5 comments about The Professional Pastry Chef (3rd Edition).

1. This is the best book I have ever found. Whatever I need to bake I know I'll find the recipe in here, and best of all I know that it will work. As if these were not enough the presentations look great. If you love self teaching this is the book for you. I feel I have learned more from this book that at culinary school. I wish I could meet Mr. Frieberg, he is the best teacher I have ever had. It has very easy to follow instructions and all the information you need. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with us.



2. I've been collecting cookbooks especially in baking and pastry. This is the best ever pastry book I've ever had. I'm not a pro but I tried some of the recipes. It was easy to follow and straightforward. The only suggestion is please add some more pictures. Anyway thanks so much Mr Bo. I wish I have enough time to try all your recipes. I'll recommend this book to my friends.



3. I'm not a pastry chef but still have a love of intricate baking. I really enjoyed Mr. Friberg's explanatory paragraphs prior to each recipe...he has a wonderful sense of humour and is very articulate. I agree the book is geared toward the professional pastry chef (of course, look at the book's title!) but the average baker can make some of the beautiful presentations in the book because of the author's detailed explanations and directions. Intricate chapters on doughs, bread/roll baking, cookies, tarts, LOTS of cakes, pastries, etc. as well as how to present the finished products. Some of the work such as with pulled and blown sugar should be attempted only with instruction and proper equipment because of the hot sugar involved...but let's face it...nothing in the book is rocket science and is "do-able" with lots of practice. Classes would be a plus...such as in the sugar work. Beautiful pictures and an entertaining, as well as highly instructional, book. Mr. Friberg comes across as quite friendly and willing to teach/share his wonderful recipes and methods. A far cry from some of the condescending books I have read from this field. This is not the "Cake Mix Doctor" so be prepared to spend time (and money) on the recipes but it is highly worth it in terms of quality and enjoyment.



4. Just look at the photos and you know Bo is a master. His recipes are creative and I have yet to be disappointed in the results. Warning, however: Every recipe I have tried takes many hours and in some cases you have larger portions (for the plated desserts) than the average hungry human can handle. The recipe for the dessert on the cover, for example, yields a dessert that should be shared by two. (It is, by the way, amazingly good.)

   This is encyclopedic; far more than a set of recipes. Bo's explanations of techniques, lists, chemistry lessons, etc. are great and give you a reference you can use whenever you are baking.




5. I am very impressed with this book and highly recommend it. The recipes are varied, from basic cookies to quick breads to impressive plated desserts. It is not for someone who wants to spend no more than 15 minutes, mix a few ingredients and get a dozen cookies (although some recipes are very quick and easy), but it is perfect for me, an adventurous home baker who frequently needs to double or quadruple batches to obtain the quantities I need. Most recipes yield at least double the quantities of standard cookbooks, but there are frequently instructions on making smaller quantities or using alternate pan sizes. Do-ahead instructions are common, which is also a big plus to me. I also am pleased that most measurements are by weight rather than volume. Not only is this more accurate, but, with a good scale, it is much quicker and easier.

   There are several things explained, such as air-spraying chocolate, that I may never do, but was very interested in reading how they are done. Less "professional"options are often included, such as sifting cocoa rather than the air-spraying.

   All in all, this is my new favorite cookbook, both for actual baking and for curling up and reading. It has given me lots of inspiration and I can hardly wait to get cooking!

No comments about Brownies! Good Housekeeping Favorite Recipes (Favorite Good Housekeeping Recipes).

5 comments about Pillsbury: Best of the Bake-Off Cookbook: 50th Anniversary Edition (Pillsbury).

1. This is one of those cookbooks that you can leisurely browse through and discover and rescover many great recipes. There is a nice variety here. All have clear, easy to follow instructions. The brownies on the cover turned out beautifully. That is a complicated recipe, but it is broken into simple steps. Any level chef would enjoy concocting these creative recipes! I also had fun learning about the history of this famous bake-off. This cookbook is a nice addition to any kitchen!



