Cakes and Bakes

It is not every day that one comes across a book on home baking, (that most exacting of all culinary arts), which is so comprehensive, yet so reassuring to home bakers who are intimidated by the thought of an encounter with an oven.

In this book the famous Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor don’s his baker’s cap and demystifies the art and science of baking with his characteristic step-by-step instructions and loads of tips and techniques. Baking is reduced to a simple culinary exercise which requires four main ingredients: precision, process, patience and passion. Those from the slap-dash school of cooking are invited to curb their instincts and indulge in a bit of book-cooking instead.

Whip up some fabulous celebration cakes including black forest Gateau and Sacher-Torte; sumptuous desserts such as Tiramisu and Baked Alaska; a variety of mouth-watering sweet and savoury quiches, tarts and pies including Spring Onions  Tarts, Mushroom Quiche, Mississippi Mud Pie and Chilled Lemon Cheesecake; crunchy cookies and biscuits like jammie Bodgers, Walnut Coffee Biscuits, Chocolate Chip Cookies and Nankhatais; delightful teatime treats like Chocolate Éclairs, Cheese Balls and date and Honey Bars; and to complete the baking experience, a range of bread and rolls from Lavash to Focaccia and Hot Cross Buns.

So, armed with this book and loads of ‘flour power’, venture in to the fascinating world of  baking and experience at first hand the wonders of the oven. Store-bought baked goods will never again be an option!