Review: Taste Test for Love

 

Liza Yang and her mother have a complicated relationship. Her mother's always trying to set her up with horrible boys. Boys that Liza would never consider dating. She dates boys on the sly - boys her mother would never pick out. She's not interested in dating Asian boys or her mother's traditional values. More than anything she wants to got to culinary school and bake. 

Liza often works in her mother's bakery. But her parents don't want that life for her. They want more for their children. Liza's older sister is perfect in her parents' eyes. Liza wishes she could be more appreciated instead for being molded into someone she's not.

It's the 5th annual baking contest at her parents' bakery. Liza isn't allowed to compete, but she and her parents have come to a comprise. She can be one of the judges for the contest. Little does she know, her mother's plan for the contest. And she's not pleased. The only way to get her mother off her back is to start dating an approved boy. But is she willing to do that?

My Thoughts: The tagline was Jane Austen meets Great British Baking Show. Which sold me on the book. And it was exactly that - and I loved it. I loved Liza. I loved the moments in the bakery and trying out new recipes. This book did make me want to bake. I loved her moments with her sister - who is a model. I especially loved their time together in New York City. I enjoyed her banter with James. I really loved the baking competition and how that turned out. I loved the friendships in this book. What a fantastic debut novel. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Cover Thoughts: Perfection

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public libraries

The Great British Baking Show

For the past two weeks, I've fallen down the rabbit hole of The Great British Baking Show (seasons 2 and 3). And it makes me want to bake...Everything.

It also makes me realize I could never be a baker on the show. And here's why:

I'm a traditional baker

 I don't play around and experiment with baking

When I do change a recipes, it's mostly because of spices I don't like

 I don't make up my own recipes

 I don't recognize many of the desserts they make

 I would lose it under that intense pressure

 They shoot the show in Britain (different measuring system)

I wouldn't want baking not to be fun anymore

I don't think I could handle Paul's criticism 

Clearly I wouldn't measure up, but it's fun to think about. 

But now I'm also critical of baking - in a Paul and Mary sort of way. But only just for fun.

Here's my most recent bake:

Blueberry Buckle: