by Tatyana Ramirez
Library Assistant
One of my favorite hobbies is baking; whether it’s cookies, pan dulce, or a loaf of bread. The process always fills my home with joy and a mess I don’t mind cleaning up at all. There’s something special about mixing simple ingredients together and watching them transform into something delicious while in the oven.
National Homemade Bread Day is celebrated every year on November 17. It’s a wonderful reminder of how something made from scratch can brighten your day. This day brings warmth to your home and baking bread is also a great way to relieve stress. My personal favorite bread to bake is banana nut bread with just a hint of cinnamon. As it bakes, the sweet aroma of banana and cinnamon fills the air, making my whole home feel warm and comforting. Once it’s ready, I slice it up to share with family and friends because bread, in my opinion, tastes even better when shared.
And guess what? Did you know that Broome Library has an incredible selection of cookbooks that can inspire bakers of all skill levels? I’ve had the chance to explore many of these books, and I have discovered everything from cookbooks, social histories of bread from across the world, children’s books, cooking videos, and scholarship!
Some cookbooks at Broome Library cater to special dietary needs, offering gluten-free options or breads made with alternative flours like oat, almond, or rye (Delicious: Recipes from My Gluten-Free Bakery). Others provide a series of step-by-step photo guides, making it easy for beginners to follow along (Quick Breads). I’ve also come across books that blend bread recipes and show us their importance in cultural traditions, sharing the stories behind bread from around the world (The Bakers of Paris and the Bread Question, 1700-1775 and Bakers and Basque: A Social History of Bread in Mexico). Checkout the list at the end of this blog for more amazing recommendations from inside Broome Library.
If you’re looking to celebrate National Homemade Bread Day this year, I encourage you to stop by Broome Library and browse the cookbooks. Baking is a great way to relieve stress and share what you’ve made with the people in your life. Whether you’re an experienced baker or someone who’s never touched a bread pan, you’ll find plenty of inspiration. Who knows? You might just discover a recipe that becomes your new favorite tradition.
Bread Surprises at Broome Library
Cookbooks
- O’Callaghan, D. (2015). Delicious: Recipes from My Gluten-Free Bakery. Mercier Press.
- Ojakangas, B. A. (2003). Quick Breads. University of Minnesota Press.
- Quick Breads. (1962). Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
- Suas, M. (2009). Advanced Bread and Pastry: A Professional Approach. Delmar Vengage Learning.
Children’s Books
- Maillard, K. N. & Martinez-Neal, J. (2019). Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story. Roaring Brook Press.
- Quintero, C. & Gonzales, S. (2023). The Only Way to Make Bread. Tundra.
Cultural History of Bread (with some bonus recipes too!)
- Frisbie, C. J., Sandoval, A., & Mitchell, R. (2018). Food Sovereignty the Navajo Way Cooking with Tall Woman. University of New Mexico Press.
- Kaplan, Steven L. (1996). The Bakers of Paris and the Bread Question, 1700-1775. Duke University Press.
- Montanari, M., & Brombert, B.A. (2012). Medieval Tastes: Food, Cooking, and the Table. Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/mont16786
- Weis, R. (2012). Bakers and Basque: A Social History of Bread in Mexico. University of New Mexico Press.
Videos & Scholarship
- Culinary Techniques. Episode 84, Preparing Sourdough Bread. (2011). [Video recording]. Wiley.
- Mondal, A., & Datta, A. K. (2008). Bread baking – A review. Journal of Food Engineering, 86(4), 465–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2007.11.014