# Fold Gently | Travel, Baking, Books Blog

> Fold Gently, a blog with places unexpected, bakes for home bakers, books overlooked. Find your new favorite thing.

## Pages
- [About | Fold Gently](https://www.foldgently.com/about): Do you have any favorite things? The Fold Gently blog combines the recipes, books and places I love, so that you might discover and love them, too.
- [Books to Read | Fold Gently](https://www.foldgently.com/books-to-read): Book reviews from the shy kid who loved the public library. Why waste your time with bad books? Only the good stuff in a clean, well-lighted space.
- [Fold Gently | Baking, Books, and Travel Blog](https://www.foldgently.com/): Fold Gently is a baking, books, and travel blog with a nice mixture of recipes to bake, books to read and places to go. Find your new favorite thing.
- [Places to Go | Fold Gently](https://www.foldgently.com/places-to-go): Looking for places to go? Find a new destination, visit a favorite place again, or take a trip without leaving home. Ah, feeling better already.
- [Recipes to Bake | Fold Gently](https://www.foldgently.com/recipes-to-bake): Recipes to bake for the home baker with a hand mixer. No fancy equipment or ingredients. Cakes, cookies, muffins, and more the old-fashioned way.
- [Site Map | Fold Gently](https://www.foldgently.com/site-map): Love baking, books, and travel? The Fold Gently blog combines the recipes, books and places I love, so that you might discover and love them, too.

## Blog Posts
- [Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (Large Batch)](https://www.foldgently.com/p/banana-chocolate-chip-muffins-large-batch): This Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe makes 18 to 24 muffins from one bowl. Brown sugar and sour cream bring extra flavor to this breakfast treat.
- [Lavender Lemon Cookies](https://www.foldgently.com/p/lavender-lemon-cookies): These delicate Lavender Lemon Cookies are made with culinary lavender and rolled in sugar before baking. Perfect on their own or with a cup of tea.
- [Soft Gingerbread Cookies](https://www.foldgently.com/p/soft-gingerbread-cookies): These Soft Gingerbread Cookies are a classic with cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. Put a twist on this classic that has nothing to do with flavor.
- [Orange Muffins with Glaze](https://www.foldgently.com/p/orange-muffins-with-glaze): This quick and easy recipe for Orange Muffins with Glaze makes the flavor of orange the star of the show. Good morning, sunshine!
- [Raspberry Oat Bars](https://www.foldgently.com/p/raspberry-oat-bars): The flavor of these Raspberry Oat Bars is enhanced when you make the bars a day ahead and store in the refrigerator overnight. Can’t wait? Just cool completely.
- [Blackberry Lemon Cake](https://www.foldgently.com/p/blackberry-lemon-cake): This Blackberry Lemon Cake is old-fashioned in the best sense with blackberries​, lemon zest, and lemon juice for a light cake with lemon glaze.
- [Chocolate Orange Cookies](https://www.foldgently.com/p/chocolate-orange-cookies): This no chill cookie dough recipe with cocoa powder makes soft chocolate cookies topped with an orange icing and a drizzle of chocolate.
- [Sour Cherry Jam Tart](https://www.foldgently.com/p/sour-cherry-jam-tart): This Sour Cherry Jam Tart has a lemon and almond crust with powdered sugar on top for a pretty look. Not too sweet, not too tart. Just perfect.
- [French Macarons (with Hand Mixer)](https://www.foldgently.com/p/french-macarons-with-hand-mixer): Bakers can test their skill and patience with French macarons. Can you use a hand mixer to make macarons? Yes, here’s how with a step-by-step recipe.
- [(Frozen) Wild Blueberry Muffins](https://www.foldgently.com/p/frozen-wild-blueberry-muffins): Bursting with fresh or frozen wild blueberries, you can enjoy these delicate muffins made with buttermilk, honey, and orange zest at any time of year.
