by Mariana T.
Member since:
May 10, 2006

The Modern Baker by Nick Malgieri - I just Received it in the Mail!!!

January 14, 2009 01:28 PM EST
views: 83 | rating: 10/10 (12 votes) | comments: 40

Greetings Folks.  I just returned back to Santa Barbara from my Eureka digs.  Awaiting me was The Modern Baker by Nick Malgieri.  What a great surprise to find such a gift amongst the bills and Christmas cards.  This lovely book has an orange hard-cover featuring a white cake with chocolate filling.  I do judge a book by its cover and I knew immediately that I would like this one.

I turn the page to Nick's signature and then a picture of him.  He looks full of joy and it's obvious that he loves to teach others to bake.  A few pages over, I see a stack of chocolate - the real stuff.  He goes on to explain the basic ingredients, equipment and then techniques of baking.  I am liking this book more and more as I don't like assumptions about my baking knowledge -just show me the way!

His first chapter is about Quick Breads.  I am hooked.  The Fennel Fig & Almond Bread beautifully illustrated on page 43 is making my mouh water.  Then, the biscuits, scones, muffins and regular breads is nicely described and illustrated in beautiful colors.  I have to stop at the Pecan Stickiest Buns as it is topped with some of those addictive gooey pecans.  Being from Louisiana, you know how much I worship pecans!

This book was a gift to me from Gather.  I think my name was chosen from a comment I made.  It arrived at just the right time as I really did want to learn some new recipes.  It is definitely a treasure and a much welcomed addition to my kitchen which I am painting.  That always makes one want to cook more.  I thank you Gather and I thank Nick for this fascinating book of over 300 pages of beautifully illustrated recipes. I am proud to own it!   Salud



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Comments: 40

jessie voigts Jan 14, 2009, 1:30pm EST
i won a copy, too, miz m and just LOVE IT!!! i am so grateful. thanks to nick for writing this! and to gather, for awarding them. what will you make first?
Mariana T. Jan 14, 2009, 1:32pm EST
Jessie - I am fixing to go out on the porch after breakfast (yea running late here) and look through it as I need to go to the store. I think I'll make the olive oil cornbread or something like that with beans for dinner. We'll see. What about you???? Salud
April H. Jan 14, 2009, 1:36pm EST
Congrats
Cristina S. Jan 14, 2009, 1:38pm EST
Congratulations Mariana!
Sue * Jan 14, 2009, 1:42pm EST
Oh, this sounds like my kind of book..baking and chocolate. Who could ask for more?
sharon SugarMomma is a wise woman, Jan 14, 2009, 1:53pm EST
Let us know what comes out of your kitchens people. Cooking/baking is magnificent art.
mona d. Jan 14, 2009, 1:56pm EST
my copy arrived today - i can't wait to get home and see it! nick has been one of my favorites for a long, long time. i hope you enjoy it!
Mariana T. Jan 14, 2009, 1:58pm EST
Sharon, I will let you know as I think it's an art as wonderful as painting and writing - and Nick knows how to express himself very well in a style that I like and can follow. I must admit that I have never been one to bake much but I am a believer in learning and when the student is ready the teacher will appear - so who knows what my wonderful husband will have for dinner tonight! The pantry is bare as I've just returned late last night from Nevada!
Sue* I hear that - as soon as I opened it - I saw Nick's signature and yes, I love signed books for sure and then saw that cacao chocolate - oh yea, I said to myself - this is my kinda book!

