I figured I better share by knowledge..or at least my experience, with others.
So I've decided to blog about each of my cookbooks, tell you which recipes I've tried, which I would LIKE to try and the results of thus such "trying". It ain't always pretty, so hang on to your hats.
First up: The Baker's Companion by King Arthur's Flour. Not really my cookbook. I gave it to my husband, Mr. Ate, in 2008.
Mr. Ate is the baker in the family, although I'm desperately trying to outdo the man. This guy can make some caramel pecan rolls that are to die for! (Sorry, can't divulge that recipe, or he'd have me hung!). But alas, my baker husband has not had much time to use this book quite as much as me. In fact, I don't think he's used it at all. Except maybe once. We had a "date night" of making apple pies. We took 3 apple pie recipes, three different crusts and baked each so we could compare and come up with our favorite. It was fun. And sort of romantic. Anyway... got off the subject there.
These are some of the recipes I've made:
Zephyr Pancakes (page 4): Got 5 stars from me. The best pancake recipe I've ever made. I think it's the buttermilk and cream that got me.
Walnut-Strawberry Quick Bread (page 86): I substituted pecans for the walnuts, and I made these in mini-loaf pans. I made this when it was strawberry season. The taste was out of this world!
All-Star Muffins (page 63): This was just so-so for me. I like the fact that it stores well (up to one week in the refrigerator) and I can make a ton of variations of it. I tried apricot & almond (delish), white chocolate macademia nut (didn't use enough white chocolate--but probably won't try this one again), Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (everyone's favorite variation).
Finally, Chocoate Mint Cake (page 345)- without the mint: This was very chocolatey-- a bit too much for me. But it was fun to make. I omitted the mint part. Maybe that's why it was too chocolatey?
I learned how not to assemble a cake with this one. I should have used a deeper round cake pan and cut it in half, OR cut the tops off of these more shallow ones, that way they'd fit together more snug. And maybe taken a little more time to frost. I must have been in a hurry to eat it.
What I'd like to make soon: Tender Focaccia (page 252), Blueberry Buckle (page 132) and most everything else (come on! this is a baking book! hello?? i want to make and eat everything in it!)
