The Baking Book [Hardcover]

I have always love the way DK present topics they publish, with bright and colourful pictures that represent what the book is about and help when there is a method to follow.

This book is no exception. I borrowed it from the library many months ago and it has taken it's place on my kitchen window ledge (never to be put away like many other cookery books generally do).

It has perfectly simple steps to follow with pictures of 'everything' from the ingredients to the utensils, to the finished product.

The first pages tell you the 'Baking Basics' such as safe baking, weighing out, kitchen rules and what to have in a basic baking kit.

The book then follows with pages set out in perfect DK style with the pictures of what to make and then how to make them (still using pictures mainly to explain and demonstrate each method).

Firstly there are cookies: this shows the pictures of the basic ingredients with '+' signs in between. On the opposite page there pictures of 10 different variations like choc chips, coconut, sweeties, chopped nuts, sugar strands, raisins, cinnamon, etc. Having seen the picture to entice you, you turn the page to see how to make the basic recipe and exactly when to put the alternative ingredient in to get the cookie you want - so very simple.

The next section shows you how to make even more of your cookie dough, using cutters, icing and toppings and has a lovely pictue of a fun filled box of cookies fit for a gift for any occasion.

Then there are the pies: The initial recipe is for cherry pies and shows in pictures the simple way to make them and also how to make alternative tops to the pies, such as cut out shapes of stars and hearts. There are lots of different fillings you can try which are described perfectly so that your child can decide which to choose.

Next is 'Tweetie Pie' a great healthy snack with lots of taste and again, lots of different varietiessuch as coconut, raisins, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and pine nuts (lots more). It suggests you can choose as many of the nutty ingredients or all of them if you fancy.

Scones are next, again with the basic recipe and variations such as cheesy scones & fruity scones. This was the first recipe that my daughter tried and she chose cheesy scones. A simple recipe, easy to follow, ingredients you always have in the cupboard and extremely tasty to eat.

It gets more adventurous then with sections on 'Monkey Bread' (with bananas), 'Monkey Muffins' as an alternative, Choc Chunk Cookies (using bicarbonate of soda), how to bake a cake and also how to make the chocolate topping (and of course, how to top it) and meringue mountains.

The last section is how to make a very simple bread recipe and then shows you lots of different ways to mould your dough, like plaited bread, dough balls and pizza.

This book is the very best book I have seen for kids to bake with. They wil learn so much from it, find it extremely easy to follow, enjoy doing it for themselves and get a great sense of achievement for doing any of the recipes. Best of all, the recipes are genuinely good to eat and you will have the satisfaction of knowing your child has learned and achieved something worthwhile and that you were able to enjoy the tasty recipes together afterwards.

I have come on line to buy this book now, as I have renewed it with the library so many times, it seems unfair to no let someone else have a go.

Happy Baking, Happy Tasting, Happy Kids!

Having bought this book to use at home, I began to use it within the nursery I am currently working in. There are simple recipes that look good and taste great.

The photographs made it easier to follow the recipes and to check if your version looked the same. The children have enjoyed making scones, biscuits etc.

The nice thing about this book is that you can use the same recipes to make different things by adding extra ingredients. Each recipe shows pictures of what all the ingredients look like.

The nursery liked it so much that they to have purchased the book. Enjoy!

to make delicious things to eat, aimed to encourage the very young chef!

From the back cover:-

'Join Jane Bull in the kitchen and get into baking.
Find out how to make tasty breads, cakes and biscuits.
Decorate cakes and cut biscuits into any shape you like.
Simple instructions and great recipes for all kinds of sweet and savoury treats.
Create your own mouth-watering snacks and become a master baker - while having lots of fun!'

And that is just what this book aims to do - with the help of a friendly monkey and his friends.
Look out for the cute polar bear in the `Meringue Mountain' on pages 36/37!

Durable board covers open to 48 high quality, shiny pages, colourfully illustrated throughout to keep the appeal!
This delightful book contains a section on Baking Basics to get you started - with notes on Safe Baking, Kitchen Rules, Weighing Out and your Baking Kit.. Throughout the book easy identifiable symbols represent the time it takes to cook, and how much the recipe makes. `Techniques' are explained in an easy format.

Each recipe is clearly laid out in numbered steps, preceded by the title and colourful picture representations of the ingredients and equipment required.
Alternatives are given to vary the recipe, such as with `Cherry Pies', which also has modification instructions for Apple Pie, Mince Pie, Lemon Curd Pie, Red Berry Jam Pie and Marmalade Pie. Other useful notes are given where applicable, such as storage and serving ideas.

The book closes with the art of separating an egg (the easy way) and an alphabetical index of the contents.

Other recipes include:-

Cookies
Scones
Monkey Bread
Sponge cake with a melted chocolate filling and topping
Pizza
Plaited Bread