A Blithe PALATE

The Edible Word: Confections of a Closet Master Baker, Roundup Part 3

A sweet finish to our Roundup of the Edible Word, the foodie book club co-hosted with the peerless Stephanie and the brilliant ladies at Cook the Books.  Our inspiration:  Confections of a Closet Master Baker.  And on to Part 3 of our Roundup:

  Esme at Chocolate and Croissants knew these Golden Eggs were going to come out golden -- she samples as she cooks and she says the raw batter was decadent and the finished product every bit the delectable puffs of sweetness she imagined...

  Helen - our sweet Tartlette, puts her own touches on a recipe provided by Gesine with this stunning Muscovado Date Cake with Maple Sugar Buttercream --made for a family reunion.

Jamie enjoys her Adventures in SF; she was inspired by the book -- which I had described as Gesine's love letter to her mother -- and the memory of her own mom to make a whole fish -- she also offers these lovely Red, White and Blue Cupcakes that she made for a friend's recent citizenship celebration.

Irene thinks this is the best damn cake she's ever made.  And considering some of the mouth watering creations she's been posting at Confessions of a Tart, that's saying something.  This Black Forest (aka Drunken Cherry Cake) was made in honor of her father's birthday -- and as a nod to Gesine's German heritage.

  Susan at Dragon Musings made these Golden Eggs Cupcakes and a Golden Egg cake as well!  They may taste doughnut-like warm from the oven but she says they're fantastic cold too!

A deep, heartfelt thanks to all our participants for their delicious, soul-satisfying contributions and for making our event so much fun!

The Edible Word: Confections of a Closet Master Baker, Roundup Part 2

More delicious inspirations in Part 2 of our Confections of a Closet Master Baker Roundup (and it looks like there will be a Part 3 for some lovely friends who are running a little late to the party).

Amanda at Hunger for New Ways made me my very first starter for dough (which I promptly killed).  Happily the starter she makes for the Maple Pecan Sticky Buns fares far better (and more tastily).

Peabody lived in the house of contraband -- the one that had sugar galore and just about everything a kid with a sweet tooth could desire; her entry is this extraordinary paean to sugar so good it has to be bad for you called the Oreo-Cocoa Krispies Treat.  Perfect with a glass of milk.

The Food of Love's Arlene can readily sympathize with the appalling name mispronunciations Gesine has to endure -- but I bet if she brought these Cream Scones everyone would know her name and learn to say it correctly -- how else to get a shot at seconds?

The Crispy Cook's Rachel asked her husband what he wanted to eat out of the recipes in the book -- he chose the Espresso Cheesecake - and believe it or not, this beauty is gluten-free!

Michele has her own Italian plum tree -- so what else would she make but this Plum Tart?

What's not to love about these Creamy Dreamy Raisin Scones?  Joanne of Eats Well with Others was inspired by the sacred time of cake and coffee to make one of my perennial afternoon tea favorites...

Girliechef, aka Heather, like many of readers (including me!) got misty eyed over the chapter on Zwetschgendatschi, a German fruit tart made with plums; this Plum Cake is her take on the recipe -- and something she looks forward to sharing with her mother and grandmother...

The Edible Word: Confections of a Closet Master Baker Roundup Part 1

Whenever Stephanie, my amazing adopted sister (one I chose for myself as an adult) and I talk, the discussion invariably revolves around food and books.  It seemed only natural then when we decided to combine our love of the two last year by creating a foodie book club where we asked participants to read with us -- and to make a dish inspired by what they had read.  Our first book was a novel about a feisty middle aged food television personality -- our participants showed an amazing range of creativity when it came to making dishes inspired by the book.  When we picked our second book earlier this summer, the lovely ladies at Cook the Books were gracious enough to co-host this event with us.

Our second selection is a nonfiction memoir:  Confections of a Closet Master Baker, written by Gesine Bullock-Prado, a Hollywood producer who decides to pursue something more soul enriching by fleeing Tinseltown and heading to Vermont, where she opens a bakery.  Gesine, as you might remember, is my favorite macaroon maker.  The book traces her baking journey, learning from her mother and grandmother, to the solace it offers her as life in Hollywood becomes increasingly dissatisfying until she chucks it all to become a baker in Vermont.

As before, we're amazed and gratified by the gorgeous and thoughtful concoctions whipped up by our particpants; in particular we noted that several people made plum tarts...given the bittersweet and touching back story to the Zwetschgendatchi, we completely understand why they gravitated to this particular dessert.  Here is part one of our round up.  Check back tomorrow for part two and don't forget to stop by Stephanie's site to see the remainder! 

Thank you to everyone who joined us!

Holly hasn't been feeling too well lately but is inspired to make a delicious looking carrot cake -- only she decides to make cupcakes so there are plenty more...

Mary, the amazing Breadchick at The Sour Dough, offers her grandmother's Magic Chocolate Cookies, which had the power to appease twenty plus grandchildren with different opinions and preferences for chewy versus crunchy cookies!

Deb is one of the lovely hosts at Cook the Books in addition to Kahakai Kitchen.  Deb herself is in the midst of career transition and is inspired to make this gorgeous Apfelkuchen.  Maybe you should become a baker professionally Deb?!

Who can resist a crunchy cloud? Not us...and not Lizelle's daughter, whose partiality for pink is indulged by these airy Raspberry Meringues...

Beth at Kitchen Courage decides to bake for the first time in a while and makes these sweet, comfort-food indulgent Pumpkin Peach Whole Wheat Muffins - one to eat right away and th others to be frozen for future noshing!

Pam at Sidewalk Shoes belies her claim as a hopeless baker with these beautiful Brown Sugar Almond Biscotti...

Natashya of Living in the Kitchen with Puppies is also enchanted with the Zwetschgendatchi and makes her plum cake with attention and love...