If you could only have one book on baking..

anguk

Personally I think one of the best basic baking books is the good old Bero Book, I've baked for years and have loads of different books but I always go back to my trusty Bero book or the Bero website. Plus it only costs £1.50, you can get it from the website but I think Morrisons & Coop sell it too?
http://www.be-ro.com/f_about.htm

angeltreats

Thanks - there's an awful lot of other stuff in there though, other than baking (there's a baking section in part one, as well as how to cook eggs and all the other stuff). I was really more after one book that's just about baking and nothing else.

CupOfChai

anguk wrote: »

Personally I think one of the best basic baking books is the good old Bero Book, I've baked for years and have loads of different books but I always go back to my trusty Bero book or the Bero website. Plus it only costs £1.50, you can get it from the website but I think Morrisons & Coop sell it too?
http://www.be-ro.com/f_about.htm

Absolutely this! It has a reputation for producing reliably good results too, so this may encourage your friend if she's not very experienced or confident in baking, if recipes she tries work well. Plus it's got all the classics, Victoria sponge/fairy cake mix, scones, etc. Generations can't be wrong about this book!

As for techniques, if you can't find any book at all that contains explanations (aside from one aimed at children which she might find a bit patronising) could you put together a guide to the terms used in the baking book's recipes for her? E.g. Creaming - mixing butter and sugar until it all goes sort of pale and fluffy, maybe include a photo of what it should look like when ready. Sorry, I'm not very good at explaining!

angeltreats

I agree Be-Ro is fantastic, my copy is a big dog-eared these days But yeah I was really after something that would actually walk her through how to do stuff, the way Ministry of Food does with a stew, how to put a pastry lid on it, how to make dumplings etc. I never thought of a kid's book, I don't think she'd find it patronising, it might be worth looking at. Unfortunately the bookshops around here are quite small and have a fairly poor selection so I kind of have to rely on Amazon previews.

Cupofchai - I'm a bit hopeless at explaining stuff like that! It's a good idea though. Maybe there are some explanations somewhere on the internet that I could print off for her.

Pink.

Hi angeltreats,

Another vote for bero, or what about making your own? That may sound like a silly idea, but I have been compiling one for my daughter with my recipes (including photographs of various stages) and instructions that I know that she'll understand. She's delighted with it.

This thread has more recommendations that may help:

If you could only have one book on baking..

I'll add your thread to that one once it's dropped down the board to keep the suggestions together.

Pink

angeltreats

Hehe, my useless, vague instructions would probably put her off baking for good.

Weigh flour. Cut a lump off the block of butter that looks about the right weight. Rub it into the flour.
Add some salt.
Add water/milk/whatever till it looks right.
Knead dough a bit till it feels nice.
Bake till done.

I'm definitely no Delia :rotfl: I have a nice little recipe book that my friend bought me for writing my own recipes in, or copying things from magazines etc. All it contains is names of recipes with lists of ingredients and sometimes an oven temperature. It would probably be useless to anyone other than me.

marmiterulesok

I like Mary Berry's 'Baking Bible' ISBN978-1-846-07785-2.

It has an Introduction Section,which is 28 pages in all and this talks about baking equipment and techniques ie how to line a tin etc.,baking terminology,describes and explains key ingredients and,lastly,gives baking tips.

It's well laid out and easy to follow.

The recipes are pretty straightforward and the instructions clear.

HTH.

mlz1413

is it baking main meals or desserts?

I bought a calendar that had cup cakes and puddings on it from Debenhams.
Large pic's, large print and wipeable - very important when cooking and not just for beginners