- [Apple Spice Cake with Fresh Apples](https://www.foldgently.com/p/apple-spice-cake-with-fresh-apples): Light and moist, this Apple Spice Cake is made with fresh apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and applesauce. No peeling apples. Just shred them. So easy.
- [Chocolate Chip Blondies](https://www.foldgently.com/p/chocolate-chip-blondies): Chocolate Chip Blondies in an 8 x 8 pan are classic small batch baking. Blondies are more fun. Less serious than brownies. More satisfying than cookies.
- [Strawberry Lemon Shortbread Cookies](https://www.foldgently.com/p/strawberry-lemon-shortbread-cookies): These soft, melt-in-your-mouth Strawberry Lemon Shortbread Cookies strike the perfect balance. Crumbly texture of shortbread. Lightness of cookies.​
- [Coffee Cupcakes with Instant Coffee](https://www.foldgently.com/p/coffee-cupcakes-with-instant-coffee): Even if you don’t like coffee, you’ll love these coffee cupcakes with a depth of caramel-like flavor from instant coffee, brown sugar, and sour cream.
- [Soft Honey Cookies](https://www.foldgently.com/p/soft-honey-cookies): These Soft Honey Cookies with brown sugar, cinnamon, a little ginger, and of course, honey, are so good, they’ll be coming back for more.
- [Mini Chocolate Tarts](https://www.foldgently.com/p/mini-chocolate-tarts): These Mini Chocolate Tarts have a buttery tender pastry shell, a creamy chocolate ganache, and a sprinkling of sea salt flakes for a flavorful finish.
- [Raspberry Buttermilk Cake](https://www.foldgently.com/p/raspberry-buttermilk-cake): Sweet red raspberries sunken into a light and tender buttermilk cake. This golden cake pairs perfectly with fresh or frozen berries all year long.
- [Chocolate Marshmallow Pies](https://www.foldgently.com/p/chocolate-marshmallow-pies): Chocolate Marshmallow Pies are a real treat. Gooey marshmallow creme sandwiched between soft cookies and dipped in a silky chocolate coating.
- [No Knead Dutch Oven Bread](https://www.foldgently.com/p/no-knead-dutch-oven-bread): Don’t have the strength to knead bread? With this No Knead Dutch Oven Bread, a slow rise and a Dutch oven do the work for you. No muscles required.
- [Angel Food Cupcakes](https://www.foldgently.com/p/angel-food-cupcakes): Angel Food Cupcakes are a no butter recipe. These light and airy cupcakes are delicate and delicious with tart lemon flavor inside and out.
- [Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies](https://www.foldgently.com/p/chewy-peanut-butter-cookies): Why are these Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies the best? Just the right amount of peanut butter, honey, and brown sugar to make 2 dozen delicious cookies.
- [Hostess Cupcakes Recipe](https://www.foldgently.com/p/hostess-cupcakes-recipe): This homemade Hostess Cupcakes recipe is classic. Chocolate cake with coffee. Cream filling. Chocolate ganache. Vanilla icing. Delight in every bite.
- [Easy Lemon Curd](https://www.foldgently.com/p/easy-lemon-curd): Rich, buttery, and creamy, this Easy Lemon Curd has a deep lemon flavor that combines both sweet and tart notes. No double boiler needed!
- [Mini Skillet Cookie](https://www.foldgently.com/p/mini-skillet-cookie): This Mini Skillet Cookie is soft, chewy, and gooey. Choose the 6-inch or 8-inch skillet cookie recipe for an afternoon treat or a delicious dessert.
- [Raspberry Muffins with Frozen Raspberries](https://www.foldgently.com/p/raspberry-muffins-with-frozen-raspberries): Tender and moist, these Raspberry Muffins with frozen raspberries, buttermilk, and lemon zest bring a fresh taste of summer at any time of year.
- [Baking by Flavor, by Lisa Yockelson - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/baking-by-flavor-by-lisa-yockelson-a-review): I feel the need. The need to bake. What do I have in the pantry? What do I feel like baking today?
