Joy The Baker Cookbook - 100 Simple And Comforting Recipes by Joy Wilson

I'll start off by saying I'm not a baker, but that I'd love to be able to make a deliciously moist cake once in a while.  This book makes me want to learn, and it doesn't seem as complicated as I am making it out to be in my mind.  I was drawn to Joy's blog  because of her writing style more than the actual recipes - they looked delicious, but again, I'm not a baker.  Thankfully she has recipes that dont require any baking, like Pineapple Malt Milkshakes and Raspberry Fudge Pops.  She keeps it as real in this cookbook as she does on her blog.  The cover shows her holding a beautiful pink cake with sunflowers and strawberries on top, as well as the tattoo on her arm.  She admits her kitchen gets messy, which I can totally relate to.  My kitchen "gets clean" because it probably spends more time being messy than the average person!  She wants her recipes to be approachable, comforting and delicious.  You don't always need to make a pie crust from scratch.  She shows us various ways to get on with your baking when you're out of buttermilk.  Or you don't want to buy cake flour because you only need 1/2 cup, and who knows if you'll make this recipe again.  And how to make our own brown sugar.  She's in with the bacon-in-my-dessert trend, but not just chocolate covered bacon, or brownies with bacon.  No, she makes bacon black pepper waffles and peanut butter bacon cookies, both of which I'm eager to try.  There's a recipe for Vegan Pumpkin Bread, but it's not the typical "scary" vegan recipe with all sorts of ingredients you have no idea how to find.  Her recipes really are simple and look absolutely delicious.  How about Chocolate Bourbon Spiked Banana Bread?  Sounds divine, right?!  She offers up Single Lady Pancakes, whether you're really single, or just don't feel like making a ton.  Baked Coffee Cake French Toast sounds perfect for a weekend brunch.  And up until now, I thought I could do without an ice cream maker.  That was before I saw her recipes for Honey and Toasted Walnut Ice Cream and Strawberry Cookie Dough Ice Cream. But my favorite part of the whole book?  Confirmation in writing that chocolate pudding really can mend a broken heart.  That right there is worth the purchase price!

Keep an eye out for my reviews of some of her recipes, like Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies, Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes, and Baked Chili Cheese Fries.