More from Ace Bakery: Recipes for and with Bread

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

“Even bakers do not live by bread alone,” could be the theme of this
follow-up volume to The Ace Bakery Cookbook (2003). Yes, there are bread
and baked goods recipes in this book but the majority of the dishes are
things that go well with good bread and its relatives. The content is
divided into eight chapters, with the first chapter being the bread
chapter where readers can learn how to bake Angel Muffins or how to
braid challah bread. The subsequent chapters are divided by meal
category: “Breakfast, to Start” (appetizers), “Soups,”
“Salad,” “Sandwiches,” “Dinners and Sides,” and
“Desserts.”

The recipes tend to be pan-Mediterranean with the cuisines of Mexico,
India, Africa, and the Caribbean making guest appearances. Author Linda
Haynes challenges her readers to try new ingredients and cooking
techniques. For many Canadians, there is only one cheese—the orange
one. Haynes teases readers into considering Gruyиre, Chиvre, Stilton,
Feta, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Other Canadians would be delighted to
order Moroccan Chicken Lentil Stew, African Papaya Soup, or Greek Lamb
Charlotte with Lemon Mint Hollandaise in a restaurant. Haynes shows that
these dishes are also easy to make at home as well. To spice up the
text, Haynes adds historical notes, cooking tips, and food-related
quotes. Lovely full-colour photographs are sprinkled throughout the
book.

Some recipes, such as Greek Lamb Charlotte, might challenge a novice
cook but the majority are easily within the reach of kitchen newbies.
All royalties from this book are given to a wide range of charities from
nutrition programs for low-income families to supporting organic farming
initiatives. These are simple and elegant recipes that offer you more.