Customer Rating:  
Summary: Bake by Rachel Allen
Comment: I have one major design criticism of this book. The page numbers are coloured and very difficult to read. Publishers please note: this is an incredibly annoying feature in a cookery book, even if some designer originally thought that page numbers in pastel shades against a coloured background looked attractive. Having said that, the recipes are tempting and varied and 10 out of 10 for having a techniques section at the back of the book.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Superb book for beginner and enthusiast alike
Comment: I'm an enthusastic baker and collect cookbooks in general and baking books in particular so my mum bought me this for Christmas. In the single week that I've had it I've already made 2 of her recipes - the bacon and blue cheese empanadillas to use up Xmas leftovers and also made the wonderfully crunchy, indulgent, but not too rich chocolate and coconut bars. This is my first Rachel Allen cook book but won't be my last. The recipes are simple, well written and can get anyone baking. If you can read you can bake. The glossary is fabulous and exceptionally useful and her writing style is warm and inviting. I recommend this book to one and all.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Bake up a storm
Comment: I was thrilled to hear Rachel had a new cook book out.I have all her other books (signed) and was in Ballymaloe last year for a 2 1/2 day cookery course run by Rachel herself (I would highly recommend this also!!)Bake is a brilliant book for all capabilities. I have tried and tested a few recipes already and they didn't disappoint!!My parents and in laws loved the carrot cake (which was still fresh after over a week!)Enjoy! PS Its a pity there aren't 6 stars to give!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Rachel is back
Comment: 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!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Perfect Start
Comment: My children and I loved the television series which was an ideal partner with the book. Our nine year old who has never baked before found the lemon tart easy to make. I had never made one before and was also surprised how easy it was. I therefore became more adventurous and tried the Baklava which is rated as intermediate. Again the instructions were easy to follow and the results brought back memories of when we last had some on our Greek Holiday. This book seems to fill a gap in the market as other cook books seem to require attendance at a cookery school beforehand. I would therefore recommend this to anyone who has not baked before as the instructions are easy to follow and you will be encouraged to try even more adventurous recipes.
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