582940 Fri Dec 26 15:23:21 -0800 2008 9 31 Home Cooking 0 4274618 i'm sort of new baking and i really prefer recipes that give exact, weighed conversions for the ingredients. i want to focus on cakes and i wonder if you could suggest a cookbook that: -includes lots of cakes and a variety of frostings -recipes in grams and/or ounces -is not the cake bible i was looking at boyle's cake book but wasn't sure how that one rates. thanks. Fri Dec 26 15:23:21 -0800 2008 39464 midtownDiner123 1 4274853 Do you need a book, or would a web site work? I really like the details in the Joy of Baking website and they have a nice section on cakes. They give measurements in standard cups, etc. and in weight. http://www.joyofbaking.com/cakes.html I have liked every cake (and tried every one) in the Best Recipe. They have a the basics and basic frosting (haven't tried them all). The version (older) I have doesn't have the weights, but I have a manual that gives the conversions handy. Cooks Illustrated has a cake cookbook now. http://www.cooksillustrated.com/bookstore/detail.asp?PID=45 I've also found quite a few of these books at the library and it's been helpful to check them out and try out a few recipes first. Fri Dec 26 17:38:00 -0800 2008 4274618 39874 chowser 1 4274887 You can't go wrong with The Cake Bible, by Rose Levy Beranbaum. Every recipe works, she explains things clearly, and even if things seem to complicated or too many steps--the results are worth it! I just noticed you said "not the Cake Bible"--why not? Fri Dec 26 18:07:55 -0800 2008 4274618 204226 Ideefixed 1 4274962 I've loved every cake I've made in the King Arthur Baking book. It's not a cake cookbook but the recipes work and are the best versions I've had for the classic cakes that are the building blocks of so many cakes--white, yellow, chocolate--and their frosting and filling recipes are excellent, too. If you're new to cake baking, you may also want to check out Shirley Corriher's Bakewise. It has been getting rave reviews and explains a lot of the why's behind cake baking. Fri Dec 26 18:52:02 -0800 2008 4274618 13396 Velda Mae 2 4275142 I love the baking911.com website. Chock full of information about cakes and everything you would ever want to know about the how's and why's of cake baking. You might be interested in Sarah Phillips' book, Baking 9-1-1. It's gotten excellent reviews. Fri Dec 26 20:53:41 -0800 2008 4274962 158881 addicted2cake 1 4275279 chowser- a website will work and i've followed joy of baking before with success once before. not too many layers on the site but certainly meets my needs. i was looking for the CI layer book today at barnes and noble but only found the best recipe. which best recipe edition do you have? thx for the suggestions. ideefixed- my head spins when i look at the instructions for the cake bible! velda- i did look at the king arthur book today too and didn't see a large variety of layer cakes but i'll have to look again. their blog has some great recipes. i'll look at bakewise too. Thanks!! addicted- good to know. i was browsing the other day but stopped bc i had to register for the site. i'll stop being lazy : ) Fri Dec 26 23:28:39 -0800 2008 4274618 39464 midtownDiner123 2 4275443 I have the basic original Best Recipe that is all inclusive. They have a section for all the basic cake recipes. But, I've liked them all and have thought of getting their layer cake book. But, if you have a good recipe for the basic cakes, there's so much playing around w/ different toppings, filling, etc. that I don't NEED anything more, just want it.;-) Sat Dec 27 05:54:22 -0800 2008 4275279 39874 chowser 2 4275481 The Cake Bible seems a little intimidating at first glance. If you read through the entire recipe and take the time to do things exactly as the recipe states you will not be dissappointed. I have The Bread Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum and it gets more use than any other book in my collection. Sat Dec 27 06:21:23 -0800 2008 4275279 206877 jpc8015 1 4275492 I agree that the Cake Bible is a bit beyond a good basic cake cookbook. I was very pleased with the results when I want to go beyond the basics, but I don't always want to go that route. My most sucessful cakes have come from the Silver Palate Cookbooks, and I use a Mark Bittman basic cake receipe from How to Cook Everything over and over. I don't have it yet, but I'm thinking the Sweet Side of Amy's Bread might work for you. Sat Dec 27 06:34:19 -0800 2008 4274618 117271 Stuffed Monkey 1 4275680 I'd highly recommend the Tish Boyle book. Everything I've made from there has been excellent and worked perfectly. Another excellent book, even though it does not include weights for ingredients, is Great Cakes by Carole Walter. Sat Dec 27 08:20:38 -0800 2008 4274618 23506 btnfood