- [The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/the-wizard-of-oz-by-l-frank-baum-a-review): I know what you’re thinking. You already know the story of The Wizard of Oz. Well, maybe.
- [The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/the-thursday-murder-club-by-richard-osman-a-review): Murder mysteries set in quaint English villages are typical. Four amateur sleuths in their 70s are not. Meet the members of The Thursday Murder Club.
- [The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/the-eyre-affair-by-jasper-fforde-a-review): Have you ever wanted to walk into a book? Jasper Fforde’s “The Eyre Affair” has a Prose Portal that allows readers to do just that.
- [Jane Austen: A Life, by Claire Tomalin - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/jane-austen-a-life-by-claire-tomalin-a-review): Blame it on Claire Tomalin. After reading her biography, Jane Austen: A Life, my obsession with Jane Austen had begun.
- [The Sum of Us, by Heather McGhee - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/the-sum-of-us-by-heather-mcghee-a-review): Heather McGhee’s “The Sum of Us” made me realize (once again) how much I don’t know or more precisely, how much I thought I knew.
- [Seaweed Chronicles, by Susan Hand Shetterly - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/seaweed-chronicles-by-susan-hand-shetterly-a-review): In Seaweed Chronicles, Shetterly tells the stories of clam diggers, lobstermen, and others who want to protect their future on the Gulf of Maine.
- [The Reader on the 6.27, by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/the-reader-on-the-627-by-jean-paul-didierlaurent-a-review): In this bestselling novel, every morning, Guylain Vignolles waits for the 6.27 train. He enjoys the ride to work, but dreads arriving at his job.
- [Read This for Inspiration, by Ashly Perez - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/read-this-for-inspiration-by-ashly-perez-a-review): “Read This for Inspiration” can inspire you to make a change. This book isn’t a checklist. It’s not another thing to do. It’s another way to think.
- [The House on Vesper Sands, by Paraic O’Donnell - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/the-house-on-vesper-sands-by-paraic-odonnell-a-review): On a wintry night in 1893, Esther Tull, a seamstress, travels to Lord Strythe’s London home. Under her clothes, Esther has hidden a message, but why?
- [No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters, by Ursula K. Le Guin - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/no-time-to-spare-thinking-about-what-matters-by-ursula-k-le-guin-a-review): Writing about everything from aging to a Christmas tree to an encounter with a rattlesnake, Ursula K. Le Guin will have you thinking about what matters, too.
- [Vivian Maier Developed, by Ann Marks - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/vivian-maier-developed-by-ann-marks-a-review): In Vivian Maier Developed, we are introduced to the mystery of a street photographer who worked as a nanny.
- [Once Upon a Tome, by Oliver Darkshire - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/once-upon-a-tome-by-oliver-darkshire-a-review): At the age of 28, Oliver Darkshire and his career prospects are adrift in London until he finds a job at Henry Sotheran Ltd., a rare bookshop.
- [Disarmed: The Story of the Venus de Milo, by Gregory Curtis - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/disarmed-the-story-of-the-venus-de-milo-by-gregory-curtis-a-review): “The whole truth about the Venus de Milo is not known, but I know it.” So wrote an 87-year-old French sailor named Matterer who died in 1868.
- [A Most Agreeable Murder, by Julia Seales - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/a-most-agreeable-murder-by-julia-seales-a-review): Miss Beatrice Steele is obsessed with murder. Not committing murders, but solving the mysteries she reads about in the London newspapers.
- [Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife, by Bart Ehrman - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/heaven-and-hell-a-history-of-the-afterlife-by-bart-ehrman-a-review): In early Christianity, the descriptions of hell were intended to scare the hell out of you, or as Bart Ehrman writes, “to scare you out of hell.”
- [The French Ingredient: A Memoir, by Jane Bertch - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/the-french-ingredient-a-memoir-by-jane-bertch-a-review): From her Midwestern roots to a French culinary school, Jane Bertch is an American with much to learn about making a living and making a life in Paris.
