I’m excited to announce the first in a monthly series here on eat. live. travel. write. where I’ll be highlighting a different chapter of The Everyday Baker each month in 2016. Sort of like a year-long book review!
If you’re not familiar with this book, it’s a comprehensive resource for anyone who loves to bake, written by Fine Cooking contributing editor Abigail Johnson Dodge. Abby’s the award-winning author of nine other cookbooks (she’s co-authored many others) but The Everyday Baker is, by far, her most comprehensive book (and one of the most in-depth baking books out there!). I’ve baked many of Abby’s recipes before – she used to run an online baking group called “Baketogether” where she would post a recipe and anyone who wanted to would bake along with Abby each month. The Everyday Baker is, it turns out, what she was working on after Baketogether ended – I knew she must be up to something good đ
The Everyday Baker includes “must-know” techniques and over 170 recipes for home cooks of any skill level. What makes this book stand out, though are the nearly 1000 (!) step-by-step photos. You really can’t go wrong, even if you are a newbie baker. It’s like Abby’s in the kitchen talking you through each recipe. Her writing is very accessible and her tone friendly so even if you are not the most confident baker, you won’t be intimidated. This book covers the absolute fundamentals for successful baking and I guarantee you’ll find pretty much any recipe you’ve ever dreamed of baking in there!
With each recipe, Abby provides tips and tricks to make your life in the kitchen easier – make ahead tips, flavour twists, size variations, serving suggestions, all mixed in with a little of her magic âbakerâs wisdom”. The Everyday Baker’s detailed instructions make all these recipes do-able even for a beginner home cook.
I’ve had this book since it came out in November 2015 but due to the busy-ness of the holidays I didn’t really get to sit down and properly look at it. I spent many hours in January doing just that (there’s no better time to bake and/ or dream about baking than in the dreary days of January!) and I’ve been blown away by just how thorough this book is. It really is the book to have at your side to ensure “foolproof baking”. Even more complex recipes appear do-able with Abby’s clear instructions and step-by-step photos. I’m excited to work my way through a few recipes each month this year (and I am sure my neighbours and colleagues will appreciate my efforts too!). Because it doesn’t matter how much you bake or cook, there’s always something new to learn.
Later this month I’ll be taking a look at Abby’s Everyday Baking Basics so be sure to come back on Wednesday February 24th (I’ll be posting on the last Wednesday of every month) to check that out. In the meantime, Canadian and US readers can win a copy of The Everyday Baker! Details here.
Purchase The Everyday Baker for yourselves on Amazon (this link should bring you to the Amazon store closest to you) Or for free worldwide shipping, buy from The Book Depository.
Please note: The product links from Amazon and The Book Depository are affiliate links, meaning if you click over and purchase something, I will receive a very small percentage of the purchase price which goes towards maintaining eat. live. travel. write. Thank you in advance!
Disclosure: Abby is a friend but she didn’t ask me to write about this. In fact, she didn’t even know I had a copy of the book until I told her!
Read more about The Everyday Baker on eat. live. travel. write.
Introducing The Everyday Baker
Baking Basics
Morning Food
Quick to make
Cookies
Cakes
Pies and Tarts
Puddings and Custards
Yeast Breads
Pastry
Flatbread
Fruit Desserts
I love Abby & this is a great book. I still bake out of The Weekend Baker frequently (just made her double decker cookie/ brownies this weekend).
Her recipes are spot on, right?