Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook
By Martha Stewart

Why she chose it: An amazing babysitter named Rachel helped me when my son was a baby. I wasn't really a cook, and she taught me so much about creating a home. Now I make Martha Stewart's scones all the time—though I use ginger instead of currants [click here for the recipe]. I freeze logs of the dough, and if I have a girlfriend coming to stay, I'll put some in the oven. They'll make the whole house smell good.

What didn't stick: I'm a little more free-form than Martha Stewart—but I love her fastidiousness.
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