Basic Baking

This series of cookbooks is great. I use this one particularly often as I love baking. I am usually not super adventurous and aim to make comfort foods like the chocolate chunk cookie, which are the most perfect formula for chocolate chip cookies that I have ever encountered--crispy on the outside, soft and chewy in the middle! Lately, I ventured to bake outside my comfort zone. First, I made the birthday cake for my sister. I was a little disappointed because they claimed that the cake was the perfect cake, but it was anything but. It was nice and airy and not to sweet. However, it was really dry. And I'm sure I didn't over bake it and my oven has a pretty steady temperature. I've never had a problem with anything else in the past. Second, I tried making the Viennese Sachertorte. My biggest qualm with that one was that they claim it is a simple recipe. But it was not. It requires over night cooling and 2 different glazes. I sped it up by sticking it in the freezer and what not.. so maybe it wasn't perfect. I believe it turned out close to the way it was supposed to, but the cake itself was not my cup of tea (not the book's fault). Other than those 2 instances, everything else I've tried in the cookbook is great. The blueberry muffins are perfect and taste great.

Very impressive cookbook. I love all of the European themed recipes...these can be hard to find. Each recipe has it's own picture, which is really nice when deciding what to make. A definite winner!

This is a great cookbook with a lot of German influenced Recipes. The Spaetzle and Rouladen (=beef rolls) are to die for. And the beautiful pictures that acompany almost every recipe will make your mouth water.

This is one of my favorite cookbooks. I've had it for a few years and am always pleased with the way the recipes turn out. Beautiful pictures and accessible degrees of difficulty. Try Basic Parties and Basic Cooking, both part of the same series.