Synopses & Reviews
Every baker has pondered the wisdom of substituting one ingredient for another ("I don't have any cake flour. Can I use all-purpose flour?"), using a square baking dish instead of the rectangular pan the recipe requires, or constructing a fancy dessert with frozen puff pastry rather than homemade.
Baking recipes require precision and attention -- exact measurements, correct ingredients, and a confident hand -- to mix, cream, froth, and whip. But surely there is some leeway? And if there really is no room for error or substitution, then the curious baker wants to know why.
Answering every question about common and specialty ingredients, finicky ovens, the best equipment for every recipe, the science behind the magic of baking, and the unique properties, quirks, and flavors of every kind of baked good, author Lauren Chattman reassures readers with commonsense solutions, foolproof, substitutions, and fun-to-know facts about the history and evolution of favorite baked goods. She even includes recipes that allow readers to practice new techniques and experiment with unfamiliar ingredients. Spelt Brownies, anyone?
Portable, browseable, and easy to use, The Baking Answer Book earns a place beside the recipe collections in bakers' libraries, explaining the techniques that don't make sense and solving the mysteries of soggy zucchini bread and cracked cheesecakes.
Synopsis
Master flaky pie crusts, watch your biscuits rise to new heights, and present golden-brown cookies every time. Filled with hundreds of insights and techniques, The Baking Answer Book has you covered. Pastry chef Lauren Chattman provides answers to all of your baking questions and creative ways out of every sticky mess you might find yourself in. Her tips, tricks, and secrets will take your baking to the next level.
Synopsis
Answering questions about common and specialty ingredients, finicky ovens, and the science behind the magic of baking, Chattman reassures readers with commonsense solutions, foolproof substitutions, and fun-to-know facts about the history of baked goods.
About the Author
Lauren Chattman is a cookbook author and former professional pastry chef. Her most recent book is The Baking Answer Book; others include the IACP-winning Local Breads, which she cowrote with Daniel Leader, and Dessert University, written with White House pastry chef Roland Mesnier. She lives with her family in Sag Harbor, New York.