2. I like this book. Whether you will too depends on what kind of cook you are.

   From my point of view (though many think differently) the weakness of this book is the large proportion of recipes based on processed foods. Of the 366 recipes in the book, 57 of them call for Pillsbury crescent rolls or refrigerated biscuits - especially unappealing because of the hydrogenated oils. Almost every soup recipe is made with canned goods and most of the entrees call for packaged foods. Of 46 cake recipes, 26 are based on packaged mixes. The desserts also tend to be quite sweet.

   However, there are a number of good, from scratch recipes included in this collection. The Whole Wheat Raisin Loaf, Ring-a-Ling sweet rolls and the Nutty Graham Picnic Cake are excellent. The Tiramisu-Toffee Torte was also a winner when made with a from-scratch white cake rather than a mix. There are quite a few more interesting recipes I have yet to try.

   In sum, if you embrace packaged foods in all their convenient glory, you'll love this book. Even if you don't use convenience products, there's still a lot to like here. Go ahead and give it a try, but don't buy it as your only baking book. However, if you are really a purist, buy another book.




3. Paging through this cookbook is always a bit of an adventure and promises to yield a delicious dish for just about every occasion. Whether you are looking for a dessert (some of the best recipes in this book are for desserts) or for a main dish, there is something for everyone in this book.

   Some of my family's favorites include Creamy Broccoli and Rice Soup, Savory Crescent Chicken Squares, and Ramen Vegetable Beef Stir-Fry. Our favorite goodies include Caramel-Filled Chocolate Cookies, Pecan Pie Surprise Bars, Raspberry Filled White Chocolate Bars, Caramel Apple Cake, Peanut Butter Crunch Cake, and Cookie Cheesecake Squares.

   I have used this cookbook on many occasions and although I love the recipes, I wish that the book was in a binder instead of a hardcover book. Also, I tend to like cookbooks with more pictures, but I felt that the stories that were included about many of the winners was an excellent addition to this book. Overall, I highly enjoy trying many of these recipes and I feel it is an excellent addition to any cookbook collection. Enjoy!




4. Over the years I have often turned to Pillsbury Bake-Off recipes for innovative appetizers, meals and desserts. I was happily surprised to discover that this cookbook, of over 350 award-winning recipes from the Bake-Off contests, had been published. I bought it recently and have not been disappointed.

   It is true that many of the recipes call for prepackaged or convenience foods. However, the time saved in preparation and the wonderful tasting results prove that, sometimes, the ends justify the means.

   Some of my favorites include: Corn and Pumpkin Soup with Jalapeno Pesto, White Chile with Salsa Verde, Creamy Spinach and Tortellini; Grilled Chicken and Mango Corn Salad, Crafty Crescent Lasagna, Salsa Couscous Chicken, California Casserole, Chewy Peanut Brownie Bars, Lemon Meringue Dessert Squares...and I could go on and on.

   The photographs are beautiful and illustrate the finished product, as well as provide some attractive serving ideas. The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow. "Best Of The Bake-Off" also provides a hands-on history of the evolution of American cooking over the last 50+ years, with short spotlight stories about many of the Bake-Off winners. This fun and easy-to-use cookbook is, in and of itself, a real prize-winner!!
   JANA




5. The best part of this cook book is that the recipes were not created by culinary professionals or famous chefs. The cooks were ordinary people creating put-together recipes requiring no special talents, abilities, or ingredients. On the other hand, some of the recipes make one cringe just by reading them; since they are all contest winners, perhaps they taste better than they seem to appear in print. On the whole, however, it is a collection of (mostly) very good and easy to do recipes for the home baker. This book is a glossy affair full of color photos; it is a shame that the person responsible for the format did not also think of arranging the recipes within each chapter, or supplying a list of recipes for each chapter.
   
