Price: $40.05
Dive into the delectable world of baking with the debut cookbook from renowned baker, activist, and pastry pioneer, Natasha Pickowicz. Renowned for her extraordinary and unexpected pastries, Natasha has earned three James Beard Award nominations throughout her illustrious pastry chef career. Her high-profile bake sales for Planned Parenthood and other nonprofits have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in support. Now, she unveils her secret recipes and shares her baking insights in a cookbook that vibrates with her dedication, passion, joyful spirit, and generous ethos.
Her recipes are refreshing, straightforward, and inspired by her rich Chinese and Californian heritage. She masterfully pairs nectarine and miso in a tarte tatin and creates a luscious layer cake with olive oil, mascarpone, and fennel. She infuses black cardamom into pecan sticky buns and turns galettes into a savory delight with kabocha squash. She’s not just a creator, but also an educator.
Baking indeed requires precision and technique, but Natasha is there every step of the way, providing priceless tips. She advises to underbeat meringue, boil plum stones to intensify the flavor, look for “first-press” yuzu juice, and shares her secret to the flakiest pie dough – first freeze the butter and then grate it into perfect shreds.
More Than Cake is not just a cookbook; it’s a call to action to bake with the intention of building connections. It’s an invitation to prioritize pleasure. As Natasha eloquently states, “Dessert transcends mere nutrition and calorie count. It creates joy in a way no other dish can. This is something people genuinely need—it’s not optional.” It’s not just a cookbook; it’s a lifestyle manifesto.