BOOK REVIEW: The Art of Baking Blind by Sarah Vaughan

There are many reasons to bake: to feed; to create; to impress; to nourish; to define ourselves; and sometimes, it has to be said, to perfect. But often we bake to fulfil a hunger that would be better filled by a simple gesture from a dear one. We bake to love and be loved.
In 1966, Kathleen Eaden, cookery writer and wife of a supermarket magnate, published The Art of Baking, her guide to nurturing a family by creating the most exquisite pastries, biscuits and cakes.
Now, five amateur bakers are competing to become the new Mrs Eaden. There's Jenny, facing an empty nest, now her family has flown; Claire, who has sacrificed her dreams for her daughter, Mike, trying to parent his two kids after his wife's death, Vicki who has dropped everything to be at home with her baby boy; and Karen, perfect Karen, who knows what it's like to have nothing and is determined her facade shouldn't slip.
As unlikely alliances are forged and secrets rise to the surface, making the choicest choux bun seems the least of the contestant's problems. For they will learn- as Mrs Eaden did before them- that while perfection is possible in the kitchen, it's very much harder in life. 

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 417

The Art of Baking Blind by Sarah Vaughan is such a good book! With The Great British Bake Off on our TVs again, the publication of the paperback version today is perfectly timed,

The book follows five amateur bakers, Jenny, Mike, Karen, Vicki and Claire as they compete in a competition to become the new Mrs Eaden. Kathleen Eaden, a famous cookery writer published The Art of Baking which became a classic (think Mary Berry or Delia Smith) All five contestants hold Mrs Eaden in high regard so the competition is high.
Each competitor has their own back story plus the book goes back in time to show Kathleen Eaden's life when she was writing her famous book. So there is a lot going on but Sarah Vaughan brings it all together expertly, creating a plot that will keep you enthralled from the very beginning.
I felt that I identified with several of the main characters and the one thing they all have in common is their love of baking. I really loved how Vaughan showed how and why baking had become such a big part of their lives. Baking is one of my hobbies and I think that the author cleverly showed how emotive it is as a past-time. I love trying new recipes and getting them right but the main reason I enjoy baking is that I like to be able to share it with other people. I love it when my daughter asks for a particular cake that I make as I know that I have created something that she enjoys and will remember from her childhood.
The Art of Baking Blind appealed to me on so many different levels. It was warm, witty and insightful. I felt like it was a very comforting read that resonated with me, I highly recommend that you read it,

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley.  

Recipe Book Review: Bake and Decorate by Fiona Cairns

Baking has never been more popular. And if you thought cake decorating was costly and difficult, then this book will change your mind forever. Fiona Cairns is bursting with new ideas for making delicious, beautiful cakes and biscuits easy, even for the novice cook, and for much less money than you thought. Choose from more than 30 delicious recipes for large cakes, small cakes and biscuits in the first part- BAKE- and over 50 fabulous decoration schemes formed from them in the second- decorate.
Dazzle and indulge your friends with modern, magnificent treats, that taste divine, using very simple decorating secrets to create impressive cakes that possess great warmth and charm. Here, finally, is the baking book where every recipe is a keeper and each stunning creation made easy to achieve. 

Fiona Cairns has become even more well known recently after creating William and Kate's wedding cake. Bake and Decorate is her book from 2010 and I think it is simply stunning.
I love Fiona Cairn's approach to baking; in her introduction she says: 'Baking and eating cakes and biscuits is all about home, comfort, pleasure and luxury.' I couldn't agree more, sometimes you want something simple and comforting and other times you want to bake something a little more decadent, this book covers all areas.
At the beginning of the book there are two pages of baking and decorating tips. These are extremely useful and range from advice about colouring sugar paste, hiding flaws and disaster management. Fiona Cairns is reassuring throughout the book and offers ways of making each project as simple as possible.
There are some gorgeous recipes in this book; a few of my favourites are the battenburg cake which was a lot easier than I ever thought it would be and one of my childhood favourites. The surprise fridge cake is so tasty and always a crowd pleaser and the classic shortbread is perfect each time.
Each recipe is accompanied by a picture of either the finished product or the recipe in progress. The recipes themselves are clear, precise and easy to follow. The decorating part of the book is split into three sections; big cakes, small cakes and biscuits. Fiona refers you back to the recipe in the bake section and then details the decorating process. Some of the decorating ideas are very precise but many of them can be easily adapted to suit different occasions.
I love baking but I definitely lack confidence when it comes to decorating. This book has really helped as it is so accessible and the results are achievable without a huge amount of practice. Bake and Decorate will be sitting on my shelf for many years to come; I have been very pleased with what I have made so far but I am really looking forward to trying more of Fiona Cairn's ideas.


Dot Scribbles Rating 4/5

New feature for Dot Scribbles

I mentioned last week on Twitter that I would be starting a new feature on Dot Scribbles. It is something that I have been thinking about for a while so I am excited to finally tell you about it.
I love reading and always have done since I was a child. My other favourite past time is cooking and baking. It is not something that  I have ever really talked about on the blog but I thought why not as it involves a rather large collection of recipe books.
My hobby has also crossed over into work life in the past few months as my lovely sister and I have opened our first cake shop. Vintage House Bakery opened it's doors a few weeks ago and is proving very popular, so now I get to bake most days and call it work!
Anyway, I have digressed a little, the new feature on Dot Scribbles will be recipe book reviews. I know that this won't be everyone's cup of tea and they will in no way be replacing the fiction book reviews that you normally find here. However, I would love to review some of my favourite recipe books on here and you never know, maybe one day there could be a Vintage House Bakery book sitting on my shelf!
If you do have a favourite recipe book then do let me know as it's great to hear what other people have enjoyed. The first recipe book review from me will go up later this week and they will be in a separate tab on the top, I hope that you enjoy them!