Customer Reviews

The SoNo Baking Company Cookbook: The Best Sweet and Savory Recipes for Every Occasion

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this book after seeing the author on Martha Stewart. This will be the third book I've purchased in a 6 month time frame after seeing the author on her show.
Let me start out by saying the photos for this book were very well done. They are so enticing they make you want to bake something.
Whenever I purchase a new book I start out with something simple. In this case I tried the Irish Soda Bread. The recipe required 4 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons of instant dry yeast for 6 cups of bread flour. I thought the ratio of yeast for this amount of flour was a lot but followed the recipe instructions.
The result was not good, the bread had a strong yeast taste and was dry. The recipe also called for raisins which offered not very much to the taste, as the yeast was overwhelming. Also, the instructions indicated to bake at 400 degrees F for about 1 hour, mine was done in 40 minutes.
I'm willing to try another recipe from this book and hoping that the measurements for the yeast was an error.
There are a lot of recipes in this book that you will typically find in a good baking book, that also covers ingredients, equipment and storage.
The recipe contents are quick breads (muffins, scones, pastries), cookies, brownies and bars, pies and tarts, cobblers, crisps and buckles, trifles, mousses, and pudding, cakes breads and foccias and savories.

This Cookbook is wonderful... if the pictures were any better, you might want to eat the pages they are printed on....

well detailed, well worded instructions... I love that it has Explanations for WHY they suggest using some of the methods they use for cooking...

Also the SoNO cheesecake recipe (starts on page 198) is beyond Wonderful

I made the cheesecake for Easter with my family
and everyone Love, love, LOVED It....!

If i love no other recipes in this book...
it was still well worth the $$, just for that cheesecake recipe alone....

It will be one of my fav's for Years to come =)

This cookbook is a winner. The Lemon Drop Sugar Cookies are perfection. The first batch was so good, I immediately baked a second. I found the directions clear and easy to follow. I like the way the recipes are laid out, the tips, the descriptive information and the personal comments. This is the cookbook for creating those elusive bakery pastries, breads and desserts. Love the pictures!

I was impressed with the easy, down-to-earth style of this self-made chef on Martha Stewart. His history towards success in the baking field, of course includes working within the Martha empire (and she writes an interesting foreward), but this down-to-earth, aesthically appealing cookbook of fairly basic, 'normal' recipes is a welcome treat from a master pastry chef. The crisps, scones, brownies and other rich, savory recipes are ones that I will be comfortable using over and over again.

I have tried the chocolate chip oatmeal coconut cookies and they are so much better than the ones on the Oatmeal box cover. Some of the cakes (Choc Ganache Cake,Boston Cream pie, orange chiffon cake) the raspberry truffle, apple chips and quiche lorraine are especially good for showers, brunches and holiday buffets. After watching John Barricelli work on tv and reading through this book cover to cover, I am inspired to take the things I ordinarily bake with Bisquick to another level, and cultivate my own artful creation of pastries with the freshest ingredients as he stresses (like splitting and scraping the vanilla bean - something that lures me every time I see it, but haven't yet tried). The recipe I tried wih success is the Potato, onion and rosemary focaccia (GREAT!)& and also tried the coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate (to die for). Look forward to tring the carrot cake cupcakes, butterscotch pudding and blueberry buckle.

Not sure I have time for the 14- step (although very clear, step by step with photos) almond croissants; and as with all cookbooks there are recipes that don't interest me such as the cherry tomato tartlet or the ginger pear danish.

The reasons I want this book in my collection are
1. the visually inspiring, beautiful, color photos I could look at again and again; The hardcover book has a high end, rich feel to the pages...I have it laying out as a tabletop book (which is why I would not consider buying a used copy)
2. the simply elegant, yet basic items like buttermilk and several other variety of scones - I make about once a month, pumpkin raisin muffins (easy to make with 1/2 Cup applesauce), choc cream pie in graham cracker crust (wow!), and fruit crumbles that my family loves.
3. Best brownies ever and other flaky, crunchy, sweet-smelling baked goods recipes -- all in one spot (like those lemon squares that I make so much, but can never put my hands on the recipe I cut out of the newspaper -- here it is!)
4.This 2010 published book is an upscale,very 'hot' contemporary addition to my cookbook collection. And, I guess I have to confess, the cover photo won me over...and the others inside will not disappoint, the breads jump off the page.

Chef Barricelli's dedication is endearing..."to all the children of the world who go through life without parents...life is tough enough...I miss you, Mom and Dad" - and I think you will enjoy his introduction as well which explains his "sweet and savory" journey to the Sono Baking Co.

I checked this book out from the library and used it before I made a decision to purchase.
I have more than 250 cookbooks in my collection and this one is already one of my
favorites. The instructions are clear, page layout & design conducive to
easy readying, and the recipe results are excellent. I recommend this all who
love to bake.

Sono Baking Company Cookbook is, by far, the best baking cookbook EVER!!! I have hundreds of cookbooks and I love to bake, and this is the very favorite of all my cookbooks. The individual chicken pot pie with the pate brisee crust ended my search for the best pot pie. Tart Tropezienne was the first recipe I tried. The directions are so well written that it was easy and flawless. It was a big hit for Easter and is my daughter-in-law's choice for a 'birthday cake'! I have enjoyed John Baracelli on t.v. and now have a new respect for his talent. Such a wonderful book. I hope to get to the SoNo Bakery one day. Yummy book. If you love to bake, you'll love this book.

I only have tried the SoNo Brownies, but this one recipe in my opinion makes the book worth purchasing. Obviously, we love brownies in my family. I have three other very good brownie recipes, but my husband wanted a simple, great brownie. The brownies call for an 8-inch square baking dish, so they are ideal for a family night dessert, individual or couple. They are easy and quick to make, and don't mess up large bowls or beaters. (You use a whisk.) I made them last night, and this morning they still are moist. So it seems they are passing the "next-day test." Thanks, so much John Barricelli for sharing your recipe with me! Home baker in Fort Worth

So far I have only tried two relatively easy recipes, the lemon drop cookies and the chive and cheese scones, but both turned out perfect !! Delicate taste and texture, can't wait to try more recipes ! The book has beautiful pictures also, though I wish all recipes had pictures, as being from South America, there are cases where I'm not sure what the pastry should look like. Anyway, it's worth the money !!!

Recently purchased this book after watching the author on the Martha Stewart show and visiting his Bakery in CT for breakfast.The book is amazing, easy to follow recipes, beautiful pictures, I have baked many items from the cookbook but the brownies are by far my favorite and so easy to make.The price on Amazon is great compared to other sites will only buy books from Amazon awesome deals and love the free shipping keep up the good work Amazon...If you love to bake then I would strongly suggest this book.

borrowed this book from the library..loved it so i just had to purchase...the author has a martha stewart baking program on pbs
i gave it 4 stars not 5 because in my opinion the book is missing one great choc. chip cookie recipe. the one recipe he has included
contains a fat substitute made with prunes..other than that great photography and recipe layout....a great book if you love to bake !