   The Pillsbury Flour company has been sponsoring a famous baking and cooking competition for many decades, and this book is a compilation of some of the very best of the winners. Some baking classics came from this contest: French Silk Pie, Tunnel of Fudge, Thumbprint Cookies, Upside Down Cake. The ingenuity and thoughfullness of the amateur cooks often out-shine their professional counterparts, of course they tend to do things like use instant mashed potato flakes (do they still make them? I have not seen them since I was a teenager) and canned vegetables. Many recipes include the ingenious use of store-bought components, like canned biscuit dough, cake mixes, and instant puddings; the flavors were often quite good. I tried some of the more odd recipes, but did not have any problems with any of the recipes, although I was not always happy with the flavor or texture. Most of the recipes were very easy to do, and none required special or sophisticated skills, which is the most valuable part of this cookbook. One interesting factor is that despite the fact that each recipe was by a different person, all recipes seem to have been standardized on one, consistent flour measurement (spoon and sweep).
   
   The first three chapters (appetizers, main dishes, side dishes) were the least inspiring; I do not think I did more than a couple of recipes out of these parts. The chapter on breads was rather ordinary, but the one for sweet rolls and coffee cakes was quite good. The cookies were OK. The cakes were extraordinary, the pies were OK. The last chapter was a hotch-potch of recipes that did not fit anywhere else.
   
   In summary, this is a valuable cook book to have on your book shelf for those occassions when you have many hungry people at your table and you just need to throw together something decent, or you just do not have the time or inclination to do anything else.

3 comments about The Pillsbury Healthy Baking Book: Fresh Approaches to More Than 200 Favorite Recipes.

1. If you think 'healthy' baking means 'dry and tasteless' baking, think again. I have tried most of these recipes, and every one of them is delicious. It has recipes for everything from breads and muffins to cookies and desserts. Everything turns out moist and flavorful. Our family's favorite is the Individual Hot Fudge Sundae Cakes. I have a huge sweet tooth, and I lost over 60 lbs with the help of this cookbook!



2. THE BEST! My librarian turned me on to this book but I'm on my way right now to purchase my own copy.
   And I recommend you do the same. This is the best collection of EZ to make, low-fat, healthy ingredient baking
   recipes I've come across. Every recipe I've done so far has turned out excellent! Lots of beautiful pictures and
   simple complete instructions. I'm working my way thru to the Yeast Bread section. This would make a perfect gift.



3. I have purchased many books with a "healthy" title but where the actual recipes tasted ho-hum or worse. These are tasty and easy. Our whole family loves virtually every cookie recipe. No one can believe these are actually lower in fat than usual. I highly recommend.

2 comments about The Chocolate Deck: 50 Luscious Indulgences (Epicurean Delights).

1. "...In the year 2001, chocolate consumption in this country was more than three billion pounds. And for you, fellow chocolate lovers, I've created these recipes with as much deep, dark chocolate as possible. And you don't need previous experience making desserts or working with chocolate-I am totally confident that you can make these luscious chocolate desserts with ease." - From the deck
   
   For those of us who consume chocolate at the rate of Emperor Montezuma, The Chocolate Deck is a wonderful treat! This 50-card deck features a full-color picture of the dish one side of the card and an easy-to-follow recipe on the other.
   
   Some of the luscious recipes you'll find in this deck include:
   
   * Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies
   * Quickest, Easiest Chocolate Mousse Pie
   * Chocolate Refrigerator Roll
   * Dark Chocolate Tart
   * Mexican-Style Hot Chocolate For Adults
   * Grilled Chocolate-Stuffed Bananas
   * Chocolate Cheesecake
   * Buttery Chocolate Wafers
   * Bittersweet Hot Chocolate Soufflé
   * Chocolate Panna Cotta
   * Mocha Tiramisu
   * Chocolate Whipped Cream
   * Chocolate Martini
   
   and more!
   
   The Chocolate Deck comes with a 4-part fold-out that lists the recipes in numerical order, as well as describes the different forms of chocolate, necessary recipes (that aren't on the cards), a short history of chocolate, and how chocolate goes from cacao to the final product.
   
