Customer Reviews

Better Homes And Gardens Bread Cookbook

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Yes my children, in the olden days...the really, really olden days, there was a time when bread machines, stand mixers or bread hook attachments to go on the mixers. If you can actually believe it, the entire mixing, kneading and shaping all was done by hand. In those long lost years, bread did not come out of a "mix" box and the baker actually had to add a number of separate ingredients, carefully measured and at the right time in order to make bread. Some of these ingredients were actually four letter words...I am almost embarrassed to write it here, but if you read this work you will encounter such terms as "lard," and "shortening." I know, I know...but that is just the way they spoke way back when.

Now that my bit of playful sarcasm is finished I well tell you that this old book is one of the better books available, even to this day, on basic, and no so basic, bread making. The "modern" baker can adjust ingredients to meet today's health standards and rather than do all by hand, can certainly modify to match any equipment she or he might have in their kitchen.

The bottom line on this book is that it is filled with absolutely delicious recipes for dozens and dozens of different breads and bread like dishes. Each recipe is very simple and the strongest feather of this book is that it takes what many may consider a difficult task; something only an advanced cook or baker should attempt, and makes it simple to the point that a complete novice (well, almost...) can turn out some very nice and varied breads. Basically, if you can read and can follow pretty simple directions, you will be able to bake some very nice bread or breads by using this book.

Now I will admit to you that we have a bread machine...actually, we have two f them. One is in the attic and will be left there for the kids to worry about after we are gone, and the other is somewhere in the back of a large storage pantry in our kitchen. We simply did not like them and do not use them. We also have one of those gigantic stand mixers with all the whistles and bells on it, including bread hooks. We do use that as it saves a lot of back and shoulder pain and due to the fact that the thing cost more than the first car I owned and we have to do something with it to justify the cost...sad, huh.

This is a wonderful bread book. We have the 1963 edition of this book also. We have made a lot of the recipes in this book over the year and I must tell you that we have been delighted with the results of all but a few...and those few were more our fault than the books. If you can find a copy of this work, buy it, use it...you won't be sorry.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

I have this old cookbook and it is the one I use most for bread making. I have many others including "The Bread Bible" but this one is my favorite. The recipies are easy, varied and they always come out perfect. I do not have a "stand mixer with a dough hook," as many new cookbooks ask you to use, so I rely on this book, whose special equipment is a large bowl and electric hand held mixer. Every basic bread is in here. There is a chapter on yeast bread, specialty bread (including sourdough, whole wheats, pitas a.k.a. "aryan bread" and others), quick bread and rolls, coffee cakes.

To be noted that because of when it was written, the "fat" ingrediant is usually shortening instead of butter like the more modern books.

If you want to make bread but have been too intimidated, this is the book for you to buy.