From Publishers Weekly
When LaPlante's son needed a project to help his Cub Scout pack raise money in 1996, she and her husband, who owned a metal-working firm, came up with the idea of making textured baking sheets in their garage for the boys to sell door-to-door. The products became such a hit that LaPlante's sister, Diane Cuvelier, soon pitched in, and along with several other family members, they created Doughmakers Bakeware, which is now a multimillion-dollar business offering pizza pans and specialty cake pans in addition to the original cookie sheets. The story of this food-loving family reads like a novel, full of ups and downs on the road to heartfelt success. But it's also a useful guide for any home cook who dreams of entrepreneurship. After telling the story of the little cookie sheet that could, LaPlante and Cuvelier share 100 recipes. Covering all manner of dough-related foods, from sweet (cookies, cakes, muffins, pies) to savory (bread, pizza), this section retains the book's homey, independent spirit. In many cases, the authors tell who gave them the recipe (as in Swedish Red Lips Cookies from LaPlante's husband's grandmother, Olga McLaughlin, or Ann Shell's prize-winning Italian Cream Cake), while other recipes are family traditions, such as Grandma Minnie's Banana Nut Cake with Whipped Cream Frosting. Doughmakers clearly deserves the success it has achieved, and loyal Doughhead fans will be delighted to put this book to work with their bakeware.
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Book Description
If you want to understand Doughmakers, you have to understand my family first. And if you want to understand my family, you have to come to dinner.
-- Bette LaPlante
Real-life sisters and kitchen magicians Bette LaPlante and Diane Cuvelier share their inspiring success story and a host of recipes for the most delicious baked goods ever! From an early start making cookie sheets in their garage for a Boy Scout troop to running a multimillion-dollar booming business called Doughmakers Gourmet Bakeware, Bette and Diane have experienced firsthand how baked goods bring people together. Now they provide 125 recipes straight from the Doughmakers' own kitchen and from the kitchens of satisfied customers. These delectable treats include
- Winter Wonderland Bars
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Parmesan and Pecan
- Focaccia Bread
- Apple Harvest Danish
- Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
- Grandma Minnie's Banana Cake with Whipped Cream Frosting
- Praline Turtle Cake
- Lemon Meringue Pie
- Grilled Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomato Pizza
In addition to their baking secrets, Bette and Diane also share lessons they've learned on the front lines of a growing business. Having brought their small-town self-starter to more than 2,000 gourmet stores in North America, the Dough-makers have dozens of helpful tips to offer on how to start your own business with a heart. They also describe how building the company brought their family together through their tireless efforts and some hilarious travels. Every reader -- whether cook, aspiring entrepreneur, loving mom, or all of the above -- will benefit from the delicious fruits of The Doughmakers Cookbook.
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