After my brief foray into stitch yesterday I'm back with the baking!
A few months ago, Cathy posted about a rather splendid looking book by Lily Vanilli called "Sweet Tooth". Not only did she give an excellent review, she also very generously had a copy to give away. I didn't win the giveaway but I knew I had to have a copy... if only for the fabulous colour on the edge of the pages!
But the book is not just an aesthetically pleasing object but packed full of the most amazing looking recipes...
Fabulous photography... (I so want to make those little cherry bakewells)
and plenty of really useful baking advice, including some of the science behind baking.
I tend to agree with Cathy that many of the recipes seem to be "special occasion" baking rather than everyday pies and cakes, but it is certainly a must have book for any keen baker.
And there are dozens of things I want to bake. I thought I would start with something simple and opted for these Biscuit Brownies.
Mine didn't come out as shiny as Lily's, nor did they crack... in fact they didn't look anything like the picture in the book at all. But to be fair, my oven tends to be a bit unpredictable and I had added white chocolate chips which weren't in the original recipe because I always mess about with recipes (such a rebel!)...but they still tasted pretty good. (Although I think it is time to follow Lily's advice and invest in an oven thermometer)
Given the choice I would probably just bake Brownies rather than Biscuit Brownies as we are big Brownie fans in our family...
But they were declared a success and they are being gobbled up pretty quickly. I'm looking forward to trying an awful lot more a lot more from this book... Lemon and pistachio shortbread is next on my list. I would also like to thank the lovely Lily Jones (aka Lily Vanilli) who replied very promptly to my request to feature pictures from her book on my blog. A beautiful book full of wonderful recipes... and I really wasn't paid to say that!
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ReplyDeleteLemon and pistachio shortbread does sound good and those little cherry bakewells look ever so cute!
ReplyDeleteV xxx
That's a very handsome book cover and the recipes look delicious.........I always have to adapt cake recipes because of the families gluten and nut allergies.........it's fun being a rebel. x
ReplyDeleteI bought the Sweet Tooth book over Christmas, there's lovely recipes and photo's in the book. So far I've made the porter cake twice, it makes a lovely cake (which seems to be a combination of a boiled fruit cake and a standard porter cake).
ReplyDeleteYum yum yum, everything looks de-lish!
ReplyDeleteThat beautiful Roses Cake is on the front of the latest Homemaker magazine (my latest must-have monthly).
The Bakewells would be the one I'd try first - one of my all time faves. I guess I'd better track down a copy of the book!
xx
Just purchased :)
ReplyDelete(£8 on Amazon, which I know we're all supposed to be boycotting but sorry, I need my Bakewells too much).
x
Oh shoot! I just ordered my Christmas books yesterday -- this book looks yummy! I love reading about the continuing backing adventures of Gina!
ReplyDeleteBought this at Christmas too. It's only £4.99 from thebookpeople.co.uk - site is full of other bargains so worth a look. Shall have to make those bakewells !
ReplyDeleteI wish I lived next door to you!
ReplyDeleteI would happily sample any of those delightful cakes for you! What a lovely book. I love baking but these days everyone in the family is watching their waistlines and I can't eat it all! It was a joy when they were all young, skinny and permanently hungry.
ReplyDeleteI remember Cathy's fabulous photos with the post she did about that book. Yours look just as good Gina! I hope you're glued to Bake-Off for Comic Relief this week? Not exactly pushing the boundaries of baking but great fun nevertheless!
ReplyDeleteThe brownie biscuits look yummy but the shortbread sounds nicer.
ReplyDeleteOh they look delicious! And so does that book but I have far too many baking books and always use the same old recipes and must try and use the ones I have. Xxx
ReplyDeleteoh Gina - you are no help to a girl on a diet! lol what a gorgeous looking book.
ReplyDeleteThat book looks divine! I am going to have to add it to my wish list!
ReplyDeleteClaire
The biscuits and cakes look delicious. However, I couldn't contemplate buying a cookery book unless it had James Martin on the cover.
ReplyDeleteWhy aren't you all grossly overweight? You cook such yummy food I am amazed any of you can even walk now. I'd love to be nearby to sample - and not have a body that gains weight just looking at cakes!! Cheers
ReplyDeleteI hope you have been watching "Bake Off" this week........ loved Jo Brand's laid back approach!:O))))
ReplyDeleteThe shortbread sounds absolutely gorgeous - Rob and I are on a no cake campaign as Marks & Spencers have altered their sizes again.
ReplyDeleteThe book, and the brownies, look fabulous, and lemon and pistachio sounds like a fabulous flavour combo for anything cakey!
ReplyDeleteHappy baking Gina, and thank you so much for the get well wishes. Glad you liked Hand/Eye :)
I've had those little bakewells from the shop, absolutely delicious - but very tiny and very expensive!
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