Breadsong

March 21, 2022
In this uplifting work, the British dad-and-daughter duo behind Oxfordshire’s Orange Bakery fold innovative recipes into a moving testament to the healing power of baking. In alternating perspectives, they chronicle how, after a year of struggling with anxiety and despair, 14-year-old Kitty found refuge in “the magic” of baking bread with her father. “Something so dull had transformed into something so brilliant,” Kitty recalls. “And so I did it again and again.” Eventually, the Marmite-laced “comfort” loaves that Kitty began churning out turned into a subscription service and, later, a successful social media–driven business. Her unique road to mental wellness serves as the emotional through line to numerous recipes, including a no-knead overnight loaf with a “crunchy crust and pillowy crumb,” and a soda bread composed of malted grains soaked in Guinness. An informative chapter on sourdough takes bakers from starter to finish with recipes for Kitty’s “ultimate” sourdough bead, an excellent focaccia, and “Ulla’s Rye Bread” (named after the “Danish granny” who mentored Kitty), while a section on sweets feature fluffy buns made from all-purpose dough and topped with cinnamon or cardamom-orange glaze. Whether dabbing CBD caramel over a Happy Bread doughnut loaf, or slathering brownies with miso fudge, Kitty’s passionate creativity is as irresistible as her creations. Bakers will have no trouble devouring every bit.