What started in January as an idea has become a flour-dusted journey through the German cakes, cookies, tortes, and baking traditions I grew up with. But this book is so much more than recipes! Along with beloved German treats and the stories behind them, you'll learn why ingredients behave the way they do, how to recognize when things are going right, and what to do when they don't. Because my goal isn't just to help you follow recipes. It's to help you become a more confident, creative baker.

Some cakes instantly take me back to my childhood, and this is one of them. Along with Blitzkuchen and Marmorkuchen, my Oma often baked a Zitronen-Gugelhupf when we were visiting. I can still picture her standing in the kitchen, mixing the batter and letting us lick the beaters. Those are some of my sweetest baking memories. Maybe that's why this cake still feels a little like home every time I bake it. Only years later did I realize that Oma was baking one of Germany's most iconic cakes...

Today, we're going to explore one of my favorite composed salads: the oh-so-satisfying Fully Loaded Wedge Salad. This salad is so loaded with flavor, texture, and goodness that it can easily stand on its own as a complete meal.