Customer Reviews

The Sourdough Cookbook

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While the book is attractive, and the recipes look interesting, the bottom line is the recipes aren't sourdough. The recipes might work, and I'm sure they are fast. But they aren't sourdough.

Sourdough starters should not be made with baker's yeast, and won't become sourdough until the baker's yeast dies off. All of Rita Davenport's starters use baker's yeast, and all of her recipes use more baker's yeast.

It isn't necessary - or desireable - to use commercial yeast in a sourdough recipe. Doing this means the baker either doesn't understand sourdough, or doesn't trust their starter.

If you are interested in REAL sourdough, don't get a copy of this 1970's home economics styled cookbook. Look instead at Ed Wood's "World Soudoughs from Antiquity" or "Classic Sourdoughs: A Home Baker's Handbook", Peter Reinhart's "The Bread Baker's Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread ", or Scott and Wing's "The Bread Builders". Another excellent resource for the budding sourdough baker is the rec.food.sourdough newsgroup.

I can't believe this is out of print! This book introduced me to sourdough baking, and I haven't had a recipe failure yet. The basic starter is foolproof, and the bread recipes are fantastic. The sourdough chocolate cake is both scrumptious and unique. I have been making extra-large sourdough onion-cheese sandwich buns for decades; they require no kneading, freeze beautifully, and make for show-stopping burgers. I hope the publisher reprints this cookbook--my copy is falling apart!

Can't believe this is out of print! My copy is very well used and I wanted to give it as gifts to friends and family again this Christmas. I use this book constantly. When I bought it the price was $4.95, that's how long ago it was. I've never had a failure with any of the recipes. The waffle and pancake recipes in many variations are outstanding. The information on how make, handle, and use sourdough starter is very good. The book is geared toward todays good cook, unlike some of the other books on the subject which tend to focus on old time recipes. Hope the publisher will reconsider.

I have bought about six of her sourdough cookbooks, and given them to friends and my daughter in laws..... and they in turn have recommended them to their friends, and families.... I had to wait a long time once before for these books to be published again..... and now I have more people wanting to purchase one. I do hope you get another supply of these wonderful books in... I hope my book never wears out.. if it isn't a recipe from Rita's book... it just isn't sourdough!!! And such a variety of uses for sourdough! Those pancakes are out of this world! Go Rita! And come on you guys,,, lets get these books back in stock!! We are all waiting!! Lou

I had been baking breads for years, and I was still looking for THE BEST pizza crust recipe. On a whim, I bought Sourdough Cookery as it is quite an attractive book with many color pictures not just of recipes but also of baking techniques. I tried the pancakes, which have become a family favorite. Finally, I decided to try the pizza cust recipe - it's PERFECT! This is the ONLY recipe I use to make my pizzas, and friends and family rave about the results EVERY time!!!

The recipes are easy to understand and follow. If you follow the directions exactly, you CAN'T go wrong!

Not only do I regularly use the pizza crust recipe and pancakes recipe, I have also tried a number of the different breads, rolls, and cakes with equally successful results. Another favorite is the onion cheese bread - this is great toasted!

I am very particular about my cookinng, and I have only three books I rely upon for breads as I enjoy this art very much... and this lovely book by Rita Davenport is THE ONE I use for sourdough! My other two favorites are no longer in print, which is a shame as I need to buy new copies of all three due to their beaten-up appearance through constant use! This book is a must have for all serious bread-bakers out there!

Sure wish the publisher would print more copies. Have seen this cookbook and looks like the best sourdough cookbook ever seen. Have a few of her recipes and they are great.

The book was not at all what I expected. I recently decided to learn bread baking as a hobby. I am new to the sourdough scene, but I was under the impression that bakers (both real and wanabees) used sourdough starter INSTEAD OF yeast. As a consequence I concluded that people who wish to make sourdough bread used sourdough starter. I assume that bread that results from the use of sourdough is called sourdough bread. I further assume that people who use yeast in the preparation of the dough wind up with a loaf referred to as yeast bread. Imagine my surprise to find that the recipes in this book all called for the introduction of yeast in the preparation of "sourdough" products.

Being new to the whole concept of bread-baking I hesitate to be overly critical of this book for suggesting the use of yeast. I did find another book, however, whose author (Ed Wood) supports my contention that there is no place for yeast in sourdough cooking. The book is: Classic Sourdoughs: A Home Baker's Handbook. To anyone who, like me, is new to the sourdough scene I would recommend Dr. Wood's book.

You have gotton your sourdough starter, now what do you do with it? I love this book it is a book that focuses only on sourdough recipes. The book starts off with telling you all about sourdough, and how to keep yours alive and healthy. If you don't have a starter, this book gives you 8 recipes for different types of starter, best of all she lets you know what to expect, and how to keep it going, which is very important, as it only gets better with age.
The remainder of this book is filled, and I do mean filled with tons of recipes. She goes beyond just bread, she has recipes on yes breads, biscuits, pancakes, cakes, main dishes and so much more. This is an inexpensive book that is worth every penny for what it has to offer. If you are even considering getting into sourdough bread making, I can't recommend this book enough.

I have used this book for over 20 years. No failures or disapointments I need a new copy. What is the status for reprints?? Help!

My friend has this book and we've made quite a few things from this cookbook. I love it. I would like a copy for myself and for other friends as gifts. Please get this book published again.