Seeking Sweetness in Everyday Life

Image from A World of Cake by Krystina CastellaConfession: I have sort of a crush on Krystina Castella.

If you're unfamiliar with her work, then you're in for a sweet treat: she's the brains behind such books as Pops!: Icy Treats for Everyone , Booze Cakes: Confections Spiked With Spirits, Wine, and Beer, Crazy About Cupcakes, and most recently (released within a month of one another!) Crazy About Cookies and A World of Cake.

And while there's a lot to love about any book that features recipes for sweet treats, what in my mind really separates Castella from the crowd is her backround as an industrial designer: this is strongly reflected in each of her books, which are beautifully and thoughtfully constructed, both visually and in terms of the actual content. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she's smart as a whip, very clever, and a mean baker to boot.

You know what? The awesomeness that is Krystina Castella is really too much to put into a single post, and so all week I am going to be dedicating posts to her amazing works, including recipes and an interview!

But we'll kick it off with a giveaway, OK? One lucky winner will receive a copy of A World of Cake, which includes over 150 recipes and stories about cakes from all over the world. Not only will you get a ton of delicious recipes, but you might just learn something, too.

How do you enter yourself in the running? Simply leave a comment below stating a cake recipe (it can be international or domestic!) you've been dying to try. Optional: feel free to link to or include a recipe!

The winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, November 30th, at 12pm PST; US entrants only this time, please! The book will be sent directly from the publisher, Storey Publishing.