Customer Reviews

The Bread Machine Cookbook IV: Whole Grains & Natural Sugars (Nitty Gritty Cookbooks) (No. 4)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Looking at the index with all of the yummy-sounding recipes makes one very hungry. The author's preliminary chapter "Baking with Whole Grains" is informative and there are many practical recommendations about milling one's own grain if you want to really delve wholeheartedly into the business of whole grain bread-baking. Unfortunately, all of the recipes are not reliable and I speak with several years of successful bread machine usage. Although I have had excellent results with a few recipes in this book such as the Caraway Raisin Bread and the Honey Wheat Bread, there are others that are real "bomb-outs." I would discourage anyone from even trying the Raisin Walnut Bread (proportions of flour and liquid were all wrong as the batter was sloppy through most of the baking and the bread was coarse, heavy, and stuck to the pan terribly), or the Honey Peasant Bread which was very bland and needs more salt and honey. So, all-in-all, if the reader wants to experiment, this book may be fine; but for those who need a foolproof basic book, then this isn't the one.

If you want to make bread the healthiest it can be from a bread machine, this is the book for you. Ms. German gives a thorough education of such things as the purpose of each ingredient, how to make substitutions, baking with whole grains, how to use healthier sweeteners, milling, dough enhancers, the differences between choices within each ingredient, and then, of course, plenty of recipes which accomodate a 1, 1&1/2, and 2 lb. loaf size. A great book!

After having wasted the ingredients to make *five* different recipes from this book, the results of the last attempt, along with the book, are going into the trash. No wonder this book was remaindered! Following the recipes to the letter, I have gotten dry, heavy loaves of bread that were nearly impossible to cut, let alone eat. I used all fresh ingredients, including yeast. When using the recipes in the book that came with my bread machine, I always get excellent results. Love the idea of healthy bread machine recipes. It would be nice if someone would write one!

This is not only a great cookbook as healthy ingredients go, the recipies are simple and every one we've tried has come out wonderfully. We've made some of the best bread I've ever had with it. This is definitely a must have for bread machine owners!

I've had this book for years. I owned a bakery and catering company, so I know a little about baking and cooking. I have been using bread machines since they were first introduced...when the loafs were initially round. In fact, I still own a Wel-bilt, round loaf bread maker, purchased at the defunct Montgomery Ward back in the stone age. I own over 200 cookbooks and of all my bread books, this set of Nitty Gritty cookbooks are some of the best I've found. I have never had one of German's recipes not work. Of course, I understand the chemistry behind flours and yeast, having actually taken college courses in commercial baking, when working on an MS degree in nutrition and food science. Her recipes are good, better and best...none is lousy and I've never wasted ingredients. I've even gone so far as to grind my own flour. It is important to read the introductions and follow her advice, especially as it relates to your bread machine. This will make a world of difference. I am currently buying another set of books for my daughter in law as I am buying her a bread machine and the recipe books I feel will be the most successful. For those unhappy with these books, I would recommend you also purchase her first book, The Bread Machine Cookbook and make some of these recipes, then graduate to the whole grains. It is not a "snap" to make whole grain bread. Practice with bread flour and gradually adding whole grain flours. Learn the textures and the flours and realize that flours differ in their need for more or less liquid. If you do this, you'll learn to turn out wonderful breads for your family. Good luck!!

I have her first book and this one, and I must say that she must be running out of good recipes. These are mostly disappointing.

This is an AWESOME cookbook, I love the way the recipes are listed in the book, very easy to follow. The ingredients are listed in order to how they should be placed in the machine, there are instruction for 1, 1/2, and 2 lb loaves. The print is large which also makes the recipes easy to follow. I own her whole series of BM cookbooks because I like them so much!! Great variety also--if I have a certain ingredient that I want to use up in my cupboard, 9 times out of 10 I can find a recipe for bread that I can use it in!! Can't say enough good things about this cookbook!!

Ms. German experiments with whole grains and honey. Many ingredients are hard to find. Some recipes do not require wheat flours.

A great addition to my whole grain bread book library.....great little book to have in your collection! Transaction was smooth with fast delivery!

I have had this book for several years and have enjoyed all the recipes I have tried. I bought one for my father-in-law to use with his new bread machine.