Review of

Holiday Baking, New and Traditional Recipes for Wintertime Holidays

By Sara Perry

Photographs by Leigh Beisch

Chronicle Press, 167 pages, $18.95

Now that Thanksgiving is over, and the leftovers have either been thrown out or frozen, it’s time to turn our entertaining sights toward the many wonderful winter celebrations. Sara Perry has just published a handy holiday cookbook with a few savories and many delicious sweets to share with family and friends.

Perry begins her book by setting the stage for the holiday season. This book is about holidays that “…are linked with distinctive baked goods reflecting the history, the lore, and the culinary habits of the people who observe them.” Beginning with Thanksgiving, she continues with chapters for Hanukkah, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s. Perry reminds us that “Kids love the thrill- and the mess- of baking.” The holidays are a time to pass down family stories and traditions.

“Baking Tips Galore” is an extremely useful chapter for both novice and accomplished cook. It’s good to be reminded of reading the entire recipe (I know many times I glance and start cooking only to find a missing ingredient or an oven not pre-heated!), having the proper tools on hand, trusting your eyes-not the clock, and to jot down notes. Perry also describes several of the staples and tools that she uses to prepare the recipes so you will be assured of the same success. There are “Tips for Storing” baked items and also “Tips for Baking with Kids” that should be used all the time with the young culinarians. 

To begin each chapter there is a short history of the holiday and a calendar of when the holiday is celebrated (for Hanukkah the calendar shown is the Kislev calendar that is lunar.  The holiday starts at sundown on the 25^th day of the month).

Although I skipped over the Thanksgiving chapter, I tagged a few recipes for next year. Perry suggests a duel purpose Apple Puff Pancake that can double as a Thanksgiving morning or a “nighttime and their still hungry” dish. She takes us down her memory lane with Retro Raisin Crisscross Cookies that burst with raisins and lemony flavor.

I’m always looking for Jewish treats to make for my husband and his family far away. Through the years I have learned the different meals and holiday requirements to celebrate my husband’s traditions. My mother-in-law is known for her baking and I want her to try Streusel-top Sour Cream Coffee Cake. I think she will like the addition of walnuts and pecans in the streusel topping and light brown sugar in the cake. I will send my father-in-law, the chocolate fiend, Chocolate Gelt Hide-a-Cookie to satisfy his after dinner cravings.

Christmas is my holiday and I want to celebrate with Sofia’s Snow Pillows, a melt in your mouth cookie covered in a snow of powdered sugar. This year I will give up my Christmas stollen (I love it and my family hates it!), and make Saint Lucia’s Saffron Crown in hoping that my family will eat a fresh baked item instead of cold cereal…This golden bread is from Scandinavia and is traditionally decorated with small white candles, holly leaves, and berries to become a centerpiece for Christmas brunch or tea. I think it will win them over.

Boxing Day isn’t a holiday we normally celebrate but with new English friends I would like to bring a couple of dishes along when we visit.  Perry offers a Sweet Onion, Apple, and Cheese Tart. The ingredients blue and cheddar cheese, tart apples, red onions, and dried thyme sound like the beginning of a festive winter meal. There is also a recipe for Boxing Day Scones with Warm Strawberry Jam that makes flaky tender scones into a decadent morsel I can’t resist.

Kwanzaa is a relatively new cultural holiday with its roots in the 1960’s. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga to preserve and revitalize the African American culture.… “(T) the holiday, both festive and spiritual, fosters strength and community while honoring the past”. From December 26-January 1: families, friends, and neighbors share “…favorite foods, traditional music, and beloved stories, while the children enjoy small gifts and treats”. I would like to honor this holiday by serving Wild Rice and Dried Cherry Muffins and Mama’s Yummy Sweet Spoonbread Soufflé. The addition of sage and honey make this a unique spoonbread that can be served any time of day or year.

As we wind down the holidays the last one on the list is New Year’s. Perry’s last chapter not only has sweets for the Champagne filled evening, but tips her hat to the American football tradition on January 1.There are Triple-Treat Touchdown Bars, Bloody Mary and Baked Mushroom Omelet, and a Start-the-New-Year-with-Chocolate Brownie Terrine.

I’m excited about the holidays! Nothing makes me happier than learning about different holidays and the food that goes with them. Sara Perry has done a wonderful job in selecting recipes to share.

Read! Eat! Enjoy!

           and

      Celebrate!

Happy Holidays and read me next year!

Judith Bishop

www.ingoodtastestore.com

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