A World of Baking [Paperback]

Dolores Casella (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Independent Pub Group (September 1974)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872500403
• ISBN-13: 978-0872500402
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,904,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A priceless part of my book collection, February 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A World of Baking (Paperback)

I stumbled on this gem when my friend's landlord left it behind in the house he was renting. Lucky for me, the landlord cared little for cooking and told me I could have the book. I can't praise it enough - despite having been written in the 1960s, when most of America seemed to be into slapping together a few heavily processed ingredients (I call it "Campbell's Soup cooking"), this book is strikingly original, broad-ranging, and (in the case of many of the bread recipes), even healthy. I never tire of browsing it for unique cakes that use everything from rose petals to saurkraut. The author really did her research, and the book includes a lot of helpful tips and interesting historical snippets. I own about 250 cookbooks. If I had to cull my collection to 10, this one would make the cut.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Baking!, September 24, 2002

By 

Missy (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A World of Baking (Paperback)

It's a shame that these books are no longer in print. Dolores Casella is one of the best. I would rate her right along with James Beard and Julia Child.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GET A COPY OF THIS ONE - YOU WON'T BE SORRY, May 4, 2008

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A World of Baking (Paperback)

The book I am reviewing here is actually the 1968 hard back edition. This book, including he paper back edition which is featured here i.e. 1974, is no longer in print. This, in my opinion, is almost a crime. Dolores Casella is simply a fine cook, one of the best, and she has put together a collection of baking recipes in this volume that would be difficult to equal. Please note though, these recipes are not the quick fix, dinner in 60 seconds or less variety. These are tried and true dishes, and for the most part are "made from scratch." This work was written in the 1960s and the baked goods and techniques reflect this and that era.

A World of Baking is not what I would classify as a "coffee table" cook book. There are no pretty pictures, no flashy dishes made by professional chiefs loaded with ingredients, which, while exotic, simply are either not available, nor completely unnecessary. This is a plain cook book, black ink on white paper and of normal size. There are hundreds of recopies offered, each and everyone rather unique and all are "do-able." The directions are extremely easy to follow and the author has sprinkled bits and pieces of historical data here and there in a rather conversational mode. You know what you are eating, why you are eating it, and often times, where it came from.

Another reviewer has stated they feel that this one is one of the top ten in their extensive collection of cook books. I would have to agree with this. If you truly love cooking, like cooking healthy foods that are fun to make, and even more enjoyable to eat, then this one is for you. If you can lay your hands on a copy, grab it. I will promise you, like my wife and I, you will turn to it over and over again when baking time comes around.