Is blind baking necessary?

If you have watched The Great British Bake Off or The Great American Baking Show, you know the dreaded words that a baker never wants to hear: you have a soggy bottom. To avoid this fate and ensure a crisp pastry crust on your baked goods, blind baking is the way to go. However, it can be intimidating and time… read more

The Cake Bible – 35th Anniversary Edition – Giveaway

Enter our US/Canada giveaway to win one of two copies of The Cake Bible, 35th Anniversary Edition by Rose Levy Beranbaum and Woody Wolston. Right now on Amazon, buy one book get one at 50 percent off - including this title - type in cookbooks in search qualifying items box! Events are scheduled to promote this book and are available on our… read more

Revising a ‘bible’ – heresy or heavenly?

Rose Levy Beranbaum's The Cake Bible, 35th Anniversary Edition arrived on my doorstep a few days ago. My well worn original edition frequently gets pulled off the shelf for reference, so I was excited to see the updated version. I was a little nervous, however, because often the sequel to a hit is disappointing, and I worried that an attempt… read more

October 2024 EYB Cookbook Club Summary

Each month we previously offered at least four cooking options in our Eat Your Books Cookbook Club. This summer we cooked our favorite recipe from any cookbook, magazine, blog or online option and had a huge increase in participation. We decided to do a poll in the group asking if Members wished to continue with the “anything goes” posting or choose… read more

Food news antipasto

The tenth annual Smithsonian food history gala was held in Washington, DC on Thursday, with Chez Panisse founder Alice Waters receiving the Julia Child Award for her contributions to the culinary world. Star chefs like José Andrés and Jacques Pépin attended the event along with food writers and other industry professionals including all nine previous Julia Child Award winners. Waters… read more

The Great British Bake Off/Baking Show – Week 4 – Caramel 2024

Last week John was defeated by bread and left the tent. Caramel was the theme for week four. There were fails and successes all around and many bakers were repeating the caramel process because of difficulties. Signature: 12 caramel biscuits in 2 1/2 hours Jenny: Andy and Nelly need their own show. They make me smile. I loved when Andy… read more

The Cake Bible, Crumbs and author events, EYBD Previews, recipes and more

The temperatures are dropping here in Colorado and there is a crispness to the air that I look forward to every year. Cooler temperatures mean more baking (and roasting, braising and using the oven). Just in time for this season, I want to tell you about a few more amazing baking books that you will need to add to your… read more

It’s time to start aging your eggnog (plus other holiday food prep)

Not only have stores' Halloween decorations been consolidated to make way for tinsel, lights, wrapping paper, and Christmas trees, but there are also other signs that the holidays are fast approaching. With only 68 days to go before Christmas, 67 until the beginning of Hanukkah, and 69 until the start of Kwanzaa, the clock is ticking for us to get… read more

Why you might want to ditch that plastic spatula

Your plastic kitchen utensils may be trying to kill you. Okay, that's hyperbole, but a recent study found that kitchen utensils, takeaway containers, and even jewelry made from black plastic contained high levels of potentially toxic chemicals, which may be reason for concern if not panic. The study, published in the journal Chemosphere, found two kinds of flame retardants -… read more

The Monday Pasta Club Cookbook Giveaway

Enter our US/Canada giveaway to win one of three copies of The Monday Pasta Club by Ed Barrow. In 2020 pastry chef Ed Barrow created The Monday Pasta Club. He has hosted a number of sell-out supper clubs and events, from Bristol to Brighton and with Edinburgh to follow. The supper club bring people together in a relaxed and intimate… read more

Cooking and baking as protest

Just as a cake can have many layers, the act of baking itself can contain multiple meanings. These meanings can be personal, like when you bake your friend her favorite cake for her birthday, or they can have a broader message. Just ask bakers like Paola Velez (author of Bodega Bakes) and Natasha Pickowicz (author of the award-winning More Than… read more

November 2024 Great Big Cookbook Club Summary

As our members know, each month we offer several cooking options in our Eat Your Books Cookbook Club. There are other fun cookbook clubs around the interwebs and we’d like to highlight those for those members who might want to cook or bake something other than our choices.  We want to get this information out to you so you can prepare… read more

Food news antipasto

You may have seen TikTok videos about the 'fridge-scaping' trend, where people decant everything they buy at the grocery store and put it into clear containers that so that all of your produce, cheese, and other items are on display and tidily organized in matching jars. Whether you believe that this is gorgeous and amazing or shake your head at… read more

