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Summary: My old reliable
Review: I am an avid cook; and I work mostly from scratch, but Ed Brown's book (1970 edition) is my favorite resource for bread, quick breads, and desserts. Every recipe produces a wonderful product. My favorite dessert is the carrot cake and cream cheese icing! My copy, too, is well-worn. The book is worth it at twice the price.
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Summary: The Best Even after 35 Years !
Review: I bought this book in 1970 when I was 20 years old and am so happy to see that it is still in print so that another generation of cooks can learn from it. Simply stated - it is the best.
Rating:
Summary: One of two cookbooks I'd take to a desert island
Review: I bought this book in the early 70's, before I graduated from High School, and learned to bake from it and from two lovely ladies. The two ladies have long since left my life, but the book is still on my kitchen shelf. I pull it out every time I bake bread. The pages are stained and torn, and the covers are held on with tape.Mr. Brown instructs not only in the making of food for the body, but also for the soul. Every time I open his book, it takes me back to those heady days of spiritual searching. Although I am no closer to Enlightenment, the work of the yeast and the energy of a day's baking makes the product vastly more satisfying than any commercial loaf. If I am ever stranded on a desert island, I would want this book along, even if I had no supply of flour!
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Summary: How I taught my Mother to bake bread
Review: I grew up on home made bread, learned to bake bread from my Mother, then relearned how to bake bread well from The Tassajara Bread Book shortly after it was first published. It provides the right instructions for making bread from a sponge, tells you how to tell by feel when the bread is kneeded sufficiently ... and gives some excellent bread recipes - leavened, unleaven, quick and a variety in between. It has a recipe for Japanese vegetable pancakes that serve easily as meals or snack for small children. It has two dessert recipies - cream cheese bar cookies and peach kuchen that quickly become standards. In short, I highly recommend the book.
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Summary: Like Having a Trusted Friend By Your Side...
Review: I have for years relied on a bread machine to indulge my desire for home-baked bread. No more. This book is a revelation, a gem. If you scrupulously follow the introductory instructions for the basic Tassajara bread, you will be able to make any kind of bread from scratch, by hand, guaranteed. Just now I have two gorgeous loaves of millet bread in the oven, and this is just my second time making bread by hand. Thea author, Edward Brown, tells you precisely how the dough should look, how it should feel, and how to know when you are finished kneading. You simply cannot go wrong. I have the other "bible" of bread making, James Beard's book, and, much as I adore James Beard, I prefer the Tassajara method of bread-making. There is less guesswork, and less seems to go wrong. And I love the spiritual side, the bliss-out and enjoy-the-moment side to the book, as well. I will never, ever part with this book.
Rating:
Summary: Like Having a Trusted Friend By Your Side...
Review: I have for years relied on a bread machine to indulge my desire for home-baked bread. No more. This book is a revelation, a gem. If you scrupulously follow the introductory instructions for the basic Tassajara bread, you will be able to make any kind of bread from scratch, by hand, guaranteed. Just now I have two gorgeous loaves of millet bread in the oven, and this is just my second time making bread by hand. Thea author, Edward Brown, tells you precisely how the dough should look, how it should feel, and how to know when you are finished kneading. You simply cannot go wrong. I have the other "bible" of bread making, James Beard's book, and, much as I adore James Beard, I prefer the Tassajara method of bread-making. There is less guesswork, and less seems to go wrong. And I love the spiritual side, the bliss-out and enjoy-the-moment side to the book, as well. I will never, ever part with this book.
Rating:
Summary: tassajara bread book
Review: I learned to bake with this book, every birthday cake for my son was their carrot cake. I too have lost my original 1970 copy to an ex. My son's ex. so now I am getting the new one, I will even try it in a bread machine! P.S. the date nut bread is to die for.
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Summary: Thrilled to see this is still in print
Review: I've relied on Tassajara's simple, homey, and mouthwatering recipes for nearly a decade. This book is also indispensable for its illustrated guide to braiding a six-strand challah (or any other braided loaf). I still have to look at the pictures every time I do this.
Rating:
Summary: The only bread book you need
Review: If you want to live simply but not blandly, this is the only bread book you need. Written in a gentle voice, this book encourages all to bake wholesome, delicious breads - sweet and savory - and love every bite. Now, I have many bread cookbooks and I do love all of them - from Elizabeth David to Amy to Laurel - but I cannot stress how much pure enjoyment and encouragement I've gotten from this modest tome. Reading his words and following his advice (which is open and even inexact at times) has always led me to greater independence and faith in my own instincts and never fails to turn out wonderful results!
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Summary: This book demystifies the glorious act of bread-baking!
Review: It seems as if there are those who would be happier if bread making remained shrouded in mystery! This book makes the very therapeutic and giving experience of making bread... an act of joy.
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