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254 of 261 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Great From Rachel Allen, 10 Oct 2008
This is a great book, I now have three of Rachel's books and this is by far my favourite. In response to the previous review, this book does have some casseroles (lemon and garlic chicken), maybe not all in the traditional slow cooked meat and veg sense but there are other great baked meals such as sausage and bean bake, cottage pie, lasagne and mediterranean pasta bake. I think it was a bit unfair to give the book 1 star based on the fact that it has no casseroles, especially as quite obviously that is not what the book is solely about. For casseroles and stews I would recommend Sophie Conran's Soups and Stews
There are a wide variety of baked goodies in this book; tarts, pies, quiches, breads, cakes, biscuits and also jams. There is also a glossary and a bit at the back giving you a step by step guide (with pictures) to making different types of pastry, bread, a sponge and meringue. There are also several ideas for icing (cream cheese, butter, vanilla buttercream, american frosting & glace) and sauces (bechamel, toffee, coffee, raspberry, blueberry & apple) as well as how to make your own crystallised flowers, marzipan, chocolate curls and candied peel.
I have cooked many recipes from this book already (I've only had it a few weeks!), the carrot cake is by far the best I have ever tasted. The only fault that I can give for this book is that there are too many yummy recipes and I don't have enough time to make them all! I can't recommend this book enough!
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77 of 85 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can't help but loving this book!, 25 Oct 2008
If you only buy one baking book this winter - buy this one!
The book includes cakes, bread and oven-cooked dinners - frankly, it has everything you need regarding baking, and is very useful whether you are a keen baker or a debutante.
It has lots of basic recipes and techniques, and tips on which equipment you will need to succeed on baking (and don't worry, RA doesn't try to impose gadgets on you that you don't need!), and helpfully tells you which baking-tin you need in each recipe - unfortunately something not all bakery-writers can be bothered to do, but is rather crucial.
RA writes with a natural authority and humour - she clearly knows what she is doing without being overly strict - tells you how and if you can alter the recipes to suit your needs, but also what you must be aware of.
One minor critisism - pretty as RA is, I would have liked a few more pictures of the dishes/cakes and a fewer of the author. Pictures are very helpful, especially for the less experienced baker, so please consider this in a second edition!
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117 of 134 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rachel is back, 26 Nov 2008
and shows how simple and versatile baking can be, with 'BAKE'!
Looking for that special Christmas gift?
How about a SIGNED copy, from the much-loved Irish cook and TV presenter, 'BAKE' Signed Edition - also available at Amazon, at a sensible price.
In this cookbook to accompany the TV series of the same name, Rachel once again offers the delicious, non-patronising and easy-to-follow recipes for which she has become famous.
From the introduction:-
'Baking has always been one of my greatest joys. I have such happy memories of my sister and I when we were little standing on kitchen chairs so that we could help Mum make biscuits or buns for the family. Even today, the wonderful warm aromas of baking bread, cakes or cookies always transports me back to those times.......
There is no mystery to baking, baking is a simple science which is precisely why it is so satisfying.......it is really just the right ingredients in the right quantities!
I have chosen my favourite baking recipes in this collection to give you a wide range of delicious treats and meals that can be baked in your oven. ....there are also many special recipes for those once-in-a-while occasions and celebrations.
If you can master a set of weighing scales, then you have all the skills you need to bake.......so what are you waiting for?
Get that pinny on and start baking!'
And, 'Bake' encourages just that, with clear and simply laid out recipes with an upper case title, quantity made, a descriptive sentence or two, the list of ingredients and the numbered method and any variations, tips or serving ideas.
Durable board covers open to 288 high quality matt pages, split over 9 chapters:-
Sweet mouthfuls
Cakes
Puddings
Breads and savoury bites
Tarts and pies
Breakfast and patisserie
Baked meals
Holiday and celebration
Basic recipes and techniques, which includes equipment
sandwiched between an introduction and a glossary.
Completed with a concise index and a pastel blue ribbon to keep your place!
Recipes, which sometimes span more than one page, include:-
GINGER AND HONEY SNAPS
BAKEWELL BARS
LIGHT SWEET SCONES
ECCLES CAKES
FAIRY CAKES (butterfly buns)
BUTTER-FREE SPONGE CAKE
DUTCH APPLE CAKE
RED VELVET CAKE
KUGELHOPF
SWISS ROLL
CHOCOLATE CAKE
BAKED ALASKA
RASPBERRY JAM STEAMED PUDDING
EASY SODA FOCACCIA
BALLYMALOE WHITE SODA BREAD
CORNISH SAFFRON BREAD
CHICKEN AND LEEK PIE
QUICHE LORRAINE
TARTE TATIN
BAGELS
WAFFLES
BAKED BREAKFAST OMELETTE
CROISSANTS
ECLAIRS
BAKED RED LENTIL DHAL
SIMPLE SAUSAGE AND BEAN BAKE
PORK, SPINACH AND MUSHROOM LASAGNE
COTTAGE PIE
PARTY DOUGHNUTS
and......
..... not forgetting Mum-in-law's:-
DARINA'S SIMNEL CAKE!
Or........with the holiday season just around the corner......
CHRISTMAS PUDDING WITH BOOZY TOFFEE SAUCE
CHRISTMAS CAKE
MARZIPAN
MINCEMEAT
ST STEPHEN'S DAY MUFFINS
My favourites...so.... far include:-
BAKED BROWN SUGAR CUSTARDS
'These gorgeous and very simple little desserts are a somewhat like crème caramels or French `flan'. The brown sugar adds a delicious rich, toffee-ish flavour, and this is further enhanced if you brûlée it with a blow torch`.....to make it a lovely crunchy top, as advised by Rachel's closing tip!
and
CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES
'These gorgeous little puddings should be deliciously spongy on the outside and molten in the centre. Do not overcook them or they will be set all the way through.
They are delicious served with vanilla ice cream.
and they sure are!
More patient cooks than me could try their hand at:-
the 'GINGERBREAD HOUSE AND PEOPLE' recipe, complete with plan.......which takes over 2 hours but well worth the effort, I am sure!
This superb book is finished with a very comprehensive 'Basic Recipes and Techniques' section, including step-by-step photography in places.
Basic recipes include pastry, white bread, sponge cake, meringue, crystallised flowers, icings, chocolate curls, sauces, and strawberry jam.
Footnote:-
The opening notes on the recipes are in quite a small typeface and are in pastel shades, so can be a little hard to read in places.
Most but not all of the recipes include a full colour photograph, but often an 'on-location' shot rather than one of the completed item. This may be slightly negative to those of us who like to see what we are aiming for on the plate!
However, in my opinion, it would only drop maybe half a star not a complete one for this!
All-in-all, this book is a super addition to any cookery shelf, and likely to gather flour marks rather than dust!
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by Rachel Allen
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