   The cards measure approximately 5.5 x 3.75 inches and come in an attractive, sturdy box. The top comes off easily, providing easy access to the deck, and the box can stand upright.
   
   The full-color photos make my mouth water! My only complaint with this deck is that a few of the pictures repeat. However, considering the tempting recipes in The Chocolate Deck, this is a minor criticism!
   
   If you love chocolate or know someone who does, these cards would make a wonderful alternative to a bulky cookbook!
   
   (To see 6 images from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)



2. The cards are sturdy and attractive, and thankfully coated so that they wipe off fairly easily. The backs are graced with attractive photographs, usually of the card's dish. Thanks to the necessarily brief format, you know you're getting relatively simple recipes that don't require a ton of page-flipping. Ingredients and instructions are laid out quite well, and are easy to make out in a hurry.
   
   Surprisingly, a four-panel foldout card includes a listing of all recipes with numbers (cards are numbered one through 50) as well as some basic tips and recipes for such things as melting chocolate and making chocolate frosting. We made two different kinds of chocolate mousse from the deck--a whipped cream-based mousse cake and an egg white-based mousse--and both were absolutely divine. The chocolate jelly (a chocolate jello-like dessert) didn't fare quite as well; it separated into two layers with different textures, and although it tasted quite good, not everyone at dinner was fond of the texture.
   
   To a certain extent the utility of this deck is dependent on your personality and style; if you're highly organized, I think you'll find it much more usable than I did and can probably consider the rating to be 5 out of 5. If, like me, you have ADD-induced brain scatter, constantly having to find the small cards while you cook might drive you a tad nuts! Keep this in mind when deciding whether this item is right for you.

5 comments about 1,001 Low-Fat Desserts.

1. You can have your cakes, cookies and pies and eat them too! I know that it may sound like a bit of a cliché, however, when I first purchased this cookbook (initially for a gift, but of course I had to keep it), I found myself quickly flipping through the pages like a suspense novel and each recipe I read, sounded even more delicious than the last.

   CHOCOLATE, without a doubt, is my favorite food, so naturally my first recipe to try was something in the "chocolate family". Triple-Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake had all of the rich, satisfying qualities chocolate-lovers seek, however, it had only a small portion of the fat.

   I was so very surprised to see some of my old-favorite comfort recipes included in this low-fat version cookbook. A bowl of Old-fashioned Apple Crisp, warm, crunchy and sweet on a chilly autumn night. Who could resist? The Creamy-Rice Pudding brought back wonderful memories of my Grandmother's pudding, with its creamy-smooth, rich taste. The all-time favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie was everything one would expect from an original recipe cookie.

   Chapter 12 would be of great interest to anyone whom might be on a sugar-restrictive diet, its pages are filled with sweet, low-fat treats created with the sugar-substitute Equal. I am going to try a few of these recipes too, as a few family members are diabetic. I am sure they will be as "Equally" delicious as the other recipes I have tried.

   You will not believe that these sinfully-delicious desserts are low-fat. The nutritional breakdown is helpful for conversion of these recipes into the points system used on my specific diet program. It makes dieting easy and delicious and only you need to know these recipes are low in fat. If you are seeking a delicious, guilt-free way to enjoy dessert, try this cookbook! You will surely enjoy it for years to come.




2. I agree with everything the other people have said about thisbook.I sat down to look through it with a pen & paper,so that icould keep notes about which items i wanted to make.Needless to say i just stopped writing.I want to make just about everything in this book.I will not have a need for any other dessert books ever! It has everything, cookies, pies, tarts, cakes, puddings, frozen desserts, pastries, etc. If you want sugar free then theres alot of choices to make with Equal.I wish i had been aware of this book before i had purchased several of the other ones i now have.



