Back to Baking: 200 Timeless Recipes to Bake, Share, and Enjoy

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 · 99 ratings  · 7 reviews

Start your review of Back to Baking: 200 Timeless Recipes to Bake, Share, and Enjoy

Aug 08, 2014 Lucinda rated it it was amazing

As a person who likes to bake, but is basically a novice who has only mastered a few recipes, a good baking book is like the keys to the kingdom. And Anna Olson delivers that in this cookbook. She gives the nitty-gritty on what kind of fats to use (butter versus shortening versus lard) for pastries, as well as what type of instrument to use for mixing (standmixer, pastry blender, wooden spoon, food processor or even your hands) and why she thinks one or the other is best and for what type of rec As a person who likes to bake, but is basically a novice who has only mastered a few recipes, a good baking book is like the keys to the kingdom. And Anna Olson delivers that in this cookbook. She gives the nitty-gritty on what kind of fats to use (butter versus shortening versus lard) for pastries, as well as what type of instrument to use for mixing (standmixer, pastry blender, wooden spoon, food processor or even your hands) and why she thinks one or the other is best and for what type of recipe. She basically tells you everything you need to know to give you some freedom to start improvising a bit.

Baking is tough because every little step is soooo important for the final outcome, and she explains the logic of each step. She converts measurements between volume and weight (yay! Americans tend to measure volume and British or Europeans - like my mom - tend to weigh). She explains what type of pan to use for what you are baking, what types of sugars, chocolate and milks/creams work best depending on what you are making. PLUS she has gluten-free and vegan recipes , which each get their own chapters.

She also explains what type of egg and milk substitutes you can use for all her recipes, suggesting which ones work best for what type of recipe .

Overall this book has all the basic recipes that you might want - and they all turn out so well! When I use this book I feel like I have a little baking fairy on my shoulder magically making everything I bake turn out perfectly.

About the author: Anna Olson looks a little bit stepford wife, a little bit Martha Stewart. You know, the perfectionist type who can master all the arts of home-making. At least that's how she looks and comes across in her cooking shows. She is actually a trained chef, AND she lives in Welland. Welland, people, Welland (my southern Ontario friends will know what this means). When I read in the sleeve of her baking book that she lived in the Niagara region I thought she probably lived in Niagara-on-the-Lake. But, no, she lives in Welland, in a really old house with a surprisingly smallish kitchen, in which she films her cooking show 'Bake with Anna Olson'. Three Cheers for Anna Olson.

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Aug 07, 2013 Zelly B. rated it it was amazing

I have been using this week's evenings to experiment with several recipes from Anna Olson's book, and each one of them so far has been a hit.

I bake, I enjoy the process, I bring the goods into studio and share with my friends + classmates. Everyone is happy.

This book is amazing.

I do wish there were a few more photographs for many of these recipes, but other than that, I definitely trust Anna Olson's methods and her ingredients.

This woman is amazing.

I have been using this week's evenings to experiment with several recipes from Anna Olson's book, and each one of them so far has been a hit.

I bake, I enjoy the process, I bring the goods into studio and share with my friends + classmates. Everyone is happy.

This book is amazing.

I do wish there were a few more photographs for many of these recipes, but other than that, I definitely trust Anna Olson's methods and her ingredients.

This woman is amazing.

...more

Dec 10, 2013 Rachel rated it really liked it

Over the years I have watched a number of Anna Olson cooking shows. I find that she always manages to put a delectable spin on classics. This is not the first cookbook by Anna that I have perused, and it is as good (or better) than those.
Most of the time cookbooks begin with an introduction to baking. Most of the time I skip this information because it is too basic. This cookbook included a section on testing your measurements and a volume to weight conversion table. I found that handy.
This reci Over the years I have watched a number of Anna Olson cooking shows. I find that she always manages to put a delectable spin on classics. This is not the first cookbook by Anna that I have perused, and it is as good (or better) than those.
Most of the time cookbooks begin with an introduction to baking. Most of the time I skip this information because it is too basic. This cookbook included a section on testing your measurements and a volume to weight conversion table. I found that handy.
This recipe book included 200 recipes and I found a number that I can hardly wait to try. The cookie section was my favourite (I had nearly every page marked) and the peanut butter Nanaimo bars sound divine.
This is one cookbook that after studying it, I think it will make a great addition to my collection.
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Apr 12, 2012 Catherine rated it really liked it

Really great twists on traditional recipes and new ones too.

Jul 17, 2012 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Loved this baking book by Anna Olson - think that I might have to buy myself a copy, as this was a loaner from the library.

Jul 11, 2014 Alice Bliss rated it it was amazing

it was really good!the photoes are wonderful and the recipes look sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo GOOD!!!!!!

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