I have started and abandoned many blogs over the years, all of them involving food to one degree or another. I was inspired by the book Julie & Julia, however, and the many other foodies who are blogging their way through various cookbooks and I decided that a project like this might get me to actually stick with blogging.
I love baking and Martha Stewart has always been something of a kindred spirit for me. I love her attention to detail, her persistent desire to get things as right as they can be, and how she revels in the process of creating good food. I also appreciate her unabashed insistence that home bakers can produce elegant, gourmet food if they are willing to follow instruction, rely on a good recipe, and use proven techniques.
Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook is one of my favorite baking books and I find each recipe challenging in its own way. Photographing and writing about baking these recipes adds another two interests of mine and I am truly enjoying the entire process of this endeavor.
If you have experiences with any of these recipes, please share them in the comments. If you have suggestions, I’m always open to them. My goal with this is to become a better baker, photographer, and writer so by all means, let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading!
Try out the graham cracker recipe…I swear Martha left out a liquid ingredient. I’ve tried making them and once I’ve combined everything the “dough” is just way, WAY too crumbly to hold together, and I have to add milk or water. Once I add the liquid they come out just great.
I came across your blog with a google search and loved scanning through it. I’m at work now, but later I”ll spend some more quality time reading through. I’ve made a lot of the stuff from this book and most of the time I’m very happy with the results!
Oh, now I’m really curious to try the graham cracker recipe! I’ll bump it up to the top of my list.
Amber,
Just wanted to say that I think you’re awesome. I was given the MSBH (or bible) 4 months ago and I’ve been following you ever since. I RARELY try a recipe that you haven’t already, but seriously keep doing what you’re doing. I love it!
Jen
Thanks so much for the kind words, Jen!
I am so happy to have found your blog! I love Martha’s baking handbook and I am going to spend my evening enjoying your blog!
Hi Cindy – thanks for the kind words!
I love your gumption! from one Martha fan to another, keep up the great work Amber!
Thank you, ange!
I’ve been doing the same thing! (baking through the book) I have NO timeline, but whenever there’s a potluck or opportunity to bake something I choose a recipe from this book instead of somewhere else. My mother and I met Martha at the book signing for this book back in November of 2005, and I started my slow process of baking through it at that time. Each time I finish a recipe I post on Facebook and put in my little album.
Such a great blog and a fun project!
Thanks, Jen! I’d love to hear your thoughts on some of recipes – did you try the Pound Cake?
No, I haven’t done that one yet. Up next is the key time tart!
A note on the lemon curd asked about below: I made it and it was great, easy and turned out really well! (And, I’m not in love with all the recipes, either – I was disappointed in the muffins. Oh well, we keep baking!)
I hope to do the key lime tart soon too! Thanks for the input on the lemon curd.
Love the pic of you on the right — with the baking ring… so funny!
Have you calculated what % of the recipes you have made? I am really enjoying your blog and appreciate your honesty – you do not give every recipe *****. I have read other blogs where they bake through every recipe and I find some wax beautifully and gloat over every recipe – whether deserved or not. I noticed you have not made the lemon curd cake or the lemon blueberry napoleon – are they on your list of things to make??
I don’t know what percentage I’ve done – probably a little over half of the recipes if I’m just guessing. I know I have a lot left!
I hope to make every single recipe in the MSBH so yes, I do plan to make the lemon curd cake and the lemon blueberry napoleon. Some of the recipes I may have to skip or significantly adapt, simply because I cannot find the indgredients where I live. The Gooseberry Pie is one, along with the Slab Pie. Fresh gooseberries are impossible to find here, as are fresh sour cherries. I cannot even find frozen versions of these fruits.
Came across your blog by chance and I love it! I’m a big fan of Martha Stewart and your step by step photos make her recipes even better. I’m definitely coming back for more! Now you have a fan all the way from Saudi Arabia
Thank you, Dina! I hope to start updating this blog more regularly after the holidays. Happy baking!
I happened upon your blog recently and what a great project! MSBH is an excellent book and I’ve made many of the recipes from it. I too have always thought of making every single recipe in it, but it would be far too much food to make for me alone. I can imagine how big I’d get because I wouldn’t be able to resist nibbling on some of my own creations. I wish I had a large family to feed so I have an excuse to bake more often. What do you do with all of that food once you’ve made it? Do you give a lot of it away to family and friends?
(Sorry about the delay in approving your comment, Brian, but it JUST appeared in my comment feed this morning!)
I always give it away to family and friends. In fact, I cannot think of a recipe that I’ve kept for just my household of two. We usually keep 1/4 of the recipe (if even that much) and share the rest. When I make a pie or cake, it’s almost always at a time when we have a dinner party or BBQ or potluck to attend.
I will admit to eating almost all of the pignoli cookies myself though, those things were like crack to me!