Rating: 
Summary: The Complete source for baking bread. BREAD BIBLE!!
Review: After purchasing a bread machine, and baking a few loafes, I was unhappy with the results. I decided to try baking by hand. I bought this book randomly, and I am sure glad I did.
This book is the complete book on bread making. From white breads, to whole wheat, to sweet and special breads, this is the one source for recipes.
All recipes are clearly and logically laid out, and offer instructions for food processor, stand mixer, and by hand. Mr. Clayton offers insights, reccomendations for serving and storage, and background and origin of each recipe. My favorite so far is the "Rich White Bread".
If you are new to breadmaking as I was, or are a seasoned baker looking for a treasure trove of recipes, I cannot say enough good about this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Complete source for baking bread. BREAD BIBLE!!
Review: After purchasing a bread machine, and baking a few loafes, I was unhappy with the results. I decided to try baking by hand. I bought this book randomly, and I am sure glad I did.
This book is the complete book on bread making. From white breads, to whole wheat, to sweet and special breads, this is the one source for recipes.
All recipes are clearly and logically laid out, and offer instructions for food processor, stand mixer, and by hand. Mr. Clayton offers insights, reccomendations for serving and storage, and background and origin of each recipe. My favorite so far is the "Rich White Bread".
If you are new to breadmaking as I was, or are a seasoned baker looking for a treasure trove of recipes, I cannot say enough good about this book.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding in selection and methodology
Review: As a working woman who does not like "regular" breakfast fare, I have a sandwich every morning, preferably with homemade bread. Since purchasing this book I can hardly wait for the week end to make a new selection for the following week's breakfasts! It's truly a bread encyclopedia, and the instructions are so very clear and complete, plus the methodology is reduced to such simplicity that even the novice could succeed. Each recipe includes instruction for making by hand, processor or mixer, thereby avoiding having to refer to any other section of the book for advice. I have a 30-year collection of cook books, but this one never gets back to the bookshelf!
Rating:
Summary: This is quite a good book.
Review: Before I bought this book I had only made bread once. It turned out well so I was motivated to try out more recipes. I pretty much got this book because it was one of the biggest books I could find. I find the recipes easy to understand and many have had great results. So far I have only baked one bread recipe that I would not make again. For the most part I have been able to find everything needed for these recipes. My husband and I especially like the marbled bread in the vegetable section. Even though I am far from an expert in the kitchen I have found this book very enjoyable and usefull.
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Bread Book
Review: Bernie's book is one of my bibles when it comes to making bread. While more recent books have delved into the science of bread and made it into a formulaic process, Bernie gives you the tradition of bread. He gives you not just the way he has come up with making great bread, but gives you the craft of dozens of other professional bakers, from elderly nuns who have been making bread all their lives, to hard working cruise ship bakers who turn out hundreds of perfect croissants a day, all of whom Bernie worked with, elbow-to-elbow.
This depth of art and craft is backed up by Bernie's delightful writing style. He gives you not just a recipe for everything you could want to make, but a story to go along with it. He also breaks each recipe down into simple steps, that can be followed either by hand, by mixer, OR by food processor. Bread can be intimidating to the new baker, Bernie makes turning out a good bread simple.
I've owned both editions of Bernie's Complete Book of Breads, and have bought many copies as gifts for friends. This is one book where you can't go wrong.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding book full of recipes that work
Review: Clayton's book came out long before the latest round of fancy sourdough and other artisan bread books, but it is every bit as good as they are.He does not spend hundreds of pages fawning over artisan bakers. He just assumes, rightly, that you and I can just go ahead and bake very good bread. Recipes include hand, mixer and food processor versions; I have no trouble following any of the methods for any of the recipes. And the recipes WORK! Not true for all bread books. So if you just want to bake, rather than worship bread and a few famous bakers, get this book and get going.
Rating: 
Summary: A really wonderful book
Review: Clayton's book is a highly useful text that lets you produce all kinds of wonderful breads. I've been using it successfully for several years. The book's greatest value is the broad range of recipes that it offers. It has, however, a couple of weaknesses. As one reviewer pointed out, the mingling of procedures for mixer or food processors, is rather confusing. Also, a few of the quantities given in the recipes need to be examined. Fortunately I've baked enough and can feel my way through the problems. Don't let either of these shortcomings discourage you from getting this book. I still haven't found a better all-around book on the topic.
Rating:
Summary: Bernard Clayton rocks!
Review: I bought a copy of this book used from an Amazon.com Marketplace seller, and I love it. I have been very impressed with the book though I have actually made only two of the recipes so far (and have made them several times). The very best thing about the book is that Clayton is very encouraging as a bread-baking teacher and mentor. He makes bread making seem, perhaps not easy, but accessible and possible. The overall sense here is, "You can do it!" Other reviewers have commented on his "old school" style, and indeed, he has been writing and revising his cookbooks for around 30 years. I have to say, I love this. He does offer instruction for food processor, stand mixer, and hand kneading. He describes each step in such a way that the amateur baker knows what to expect in terms of feel and look of the dough in progress. Encouraged by his instruction, I have been easily able to adapt the recipes, with fabulous result, to my Bosch mixer, freshly milled whole wheat, and instant yeast. The book contains a truly stunning number of types of bread, from sandwich to artisan, and, honestly, I could try a new bread every weekend for years before repeating any. I picture Clayton traveling about, meeting bread bakers around the world with an open curiosity and then passing his newfound knowledge with the rest of us who don't have either time or funds to travel as he does. And I for one am grateful for his enthusiastic search for bread knowledge. Thank you, Bernard Clayton!
Rating:
Summary: A very helpful BIBLE of Bread Making.
Review: I have baked primarily the mixed grain and whole grain wheat breads from this book with success each time. Good explanations with directions for utilzing stand mixers, food processors or the old fashioned "by hand" methods of mixing and kneading. Packed full of information and recipes. Color pictures would be nice, but it's such a great source for such a variety of breads, I don't hold that lack against it. A must for the home breadbaker from the very father of bread making.
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic book for beginning as well as experienced bakers
Review: I learned to bake bread from this book and have never been disappointed by anything I've tried. If I could only have one breadbaking book or wanted to give one as a gift, this is THE one I'd buy.
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