Every Recipe Has a Story

Discover it and you unlock the power of baking. [logo]( Sunday Recipe Inspiration Batch 374 [Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crispy Crêpes)]( Well, hello again. Does it feel like January is here to stay? Or like 2021 has taken its cue from 2020? I will confess that I'm dragging a little — struggling with the added darkness (literally and figuratively) that has descended this month. A part of me yearns to bake and be in the kitchen all the time, but another part of me is exhausted by that notion. My solution: approach every moment in the kitchen with nothing but appreciation. Appreciation both for the recipes I use, as well as for the cultures and related circumstances that brought them to me. Every recipe has a story to tell. It can be tied to an ingredient, like the sesame seeds in these [Benne Wafers]( or the rose water in this [Cardamom Bundt Cake with Lemon Glaze]( — two ingredients with deep culinary histories. Or the story can be connected to a particular baking technique, like the use of tangzhong in these [Japanese Milk Bread Rolls](. It's learning about sesame's ties to slavery, the everyday use of rose water in South Asian sweet treats, and the rise of bread as a staple in Japan that makes me appreciate baking with these ingredients and techniques that much more. A recipe's storytelling doesn't end at its ingredients and techniques, though. As anyone who treasures a recipe knows, there is much to be said for one's own personal connection to it. Take, for example, [Ryan Tran's story]( about his mom's, Ha Nguyen's, [Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crispy Crêpes)]( recipe. As Ryan says: "This recipe has been an opportunity to connect to my culture, create memories with my mom, learn an invaluable skill, and most importantly, to exist in the present moment." There's also Tali Gelenian's recipe for [Katah (Butter-Layered Armenian Pastry)](, the newest addition to our website. As Tali notes in her upcoming blog post (look for it in a couple of weeks), "[i]n the Armenian diaspora, recipes like katah have become more unique as various Armenian communities passed them down through generations." This is the version of katah from Tali's community in Racine, Wisconsin and "baked into [it] is a story of community and resilience that [they] continue to celebrate". To me, Ryan and Tali's stories are what I appreciate most about their respective recipes. They're certainly what I thought about when I baked them for the first time for my family (COVID community), and I hope they'll inspire you to bake this week. Thanks! Charlotte Test Kitchen Manager Recipes We're Baking This Week ★★★★★ [Benne Wafers]( ★★★★★ [Cardamom Bundt Cake with Lemon Glaze]( ★★★★★ [Japanese Milk Bread Rolls]( Not yet reviewed, be the first! [Katah (Butter-Layered Armenian Pastry)]( Baking Gluten-Free? From flourless to wheat-free, we have recipes to inspire you. Search for a classic or discover a new favorite. [Get GF Recipes ›]( Fresh From the Blog — Tips and Techniques — Almond flour 101 A guide to this gluten-free baking staple [Read More ›]( — Tips and Techniques — How to make fancy French madeleines Even if you don't have a specialty pan [Read More ›]( — Tips and Techniques — A guide to paleo baking Kiss those grains goodbye [Read More ›]( Baker's Rewards Plus Your exclusive baking experience [Join Now]( — Video Collection — Catch the latest episodes [Start Watching]( [Shop ›]( [Recipes ›]( [Learn ›]( [Blog ›]( [Rewards ›]( Connect With Us [ftsocial_facebook]( [ftsocial_instagram]( [ftsocial_twitter]( customercare@kingarthurbaking.com Call toll-free: 800.827.6836 58 Billings Farm Road, White River Junction, VT 05001 You are receiving this because you signed up for King Arthur emails. This email was sent to {EMAIL}. View this email as a [web page](. [Preferences]( [Unsubscribe]( [Privacy](