- [The Lost Princess, by Anne E. Duggan - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/the-lost-princess-by-anne-e-duggan-a-review): You may like fairy tale endings, but how did fairy tales begin? The Lost Princess is the story behind French fairy tales and the women who wrote them.
- [Ice, by Amy Brady - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/ice-by-amy-brady-a-review): What do a Florida doctor and a New York City police commissioner have in common? They are both part of the cool history of ice in America.
- [The Naming of the Birds, by Paraic O’Donnell - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/the-naming-of-the-birds-by-paraic-odonnell-a-review): The bestselling author of The House on Vesper Sands returns with another Victorian ghost story that feels all too real.
- [Raising Hare: A Memoir, by Chloe Dalton - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/raising-hare-a-memoir-by-chloe-dalton-a-review): On a winter walk, Chloe Dalton found a newborn hare on a country lane in northern England. Then, she found herself as caregiver to this wild creature.
- [Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil, by Oliver Darkshire - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/isabella-nagg-and-the-pot-of-basil-by-oliver-darkshire-a-review): On a tiny farm at the edge of the miserable village of East Grasby, Isabella Nagg is trying to get on with her tiny, miserable existence.
- [The Heart-Shaped Tin, by Bee Wilson - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/the-heart-shaped-tin-by-bee-wilson-a-review): Whether it’s a favorite wooden spoon, an inherited salt shaker, or a vintage corkscrew collection, Bee Wilson explores why stuff matters to us.
- [The Murder at World’s End, by Ross Montgomery - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/the-murder-at-worlds-end-by-ross-montgomery-a-review): In a manor house on a tidal island, an unlikely duo must solve an impossible murder and find that some things only reveal themselves in darkness.
- [Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride](https://www.foldgently.com/p/albuquerque-hot-air-balloon-ride): Facing my fear, I decided to take a hot air balloon ride in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After all, Albuquerque is famous for its annual balloon festival.
- [Cape Cod Lavender Farm Harwich](https://www.foldgently.com/p/cape-cod-lavender-farm-harwich): The Cape Cod Lavender Farm in Harwich, Massachusetts is a hidden gem. Possibly because GPS only gets you almost there. Here’s how to really get there.
- [Newport Mansions at Christmas](https://www.foldgently.com/p/newport-mansions-at-christmas): The mansions in Newport, Rhode Island are impressive at any time of year, but the Newport mansions really come to life at Christmas.
- [Patrick Dougherty Stickwork](https://www.foldgently.com/p/patrick-dougherty-stickwork): Patrick Dougherty’s Stickwork sculptures look like something from a fairy tale. Fantastical and whimsical, this outdoor art pulls you in.
- [10 Best Lighthouses on the East Coast](https://www.foldgently.com/p/10-best-lighthouses-on-the-east-coast): What is it about lighthouses? From Key West to Prince Edward Island, see the best lighthouses on the East Coast. You can even stay at a lighthouse.
- [Musée de l’Orangerie](https://www.foldgently.com/p/musee-de-lorangerie): Musée de l’Orangerie – the Paris art museum with the unusual name – is a showcase for Claude Monet’s Water Lilies. You can even take a virtual tour.
- [Authentic Native American Jewelry](https://www.foldgently.com/p/authentic-native-american-jewelry): When collecting Native American jewelry, the most common question asked is: How can you avoid buying fakes? Fakes harm the true artists and you.
- [Mardi Gras World Tours](https://www.foldgently.com/p/mardi-gras-world-tours): Imagine Santa’s workshop with giant toys. That’s what it’s like to tour Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, the world’s leading maker of floats and props.
- [Coit Tower Murals](https://www.foldgently.com/p/coit-tower-murals): You could pay to take the small elevator to the top of Coit Tower, but the real view is free with the colorful 1930s murals on the first floor.
