Emma Duckworth - Simply Sweet Nostalgic Bakes: 55 Elegant Takes on Comfort Classics

SIMPLY SWEET NOSTALGIC BAKES

55 Elegant Takes on Comfort Classics

EMMA DUCKWORTH

Creator of Emma Duckworth Bakes

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This book is dedicated to my family. Coco, Lani, Malia and Anthony, I quite literally could not have written and produced this without you. It was a team effort!

For the cake makers and dessert lovers out there, I hope that this cookbook takes you down memory lane and reminds you of some delicious treats that youve enjoyed in your past. It thrills me to be able to share my recipes with you and show the influences of my life in the baking within these pages.

For me, baking has always brought with it a deeper level of comfort than other types of cooking. Why is that? I think because whether its through taste, through smell or even through touch, baked goods can evoke a memory that connects you with your past. We all have intricately layered lives that evolve over the years to create a textured and meaningful connection to who and how we are in the kitchen.

I had an incredibly different childhood compared to most. My family spent time as expatriates in Asia, and throughout my childhood I was lucky enough to live in the Philippines, China and India. You can imagine how spending so much time in far-away countries such as these allowed me to develop my love and appreciation for Asian flavors. Kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, fennel seeds, saffron, star anise, coconut and sweet mango, to name a few flavors, have always played a part in my development as a home cook and baker.

With an English dad and French mum, Ive also been able to forge lasting connections with these countries and beyond. Food at home was always interesting and flavor packed, as my mum is a fantastic cook. Dad traveled a lot for work at the time, so it was Mums exploration into a vast variety of flavors that expanded my palate at home. However, being French, we always had a connection with this beautiful European country. Crpes were eaten at home regularly, and its a tradition that I have continued on with my kids. (In fact, I dont think I had an American-style pancake until we holidayed in Florida when I was ten years old.) Through my connection with my French heritage and many trips to France, Ive had a love affair with French pastries for much of my life. Each one, whether a macaron, an clair or a perfect slice of tarte Tatin will transport me back to a specific time and place where Ive enjoyed it.

Australia also holds a very special place in my heart. Life took me from boarding school in Cheltenham to university in Oxford (no not at THE university!) to studying design in London. And from there, I traveled to Australia with my best friend for a gap year. Little did I know that this decision would change my life. On the sunny shores of Manly Beach in Sydney, I met Anthony, a surf-loving local boy. Fast-forward eighteen years, and we have three incredible girls, Malia, Lani and Coco, and a beautiful fifteen years spent in Sydney. During these years, my love of tropical flavors like pineapple, mango and passion fruit grew. Pavlova became a must at most gatherings, and I learned about friands and lamingtons.

Ive led a very internationally rich life, having spent so much of my time overseas, and it doesnt go past me just how lucky I am. Having moved back to London into the leafy suburb of Chiswick with my family, Ive had the opportunity to develop my love of baking and a passion for photography into a living. I get to think about sweet treats and desserts all day, every day, coming up with new recipes to share with family and friends.

When I think of recipes that hold a special place in my heart, they invariably stem from a memory. I believe that our life is broken down into a multitude of personal and individual experiences that together form the pages of nostalgia within ourselves. Its this trip down memory lane and flashbacks into our past that provide the foundation for who we are as bakers.