BEARD ON BREAD

Rating:
Summary: A quirky and kind teacher standing over your shoulder
Review: I bought my first copy of Beard on Bread when I was in college in the early '70s. Lost in my travels I bought another copy in 1983. The covers are now held on by tape and the pages are stuffed with post-its and splattered with batters and egg-washes and god-knows-what else. This book bears every scar of nearly twenty years of regular use. If you are new to breadmaking I don't think you will find a better book to start with. You may eventually move on to books on artisinal baking in woodfired ovens. But I'll bet that you too will find reason to return from time-to-time to Beard on Bread.

Rating:
Summary: basic, easy to follow and informative
Review: I really like this book; it gives basic details about bread as well as a good selection of different breads. I have worn out the pages on fruit breads - apricot & brandy are one of our favorites. The book flops open to banana breads because I have used it so many times. It is not exhaustive, but variations are suggested. This is a nice friendly starter for baking breads with out a bread machine (never mentioned)of all kinds. It is also one you will keep coming back to time and time again.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing special after all
Review: I was a great fan of James Beard when I started to cook. He explains things so thoroughly. I still often use his Theory & Practice.

I had a hardcover edition of this book that I adored. This paperback edition seems to be missing something. Either I have grown past it, or it is incomplete. The recipes are common. The directions are as good as any. Nothing inspiring or stimulating.

Rating:
Summary: My Only Bread Book
Review: This book comes highly recommended, as this is my only bread book. I have not found the need to refer to other books. The collection of recipes and the tips for baking bread have been quite complete. I have tested a lot of the recipes, and most of them have come out excellent.
I have had to warn those who have borrowed this book to reduce the salt. On his own admission, James Beard seems to like his bread salty.
Despite this however, it is a truly comprehensive book. And yes, it does tell you very nicely that each time you bake bread it almost always comes out different. Beard actually encourages you to try his recipes to find them out yourself. I have, and I am happy I have this book!

Rating:
Summary: My Only Bread Book
Review: This book comes highly recommended, as this is my only bread book. I have not found the need to refer to other books. The collection of recipes and the tips for baking bread have been quite complete. I have tested a lot of the recipes, and most of them have come out excellent.
I have had to warn those who have borrowed this book to reduce the salt. On his own admission, James Beard seems to like his bread salty.
Despite this however, it is a truly comprehensive book. And yes, it does tell you very nicely that each time you bake bread it almost always comes out different. Beard actually encourages you to try his recipes to find them out yourself. I have, and I am happy I have this book!

Rating:
Summary: Good for novices, avoid if you've made bread before
Review: This book covers a bit of technique up front then has several recipes for various types of bread. If you're a complete novice, this is a great reference but experienced bread makers won't find much new here. You'll get the same information watching a few cooking shows and taking notes.

Rating:
Summary: Basically the Best from Beard
Review: This is my favorite simple bread book. The book I would buy for anyone interested in learning to bake yeast breads. It is filled with classic bread recipes from brioche to whole wheat bread. James Beard was a pioneer in appreciating American cooking. His recipes are clear, easy, informative, and most important in a cookbook, inviting. Highley recommended are the challah, pita, and white bread recipes. If you are yeast phobic, don't worry, he has plenty of non yeast recipes. But, beware,once you open the book, it will be hard to resist trying some of the yeast bread recipes. Bread machine users should note this book was written way before these machines were invented

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, if not the best there is
Review: This is the book I refer to when baking for someone who hates whole grain bread (my usual baking). James Beard has some wonderful and unusual recipes. I particularly recommend the saffron and sour cream bread recipes. However the book has some serious flaws. His whole grain recipes lack variety and imagination, and his recipes as a whole tend to the unhealthy - i.e. lots of butter, oil, sour cream, etc. in most recipes. So for someone looking to bake healthy breads, this isn't the book for you. If you want a better book for whole grain baking, try "The Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book", which does a magnificent job, and doesn't require that you bake white bread first to do a good job with whole wheat.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointment for Sourdough Lovers
Review: When I read James Beard's introduction to his very short chapter on sourdough breads, I wished I had not bought this book. He writes that in his opinion sourdough bread "is much overrated and is difficult to perfect at home" and that he is "not sure it is worth the trouble". I profoundly disagree. Preparing sourdough is neither too difficult nor too much trouble, and a good sourdough bread such as a French country loave or a German Bauernbrot cannot be overrated! To make things worse the author suggests in his recipe the use of commercial yeast to make the starter, a procedure which most experienced home bakers advise you against. If on the other hand you want some good basic white breads or whole grain breads, you will find interesting and easy to follow recipes. But if your goal is to work on your sourdough techniques - turn to other authors!