Kitchen Shelf: Issue 102

Maddie Ballard samples must-reads for the savvy cook.

A Good Day to Bake: Simple Baking Recipes for Every Mood by Benjamina Ebuehi, Hardie Grant, $45

I first came across Benjamina Ebuehi during the seventh season of The Great British Bake Off, which I watch religiously. Her bakes – from Chocolate, Tahini and Almond Babka to Plantain and Spinach Samosas – were clearly fantastic. She was a quarter-finalist on the show and has gone on to become a freelance recipe developer and food stylist, writing for outlets like The Guardian as well as on her own blog, Carrot & Crumb.

A Good Day to Bake is her second book, following The New Way to Cake
in 2019 – and it’s beautiful.

Written during the pandemic, it contains a range of bakes, from the comforting (Almond Apricot Loaf) to the elegant (Roasted Black Pepper Strawberries and Set Yoghurt) – perfect for those who have rediscovered or strengthened their love of baking during Covid. As the subtitle promises, each recipe, no matter how impressive, is relatively simple to prepare, offering something for cooks of all abilities.

Whether you’re in the mood for something fruity (Plum and Pistachio Frangipane Tart, anyone?) or chocolatey (Chocolate and Hazelnut Millionaire’s Shortbread caught my eye), A Good Day to Bake has you covered. My favourite chapter, titled “Best of Beige”, covers baked goods that taste more exciting than they might look, from an irresistible Malted Brown Butter Pound Cake to Brown Sugar Custard to gloriously golden Cornflake Caramel Peanut Bars.

The book also contains chapters on baking with herbs and tea, and digging into your spice cupboard – something you don’t often see in baking books. I loved the delicate and unusual recipes suggested in these chapters,
from sticky Chamomile Lemon Buns and Sour Cream Sage Doughnuts to Za’atar Granola and Nutmeg Caramels.

For those who don’t have such a sweet tooth, savoury options are scattered throughout the book, from homely Squash and Nigella Seed Soda Bread to mile-high Roasted Veg Dutch Baby with Scotch Bonnet Jam to irresistible Spiced Lamb Sausage Rolls.

Softly lit photos of every single recipe make this a gorgeous book to look at as well as bake from, and it would make a delightful gift.

In this job, I read a lot of cookbooks – so trust me when I say this is one to look for.