Sweeter off the Vine

January 4, 2016
Arefi, founder of the Apt. 2B Baking Co. blog, celebrates seasonal desserts and preserves in this luscious and appetizing collection. Organizing the book by what’s fresh and abundant during each season, Arefi first guides the reader through spring’s strawberries, rhubarb, herbs, and cherries, offering up a mix of classic desserts, such as strawberry tarts, with more unusual options, such as chamomile honey Panna cotta and lemon verbena olive oil cake. Summer’s unbridled bounty includes a gorgeous apricot and berry galette with saffron sugar, and a host of stunning berry recipes, including blueberry and sage cream puffs, currant and gooseberry buckle, and crème fraîche and blueberry ice cream. Fall marks a noticeable decline in the number of options, but Arefi still offers robust selections such as Concord grape pie with rye crust, and caramelized apple fritters. Winter includes a few hearty holdouts from fall and a wealth of citrus to choose from, including blood orange old-fashioned donuts, and citrus almond thumbprints with summer jams. Arefi does a notable job showcasing the best of nature’s bounty in this original collection, which is enhanced by vibrant, eye-catching full-color photos that will earn her a new following.