Today for Lunch Lit we bring you Recipes from The Seasonal Baker by John Barricelli. Known for his delicious and gorgeous baked goods, John Barricelli of the SoNo Baking Company in Norwalk, Connecticut, has become a local celebrity. In The Seasonal Baker, he brings everyday baking with fruits and vegetables within reach for home cooks, offering 135 sweet and savory recipes for all seasons.
There are lots of yummy recipes in this cookbook that I’d love to try. I really would like to attempt to make the Fig Tart when my fig tree bares fresh fruit this summer. Barricelli shares the story of how he grew up with grandparents who always had figs on their table during fig season. He explains that as a child he didn’t really care for figs but now can’t seem to stop eating them. I adore the food stories that one discovers while reading cookbooks and this book is filled with many charming ones. Enjoy!
Praise for The Seasonal Baker:
-MARTHA STEWART
“So many chefs talk about recipes that can be made at home simply, easily, and successfully, but John Barricelli delivers. His sweets are just the kind you want to bake for family and friends, and just the kind that even beginning bakers can turn out. You will make these recipes year-round, and you’ll make them over and over again.”
-DORIE GREENSPAN
“The Seasonal Baker is a dessert book you want to hug. It will actually become part of your kitchen (flour- and chocolate-stained) and not your library. John’s pastry is always straightforward delicious. And if you don’t make his Banana-Chocolate Chip Kugelhopf, you are simply missing out on one of the things that makes life worth getting out of bed for.”
–MATT LEWIS & RENATO POLIAFITO
“I enjoyed getting to know John and his family through his heartfelt mix of savory and sweet recipes. He takes care to keep instructions clear and approachable; perfect for the home baker. I can’t wait to try some of these with my family.”
-KAREN DEMASCO
“My introduction to John was over his Lemon Daisy Cake at Martha Stewart’s studio. It was so light and airy and at the same time tart and sweet. This perfect dessert is a reflection of John’s background-a unique combination of family and professional cooking and baking, with his philosophy of using the best ingredients, that results in no-fail recipes. From simple Poached Pineapple or Grilled Peaches to Ratatouille Hand Pies, there is something here for everyone. I’m going to start with the Gingerbread-Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.”
–SARA FOSTER
