Tuesday 8 November 2016

Cookery book review : Cook & Enjoy Baking


Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favourite things

I've been channelling my inner Julie Andrews this week, since receiving this exciting package from Parragon Books. It came accompanied with a tea towel, which a clue to what was hiding inside. (Actually, with the camera flash, you can see what was under the brown paper if you look closely !)


Ripping off the paper, I discovered Cook & Enjoy Baking : Delicious Recipes For The Everyday Cook. It is a hardback book with 224 pages, packed with 100 family-friendly recipes, both for everyday basic bakes and also some more elaborate dishes for special occasions.


The book is split into sections : Cakes, Small Cakes & Slices, Cookies, Desserts and Bread and Savouries. It offers a wide selection of desserts, snacks and nibbles rather than complete meals and, flicking through, I frequently mumbled "ooh, that looks nice" or "I haven't eaten those in years" !


I am a pretty adventurous cook so I found quite a few of the recipes to be quite simple and homely, reminding me of the things I used to make in cookery lessons at school.


There are some more unusual and original options though, such as Mango & Ginger Roulade or Blue Cheese, Fig & Walnut Bread, and other twists on old favourites, such as adding walnuts to banana bread.


The recipes are all accompanied by beautifully presented, full-colour photos and are clearly laid out with step-by-step instructions. It would be a great book for a novice baker or someone who wants to get back to basics and make things, such as bread and cakes, from scratch, rather than going for shop-bought options. Even the simple recipes often have little twists to bring them bang up to date or add a touch of pizazz.


The first recipe that I tried was for Cheese Straws - a recipe I initially thought would be too basic, because the last time I made them was probably in primary school ! However, the recipe I used back then certainly didn't include curry powder, cumin seeds and poppy seeds (or black onion seeds, which was what I had in the spice rack) and they gave them a lovely touch of exoticism, really bringing the flavour alive and taking them to another level.


I also made some Chewy Oat Biscuits but as I changed the recipe slightly, substituting the wholemeal flour for Ready Brek (very finely milled oats), they came out with a heavier texture and everybody decided they were more like scones.


I finished off a packet of Fruit, Nuts & Goji Berries instead of the usual raisins, which gave them a lovely crunch and tartness, along with the sweetness. Because they contain oats and fruit, we decided they were a good breakfast option and they have been gobbled up, either straight from the tin or spread with butter.

Both of the recipes were simple to follow (and to adapt to use what you have in the cupboards) and we'll definitely be working through some more of the recipes.

RRP : £14.99

  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Parragon Book Service Ltd (13 Sept. 2016)
  • ISBN-10: 1474843972
  • ISBN-13: 978-1474843973
  • Product Dimensions: 22.1 x 1.9 x 27.6 cm



Disclosure : I received the book in order to write an honest review.

12 comments:

  1. Love recipe book that are simple and easy to follow

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    1. My kids are getting to the age when they want to make recipes all by themselves now so this is a great place to start. It does have some more complex recipes too so it's a good mix :)

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  2. This looks like a fab book and the recipes you made turned out well

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    Replies
    1. They did, and they were quick and simple too - win-win !

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  3. This looks great! I love adding a touch of spice to cheese straws, as well, you're right about how much it adds to their impact.

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    Replies
    1. I'd never thought of it but it's a great idea :)

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  4. Looks like a good recipe book. I like the look of the walnut & banana cake.

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    1. Me too, definitely one of the next ones I'll try :)

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  5. I do like books that go back to the basics, good old recipes that stand the test of time. By the way my wife has always made banana and walnut cake, never banana on it's own!

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    1. I'd never thought of putting them together but I will definitely be giving it a try very soon :)

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  6. I should stop buying more cook books, I have already enough to last me a lifetime. But I cannot resist a new cook book, and this one sounds lovely

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    Replies
    1. Oh I know exactly what you mean - I can never resist picking them up at The Works or in the Christmas sales !

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