For every serious home baker, French pastry represents the ultimate achievement. But to master the techniques, a written recipe can take you only so far—what is equally important is to see a professional in action, to learn the nuances of rolling out dough for croissaints or caramelizing apples for a tarte tatin. For each of the 210 recipes here, there are photographs that lead the reader through every step of the instructions. There has never been such a comprehensive primer on patisserie. The important base components—such as crème patisserie, pâte à choux, and chocolate ganache—are presented as stand-alone recipes. Once comfortable with these, the home baker can go on to tackle the famous and more complex creations—such as Éclairs, Saint-Honoré, Opéra—as well as feel empowered to explore new and original combinations. An entire chapter is devoted to decoration as well as sauces, syrups, and fillings. Whether used to develop skills or to refine techniques, to gain or simply broaden a repertoire, Patisserie dispels the mystery around classic French pastries, so that everyone can make them at home.

    Spotting the familiar items in the hundreds of brilliant photos is at least half the fun.  America's favorite food photography team shows how to create funny, scary, and sophisticated masterpieces using a ziplock bag and common candies and snack items. With these easy-to-follow techniques, even the most kitchen-challenged cooks can:• raise a big-top circus cupcake tier for a kid's birthday• plant candy vegetables on Oreo earth cupcakes for a garden party• trot out a line of confectionery "pup cakes" for a dog fancier• serve spaghetti and meatball cupcakes for April Fool's Day• bewitch trick-or-treaters with eerie alien cupcakes• create holidays on icing with a white Christmas cupcake wreath, turkey cupcake place cards, and Easter egg cupcakes

    We planned this cookbook so that even abeginning cook could successfully use our recipes simply by.t-ollowing the diagrams of the steps along with the recipe itself. Inthis collection of recipes, we demonstrate all the fundamentalcooking techniques, from folding in egg whites, to kneading bread,rolling piecrusts, decorating cakes and cookies, even boning certaincuts of meat and poultry. We've included recipes that are oftenconsidered difficult as well as everyday ones.Since recipe selection and meal planning are easier when a pictureshows exactly how the food will look, all of our recipes are shownin the large color picture index at the beginning of the book. Youcan browse through these pages and select the recipe best suited foryour specific occasion. The color pictures also suggest how togarnish and serve the dish. Captions to the pictures provideinformation on the recipe seasonings, cooking methods used, timeneeded to prepare the food, number of servings and so on.For the first time in a cookbook, menu planning is made easier asthe pictures are arranged according to the course of the meal,starting with all the appetizers and going through to maindishes, salads, breads and desserts.Many of these recipes are classics, direct from the pages of GoodHousekeeping Magazine. Others are newly developed for this book.All have had the careful scrutiny of Mildred Ying, GoodHousekeeping's food editor. She and her staff checked andrechecked these recipes, trying several brands of ingredients,eliminating extra steps, using fewer utensils, confirming the cookingtimes, making sure they are nutritionally sound and, mostimportantly, that they tasted as good as they looked.Besides Mildred, Ellen Connelly of the food staff helped especiallywith the planning of the chapters; Lucy Wing helped with checkingour how-to drawings and with many hours of proof-reading.

    But it is possible to feed your family a healthy, balanced diet (without depriving them of the things they like) even if you work full-time and don't have a lot of money. This book provides simple, wholesome and nutritious recipes for family meals; quick lunches, tasty puddings and cakes - and you don't have to spend hours slaving over a hot stove, or spend a fortune at the supermarket. There are menu plans, recipes, shortcuts and dozens of ideas for every meal, together with tried and tested tips to help you save your valuable time and money. Now everyone can be a yummy mummy or daddy in the kitchen. AUTHOR BIOG: Gill Holcombe is passionate about feeding her kids good food. She grew up before the culture of convenience food took hold - and knows how to cook. Having brought up three children on her own for over ten years, she says the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and has three fit, healthy teenagers with loads of energy - and no fillings in their teeth.