3. I received this book, but feel that the receipes are very high in fat to be rated a low fat cookbook. Sorry



4. Anyone who enjoys desserts but is concerned with fat intake should buy this book. The recipes are varied, ranging from classics to new inventions. The difficulty levels also vary, so it is easy to choose a quick and simple recipe when in a hurry. This is a good reference that will be used for many years. Results are predictable and the taste is satisfactory.

   However, one cannot expect these recipes to produce the sinfully rich and delicious taste of high fat recipes. After all, fat adds the flavor! So, the butter and sugar recipes will still remain number 1 in my heart.




5. This is a fabulous recipe book for low-fat desserts. The most amazing part is that there are just so many different choices! With 1001 total, it's nearly impossible to decide which to make each time I feel like dessert -- but helpfully, this book is laid out by types of dessert -- even the cheesecake, one of my personal favourites, gets its own section. The ingredients and equipment required by this book are easy to find and acquire -- most are the kind you find in the baking needs aisle in a supermarket. And most recipes are easy to make, even for this baking novice (I have only done about half a dozen and so far that's the case). The hardest part had been to wait for something to chill overnight before eating. The important part, of course, is taste. The New York style cheesecake is absolutely creamy and rich -- no one I presented it to believed it was low-fat. Other various tarts and cakes have also won the approval of my taste-testers. Based on my experience with this book so far, I highly recommend it.

4 comments about Desserts for Dummies.

1. I went to school(BICC in Baltimore)for baking and pastry and can only wish that I had had these guys as teachers. Very informative with easy to use directions. They explain every thing very thoroughly and I gotta tell you the pie dough recipe is excellent. I am no longer afraid to attempt pie making!!! If you are into desserts and want a good book with some great recipes go for this one to start your collection. You just can't go wrong.



2. The recipes are great, beautiful, wonderful, and most importantly-just about fool proof! Try the lemon poppy seed cake with the blueberry topping. It alone I think was worth the price of the book. The only time I messed a recipe up was when I was to impatient to wait for a pan of custard to cool. Stunning recipes for a novice cook.



3. The book made me feel confident and I took on more and more recipes. They all came out wonderful. My family is trying a lot of new dishes out of Dessert for Dummies, and they love them all.



4. Sweetest Job in Washington
   
   The White House has a new executive pastry chef,
   William "Bill" Yosses, whose last project was helping
   to open lefty Paul Newman's new restaurant in
   Westport, Conn. (Dressing Room: A Homegrown
   Restaurant) where the emphasis is on locally grown and
   organic foods.
   
   As the top pastry chef, Yosses will be responsible for
   dessert menus for state dinners and holiday
   celebrations among other events. He got a taste of the
   work recently when he served as a holiday pastry chef,
   and has extensive experience at New York City
   restaurants.
   
   "Chef Yosses has impressed us from the start with his
   original and delicious creations. He has a light touch
   with desserts, and the enthusiasm with which he
   approaches his profession makes him a real asset for
   all of us in the White House," First Lady Laura said
   in announcing the appointment.
   
   Not in the White House press release: Yosses is also
   co-author of the cookbook "Desserts for Dummies," an
   Amazon.com review of which promised: "Before you know
   it, you'll start creating desserts that you've only
   dreamed of." -Mary Lu Carnevale
   
   [...]

No comments about 150 Best Diabetes Desserts.

2 comments about 125 Best Biscuit Mix Recipes: From Appetizers to Desserts (125 Best).

1. I found your book and was glad that I bought it! The empanadas recipe was a Godsend as I was paying a wonderful Spanish lady for her homemade goodies for sometime... I will miss talking to her, but at least I have my empanadas and don't have to wait! Wonderful book , great recipes, different tastes! How could you go wrong?????



2. Like his 125 Best Cheesecake Recipes, George has compiled some wonderful recipes that are easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. If you don't like the store bought biscuit mixes, this book includes a homemade version. Couldn't be better!

No comments about Mom's Best Desserts: 100 Classic Treats that Taste As Good Now As They Did Then.