Critically acclaimed baking expert and media star Samantha Seneviratne dispels common baking myths and fears--and shares 100 of her favorite easy yet exceptional recipes.
Star baker Samantha Seneviratne wants to tell you the baking secrets of industry pros: You can soften butter in a microwave in seconds, without melting it. Don't bother sifting flour. No stand mixer? No problem--you can mix it by hand. Test the doneness of a cake without toothpicks (who actually has those?). Make a custard with a dump and stir method. Tempering schmempering.
Break free from common baking myths, fears, and fussy procedures, with Bake Smart, filled with Sam's tips and warm reassurances plus 100 achievable, mouth-watering recipes that are surprisingly effortless to put together for any home baker. Chapters are organized by main baking ingredient (Butter; Sugar; Eggs; Flour, Nuts & Cocoa; and Yeast), each starting with a quick intro to break down the fundamentals of baking, as well as core recipes--like Basic Custard, Any-Nut Frangipane, and Rough Puff Pastry--that are easy to master and return to again and again.
And each chapter includes recipes for delicious, irresistible, and modern-yet-timeless sweets: