Secrets of Baking by Sherry Yard

Any "must try" recipes, that I, um, must try this weekend? Anything to avoid? I read the reviews on amazon which noted mostly successful results. I'm hoping for a fail safe recipe to boost my confidence. I'm thinking that eliminates the baumkuchen.

[karykat]

Give some feedback on whatever you try. I like to know more about what is specially good from this book.

[thimes]

I like this book a lot but it is more of a "technique" book than a "recipe" book. It has many recipes and then Master recipes that incorporate multiple techniques into one dessert. But it isn't a book with say 10,000 dessert recipes in it. If you are into baking and want to learn more and learn how a single technique can be used to create different variations on a theme - then it is exactly what you've been looking for. . . . .

[karykat]

Yes, I have the book and love it. And that is how I would describe it.

The caramel semifreddo sounds good. I'll look at that one.

[pearlyriver]

Thanks for your feedback. That's the type of cookbook I'm after. I want to unfold the secret of good baking and I've had enough of good baking recipes to cook all my life.

[karykat]

I love this book. She has basics and then many variants and more complex versions. Her instructions are really clear. And she organizes types of desserts into "families" so you end up understanding how things relate.

I have really liked her master caramel recipe. That can be tricky to make but I've had consistent good results with her recipe.

[thimes]

I lover her cookbooks and have made many things . . . . . hmmmm which to choose

Caramel Semifreddo - yummy and good for a hot weekend (if it is hot where you are)
Blackberry Jellies - love them if you are into that type of dessert
Chocolate Mousse Trio - not hard and tasty
Pain au Chocolat - if you're willing to put in the time to make the croissant dough (not simple)
cookies -have liked all the cookies I've made from her books (can't remember which ones are in that one in particular)

Let us know what you make!

The chocolate chip cookies are super easy to make, and are very good.

Link: http://virtualfrolic.blogspot.com/

[pearlyriver]

I often use mass metrics to measure ingredients. Will the recipes in this book be reliable and convenient to pull off?