- [New York Public Library Treasures](https://www.foldgently.com/p/new-york-public-library-treasures): The New York Public Library Treasures is a showcase of rare items from the library’s collections and hidden treasures from the archives are revealed.
- [Inside Blenheim Palace](https://www.foldgently.com/p/inside-blenheim-palace): The stunning interior of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire is matched by an impressive exterior and acres of natural beauty on the edge of the Cotswolds.
- [Albuquerque Balloon Museum](https://www.foldgently.com/p/albuquerque-balloon-museum): A trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico would not be complete without a visit to this international balloon museum, and if you dare, a hot air balloon ride.
- [Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival](https://www.foldgently.com/p/cape-cod-hydrangea-festival): Among the many gardens of the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, you can see hydrangea blooms in every shade of blue, pink, purple, white, cream, and green.
- [Hogpen Hill Farms (Photos)](https://www.foldgently.com/p/hogpen-hill-farms-photos): There are two reasons someone would visit Hogpen Hill Farms sculpture park. 1) You’re a lover of art. 2) You’re a fan of Edward Tufte. Or you’re both.
- [Lacock Abbey England](https://www.foldgently.com/p/lacock-abbey-england): Lacock Abbey in England attracts Harry Potter fans and photography buffs on a quest for mystery and history in this lovely corner of Wiltshire.
- [Millicent Rogers Museum](https://www.foldgently.com/p/millicent-rogers-museum): The Millicent Rogers Museum in New Mexico is as bold and unique as its namesake, an American heiress whose life story is worthy of a Hollywood movie.
- [Jane Austen House](https://www.foldgently.com/p/jane-austen-house): Each year, the small village of Chawton in England receives tens of thousands of visitors to the Jane Austen House, the author’s final home.
- [Apple Picking Massachusetts](https://www.foldgently.com/p/apple-picking-massachusetts): One of the best places for apple picking in Massachusetts is an hour from Boston and perfect for a family fun day or a solo afternoon adventure.
- [Watts Chapel Surrey](https://www.foldgently.com/p/watts-chapel-surrey): The Watts Chapel in Surrey is an Arts and Crafts masterpiece with vivid colors, decorations, and symbols on wood, terracotta, and plaster of Paris.
- [Tidal Bore Rafting](https://www.foldgently.com/p/tidal-bore-rafting): If you like to be dry, clean, and stationary, tidal bore rafting on the Shubenacadie River in Nova Scotia is not for you. But it is a lot of fun.
- [Bushnell Park Carousel](https://www.foldgently.com/p/bushnell-park-carousel): The Bushnell Park Carousel in Hartford, Connecticut is a stunning artistic treasure from 1914 that offers affordable fun for riders of all ages.
- [Cape Cod Bookstores](https://www.foldgently.com/p/cape-cod-bookstores): Looking for books on Cape Cod? From Sandwich to Provincetown, there’s something for every book lover on this Cape Cod bookstore trail.
- [Haystack Rock Oregon](https://www.foldgently.com/p/haystack-rock-oregon): Haystack Rock is like a beacon on the Oregon Coast, attracting visitors at different times of day, across the seasons, and in all types of weather.
- [Best London Pubs](https://www.foldgently.com/p/best-london-pubs): The best London pubs offer something special – from beer gardens and outdoor seating to stone fireplaces and private rooms – all in a cozy setting.
- [Musée Mécanique San Francisco](https://www.foldgently.com/p/musee-mecanique-san-francisco): ​Musée Mécanique in San Francisco is filled with arcade machines from the 1880s to the 21st century. You can spend $10 and have the time of your life.
- [Jumping Through Hoops, by Betsy Golden Kellem - A Review](https://www.foldgently.com/p/jumping-through-hoops-by-betsy-golden-kellem-a-review): As outsiders in an era of delicate femininity, bearded ladies, lion tamers, and strongwomen were all celebrated under the big top at the circus.