And her recipe for sweet almond bread pudding with raspberry sauce is in there. Omigod. I am really curious how she makes it. Like what’s in it? How does she do it? What magic goes into that delicious confection?

So how does she do it? Run a great bakery with two locations and write a book? What a gal.

For those who don’t know, Sweet Melissa’s is a Seventh Avenue patisserie that is admired for its constantly expanding array of beautiful and delicious desserts. It’s also a popular hang out.

The Sweet Melissa Baking Book looks great and is filled with great photos of all her delectable treats. It is sure be at the store and other local bookstores. She writes in the introduction:

Everything that is baked at Sweet Melissa’s is my favorite thing. The fun part is getting there, a a lot of testing goes into perfecting these recipes. Once I think I’ve gotten it, I try the recipe on my customers. I know when I’ve got it right: I see the person’s eyes close as they bite into a gooey sticky bun or a decadent piece of cake. They nod their head as they chew, and reluctantly swallow. Often there’s an accompanying hmmmmming sound. They they smile when they open open their eyes to see that there’s enough left for another bite.