Authors: Marilynn Brass and Sheila Brass

Photography by Andy Ryan

ISBN: 1-57912-588-3

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Heirloom Baking With the Brass Sisters is an interesting combination of nostalgia, Americana and delicious recipes.  The Brass sisters are expert bakers who also have a penchant for old, discarded hand-written recipes; their delightful new book is a combination of these plus many of their own favorite family recipes.

Oversized (so it easily lies flat while in use) and filled with beautiful photographs of baked goods and lovely vintage cooking ephemera, “Heirloom Baking” is divided into 13 chapters, whose titles include “Keeping the Cookie Jar Filled,” “Coming to America,” “Comforting the Family” and “For the Love of Chocolate.” 

The background and approximate historical context of each easy-to-follow recipe is provided and this is quite an interesting slant for a cookbook.  Who was Miss Emma Smith?  We’ll never know, but the Brass sisters have immortalized  her thrifty but delicious “War Cake” recipe (1914-1918) in their collection.  Did the 19^th century Reverend Brown create the cake recipe which now bears his name or was it made especially for him?  Baking (and eating) the food from these delicious recipes lends a fascinating historical connection not often found in a cookbook.

What is missing from the book are basic recipes such as chocolate chip cookies (although there are a few recipes which include mini chips).  But while you can get a chocolate cookie recipe from any bag of chocolate chips in any grocery store, you can only find the recipe for the delicious “Mama’s Chocolate Velvet Cake” within the pages of “Heirloom Baking.”

Part nostalgia, part American history and completely delicious, “Heirloom Baking” is a delightful treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds.

The above review was contributed by:  Kathryn Atwood:  Kathryn's poetry, reviews and essays have appeared in numerous online and print journals, including "The Aurora Review,", "Afterimage," "Void Magazine," "Wild Violet," and "PopMatters." 

When she's not writing or driving her three kids around somewhere, Kathryn is usually teaching at a local music studio or givng vocal performances with her husband on the  subject of American song.

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