The Curry Guy Chicken – Giveaway

Enter our worldwide giveaway to win one of three copies of The Curry Guy Chicken: Deliciously Spiced Recipes From South and Southeast Asia by Dan Toombs. Dan Toombs' latest title celebrates flavorful chicken dishes from his travels around South and Southeast Asia. Because chicken is such a versatile ingredient, Dan showcases different techniques – from stir-fried and deep-fried to braised,… read more

The Great British Bake Off/Baking Show – Week 3 – Bread 2024

We said farewell to Jeff last week who left due to illness and Hazel was eliminated after a poor showing with cookies. This week was bread - which is never my favorite week. There is always too much under or over proofing and far too many shots of Paul's fingers diving into the dough. I feel so much stress for… read more

Cookies! EYBD Previews, Recipes and More

In September 6th's roundup, I covered some great cookie cookbooks/magazines and today I want to cover a few more which just happen to be second editions of two of my absolute favorite cookie books. As you may know, I am a sucker for holiday cookies and especially the recipes shared when newspapers run their best cookie contests. See these related… read more

Barbara Lynch is closing all of her Boston-area restaurants

Last year we reported on a scandal involved revered Boston chef Barbara Lynch in which former employees recounted tales of alleged abuse and harassment at her restaurants. Lynch's rags-to-riches story was chronicled in a 2017 memoir that recounted her rise from a hard-knocks South Boston childhood to culinary stardom. The James Beard Award-winning chef shuttered a handful of restaurants in the wake… read more

The book lover’s workout plan

Every book collector faces the same dilemma, usually on multiple occasions: adding a new bookcase to house the ever-growing number of books that they have accumulated. Often this includes moving the bookcases, necessitating the removal and reinstallation of all the books. This should be marketed as a book lover’s workout plan, because I loathe exercise but have no issue with… read more

Beans, beans are good for your heart…

Beans and other legumes have never been hotter, even though 2016 was officially the International Year of the Pulses (aka legumes). Whether it's viral "dense bean salad" videos, articles on easy ways to use beans and how to fall in love with them, or cookbooks devoted to the subject, the once-humble bean has been getting a glow up. As a… read more

30 Breads to Bake Before You Die – Cookbook Promotion

Enter our US giveaway to win one of two copies of 30 Breads to Bake Before You Die: The World's Best Sourdough, Croissants, Focaccia, Bagels, Pita, and More from Your Favorite Bakers by Allyson Reedy. This book is the second title by the author, the first title being 50 Things to Bake Before You Die which is a favorite of mine. Here,… read more

Sweet Seasons Cookbook Promotion

Enter our worldwide giveaway to win one of three copies of Sweet Seasons: Wholesome Treats For Every Occasion by Michael and Pippa James. After the success of All Day Baking: Savory, Not Sweet, Michael and Pippa James return with Sweet Seasons, featuring more than 80 delectable recipes from retro hits to modern marvels. Of note, The Tivoli Road Baker: Recipes… read more

Food news antipasto

Cristina Tosi's Milk Bar is branching out to the Windy City as a new Milk Bar outpost is coming to Chicago's Fulton Market. No opening date has been announced, and Tosi said she is excited about the first Midwest location for Milk Bar, telling NBC Chicago "I am a Midwesterner by birth and Chicago has long been one of my… read more

The Great British Bake Off/Baking Show – Week 2 – Biscuit 2024

The old saying "They are dropping like flies" is appropriate for this week's episode. I think that saying is a misnomer, however, because I've been trying to kill a fly for three weeks now - and it keeps coming back to haunt me. I think I got him and then just like Michael Myers in the Halloween movies - boom… read more

Apple cider season is here

While the weather here has been suggesting that summer doesn't want to let go, it finally relented this week with chilly evenings and crisp, sunny days. That means it is time to hit up the local orchards in search of tasty apples. I am fortunate to live in an area where many of the best-loved varieties in the US were… read more

The Dinner Plan podcast, Prime Day next week, EYBD Previews and more

Maggie Hoffman has dropped a new podcast called The Dinner Plan. This podcast offers cooking inspiration for wherever you are in life. It doesn't matter if you're a time-strapped professional, an empty nester, feeding a houseful, or just making sure you actually eat something day after day: figuring out what’s for dinner can be exhausting. She will be talking with cookbook… read more
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