The Seasonal Baker

Book excerpt: Known for his delicious and gorgeous baked goods, John Barricelli of the SoNo Baking Company in Norwalk, Connecticut, has become a local celebrity. In The Seasonal Baker, he brings everyday baking with fruits and vegetables within reach for home cooks, offering 135 sweet and savory recipes for all seasons. John patiently walks readers through his recipes for breakfast treats, quick breads, poached fruits, cookies, pies, cakes, quiches, pizzas, and more. He shares his Pears “Belle Hélène,” using the fall’s bounty and including suggestions for how best to submerge fruit for poaching. His Strawberries Romanoff—perfect for summertime—comes with tips on how to gently clean the berries so they retain their beautiful shape. The Blueberry Cheesecake in Glass Jars offers a delightful, picnic-style presentation for company. He presents Joan’s Carrot Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting and Spiced Pecans for a cozy winter treat. Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cinnamon Cream are a hit with all ages, perfect for Thanksgiving when pumpkin harvest is in full swing. He steeps and softens sun-dried tomatoes for Cheese Focaccia with Summer Squash, and guides you through making Grilled Pizza with Figs and Ricotta, great from summer through early fall, and which can be made in the oven. In his follow-up to his acclaimed The SoNo Baking Company Cookbook, John showcases the diversity of the produce, keeping us connected to the seasons. He also includes a definitive shopping guide on how to buy and prepare fruits and vegetables, and how best to store them for later use. This rich collection of recipes, great for beginning bakers and pros alike, is accompanied by gorgeous four-color photography, as well as Barricelli’s family stories. These are the recipes that he makes at home with his children, and they will inspire you to add his seasonal family favorites to your own standbys. Often simple enough for anyone to make, these dishes are mouthwateringly beautiful and approachable enough to make during the week. Through fall, winter, spring, and summer, this is the book you’ll turn to again and again for recipes that feel like home.