June Baking Club: International

When you think of great baking, what countries come to mind?

This month brought international flavours to baking club, with participants choosing a recipe from somewhere else in the world to bake and share.

Germany was clearly a favourite, providing us with Apfelkuchen (apple cake), Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) and a delicious Kaffeekuchen or cake for eating with coffee (not to be confused with coffee cake as we know it). We also had Speculaas (a spicy biscuit for dunking in your tea or coffee) from the Netherlands, a chocolate chip chiffon cake from the USA, tasty rice flour cookies and Nokhodchi (chick pea, pistachio and cardamom cookies) from Iran, the Queen Mother’s walnut and date cake from UK, and Brigadeiros (fudge balls) from Brazil. We also had a tamarillo pie made from a local recipe to make use of the fruit while it’s in season (we’re not strict about our themes, they’re just a suggestion).

An interesting note on the recipe for the walnut and date cake said, “The Queen Mother has asked that this recipe be sold for 5p & the money to be given to a worthy cause. Her Majesty does not wish it to be given away.” As best as I can figure, that was in the 1940s, so adjusting for inflation and converting to New Zealand dollars, it’s about $2-$3.

If you want to try baking something on our ‘international’ theme, try one of these books:

Nordic Bakery cookbook by Miisa Mink

Culina Mundi by Brett Jocelyn Epstein

The edible atlas by Mina Perkin

With winter now here, you could whip up a New York Christmas; explore Rick Stein’s world on a plate, or try your own Persian cookies from Pomegranates and Roses.

You can also try a catalogue search for Cooking, Persian; Cooking, French, or add any cuisine after the search term “cooking” with a comma. If you’re browsing the shelves, look for numbers beginning with 641.59 for international cuisines and 641.815 for baking and pastries.

8 June 2022

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