 |
It doesn't happen often that an individual is willing to part with his decades old, tried and trusted collection of savory family recipes; however, Child Baker to Culinary Chef is a splendid compilation of delicious, and more importantly, easy-to-make goodies. Interestingly, baking is not only their hobby, but also their life: The duo has been making pastries and desserts since Christopher was two.
Owners of Le Petit Bakery, neither Susan nor Christopher is tentative when describing their recipes. In fact, the writing is extremely direct, candid, and entertaining—particularly for a cookbook. Every recipe direction begins with an action verb including, but not limited to melt, mix, and add. The ingredients, apparatus, and mixing instructions are laid out in layman terms. Unlike many cookbooks, there is no sifting through the extra fluff to find what one needs.
The recipes, joined by a full-page, mouth-watering illustration of the end result, are the epitome of creative excursions. In the book, readers will find guidelines on how to make unique delicacies such as chocolate-covered pretzels, lemon squares, shortbread cookies, coconut macaroons, and much more. A good example of the authors' use of simple directions can be found in the recipe for Oatmeal Cookies. Although the entire "Mixing Instruction" section is only twenty-one words, the directions provide a vivid snapshot of the process. For instance, bullet point one states, "Cream butter and sugar," while bullet point two advises to "add eggs and vanilla." This cookbook never repeats itself in its directions and is as precise as they come.
From getting started with the ingredients to baking the finished product, Child Baker to Culinary Chef will guide you, advise you, and prepare you throughout the whole process. For cooking enthusiasts and local fans of Le Petit bakery, this book is a must.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review