A baking book bursting with joy will have you hightailing it to the oven and planning a trip to your local corner store. Growing up in the Bronx, Paola Velez’s happy place was the bodega, a unique world full of color and flavor where the shelves were stocked with everything from M&Ms to Muenster cheese to Maja rete (Caribbean corn pudding) and, of course, its own cat (IYKYK). Before she was a James Beard nominated chef, Cherry Bombe cover girl, social media darling, and cofounder of the grassroots social action network Bakers Against Racism, Paola was a bodega kid with a taste for Warheads, Hostess cupcakes, ice pops, and Malta soda. Paolas debut cookbook, inspired by these treasures and other ingredients available at corner stores everywhere, is a love letter to both her Dominican heritage and her New York City roots its more than 100 recipes burst with distinctive flavors, inviting you to enjoy new takes on her childhood favorites and yours. Paolas’ combination of classical training and self-taught pastry skills means her recipes are accessible no matter what your skill level. Shell be your hype girl through more ambitious projects (you can make a turnover and a Guava and Cheese one at that), as well as more set it and forget it treats, like her Maria Cookie Icebox Cake. Whatever you do, don’t sleep on her signature…
