Archive for Wednesday, December 3, 2008
New baking books for your wish list
December 3, 2008
Advertisement
Science, soul and savvy are among the reasons to check out recent books about baking.
• “BakeWise: The Hows and Whys of Successful Baking” by Shirley Corriher (Scribner, $40) is the long-awaited treasure for those who want a little science with their scones. In this follow up to her award-winning “Cookwise,” Corriher applies her biochemistry degree to cakes, popovers, cookies and pastries. She explains the proportions in cakey and fudgy brownies and shares an ice-water technique for the flakiest puff-pastry. Best of all, she writes with enthusiasm and encouragement through more than 200 recipes, troubleshooting likely perils. If there’s a downside, it’s in having too few photos, and uninspiring ones, at that.
• “The Art & Soul of Baking” by Cindy Mushet and Sur La Table (McMeel, $40) isn’t for the faint of heart, which may be the primo selling point for the bring-it-on baker. Mushet shares what the pros know about buttercream, how to avoid crystallization, that you get the most cocoa flavor by blending the powder with boiling water. The 250 recipes are extraordinarily detailed and the photos both beautiful and instructional. Whether you’ll opt to melt butter by applying a propane torch to the side of your mixing bowl is up to you. But at least you’ll know how.
• “The America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book” ($34.95) Here are the numbers: 700 recipes, 800 photos, 7 billion hours of testing, more or less. This ring-binder cookbook (so convenient) casts a Betty Crocker vibe across a range of recipes such as butter horn dinner rolls, pinwheel icebox cookies, and angel food cake. Looking for the definitive Napoleon recipe? Pancakes? Sourdough bread (albeit with purchased starter)? They’re here, along with a shaded box of tips on almost every page. And all those photos are rarely of a finished product, but all about illustrating the process. This book is like having a dozen really smart grandmas at your elbow.
More like this
- TURKEY DAY TIPS MAKE FOR THANKFUL COOKS November 10, 1999
- Basting with butter can prevent a soggy pie crust July 24, 2002
- Basting with butter can prevent a soggy pie crust July 24, 2002
- Institute shares technique to making Mudslide Cookies October 6, 2004
- Hearty English Christmas fare served on 'Jayni's Kitchen' December 13, 2006
Top ads RSS
- St. Francis Health Center - NAS Recruitment
- Temporary Programmer Univ. of KS, Geological Survey Write function and ...
- Full Time Police Officer The Tonganoxie Police Department is accepting ...
- Now Hiring Experienced Sales People Must have sales experience and ...
- Factory Outlet $1800/Mo. Starting Pay Its the holidays and we ...
- Blog: We Aren't Smart Enough November 10, 2009 · 8 comments
- Right costs GOP N.Y. seat November 11, 2009 · 5 comments
- Mandatory service November 11, 2009 · 24 comments
- Ballard-Hanson fills FSHS need November 11, 2009 · 1 comment
- Jihadist threat underplayed November 11, 2009 · 10 comments
- Blog: Calling All Mullets: A Trial And Confession November 10, 2009 · 5 comments
- Blog: Am I What I Wear Or What I Fight For? November 9, 2009 · 15 comments
- Roeder confesses to shooting abortion doctor November 9, 2009 · 69 comments
- Vote supported November 11, 2009 · 12 comments
- Blog: Dillons, Hyvee, And Checkers — I'Ve Shopped And Compared. See The Results. November 8, 2009 · 216 comments
- First blast on section of Kansas Turnpike river bridge scheduled for early Sunday afternoon November 10, 2009
- <strong>FINAL:</strong> KU gives highlight-reel performance in 103-45 exhibition win over Pitt. State November 10, 2009
- Former Kansas governor William Avery dies at age 98 November 5, 2009
- 'White Owl' held in jail in connection with protective order case November 9, 2009
- Topeka Zoo gorilla died of aneurysm November 11, 2009
- Pressing need November 11, 2009
- Babcock Place fire leaves water damage November 11, 2009
- United Way gets record donations September 19, 2009
- Free State soccer earns league honors November 10, 2009
- Eating habits during first year of college crucial October 4, 2008
Post a comment
Requires free LJWorld.com registration. Register or log in below.
Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
Post a blog entry
You have to be logged in to blog on LJWorld.com. Please log in or sign up.
Learn more about blogging on LJWorld.com.