Customer Reviews

The Family Baker: 150 Never-Let-You-Down Basic Recipes

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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If there was ever a cookbook to get you in the kitchen this one is it! The first recipe I tried was Gladys Martin's Sour Cream Coffee Cake. It alone is worth buying the book. I own many other baking books but I can already tell this will be the first one I reach for! If there were more stars to rate this book-I would have used them all.

The book is written in an easy to follow style and the desserts come out perfect every time. There is also a chapter on bake sales. (This book brings back happy childhood memories.) Every parent should have a copy. It will become cherished for generations

Many cookbooks on baking expect that we, the reader, either have culinary degrees or have plenty of time to create masterpieces worthy of a magazine spread. They seem to think we prefer the laboriously intensive creations that run $10 a plate at the finest restaurants. If that were truly the case why are our fondest memories of the baked goods created by our mothers (and fathers)?

In Susan Purdy's "The Family Baker", Mrs. Purdy takes us into her kitchen and shows us how to recreate those childhood delights, with all the guesswork tossed out. This is a no-nonsense cookbook. That is, there is very little idle chatter and lots of good information.

At first glance, recipes seem very long and involved. What you are actually seeing is the abundance of the information she provides to make sure that the results "never-let-you down". Beyond the usual ingredient list and steps, a list of any special equipment needed, advanced preparation options, the necessary temperature and cooking time to be used, and the expected yield are provided. A "For Good Measure" box appears in many of the recipes, providing specific tips or possible adjustments to further enhance the recipe. Some recipes also end with a list of alternate versions to increase your options. Mom's Apple Pie can become an Apple-Cranberry Pie, Kentucky Bourbon Pie, Apple-Raisin Pie, or Apple-Dried Cherry Pie if the mood struck you.

One of the first recipes tried was for Pumpkin `n' Spice Muffins. If you have a small can of plain pumpkin puree, you probably have everything to make these tasty muffins. This recipe was easy to prepare and resulted in a flavorful muffin. These are not dessert muffins. As stated in the description, they would be great for breakfast or served along side a bowl of soup. They are highly addictive.

Experienced cooks will appreciate the wide variety of recipes provide. Beginning cooks and those who want to increase their skills will love the tons of information packed into this cookbook.

I can't say enough about this book. Each recipe reminds you of the baked goods you had as a child when family got together. They are all easy to make and come out fabulous. I own many baking books but this is the best one! Try the Swedish Almond Butter Cake it is amazing.

As I flipped through this book, the recipes sounded yummy! I have tried a few and each has been better than the one I just made! The oatmeal cookies are outstanding! I will keep trying more out!

I recently made a birthday party for my daughter who requested home made cupcakes. I looked through this book and found an adaptation for one of the recipes to accomodate cupcakes. They came out delicious; not too sweet, so once I put the frosting on them, they were just right. Thank you for selling such a great book. I purchased this book as gift for a friend who attended the birthday party as well, and they are very pleased.

There are several recipes that have become family standards. We love the blueberry buckle, the Texas sheet cake, Steve's Brownies & the Oatmeal Cookies. I even made the triple layer chocolate rasberry romance cake for a special event and earned rave reviews. All of the instructions are very detailed, yet allow for variation to suit personal taste. I liked the cookbook so much that I purchased another by the same author.

Back to order two more of Susan G. Purdy's books-this book was my first - purchased two years ago- I have been exploring the wonderful recipes she provides, improving my baking skills all the while with her tips and explanations of the art and science of baking. There's the Raspberry Romance Chocolate Cake that everyone in my large extended family has now sampled, most everyone says it's the best chocolate cake they ever tasted, even better than the very expensive offerings of our local European Bakery. The carrot cake is amazing. I usually bake the cakes for family birthdays and thanks to Susan they are enjoyed amid showers of happy smiles, comments and complements. Just recently I've tried the Triple Chocolate Biscotti with great results. Then from there, improvised many biscotti variations because this is also the best basic recipe I've found. Now I just implicitly trust Susan Purdy's recipes, she has Never let me down, in fact everything I've made has been an uplifting treat for everyone! Next-the Perfect Pie!