Quote:Baking is one of life's pleasures-few can resist the comforting smell of freshly baked bread, the warmth of spices, sticky cakes, or oozing pastries.

Containing a mix of familiar family favorites and unusual, exotic delicacies, this comprehensive collection of recipes for breads, cakes, biscuits and pastries is also a well-researched exploration of home-baking techniques and global ethnic history. Inspired by her multicultural background the author has drawn inspiration from all over the world, including Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America.

All the recipes are simple to follow and beautifully photographed, with any unusual techniques illustrated step-by-step for ease. Try your hand at Azorean honey cake or Jamaican hard dough bread. Let your family's taste buds thrill to Azerbaijani cream cheese baklava or Dutch brown sugar coils.

The combination of delicious recipes and fascinating historical and anecdotal text make this book a fantastic read-a must for any home cook looking to truly broaden their repertoire or with an interest in the culture of food.