcy Goldman's A Passion for Baking. Goldman's enthusiasm and individuality come through loud and clear as readers explore her friendly, modern interpretations of traditional baking techniques. She shares baking secrets and funky tricks of the trade, so that in no time at all, you'll be producing cheesy loaves, mammoth muffins, jumbo cookies, and more with your signature touch. Goldman's extensive baking experience and fun, friendly writing style make this book as much a pleasure to read as it is to use. With more than 200 original recipes and over 160 bold color photos so temptingly real you can almost smell the aroma right off the page. Rise to occasion, reignite your own passion, and experience baking at a whole new level.