    No chocolate lover can refuse a slice of rich chocolate torte, and a mound of homey blackberry cobbler captures the mood of summer. And what better way to end an elegant dinner party than with a scoop of refreshing mango sorbet or a serving of poached pears drizzled with raspberry sauce?Williams-Sonoma Collection Dessert offers more than 40 recipes, including favorite classics and fresh new ideas. Inside, you'll find simple desserts perfect for a quick afternoon snack as well as seasonal recipes designed for events throughout the year—from the ideal ending to a July picnic to the last course of a hearty autumn meal. For an impressive presentation, offer your guests a selection of elegant desserts on special occasions. And finally, a chapter devoted entirely to chocolate gives you good reason to indulge in everybody's favorite temptation.Full-color photographs of each dessert help make it easy to decide which to prepare, and each recipe is accompanied by a photographic side note that highlights a baking technique or key ingredient, making Dessert much more than just a fine collection of recipes. An informative basics section and extensive glossary fill in all you need to know to create an unforgettable dessert that everyone will enjoy.Whether it's a plate of warm double chocolate chip cookies, a chilled dish of richly caramelized crème brûlée, or a thick wedge of old-fashioned apple pie, no one can resist the sweet allure of a homemade dessert.Williams-Sonoma Collection Dessert offers more than 40 easy-to-follow recipes, including both time-honored classics and irresistible new ideas. In these pages, you'll find delicious desserts, both simple and extraordinary, designed to fit any occasion at any time of year, from an elegant holiday celebration to a quick mid-afternoon treat. This beautifully photographed, full-color recipe collection is certain to become an essential addition to your kitchen bookshelf.

    All you need is a mug, a microwave, and a few basic ingredients, and you’ll be feasting on a delicious homemade cake in minutes. Whether you’re craving the classics, seasonal flavors, holiday-themed treats, bottomless chocolate, or fresh fruit galore, The Absolute Best Mug Cakes Cookbook ensures that everyone in your household will get exactly what they want. Bake your way through a wide range of satisfying and easy-to-prepare treats with: • 100+ irresistible mug cake recipes, including Salted Caramel, Cinnamon Roll, Mexican Chocolate, and Confetti • Dozens of options for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, paleo and vegan diets so that no one will miss out on the fun • Troubleshooting tips to ensure immediate mug cake success • Inventive ideas for mug cake activities, gifts, and parties • A creative guide to developing your own mug cake recipes

    She had never before considered making her own peanut butter and pita bread, let alone curing her own prosciutto or raising turkeys. And though it sounded logical that "doing it yourself" would cost less, she had her doubts. So Reese began a series of kitchen-related experiments, taking into account the competing demands of everyday contemporary American family life as she answers some timely questions: When is homemade better? Cheaper? Are backyard eggs a more ethical choice than store-bought? Will grinding and stuffing your own sausage ruin your week? Is it possible to make an edible maraschino cherry? Some of Reese's discoveries will surprise you: Although you should make your hot dog buns, guacamole, and yogurt, you should probably buy your hamburger buns, potato chips, and rice pudding. Tired? Buy your mayonnaise. Inspired? Make it. With its fresh voice and delightful humor, Make the Bread, Buy the Butter gives 120 recipes with eminently practical yet deliciously fun "Make or buy" recommendations. Reese is relentlessly entertaining as she relates her food and animal husbandry adventures, which amuse and perplex as well as nourish and sustain her family. Her tales include living with a backyard full of cheerful chickens, muttering ducks, and adorable baby goats; countertops laden with lacto-fermenting pickles; and closets full of mellowing cheeses. Here's the full picture of what is involved in a truly homemade life -- with the good news that you shouldn't try to make everything yourself -- and how to get the most out of your time in the kitchen.

    From large, lumpy tomatoes bursting with taste, to sun-ripened melons, to goat cheese rolled in fresh herbs, and to locally produced organic honey, this is food as nature intended.