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brisbookreviews's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautiful cookbook. I didn't realize it when I bought thus but the author is the person who taught me how to make bagels, I believe I watched her during quarantine on YouTube. Now this book isn't quite or the beginner baker. But I've been baking since I was 4 and I'm ready to step it up. this is the perfect book to learn with. so glad it also has a few savory recipes including her bagel recipe!
libbydunc4's review
I don’t normally add cookbooks but I read this cover to cover and it was great
boggremlin's review
4.0
I'm annoyed at how much I like this, honestly, but the text is clear, the directions are coherent, and Saffitz's notes are an excellent addition. Bonus for the recipe matrix -- I love the concept.
So far I've made:
- "Forever" Malted Brownies (verdict: awfully tasky, but has the decency to use minimal dishes, and the brownies ARE good. I'm convinced! I thought the milk chocolate would be too sweet, but it is not.)
- chewy molasses spice cookies. Took a bit of fussing with my oven temp to get the desired underbaked texture, but I appreciate a cookie recipe that tells me how many grams each dough ball should be. I did sub 1/2 tsp cardamom for the ground pepper, since I only have coarse black pepper on hand. Still good. I froze half the dough and baked it later and I think it was easier to control the level of "doneness" that way.
- Salty halvah blondies. Okay. Totally worth having to go to the far-away grocery store to get halvah, these are amazing. Not too sweet, almost savory from the tahini, tender and crisp.
- Quince Tart. Essentially a tarte tatin, except with poached quince, a jelly, and almond paste instead of apples and caramel. I like this recipe, because while it IS very tasky -- Poaching fruit, making a jelly from the poaching liquid, puff pastry/tart dough, almond paste (I make my own because I can never find it in the store) -- it looks hella impressive. Also, I like quince! Sadly, no one else in my house will eat this; and since I made it in the doldrums of 2020, I had no occasion to share it. (Not as freeze-able as some of the other recipes I've made from this book.)
Will update as I cook other recipes from this book.
So far I've made:
- "Forever" Malted Brownies (verdict: awfully tasky, but has the decency to use minimal dishes, and the brownies ARE good. I'm convinced! I thought the milk chocolate would be too sweet, but it is not.)
- chewy molasses spice cookies. Took a bit of fussing with my oven temp to get the desired underbaked texture, but I appreciate a cookie recipe that tells me how many grams each dough ball should be. I did sub 1/2 tsp cardamom for the ground pepper, since I only have coarse black pepper on hand. Still good. I froze half the dough and baked it later and I think it was easier to control the level of "doneness" that way.
- Salty halvah blondies. Okay. Totally worth having to go to the far-away grocery store to get halvah, these are amazing. Not too sweet, almost savory from the tahini, tender and crisp.
- Quince Tart. Essentially a tarte tatin, except with poached quince, a jelly, and almond paste instead of apples and caramel. I like this recipe, because while it IS very tasky -- Poaching fruit, making a jelly from the poaching liquid, puff pastry/tart dough, almond paste (I make my own because I can never find it in the store) -- it looks hella impressive. Also, I like quince! Sadly, no one else in my house will eat this; and since I made it in the doldrums of 2020, I had no occasion to share it. (Not as freeze-able as some of the other recipes I've made from this book.)
Will update as I cook other recipes from this book.
alefdzlynch's review
5.0
Is this book beautiful? Yes
Is this book inspiring? Yes
Is this book easy? Not really. The book is easy to understand and does a good job at walking you through the steps. You need to seriously prep and plan everything. The project manager in me love this book, the adhd won in the end at my first recipe attempt- that is why we had to pull in the project manager in.
Are the recipes worth it? I have successfully completed 10 projects out of this book, I refuse to count my first attempt. And all have been spectacular and worth the work.
Is it odd that I am calling them projects? Probably, but I can’t help myself.
Do I love this book? Yes
Do I recommend this book? Yes, but not to everyone. It’s not an easy book, but it is fantastic nonetheless.
Is this book inspiring? Yes
Is this book easy? Not really. The book is easy to understand and does a good job at walking you through the steps. You need to seriously prep and plan everything. The project manager in me love this book, the adhd won in the end at my first recipe attempt- that is why we had to pull in the project manager in.
Are the recipes worth it? I have successfully completed 10 projects out of this book, I refuse to count my first attempt. And all have been spectacular and worth the work.
Is it odd that I am calling them projects? Probably, but I can’t help myself.
Do I love this book? Yes
Do I recommend this book? Yes, but not to everyone. It’s not an easy book, but it is fantastic nonetheless.
candylovegirl's review
5.0
Full disclosure: I read cookbooks like I do fiction. I have not made anything in the cookbook so I am rating strictly on content.
The writing is on point. The teaching methods are on point. The instructions are on point. I loved the breadth and variety of the recipes included and appreciated the additional notes to make things easier to understand. I consider myself a good/better than average baker and nothing seemed overly complicated and I look forward to making some of the recipes.
The writing is on point. The teaching methods are on point. The instructions are on point. I loved the breadth and variety of the recipes included and appreciated the additional notes to make things easier to understand. I consider myself a good/better than average baker and nothing seemed overly complicated and I look forward to making some of the recipes.
humphreads's review
5.0
please just make the carrot cake and brown butter frosting. you will thank me.
this is the cake for EVERY birthday.
this is the cake for EVERY birthday.
capt_torrance7's review
3.0
There are many delicious looking recipes in this book, and quite a few with flavors that I’m personally not interested it. I’m thrilled for the difficulty-time matrix in the beginning, and already wish more cookbooks would adopt this!!! I’m excited to bake a handful of these recipes, and to use this book to learn some basics like pate au choux.