Baking Powder Wars by Linda Civitello is one of the most interesting books I've read and full of a lot of unexpected and little known information about the history and evolution of baking. What women went through 200 years ago just to keep the family in bread! No standardized yeast, baking powder hadn't been invented....it was a long and tedious process. Then the wild and wooly history of baking powder itself! I had no idea! About a 250 page book, so an easy read but packed with information and historical facts. Makes me want to hug my Cuisineart bread machine, write a thank you note to the Rumsford Baking Powder and Fleishman's yeast companies !
Baking Powder Wars is a highly recommended read!
- Thread starter KrisM
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retired baker
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They had to acquire the skill to make ingredients,
jam ? make it.
Almond paste? grind your own.
Eggs ? get some chickens.
Sugar ? cut it from the sugarloaf.
That sounds like a fascinating read! The history of baking is such an overlooked topic, and it’s amazing to think about how far we've come from those early, labor-intensive methods. I love that you found it both informative and engaging. It's incredible how innovations like baking powder and yeast have transformed our cooking. I’ll definitely check out Baking Powder Wars—it’s always great to gain a deeper appreciation for the tools and ingredients we often take for granted. Thanks for the recommendation!
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That sounds like a fascinating read! I’m always intrigued by the history behind everyday items, and baking powder definitely fits the bill. It’s incredible to think about how much effort went into baking before these modern conveniences. I love the idea of a book that delves into the historical context of something we often take for granted. I’ll have to add Baking Powder Wars to my reading list. Thanks for the recommendation!
That sounds like an incredible read! It's fascinating to think about the challenges people faced in baking before all the conveniences we have today. The history of baking powder and yeast is something I’ve never considered deeply, but it makes you appreciate modern baking so much more. I love how you mentioned wanting to thank the companies that made it easier for us; it’s a great reminder of how far we've come. I’ll definitely add Baking Powder Wars to my reading list—thanks for the recommendation!