Celebration Breads

No matter their culture, people always celebrate with food. And no food figures more prominently in culture, history, or religion than bread. From the Passover matzoh to the Christmas stollen, from British hot cross buns, to the festive Russian kolach, bread brings people together, links traditions, honors history, and bridges generations. Renowned cooking teacher Betsy Oppenneer has spent most of her life pursuing two complementary passions: baking and traveling. In Celebration Breads, she combines the two and comes through with the most innovative and rewarding baking book of the year. Featuring detailed recipes for more than 75 sweet and savory breads from around the world, from Africa to Scandinavia, the book also includes anecdotes about the historical and cultural origins of each bread. Best of all, Oppenneer includes flexible instructions for preparing the bread either by hand or with a heavy-duty mixer, food processor, or bread machine. With detailed step-by-step instructions and techniques to guide novice and expert bakers alike, comprehensive information on ingredients and equipment, and more than seventy black-and-white illustrations, Celebration Breads is an invaluable kitchen-shelf staple.