Staff Book and Media Recommendations

A Homemade Life

Molly Wizenberg

This book appears at first glance to be a collection of recipes and anecdotes by popular blogger Molly Wizenberg (Orangette). But there is more to this book than meets the eye. Each recipe is accompanied by a short glimpse of the life of the author and tells a story about a young woman by examining the recipes that were special to her family. We follow her life from childhood stories about watching her mother make Christmas cookies and candies, to her young adulthood in college and abroad in Paris where she fell in love and learned to make puff pastry.

Anyone who loves reading about food and discovering new recipes will find something to love about this book. But underneath the love of food and cooking is a special story about a daughter's relationship with her family. This is a fun read any time of year, but the recipes and stories about food and family make it especially touching read during the holidays.

Reviewed November 2010