AS A SELF-TAUGHT

home baker I am enchanted by the ingenuity of the process. My recipes are the result of experiments and trials to satisfy both my palate and my aesthetics. Along the way there have been a number of ‘epic fails’, but when it comes to baking I am driven by blind love, and I keep on going even when the obstacles seem insurmountable. But it’s not always a challenge. I also embrace the ease and comfort of simple, fail-proof recipes I can whip up on a whim. It is easy to see why baking is so fascinating. I only embarked on this journey recently and it’s been a life-changing experience. I haven’t bought a loaf of bread since, which is a saving the parsimonious Italian in me appreciates. Ultimately, baking is an act of love. Love of good ingredients, love for those you bake for, and love for yourself, as there is nothing more satisfying than seeing the fruits of your labour come out of the oven.

This is an edited extract from Love, Laugh, Bake! by Silvia Colloca, published by Plum (RRP $39.99), available now.