Bonus Book Review - The Complete Guide to Bread Machine Baking by Better Homes & Gardens
Gary: Welcome back to Healthy Vegan Living! I’m your host, Gary, and with me is my cohost, the man who claims to have invented the first vegan kale smoothie, John!
John: Hey everyone! I’m still waiting for my patent on that
kale smoothie. Today, we've got a bonus book review for you all – The Complete
Guide to Bread Machine Baking by Better Homes & Gardens. And Gary, I’ve got
to say, this book is making me carb crazy!
Gary: Same here, John! This book is thicker than my
grandma’s oatmeal and packed with recipes for bread machines. It’s like the
Holy Grail for bread enthusiasts.
John: Or as I like to call it, “Yeast Mode: Activated.” But
seriously, this book has it all – classic, shaped, sweet, holiday, and savory
breads. You name it, they’ve kneaded it.
Gary: Nice one, John. But let’s dive into the nitty-gritty.
The book is beautifully laid out. It’s got these glossy pages that make you
feel like you’re holding a treasure map, but there’s a catch. And trust me,
it’s a sticky situation.
John: Oh, do tell!
Gary: The pages don’t do well with water. The first time I
used it, a little splash of water turned the book into a sticky mess. The pages
stuck together like best friends at a vegan potluck.
John. So, note to self: keep the book away from the kitchen
sink! But hey, at least the content is great. I love how the recipes are laid
out for 1 1/2 and 2-pound loaves. It’s like they knew we’d be baking for an
army of vegans.
Gary: Exactly! And the tips at the front of the book are
golden. It’s like having a bread-baking coach right there with you, whispering
secrets of the yeast gods.
John: “Whispering secrets of the yeast gods” – that’s
poetic, Gary! And the sourdough starter recipe is a game changer. It’s easier
than convincing my mom that tofu is actually delicious.
Gary: Good luck with that one, John. But let’s talk about
the recipes. They’ve got everything from pretzels to bagels. My favorite so far
is the Cinnamon Swirl Bread. It’s so good it might make you forget about
avocado toast.
John: Blasphemy! But I hear you. The recipes are spot on,
though I had to add a bit more yeast to compensate for living at sea level.
It’s like giving your bread a little extra pep talk.
Gary: Bread needs encouragement too, you know! And the best
part – each recipe includes measurements for both small and large loaves, with
tips on how to use the loaf in other recipes or sandwiches. It’s like the Swiss
Army knife of bread books.
John: Or the multitool of munchies! And let’s not forget,
this book even has nutrition information. It’s like they want us to know just
how many calories we’re about to inhale.
Gary: Exactly! So, in summary, The Complete Guide to Bread
Machine Baking is a fantastic addition to any kitchen. Just keep it away from
water, and you’ll be a bread-making superstar in no time.
John: Absolutely! And if you’re like us and love good,
healthy, and occasionally indulgent vegan bread, this book is a must-have.
Plus, it’s great for anyone who wants to impress their friends with their bread
machine skills.
John: And keep the bread machine humming! Catch you next
time, folks!
The Complete Guide to Bread Machine Baking (Better Homes
& Gardens) Hardcover – January 1, 1999
This essential cookbook
is perfect for both novice and experienced bread machine bakers. Packed with
recipes for classic, shaped, sweet, holiday, and savory breads, it offers a
solution for every occasion. With over 180 recipes for 1 half- and 2-pound
machines, you'll find both timeless favorites and innovative new creations. The
comprehensive guide ensures foolproof bread machine baking and includes an
easy-to-use troubleshooting chart. Additionally, it offers tips for converting
traditional recipes to bread machine versions, bonus recipes for butters and
spreads, and mail-order sources for unique flours and ingredients.
Product details
·
Publisher: Better Homes &
Gardens Books (January 1, 1999)
·
Language: English
·
Hardcover: 240 pages
·
ISBN-10: 0696209675
·
ISBN-13: 978-0696209673
Multiple Amazon Reviews: There is one major flaw with this book: The glossy pages are very sensitive to water. The first time I used it, a little water splashed onto the page as I was pouring it into the bread machine. I wiped it up and left the book open to dry, but when I closed it after a couple of hours, the pages stuck together. I had to tear them apart the next day.
That said, the book is really nicely laid out. It is super
easy to read and understand, with lots of fun recipes like pretzels and bagels.
There are different choices for sweet and savory breads, and it includes
nutrition information. The pages are a bit thicker than those of an average
book. The recipes look absolutely delicious, but I wanted more basic whole
grain, sandwich types of bread. We seldom eat sweet or specialty breads, but if
that’s what your family prefers, this is the perfect book.
Overall, this is a very good book. I purchased it used, and
it is worth every penny I paid for it. All of the recipes I have tried have
been spot on. However, the recipe for basic white bread has way too little
yeast in it.
My Opinion: I've found two books to be indispensable for regular bread making, compared to Better Homes & Gardens cookbooks. They offer great explanations and options for multiple loaf sizes. I've had this particular book for nearly 7 years and have never had any issues with it. One of the most striking features of this book is its well-laid-out design and the helpful tips at the front. The recipes turn out well, though I find myself adding a bit more yeast than prescribed because I live at sea level on the US West Coast.
This is my second most-used cookbook in my library because
it lists ingredients side by side for 1 1/2 and 2-pound loaves. It's easy to
read with clear instructions, making it perfect for beginners and experienced
bakers alike. The user-friendly format makes reading recipes easy, with
measurements for both small and large loaves on the same page, along with tips
on how to use the loaf in other recipes or types of sandwiches.
The book has excellent recipes, and the sourdough starter is super easy compared to others I've read. My favorite recipe is the Cinnamon Swirl Bread.
Gary: Well, that’s all for today’s bonus book review. Thanks for tuning in to Healthy Vegan Living! And remember, keep it vegan and keep it delicious.
Tune in to our next episode, Why can’t vegans have butter?
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