The Family Baker: 150 Never-Let-You-Down Basic Recipes

Today's baking books often exhort readers to produce technically advanced marvels. Not so The Family Baker, Susan G. Purdy's collection of 150 basic but delicious recipes. "These are meant to look as homemade as they taste," the award-winning baking book author says, encouraging whole-family participation in their creation--and everyone can get into the act with Purdy's reliable, take-you-by-the hand recipes. Readers looking for a fundamental baking companion, perfect for adult and kid use, or a "one-of-everything" source for American baking favorites will want the book.

In chapters devoted to biscuits, muffins and scones, quick breads, cookies and cakes, pies, pizzas (Purdy's term for thin one-crusted fruit-covered desserts), and more, Purdy offers treat after doable treat. Among these are superior versions of buttermilk biscuits, carrot bread, tapioca and chocolate puddings, old-fashioned sugar cookies, brownies, apple pie, carrot cake, chocolate mousse, and a no-bake cheesecake. Readers will also want to try Sour Cream Apple Crumb Pie, Anna Olson's Spritz Cookies, Chocolate Walnut Bread, and Pumpkin Chiffon Pie with Gingersnap Crust, among other delights. Purdy also offers Kids in the Kitchen, a chapter that includes a blueprint for successful baking with grownups and children, along with recipes such as Baked Banana-Coconut Ice Cream and Caramel Nut Turtles. Step-by-step illustrations, tips, recipe variations, bake sale information, ingredients, and equipment notes round out this easygoing collection, sure to invite kitchen fun. --Arthur Boehm