Linda Collister

And That's That. Sweet treats for the month are done.

I really enjoyed trying to bake in the same way a penguin tries to fly. See the sky, try to fly and then wonder why. But in all fairness, whenever my baking attempts would fail, I'd just watch an episode of GBBO or GCBS (New fan of the Canadian version) or even GABO (Aussies for the win) and watch chaos ensue in some episodes and then the showstoppers would come out of the oven and you know even though the judges would critique them - I knew I could NEVER...well, for now I could never make those show stoppers.

I think I'll limit my baking to a once a week little foray into sugar - for my sake and the sake of my poor oven constantly wondering "what the hell is burning" or, "hhhmm are you sure it's suppose to look like that" or "I think you took it out to soon" and so, here I am, at the end of a bake. Time to turn the telly on and watch Noel be adorable with a group of bakers.

Which season to watch? shall I watch Rahul's season...yes, yes I think I shall.

On your marks, get set .... baaaake!… (altro)

Få saker slår väl känslan av att äta i ute i det fria? Vare sig du är på stranden, på en äng eller på en parkbänk med solen i ansiktet, ljumma vindar och trevligt sällskap maten blir aldrig godare än så här! Hemligheten bakom en mysig picknick är enkla rätter med bra råvaror och i den här boken har du alla recept du behöver kompletterat med en mängd tips och råd.

Sallader och vegetariskt passar perfekt på utflykten. Välj bland annat mellan den matiga Pastasalladen med pumpa, fetaost och olivdressing och den krämiga Roquefortpajen med valnötter, eller kanske små, frasiga Lökpajer med getost.

Bland recepten i Bröd och dip kan man hitta Rökt lax med wasabi-crème fraiche och härligt hembakat bröd, som till exempel Focaccia med körsbärstomater och pesto. Och missa inte de utsökta dipperna; pröva gärna Hummus eller Tomat- och ingefärssalsa.

Fyll kylväskan med välsmakande rätter av Kött och fågel. Här finns bland annat härligt doftande Asiatisk kryddkyckling och mustig Souvlaki med bulgursallad tillsammans med många andra rätter som passar att äta ute i friska luften.

En picknick är inte fullständig utan Sötsaker och drycker. Packa ner Mjuk pepparkaka med päron, Fudge brownies och Iskaffe med citron i picknickkorgen, och du får en perfekt sommarutflykt!… (altro)

Introduction
A Baker's Guide
Biscuits & Traybakes
Breads
Cakes
Sweet Pastry & Patisserie
Savoury Bakes
Puddings & Desserts

The baker's guide is helpful, but there is no conversion table, which would have been helpful for American bakers. Temperatures are given in C and F but measurements are all in metric, so you'll need to do the conversions or use a digital scale.

The photography is beautiful. Most (but not all) recipes have a photo. Between the recipes are one-page (seven questions) interviews with the bakers.

Interested in making:
Irish Brack (p. 82)
Sunday Tea Lemon Curd Swiss Roll (152)
Choux Caramel Puffs (203)
Mary's Chocolate Orange Tart (224)… (altro)

Some interesting recipes - I haven't tried any yet, just read through - though she has very firm opinions on how things ought to be. Fresh yeast ("well, I _suppose_ you can use active dry, if you insist"), stoneground flour, lots of citrus for flavor...I don't disagree with many of her points, but some of them seem to be making things difficult for the sake of being difficult. She also gives very detailed instructions on most of the breads - and then there's a couple (mostly shaping instructions, rather than full recipes, but still) where she just says "form it into a loaf and bake it", with none of the "form it into an 8 by 5 oval, slash it in this pattern, prick around the base, glaze with this" sort of detail most of the recipes have. Nonetheless, I see a lot of really good-sounding bread here, and none of it (well, OK, I skimmed over the layered pastries, with their multiple rolling-out and layering with butter) seem particularly difficult. I suspect I'll adopt at least a few of these as standard recipes.… (altro)