Thank you so much Cristina. Thank you April. Thank you all. SAlud
Mariana T. Jan 14, 2009, 1:58pm EST
Mona, wow - you too - so far two of my good friends have received a copy - this is thrilling. Let me know the recipe you decide to try first. SAlud
It all sounds delicious!
Now if you make these goodies, take pictures so we can drool over them!
Bhawana 'Gather Proud Mom' Jan 14, 2009, 2:29pm EST
Good...congrats, Mariana..what a pleasure to know
Marianne M. Jan 14, 2009, 2:48pm EST
Sounds like a wonderful book, Mariana! I always like a cook book with pictures ... That way, I know in advance how something "should" look before I attempt to make it!
Kay M. Jan 14, 2009, 2:59pm EST
Congrats on your win. Sounds like a beautiful book.
Marianne R. Jan 14, 2009, 3:57pm EST
Well congrats!
Michael Harvey Jan 14, 2009, 4:39pm EST
Sounds like a delightful book.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Jan 14, 2009, 5:20pm EST
And having read your "Morning Glories," and encountering your delight in the amazing women you feature there (and those hats!) I thought to myself ..."What a perfect gift for Marianna, this Modern Baker Book." Yum.
Katrina Hall Jan 14, 2009, 5:28pm EST
I agree- it's a beautiful book, Mariana! First thing I want to try is the olive oil cake, but, honestly, every recipe in the book looks terrific!
Lisa Gensheimer Jan 14, 2009, 6:36pm EST
Try Maida's Big Apple Pie -- you will love it.
elizabeth e. Jan 14, 2009, 7:24pm EST
It's just as well I didn't receive this copy from Gather because I would pore over it looking at all the delicious images...my mouth would be watering....and then it would dawn on me...I don't know how to cook and then I would be ever so depressed!
Priscilla P. Jan 14, 2009, 7:46pm EST
It sounds like a wiener to me......Congratulations
Granny Janny H. Jan 14, 2009, 9:26pm EST
I'm jealous. You'll just have to cook me something from it next time I come to SB. Still no concrete plans though.
Mariana T. Jan 15, 2009, 1:59am EST
Thank you all for commenting - hi Janet - thank you.

Thanks Priscilla!

Thank you Bob - I am very lucky!

Ok Lisa I will - ok going to check your posts. More later. SAlud
Richard Frisbie Jan 15, 2009, 11:06am EST
It's a great book - I'm envious. The focaccia recipe is fantastic. Enjoy!
Monica H. Jan 15, 2009, 11:26am EST
Congrats to you Marianna. I recieved a book in the mail yesterday also!!
Mariana T. Jan 15, 2009, 12:33pm EST
Thank you Monica - Ok I want to hear all about how you like each recipe! Richard, now I feel bad - maybe I should send it to you as you'd use it more but then the way the Universe works, I'm sure that I should try some of these great recipes - !

Rick, thank you my friend - I am back and will post videos and pictures when I transfer to big puter. Salud
David W. Jan 15, 2009, 3:37pm EST
You sound delilghted with this book. I then, am happy for you. All my baking is done by our local bakery or supermarket. :-)
Courtney C. Jan 15, 2009, 8:00pm EST
That's fantastic!
Nora Davenport Jan 15, 2009, 8:03pm EST
Congrats! Can a person buy one? I would love to buy a copy and don't care what it costs....even if it costs $30 or $40, I still would want it....LOL!!!
I need another cookbook...think I own about 75 or so...!!!!
Mariana T. Jan 15, 2009, 8:15pm EST
Hi Nora - thank you - yes, they cost $35. I know I have at least a hundred cookbooks all the way back to the 1930's! I lucked out and bought someone's collection from the library - many have some pretty out there recipes - Also I have about 25 from Louisiana alone. Take care and thank you. Salud
Mariana T. Jan 15, 2009, 8:16pm EST
Thanks Courtney!
David W. me too but you know maybe I should use these cookbooks instead of just reading them for entertainment. SAlud
Curt L. Jan 17, 2009, 2:13pm EST
Wonderful and congratulations, Mariana!
I, too, won a copy and it sits next to me on the computer and I just look at it revrently from time to time. I'm almost afraid to try some of the recipes as I'm afraid to mess them up, but really, his instructions are so good, that probably wouldn't happen.
Mariana T. Jan 17, 2009, 2:19pm EST
Thanks Curt. Thank you Katie - then congratulations is in order to you. I know what you mean about messing things up - I could never color within the lines and I could never follow a recipe exactly - ! Salud
Ariel Storm Jan 18, 2009, 5:29am EST
Wow! What a great gift! Let us know how the recipes turn out when you make them!
Great win, I wish you lived closer so we could share....LOL! We would have to bake it at your house though, my oven is kaput!
Mariana T. Jan 18, 2009, 6:39pm EST
lol Stephanie - when you stop, we'll go eat by the Baldwin Bridge - they have boiled crabs and stuff - some friends of mine own it - The Chauvins - yea, and plan to drink a couple of beers too!!! Salud
Donna S. Jan 21, 2009, 12:11am EST
congrats
Krista P. Jan 28, 2009, 10:34am EST
Sounds delicious...and can't think of anyone who deserves it more!

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