Celebrate the time-honoured tradition of baking in all its delicious forms with this new gift book. From tea time to the cake stall, when it comes to baked goodies, you can't go past the classics - cakes, slices, biscuits and scones. While showcasing mostly sweet favourites, there are also recipes for savoury pastries and breads. This wonderful book is a tribute to the best-in-show bakers whose offerings are made with a generosity of spirit all worthy of a blue ribbon.

"Each sugary treat has its story, and Pierre Hermé pastries untangles the history behind fifty desserts, separating legend from truth and delving into the wars, the political intrigue, the round-the-world journeys, and other surprising events that inspired the most delicious pastries. Also exploring the evolution of desserts over time, the stories that introduce each featured dessert divulge how great chefs have built upon and improved these pastries, and master pastry chef Pierre Herme embraces this spirit of innovation in inspired recipes that follow the originals"--Dust jacket.

Pastry baking is one half creativity, one half science and one half old-fashioned know-how. If that seems confusing, don't worry: 'Making Dough' makes perfect sense out of the often-intimidating task of preparing homemade pastry dough. With helpful diagrams, easy-to-follow recipes and step-by-step instructions for home cooks, every type of dough from puff pastry to short crust is demystified, deconstructed - and delicious!

Adriano Zumbo invites us into his world of patisserie to share his incredible recipes for chouxmacas, petits gateaux, savoury specialties, zonuts and zumbarons. Each chapter delves into a delicious genre of patisserie. Recipes explore and experiment with unique flavour combinations, exciting textures and bold colours - providing a rare glimpse into the creative mind of the patissier critics have deemed the Sweet Assassin. The Zumbo Files also includes step-by-step instructions for the basic recipe of each patisserie style, with stunning recipe variations to create a multitude of irresistible delights . The chapter on petits gateaux features some of the most incredible creations - including the famed V8 Diesel, an incredible eight-layered confection of rich chocolate - to really put your patisserie skills to the test. The colours are bright, the flavours unexpected, and the experience of recreating these quirky Zumbo recipes a complete delight. His mission is to caramelise the nation, and with this his third book, he is certainly on his way.

Offers recipes for freshly baked breads and other baked items made in the traditional way, without a mixer, with instructions for hand-mixing and other traditional techniques.

The Pie Project is a collection of 60 sweet pie recipes, in all their bubbling, fruity, caremelised, buttery glory. Pies are very forgiving desserts: spillages really are just an opportunity for more caremelisation and a mis-shapen pie just adds to the rustic feel! Readers are encouraged to use imperfect fruit, play around with lattice, design their own pastry top and bake the pies in whatever they have handy (some are cooked in skillets, or even enamel bowls). There are four chapters in this stunningly photographed book. The Hot Pies section features a Grape, Marscapone and Honey Skillet Pie; the Cheats' section features a Blueberry and Pear Cider Pie; the Hand Pies section features a Maple Syrup, Apple and Stem Ginger Pie; and the Cold Pies section features a Coconut Pie with Watermelon and Mint Sorbet. Delicious! All skill levels are catered for, as some pies are made with homemade pastry, others with bought. These methods sit alongside pies featuring biscuit bases, as well as bottomless pies. Phoebe and Kirsten are out to convince the world that pie really is a dish that should be enjoyed every day and The Pie Project is the collection to do it.

This book features a mouth-watering collection of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dips, bites, salads and other small plates to share, to enjoy as appetizers or light meals. An ancient tradition, mezze is the heart and soul of modern culinary life in Turkey and the Middle East. The word 'mezze' ('meze' in Turkey and 'mazza' in Syria and Lebanon) is thought to have derived from the Persian 'maza' meaning 'taste' or 'relish' which is exactly what is - something tasty - designed to be savoured with a glass of tea, wine or beer, a fruit sherbet, or a yogurt drink with the aim of pleasing the palate, not to fill the belly. At its simplest, mezze can be represented by a bowl of gleaming olives marinated in lemon juice and crushed coriander seeds, or a mixture of roasted nuts and seeds tossed in salt and dried thyme. At its most elaborate, it can be presented as an entire feast comprising a myriad of little colourful dishes, each the bearer of something savoury or sweet but always utterly delicious. In this book, you'll discover such exciting recipes as Purple Carrots and Saffron Pears; Savoury Pastries filled with Feta and Herbs; Cinnamon-flavoured Meatballs; Aromatic Stuffed Mussels; Parsley and Bulgur Salad; Refreshing Cucumber Strips sprinkled with Salt; Pan-fried Halloumi dusted with Za'atar; and Velvety Yogurt and Sweet Helva - nothing quite beats the magic of mezze.