Lucy Baker wants us to have fun with kitchen crafts, and promises (1) her recipes can be made in an afternoon and (2) they don't require "fancy kitchen equipment" or rare ingredients. But those lucky recipients of yummy treats from Edible DIY will never guess how easy they were to create.
The user-friendly appeal starts with a calendar of occasions and suggested recipes for each. (Even Rosh Hashanah gets a list, with four apple and honey recipes.) Most can be made year 'round, but, as Baker notes, "just because you can make Chocolate Barbecue Sauce in February doesn't mean you should." The culinary categories include Crunchy, Boozy, Sweet, Spicy and Preserves, with snappy variations on some familiar themes: nut brittle becomes "Spicy Pumpkin Seed and Pecan Brittle," while bacon gives a boost to the classic caramel turtle.
Baker doesn't skimp on quality ingredients, but most of these goodies are economical. She includes mixing directions for a few drinks that deserve their own party, like Cucumber-Jalapeno Vodka and Crema di Limoncello, but stresses that "bottom-shelf" booze works just fine.
Full-page color photos and a short background story accompany each recipe, and tips on simple and tasteful packaging are sprinkled throughout. As rewarding as cooking from this delightful book may be, it might be smart to buy one for a friend and wait for the "share" part to come back your way. --Cheryl Krocker McKeon, bookseller