First off, let me admit just how excited I was to get my hands on a copy of this book – I was REALLY excited. I’ve been following Shannon Sarna’s amazing looking breads, cakes and other delicious recipes online for a while. How fabulous to have them all together in one handy book! Read on to get a taste of this terrific new recipe book and see how you can WIN a copy for yourself…
When I first opened the book and had a riffle through it, I found it was not at all as I imagined. Instead of having dozens of different recipes for umpteen kinds of cakes, cookies, breads, desserts, etc etc, the recipes in this book are divided into just seven categories of dough – challah, babka, bagels, rugelach, hamantaschen, pita bread and matzah. And that’s it – just seven types of bake… plus of course DOZENS of creative and mouthwatering variations, ideas on how to use leftovers (if there are any), what to serve alongside, fillings, toppings, tricks, techniques, and inspiration to create your own unique flavours using the book as a guide.
For instance, I decided to try and make babka (see below) and was faced with the choice of chocolate babka, cinnamon babka, s’mores babka, tropical babka, peanut butter and jelly babka, and three different savoury babkas! Oh my!
Each chapter has an introduction and guidance about ‘how the dough should feel’, notes on rising, storage, the best kinds of flour for each bake, and the essential tools that will be required for success. There are clear photographic illustrations showing how to roll, fold, braid, cut, fill and shape the various breads, cakes and cookies, and all-in-all it feels like Shannon is almost there in the kitchen holding your hand and guiding you towards perfect results.
Ingredients
Instructions
for full instruction please see : family-friends-food.com
When I first opened the book and had a riffle through it, I found it was not at all as I imagined. Instead of having dozens of different recipes for umpteen kinds of cakes, cookies, breads, desserts, etc etc, the recipes in this book are divided into just seven categories of dough – challah, babka, bagels, rugelach, hamantaschen, pita bread and matzah. And that’s it – just seven types of bake… plus of course DOZENS of creative and mouthwatering variations, ideas on how to use leftovers (if there are any), what to serve alongside, fillings, toppings, tricks, techniques, and inspiration to create your own unique flavours using the book as a guide.
For instance, I decided to try and make babka (see below) and was faced with the choice of chocolate babka, cinnamon babka, s’mores babka, tropical babka, peanut butter and jelly babka, and three different savoury babkas! Oh my!
Each chapter has an introduction and guidance about ‘how the dough should feel’, notes on rising, storage, the best kinds of flour for each bake, and the essential tools that will be required for success. There are clear photographic illustrations showing how to roll, fold, braid, cut, fill and shape the various breads, cakes and cookies, and all-in-all it feels like Shannon is almost there in the kitchen holding your hand and guiding you towards perfect results.
Ingredients
- For the dough
- 1 tbsp dry active yeast
- 1/3 cup (+ 1/2 tsp) sugar (70g + 1/2 tsp)
- 1/2 cup lukewarm water (110ml)
- 4 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (575g)
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup whole or 2% milk (or almond milk) (110ml)
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter or margarine, melted (170g)
- 2 eggs
- For the sugar syrup
- 2/3 cup water (150ml)
- 1 cup sugar (200g)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- For the filling
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (170g)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar (300g)
- 2 tbsp cinnamon
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Place the yeast and 1/2 tsp sugar in a small bowl. Add the lukewarm water and stir gently to mix. Set aside until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together the flour, 1/3 cup sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla.
- In a medium saucepan, scald the milk (bring almost to a boil, until milk is just simmering.) Allow to sit for 1 minute to cool just slightly.
- ...............................
for full instruction please see : family-friends-food.com
